Institute for Speech and Debate Congressional Debate Summer Camp

Classes run from 9am to 5pm with an hour for lunch, and a second practice session follows dinner from 6:30 to 8pm. Mornings are for skill lectures and content and briefing discussions, and afternoons for strategy and technique labs followed by a practice session, so you're in a mock chamber twice a day.

Commuters leave campus after the evening session. Residents have the stretch between 8pm and 10pm before they need to be back in their residence hall, with a room check at 11pm and quiet hours until 7am.

Senior instructors lead the teaching, and ISD says each one is an accomplished debate coach with a college degree. Junior instructors, who are top former competitors, rotate between groups so every student works with them, and ISD describes its teaching as small-group, though it doesn't publish a class size.

ISD names Bo Lint as curriculum director for Congressional Debate in Session 1, although his listing says he's confirmed for 2026 rather than 2027, and it quotes Brittany Stanchik as the event's curriculum director. ISD is still confirming its 2027 faculty, so it's worth asking who will teach your session before you choose one.

Two weeks cost $3,999 if you live on campus, which covers your room and all meals, or $2,799 if you commute, which includes lunch and dinner. One week costs $2,999 residential or $2,199 commuter, and it's always the first week of a session, since ISD runs no one-week option in the second week. If you're flying, the optional shuttle from Raleigh-Durham International Airport costs $160 round trip or $110 one way and has to be booked when you enroll. Registering after 31 May 2027 adds a $200 late fee.

ISD charges the full fee as soon as it approves your enrollment, and every payment is non-refundable, so settle your summer plans before you sign up.

Financial aid comes from a fund ISD sets aside each year for students who couldn't otherwise attend. You apply by email with three letters: one from the student on why attending matters to them, one from a parent stating the family's need and how much it can budget, and one from a coach on work ethic, leadership and skill. Money is given out first come, first served until it runs out. Requests completed by 1 March 2027 get primary consideration, and all awards are made by 15 April 2027.

A full-time nurse lives on campus and is available around the clock, and a dedicated resident life staff supervises students' afternoon and evening activities.

• Staff checks

  Every faculty member is interviewed by ISD's directors and passes local, state and federal criminal checks plus a review of the National Sexual Offenders Registry.

• Training

  Before each session, faculty are trained on harassment, mandatory reporting, student-teacher boundaries, health procedures and drug and alcohol policies.

• Conduct

  ISD has a zero-tolerance policy for substance use, discrimination, harassment and other serious misbehavior.