Institute for Speech and Debate Lincoln-Douglas Debate Summer Camp

It's for both, and ISD teaches each group differently. Beginners get a program built on foundational knowledge, so they leave knowing how Lincoln-Douglas works and how to compete from the very start of the season. Experienced and returning debaters keep sharpening traditional skills while picking up more complex progressive ones, and they're expected to keep reading topic literature and key philosophy texts in their own time.

The length you choose matters as much as your level. The one-week program covers only the fundamentals and always runs in the first week of a session, while the two-week program adds a second week of putting those skills into practice.

If you've never done speech or debate at all, ISD's own guide to choosing a program points you to its Foundations of Public Speaking and Debate program first, after which students can specialize in an event such as Lincoln-Douglas.

Expect about eight and a half hours of teaching on a typical day, from a 9am topic lecture to an evening session that ends at 8pm. After breakfast at 8am, the morning has an hour-long lecture on possible topics and then two and a half hours of lab and hands-on practice. Lunch runs from 12:30 to 1:30pm. After that comes an hour on philosophy and framework and another two and a half hours of skills lectures and lab work before dinner at 5:15pm. From 6:30 to 8pm there's an evening session with office hours.

Commuters have to leave campus after 8pm. Residents must be inside the residence hall by 10pm and in their rooms for an 11pm room check, and quiet hours last until 7am.

Every lab is led by an adult senior instructor, and ISD says all its senior faculty are accomplished debate coaches with a college degree. Junior instructors are top former competitors who rotate between labs so that every student works with them, and ISD says many of its alumni come back in that role. ISD describes its teaching as small-group but doesn't publish a lab size.

For 2026, ISD listed Anthony Berryhill as Lincoln-Douglas curriculum director for Session 1 and Ethan Massa for Session 2. It's still confirming its 2027 faculty and only marks staff as confirmed once they've signed a letter of intent, so check the faculty list closer to summer if a particular coach matters to you.

Two weeks cost $3,999 if you live on campus or $2,799 if you commute. One week costs $2,999 residential or $2,199 commuting. The residential price covers your room and all your meals, while commuters get lunch and dinner. ISD charges the full amount as soon as it approves your enrollment, and every enrollment is non-refundable.

Getting to Chapel Hill is on you. If you fly, you should use Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU), and ISD's optional airport transportation costs $160 round trip or $110 one way. It has to be booked when you enroll. Registering after 31 May 2027 adds a $200 late fee.

Financial aid is available for students who'd benefit significantly from the camp but couldn't otherwise afford it. To apply, you send ISD three letters, and email is fine. The student explains why attending matters to them, a parent or guardian sets out your level of need and how much you can budget, and the student's coach speaks to their work ethic, leadership and skill. ISD reviews requests on a rolling basis and gives out funds first come, first served until they run out. Requests completed by 1 March 2027 get primary consideration, and all funds are awarded by 15 April 2027.

ISD employs a full-time nurse who lives on campus and is available around the clock, and a dedicated resident life staff supervises students' afternoon and evening activities. Every faculty member has to complete a background check covering local, state and federal criminal records plus a review of the National Sexual Offenders Registry. Before each session, all faculty also train on harassment, mandatory reporting, student-teacher boundaries and drug and alcohol policies. ISD has a zero-tolerance policy for substance use, discrimination and harassment.