Institute for Speech and Debate Public Forum Debate Summer Camp

Classes fill most of the day. After breakfast at 8am, you start at 9am with a lecture on possible topics, then spend 10am to 12:30pm in lab, practicum and hands-on work. After lunch, the 1:30pm to 5pm block mixes skills lectures with more lab time, and after dinner an evening session with office hours runs from 6:30pm to 8pm.

That leaves little unscheduled time. Commuters have to leave campus by 8pm, residents must be back inside the residence hall by 10pm, and quiet hours with a room check run from 11pm to 7am.

Each lab is led by an adult senior instructor, and ISD says its senior faculty are all accomplished debate coaches with a college degree. Junior instructors, who are top former competitors, rotate between labs so every student works with them.

For Public Forum, ISD names Brian Manuel as curriculum director, with Gabe Rusk and Eva Redmond on the team (Redmond for Session 1 only). All three are marked as confirmed for 2026, though, and ISD is still confirming its 2027 faculty. ISD only marks staff as confirmed for 2027 once they've signed a letter of intent, so check who has that label before you pick a session.

Two weeks cost $3,999 if you live on campus, which covers your room and all meals, or $2,799 as a commuter, which includes lunch and dinner. One week costs $2,999 residential or $2,199 commuter. Getting to Chapel Hill is extra, and so is ISD's optional shuttle from Raleigh-Durham airport, which costs $160 round trip or $110 one way and has to be booked when you apply. Anyone registering after 31 May 2027 also pays a $200 late fee.

ISD offers need-based financial aid to students who would benefit from the camp but couldn't otherwise afford it. To apply, you send letters (email is fine) from yourself, a parent and your coach, and the parent's letter states how much the family can budget. Funds are limited and handed out first come, first served. Requests completed by 1 March 2027 get priority, and all aid is awarded by 15 April 2027.

Resident life staff based on campus supervise afternoon and evening activities, and a full-time nurse lives on campus and is available around the clock.

• Staff checks

  Every faculty member must complete a background check covering local, state and federal criminal records and the National Sexual Offenders Registry before working at ISD.

• Training

  Before each session, all faculty are trained on harassment, mandatory reporting, professional boundaries with students, health policies, and drug and alcohol policies.

• Conduct rules

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

• Travel

  ISD doesn't offer an unaccompanied minor service, so if a student is too young to fly alone, a parent has to fly with them or make other arrangements. Flights should land at Raleigh-Durham between 9am and 2pm on the first day.