Summer Debate & Public Speaking Camps 2025 | Expert Training at Top Universities
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20 Years | 10,000+ Students | US News Top 100 Camps

CAPITOL DEBATE'S
SUMMER DEBATE CAMP CURRICULUM

Our proprietary curriculum combines proven public speaking techniques, advanced debate strategies, and specialized tracks tailored to student interests. Developed over 18 years of success, our comprehensive approach transforms students into confident communicators and powerful competitors.

Public Speaking Lessons

Master essential communication skills through our proven curriculum

Core Skill!

Building Lasting Confidence

Transform into a confident speaker

  • Develop self-expression abilities
  • Build leadership presence
  • Master stage confidence
  • Overcome speaking anxiety
Voice Skills!

Mastering Your Voice

Perfect your vocal delivery

  • Voice projection techniques
  • Vocal variety and pacing
  • Clear articulation
  • Strategic pausing
Non-Verbal!

Effective Body Language

Master non-verbal communication

  • Dynamic gestures
  • Powerful eye contact
  • Stage movement
  • Facial expressions
Structure!

Speech Organization

Create compelling structures

  • Clear main points
  • Supporting evidence
  • Smooth transitions
  • Logical flow
Openings!

Powerful Openings

Hook your audience instantly

  • Attention-grabbing hooks
  • Opening techniques
  • Audience engagement
  • Setting the tone
Advanced!

Advanced Techniques

Master expert-level skills

  • Storytelling mastery
  • Audience adaptation
  • Advanced persuasion
  • Expert Q&A handling

Debate Lessons

Master the art of competitive debate through strategic training

Research!

Quality Research Skills

Build strong evidence-based cases

  • Find qualified sources
  • Evaluate evidence quality
  • Organize research effectively
  • Create evidence cards
Cross-Ex!

Cross-Examination

Master strategic questioning

  • Strategic question sequencing
  • Time management
  • Evidence exposition
  • Maintaining composure
Refute!

Refutation Techniques

Counter arguments effectively

  • Attack argument structure
  • Evidence comparison
  • Impact calculus
  • Turn arguments
Closing!

Winning Closings

Deliver powerful final speeches

  • Crystallize key issues
  • Impact comparison
  • Voter analysis
  • Strategic weighing
Cases!

Case Construction

Build winning arguments

  • Strategic frameworks
  • Evidence integration
  • Impact development
  • Strategic advantages
Strategy!

Debate Strategy

Master competitive tactics

  • Time allocation
  • Argument selection
  • Strategic concessions
  • Round vision

What Sets Capitol Debate Apart

The Difference Between Winging It and Perfecting It Over 20 Years

Other Debate Camps

Standard Approach

Tournament Focus Only

Win debates and competitions

Rigid Generic Teaching

One-size-fits-all instruction for everyone

Seasonal College Students

Figuring it out each June, summer side gig

Guesswork & Experimentation

Winging it, trying different approaches with students

Static Curriculum

Same generic content for every student

Capitol Debate

Professional Excellence

Personalized Assessment-Driven Learning

Individual skill assessment, custom learning paths, adaptive to YOUR child

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  • Day-one individual assessment identifies strengths and growth areas
  • Custom learning path designed for each student's needs
  • Continuous progress monitoring throughout program
  • Teaching adapts to visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners
  • Real-time adjustments based on student progress

20 Years of Refined Teaching Methods

Tested with 10,000+ students, proven exercises, continuously improved

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  • Every lesson refined through thousands of students over two decades
  • 1,000s of exercises tested—kept what works, discarded what doesn't
  • Evidence-based pedagogy, not experimental guesswork
  • Curriculum continuously optimized by professional educators
  • We know exactly what creates breakthroughs vs. what wastes time

Year-Round Professional Educators

Career teachers with advanced degrees, not seasonal college students

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  • Full-time professional educators—this is their life's work
  • Advanced degrees in education, communication, and related fields
  • Decades of combined teaching experience
  • Ongoing professional development and training
  • Returning staff who know our curriculum inside and out

Learn → Apply → Perform Daily Structure

Proven three-stage approach: morning instruction, immediate practice, afternoon performance

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  • Morning: Expert instruction introduces new skills with engaging lessons
  • Immediate: Targeted practice exercises cement understanding right away
  • Afternoon: Full performance labs where students apply everything learned
  • Multiple feedback loops: peer review, instructor coaching, AI analysis
  • This three-stage rhythm creates actual mastery, not just exposure

Continuous Progress Tracking & Advancement

Daily assessments, real-time adjustments, always pushing to next level

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  • Daily skill assessments track each student's development
  • When a student masters a skill, we immediately introduce next challenge
  • Struggling with a concept? We adjust our teaching approach instantly
  • Not one-size-fits-all pacing—each student advances at optimal speed
  • Measurable progress markers show visible growth throughout program

Teaching Skills Students Need to Excel

Complete Communication Training for Every Situation

Young professional presenting persuasively in courtroom

Persuasive Communication

Articulate complex ideas clearly, structure compelling arguments, adapt messaging to any audience

Two professionals in engaged one-on-one conversation

Interpersonal Communication

Build authentic connections, master active listening, read social cues, navigate relationships effectively

Diverse team collaborating at whiteboard

Team Leadership & Collaboration

Lead group discussions, delegate effectively, build consensus, motivate diverse teammates toward shared goals

Professional mediating between two parties

Conflict Resolution

De-escalate tensions, find common ground, negotiate win-win solutions, manage disagreements constructively

Professional analyzing complex data and diagrams

Critical Thinking & Analysis

Evaluate evidence objectively, identify logical fallacies, analyze arguments from multiple perspectives

Team collaborating on strategic planning documents

Strategic Thinking

Plan long-term initiatives, anticipate consequences, develop multi-step strategies, adapt goals as circumstances change

Professional presenting confidently to large audience

Confidence Under Pressure

Manage performance anxiety, think clearly under stress, maintain composure in high-stakes moments

Professional entering boardroom with natural authority

Executive Presence

Command attention naturally, project confidence, establish credibility, inspire others through authentic leadership

What Makes Capitol Debate Different

Most debate camps teach students to give speeches and win debates. That's where they stop.

We go far beyond the podium. Every single day includes:

  • Morning leadership exercises that break through mental barriers
  • Interpersonal communication electives for face-to-face mastery
  • Team building activities that develop collaboration skills
  • Conflict resolution training for real-world disagreements
  • Small group practice with peer feedback and coaching

The result? Students don't just learn to debate—they develop the complete communication skillset that defines success in school, careers, and life.

Choose Your Specialized Tracks

Every student selects TWO tracks that match their interests

From Business & STEM to Competition Prep - Make Your Summer Experience Your Own

Career Interests Tracks

Build advanced skills in your chosen field

Career Focus

Business Communication

Perfect business presentations and executive presence

  • Executive presence
  • "Shark Tank" style pitches
  • Strategic presentations

STEM Communication

Present technical concepts with clarity and impact

  • Technical presentations
  • Data visualization
  • Research communication

Real World Communication

Master human connection skills in today's digital world

Essential Skills

Interpersonal Communication

Build meaningful connections and relationships

  • Social intelligence
  • Active listening
  • Emotional awareness

Group Communication

Lead discussions and collaborative projects

  • Team leadership
  • Project management
  • Group dynamics

Persuasive Speaking

Move audiences to action with compelling messages

  • Audience analysis
  • Message crafting
  • Call to action

Competitive Events

Discover competitive speaking opportunities and develop your potential

Competition Track

Public Forum Debate

Master partner debate on current events

  • Partner collaboration
  • Current events analysis
  • Evidence evaluation

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Explore value-based philosophical debate

  • Philosophical frameworks
  • Value argumentation
  • Critical analysis

Parliamentary Debate

Excel in impromptu debate format

  • Quick analysis
  • Impromptu speaking
  • Strategic rhetoric
>

Watch Capitol Debaters in Action



Discover the remarkable progress our students make as they master the art of debate with Capitol Debate — from novices to articulate speakers in just one summer at our Public Speaking Debate Camps. Each caption in our videos pinpoints key debating skills we nurture, from crafting catchy openings to constructing solid arguments. Witness our debaters put these focused techniques into practice, achieving eloquence and poise over a single summer with Capitol Debate.

 

Austin W

Student
Massachusetts
 

Karina H

Student
Illinois
 

JC

Student
Massachusetts
 

Fiona D

Student
New Jersey
 

Seth G

Student
Maryland
 

Finn M

Student
Virginia
 

Penelope H.

Student
New York


Unlock your Child's Potential this Summer!

Fill out our Form to Discover How to Ignite your Child's Personal and Academic Growth



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Choose Your Perfect Campus Location

Select from our prestigious universities nationwide



Northeast Campuses

Experience debate in New England and the Northeast

Yale University Campus
Ivy League

Yale University

New Haven, CT

July 12 - July 23, 2026
Babson College Campus
Top Entrepreneurship College

Babson College

Boston, MA

July 12 - July 23, 2026
Dana Hall School
Top Prep School

Dana Hall

Boston, MA

July 26 - August 6, 2026
Drew University Campus
Liberal Arts Excellence

Drew University

Madison, NJ

July 12 - July 23, 2026
The Hun School Of Princeton Campus
Princeton Prep Legacy

The Hun School Of Princeton

Princeton, NJ

June 29 to July 10, 2025
The Lawrenceville School Campus
Top-Tier Prep School

The Lawrenceville School

Lawrenceville, NJ

July 12 to July 23, 2026
Iona University Campus
New York Campus

Iona University

New Rochelle, NY

July 26 - August 6, 2026
Rider University Campus
Leading Liberal Arts College

Rider University

Lawrenceville, NJ

July 26 - August 6, 2026

Mid-Atlantic Campuses

Debate at prestigious institutions in Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.

Villanova University Campus
Top Business University

Villanova University

Villanova, PA

June 28 - July 9, 2026
American University Campus
Nation's Capital

American University

Washington, DC

July 12 - July 23, 2026

Southeast Campuses

Develop your debate skills in the Southeast United States

Rollins College Campus
Top Private School

Rollins College

Orlando, FL

May 31 to June 9, 2026
University Of North Carolina Campus
Public Ivy

University Of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, NC

June 14 - June 25, 2026

West Coast Campuses

Develop your debate skills at premier West Coast institutions

UC Berkeley Campus
Elite Research University

UC Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

July 12 to July 23, 2026
UCLA Campus
Top Public University

UCLA

Los Angeles, CA

June 28 - July 9, 2026
University of San Diego Campus
Coastal Excellence

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA

June 15 to July 24, 2025
University of Washington Campus
Top Research & Tech University

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

July 26 - August 6, 2026

South Campuses

Experience debate at top institutions across the Southern United States

University of St. Thomas Campus
Beautiful Campus

University of St. Thomas

Houston, TX

May 31 - June 11, 2026

Midwest Campuses

Train with elite instructors at our premier Midwest locations

Ohio State University Campus
Premiere Midwest Campus

Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

May 31 - June 11, 2026
Loyola University Chicago Campus
Lake Michigan Setting

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL

June 14-June 25, 2026
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