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SUMMER CAMP OPTIONS
for new or experienced debaters
"Intro to Debate" Camp
No experience necessary. Recommended for Ages 10-16.
Limit 16 students per camp.
$295
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Choose your camp week:
June 7 – 11, 2021
Monday-Friday
8:30am-12:30pm Central
June 14 – 18, 2021
Monday-Friday
3:30pm-7:30pm Central
(1:30pm-5:30pm Pacific)
July 12-16, 2021
Monday-Friday
8:30am-12:30pm Central
July 19-23, 2021
Monday-Friday
3:30pm-7:30pm Central
(1:30pm-5:30pm Pacific)
Camp Location
Due to Covid-19, our debate programs are continuing
to meet via Zoom this summer.
About the "Intro to Debate" camp
During our week-long, online, “Intro to Debate” camp, activities include quick, fun, and creative games, activities, and debate sparring to learn the relevant skills for any format of debate. Debate sparring sessions are short, fun, and easy debates on topics that don’t require deep research, e.g., “School uniforms should be required,” “The rise of selfies is a troubling cultural problem,” “Whataburger vs. In-N-Out,” etc.
Lots of fun and engaging activities are used to help instill skills like speaking clearly, note-taking (referred to as “flowing”), thinking on your feet, organizing your thoughts, being creative and adapting, and determining what is relevant in material.
Emphasis is placed on structuring a case, referred to as the “Constructive,” developing a “Framework” (a method of deciding the winner), poking holes in your opponents’ case through “Cross-Examination,” effective techniques for “Rebuttal”, and how to crystallize and convey your win to the judge in a “Summary.”
Some light homework is assigned to help reinforce what’s been learned and to allow time to prep for some sparring.
What qualities are helpful for a child to have when enrolling in the "Intro to Debate" camp?
- Ability to pay attention, process verbal information quickly, and pick up the meaning of words from context.
- Strong handwriting skills (or use of a device with strong keyboarding skills).
- Has a competitive streak.
- Works well with others.
- Capability and access to do independent research.
- Can use a device for research at sessions (e.g. smartphone, tablet).
Is there value in signing the same child up for more than one "Intro to Debate" camp?
While the same material is covered in each camp, the level of information-retention and skills-development tends to increase with each week of participation. A 20% discount is available for enrollment in both of our Intro to Debate camp weeks. Contact us if interested.
Is financial aid available?
Partial scholarships are available when a financial hardship exists. Click here for more information.
What is your refund policy?
For our camps, a full refund can be made up to 30 days before the first session; a full refund less $100 can be made up to 72 hours before the first session. No refunds will be made within 72 hours of your camp week’s first session.
Have other questions?
Email julia@readysetresources.com or call/text 214-972-8046.
Advanced Debate Camps
Prerequisite: “Intro to Debate,” or other experience with a debate program or team. Recommended for Ages 10-16. Limit 8 students per camp.
In our advanced camps, students take a focused dive into the week’s topic with lots of activities and practice to learn the methods and strategies.
(Only $125 each when you sign up for
two or more Advanced Camps)
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Camp Location
Due to Covid-19, our debate programs are continuing
to meet via Zoom this summer.
ADVANCED CAMP 1
TAKING YOUR CASE TO THE NEXT LEVEL:
RESEARCH, WRITING, ORGANIZATION, AND STRATEGY
June 14-18, 2021
or
July 19-23, 2021
Monday-Friday
10:30am-12:30pm Central (8:30am-10:30am Pacific)
In this camp, you will learn how to maximize the persuasive value of your case through efficient presentation, compelling organization, and airtight evidence. Hone your research skills, discover best practices for evaluating evidence, develop your understanding of statistics, and explore different approaches to framework and impact. In each 2-hour session, it’s bell-to-bell learning, with homework to prepare for activities and reinforce concepts.
ADVANCED CAMP 2
EVALUATING YOUR OPPONENTS’ DEBATE CASE:
CROSS-EXAMINATION AND BASIC REBUTTAL STRATEGY
June 21-25, 2021
or
July 26-30, 2021
Monday-Friday
10:30am-12:30pm Central (8:30am-10:30am Pacific)
In this camp, you will be introduced to new strategies for Cross-Examination and Rebuttal. Learn how to defend your evidence and think critically in an extemporaneous context. Discover new techniques for identifying and evaluating different kinds of arguments. Find out how to identify cognitive biases, logical fallacies, rhetorical misdirection tactics, and other common problems in argumentation. Discuss basic concepts in logic and statistics. In each 2-hour session, it’s bell-to-bell learning, with homework to prepare for activities and reinforce concepts.
ADVANCED CAMP 3
THE DEBATE ENDGAME:
ADVANCED REBUTTAL AND SUMMARY STRATEGY
June 28 – July 2, 2021
or
August 2-6, 2021
Monday-Friday
10:30am-12:30pm Central (8:30am-10:30am Pacific)
The two extemporaneous speeches, Rebuttal and Summary, can be a formidable challenge. In this camp, you will learn how to find out how to identify the strongest impacts in the round and effectively highlight them as the debate comes to a close. Discover techniques for crystallization and develop game plans for different debate scenarios. Find out how to effectively incorporate framework to maximize the impact of your Rebuttal and Summary. In each 2-hour session, it’s bell-to-bell learning, with homework to prepare for activities and reinforce concepts.
ADVANCED CAMP 4
KNOWLEDGE FOR DEBATE AND LIFE:
DEBATING REAL WORLD ISSUES
August 9-13, 2021
Monday-Friday
10:30am-12:30pm Central (8:30am-10:30am Pacific)
In this camp, you will develop your understanding of key concepts in economics, sociology, psychology, political science, and political theory that commonly appear in debate contexts. Learn about how different kinds of studies work, what social scientists are working on (and debating) today, and what the limitations of social science are. In each 2-hour session, it’s bell-to-bell learning, with homework to prepare for activities and reinforce concepts.
Should the Advanced Camps be taken in order?
The order is a recommendation, but not a requirement.
Is financial aid available?
Partial scholarships are available when a financial hardship exists. Click here for more information.
What is your refund policy?
For our Advanced Camps, a full refund can be made up to 30 days before the first session; a full refund less $50 can be made up to 72 hours before the first session. No refunds will be made within 72 hours of your camp week’s first session.
Have other questions?
Email julia@readysetresources.com or call/text 214-972-8046.
Who are the coaches?
Price T. Morgan
Price T. Morgan is a twelve-year veteran of speech and debate programs. As a member of the Southern Methodist University debate team, he won several debate championships including the 2018-2019 national championship title in Junior Varsity IPDA debate. Price graduated Phi Beta Kappa with dual degrees in economics and public policy in 2019, and now works in public health.
Julia Morgan
Julia is the founder of Ready Set Resources LLC. She has been teaching speech and debate since 2008, and her Speakers League public speaking club curriculum is in use around the world.
What parents and students say.
Debate really opened the world to my son this year. It challenged him to substantiate his claims, learn how to research a topic, see the advantages and disadvantages of both sides of an argument, and get up and debate.
Both of my kids have benefited enormously from being in Speakers League and Ready Set Debate.
"I love how Ready Set Debate is preparing me for the future, and I look forward to improving even more. I really appreciate the time and dedication of the coaches.”
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The value of learning debate
These skills, loosely categorized as elements of emotional intelligence, include the capacity to persevere through setbacks (grit), the facility to bring existing knowledge to a novel situation (creativity), comfort in working with others and knowing when to lead and when to follow (collaboration), the capability to confront the seemingly infinite volumes of information on any topic and select the relevant data (research), and sensitivity to what a target audience is thinking so that such data can be presented persuasively (empathy). The debate curriculum teaches young people much of what they’ll need to know in these areas by active, engaging, and highly direct means. Click here to read the full article.