Learn what makes NSD the #1-ranked debate camp

Hear what our campers have to say about NSD!

Summer 2025 Camp Options

$3,395

NSD's Philadelphia PF Session 1 Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

Bryn Mawr College

Philadelphia, PA

June 29 - July 12

June 29 - July 12

$3,295

$3,295

NSD Philadelphia Session 1 is a two-week residential summer debate camp focused on Public Forum (PF) debate, great for all students, from beginners new to debate to experienced debaters honing their skills.

Residential
$3,295
Commuter
$2,895

Includes Housing (if Residential) and Meals

Free Access to Skill Builder Program

Payment Due Upon Registration (Financial Aid)

Curated Staff & Curriculum

Session 1 curriculum teaches foundational and advanced concepts to students without feeling rushed. Our world-class faculty offer the perfect forum for rising stars to develop their voice.

Start Your Debate Journey

Session 1 is a great starting place for students to expedite their journey into the upper echelons of public forum debate.

Beautiful Liberal Arts Campus

Bryn Mawr College is gorgeous, self-contained, and located in a quiet suburb of Philadelphia, perfect for students new to college settings.

5:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 5:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

9:45am
Dorm Check-out
10:00 - 11:30am
Lab
11:30 - 12:30pm
Mentor Group
12:30 - 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30 - 2:30pm
Elective Seminar
2:30 - 4:00pm
Lab
4:00 - 6:00pm
Practice Rounds
6:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:00pm
Lab Evening Activities
8:00 - 9:30pm
Office Hours
9:30pm
Dorm Check-In
10:30pm
Bed Check

NSD's Philadelphia PF Session 2 Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

Bryn Mawr College

Philadelphia, PA

July 13 - July 26

July 13 - July 26

$3,545

$3,545

NSD Philadelphia Session 2 is a two-week residential summer debate camp focused on Public Forum (PF) debate, great for all students, from beginners new to debate to experienced debaters honing their skills.

Residential
$3,545
Commuter
$3,145

Includes Housing (if Residential) and Meals

Free Access to Skill Builder Program

Payment Due Upon Registration (Financial Aid)

Dynamic Curriculum

Being successful in debate requires keeping up with new norms. From hiring world-class faculty with different styles, to teaching both traditional & non-traditional strategies, we provide a holistic outlook on debate.

Proven Track Record

Session 2 has an unparalleled record of success, boasting the highest number of TOC qualifiers, national rankings, and success among any camp in the country over the past several years.

Unparalleled Networking

Last year, over 300 Public Forum debaters, ranging from novices in middle school to top-5 ranked teams in the US, attended NSD's Flagship PF Camp.

5:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 5:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

9:45am
Dorm Check-out
10:00 - 11:30am
Lab
11:30 - 12:30pm
Mentor Group
12:30 - 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30 - 2:30pm
Elective Seminar
2:30 - 4:00pm
Lab
4:00 - 6:00pm
Practice Rounds
6:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:00pm
Lab Evening Activities
8:00 - 9:30pm
Office Hours
9:30pm
Dorm Check-In
10:30pm
Bed Check

NSD's Texas PF Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

St. Edward's University

Austin, TX

June 29 - July 12

June 29 - July 12

$3,195

$3,195

NSD Texas PF is a regional, mid-size two-week summer debate camp for middle and high school students focused on Public Forum (PF) debate.

Residential
$3,195
Commuter
$2,795

Includes Housing (if Residential) and Meals

Free Access to Skill Builder Program

Payment Due Upon Registration (Financial Aid)

Elite Faculty

Our directors head some of the most successful school debate programs in the country. They lead a diverse range of excellent debate instructors.

Train for Success in Texas

Receive a curriculum specifically targeted for success on the Texas circuit, one of the most competitive debate circuits in the country.

Close-Knit Community

NSD Texas gives students the chance to meet Texas coaches and create new friendships with local debaters in a smaller, regional camp environment.

5:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 5:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

9:45am
Dorm Check-out
10:00 - 12:00pm
Lab
12:00 - 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30 - 3:00pm
Lab
3:00 - 5:00pm
Practice Rounds
5:00 - 6:00pm
Mentor Group
6:00 - 7:30pm
Dinner
7:30 - 8:30pm
Elective Seminar
8:30pm
Dorm Check-In
8:30 - 10:00pm
Office Hours
10:30pm
Bed Check-In

NSD's Flagship LD Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE

July 13 - Aug 2

July 13 - Aug 2

$4,695

$4,695

NSD Flagship is our premier, three-week flagship summer debate camp for middle and high school students focused on Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate.

Residential
$4,695
Commuter
$4,095

Includes Housing (if Residential) and Meals

Free Access to Skill Builder Program

Payment Due Upon Registration (Financial Aid)

Elite Faculty

NSD Flagship's Lincoln-Douglas Debate faculty represents an elite group of championship coaches and former debaters from across the United States.

3-Week Bespoke Curriculum

With curriculum tracks designed for students of all levels, NSD Flagship is where students who aspire to national championship-level success train.

Where Champions Train

NSD Flagship's LD camp is renowned for providing a training ground to both rising stars and top ranked LD debaters across the United States.

4:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 4:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

9:45am
Dorm Check-out
10:00 - 12:00pm
Lab
12:00pm - 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30 - 3:00pm
Lab / Elective
3:00 - 5:00pm
Lab / Practice Rounds
5:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:30pm
Lab
8:45pm
Dorm Check-In
8:45-10:00pm
Office Hours
11:00pm
Bed Check

NSD's Philadelphia LD Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

Bryn Mawr College

Philadelphia, PA

June 29 - July 12

June 29 - July 12

$3,295

$3,295

Residential two-week summer debate camp for middle and high school students focused on Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate.

Residential
$3,295
Commuter
$2,895

Includes Housing (if Residential) and Meals

Free Access to Skill Builder Program

Payment Due Upon Registration (Financial Aid)

Elite Faculty

Director Chetan Hertzig has led championship school debate programs for almost 20 years, and oversees a diverse faculty of elite faculty.

Start Your Debate Journey

NSD Philadelphia's LD curriculum is a great starting place for students to begin the journey into the upper echelons of debate.

Beautiful Liberal Arts Campus

Bryn Mawr College is gorgeous, self-contained, and located in a quiet suburb of Philadelphia, perfect for students new to college settings.

4:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 5:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

9:45am
Dorm Check-out
10:00 - 12:00pm
Lab
12:00-1:30pm
Lunch
1:30 - 3:00pm
Lab
3:00 - 5:00pm
Practice Rounds
5:00 - 6:00pm
Mentor Group
6:00 - 7:30pm
Dinner
7:30 - 8:30pm
Elective Seminar
8:30pm
Dorm Check-In
8:30-10:00pm
Office Hours
10:30pm
Bed Check

NSD's Texas LD Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

St. Edward's University

Austin, TX

June 29 - July 12

June 29 - July 12

$3,195

$3,195

Residential two-week summer debate camp in Texas for middle and high school students focused on Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate.

Residential
$3,195
Commuter
$2,795

Includes Housing (if Residential) and Meals

Free Access to Skill Builder Program

Payment Due Upon Registration (Financial Aid)

Elite Faculty

NSD Texas Director Chris Castillo has led a historically successful Texas school over 15 years and oversees a diverse faculty of excellent instructors.

Train for Success in Texas

Receive a curriculum specifically targeted for success on the Texas circuit, one of the most competitive debate circuits in the country.

Close-Knit Community

NSD Texas gives students the chance to meet Texas coaches and create new friendships with local debaters in a smaller, regional camp environment.

4:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 4:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

9:45am
Dorm Check-out
10:00 - 12:00pm
Lab
12:00 - 1:30pm
Lunch
1:30 - 3:00pm
Lab
3:00 - 5:00pm
Practice Rounds
5:00 - 6:00pm
Mentor Group
6:00 - 7:30pm
Dinner
7:30 - 8:30pm
Elective Seminar
8:30pm
Dorm Check-In
8:30 - 10:00pm
Office Hours
10:30pm
Bed Check-In

NSD Online LD Topic Prep Week

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

Aug 4 - Aug 10

Lincoln-Douglas

6th-12th Grade

6th-12th Grade

$895

$895

Online, one-week session focused on the 2025-2026 September & October Lincoln-Douglas Debate topic.

1 Week LD Topic Prep
$895
Residential
$895
Commuter
$4,095

Elite Faculty

Our topic sessions are led by the same championship coaches and former debaters who teach at our in-person sessions.

Prepare for Success

Prepare cases and practice speeches with structured feedback from elite instructors, so you have confidence as you enter the competitive season.

Head Start on Competition

Get ahead on upcoming competitions with a week of focused, in-depth topic analysis, research, and argument generation.

Team Environment

For students without robust team support, we provide a structure for preparing a new debate topic just like the best institutional teams do.

Schedule

Monday-Sunday (EST)
10am - 2:30pm: Core Curriculum
5pm - 9:30pm: Optional Supplemental Sessions

**All times are in EST

Morning Session
10:00 - 11:00am
Topic Analysis
11:00 - 12:00pm
Group Argument Blocking Activity
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Lunch
1:00 - 2:00pm
Case Construction Workshop
2:00 - 2:30pm
Mini-Debate Drills
Evening Session
5:00 - 6:00pm
Topic Analysis
6:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:00pm
Group Argument Blocking Activity
8:00 - 9:00pm
Case Construction Workshop
9:00 - 9:30pm
Mini-Debate Drills

NSD Online PF Topic Prep Week

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

Aug 4 - Aug 10

Public Forum

6th-12th Grade

6th-12th Grade

$899

$899

Online, one-week session focused on the 2025-2026 September & October Public Forum Debate topic.

1 Week PF Topic Prep
$899
Residential
$899
Commuter
$2,895

Elite Faculty

Our topic sessions are led by the same championship coaches and former debaters who teach at our in-person sessions.

Prepare for Success

Prepare cases and practice speeches with structured feedback from elite instructors, so you have confidence as you enter the competitive season.

Head Start on Competition

Get ahead on upcoming competitions with a week of focused, in-depth topic analysis, research, and argument generation.

Team Environment

For students without robust team support, we provide a structure for preparing a new debate topic just like the best institutional teams do.

Schedule

Monday-Sunday (EST)
10am - 2:30pm: Core Curriculum
5pm - 9:30pm: Optional Supplemental Sessions

**All times are in EST

Morning Session
10:00 - 11:00am
Topic Analysis
11:00 - 12:00pm
Group Argument Blocking Activity
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Lunch
1:00 - 2:00pm
Case Construction Workshop
2:00 - 2:30pm
Mini-Debate Drills
Evening Session
5:00 - 6:00pm
Topic Analysis
6:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:00pm
Group Argument Blocking Activity
8:00 - 9:00pm
Case Construction Workshop
9:00 - 9:30pm
Mini-Debate Drills

NSD Online LD Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

July 21-Aug. 1

Lincoln-Douglas

6th-12th Grade

6th-12th Grade

$1,995

$1,995

NSD's two-week online summer debate camp for middle and high school students focused on Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate.

2 Week Online LD Camp
$1,995
Residential
$1,995
Commuter
$2,795

Elite Faculty

Our online LD camp is taught by the same championship coaches and former debaters who teach at our in-person sessions.

Small Group & Interactive

Receive live, small group instruction optimized for online learning. We prioritize keeping students active, engaged, and working collaboratively.

Flexible & Bespoke Scheduling

NSD's online camp gives campers flexibility to rigorously train debate-specific skills while still prioritizing other summer activities.

4:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 4:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

Monday-Friday (EST)
10am - 6pm: Core Curriculum
7:30pm - 10pm: Optional Supplemental Sessions

**All times are in EST

10:00am - 12:00pm
Lab
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Lunch
1:00 - 3:00pm
Practice Rounds
3:00 - 4:30pm
Mentor Group
4:30 - 6:00pm
Lab
6:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:00pm
Lab Office Hours
8:00 - 9:00pm
Elective Seminars
9:00 - 10:30pm
Office Hours

NSD Online PF Summer Camp

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

June 30 - Jul 11

Public Forum

6th-12th Grade

6th-12th Grade

$1,695

$1,695

NSD's two-week online summer debate camp for middle and high school students focused on Public Forum (PF) debate.

2 Week Online LD Camp
$1,695
Residential
$1,695
Commuter
$2,795

Elite NSD x Delta Faculty

Our online PF camp is taught by the same championship coaches and former debaters who teach at our in-person sessions.

Small Group & Interactive

Receive live, small group instruction optimized for online learning. We prioritize keeping students active, engaged, and working collaboratively.

Flexible & Bespoke Scheduling

NSD's online camp gives campers flexibility to rigorously train debate-specific skills while still prioritizing other summer activities.

4:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 4:1 student to teacher ratio.

Schedule

Monday-Friday (EST)
10am - 6pm: Core Curriculum
7:30pm - 10pm: Optional Supplemental Sessions

**All times are in EST

10:00am - 12:00pm
Lab
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Lunch
1:00 - 3:00pm
Practice Rounds
3:00 - 4:30pm
Mentor Group
4:30 - 6:00pm
Elective Seminars
6:00 - 7:00pm
Dinner
7:00 - 8:30pm
Office Hours

Private Debate Tutoring

Previously Sold Out on April 15th

All Events

Tutoring

6th-12th Grade

6th-12th Grade

$600

$600

Tutor with our expert staff year-round and improve on your schedule.

5 Hour
$600
10 Hour
$1,000

Individual Attention

Private tutoring let’s families maximize individualized attention and structure education to target specific needs and weaknesses.

Flexible Scheduling

Online tutoring provides the flexibility necessary to rigorously develop debate-specific skills while having freedom to pursue other activities.

The NSD Guarantee

Our year-long tutoring provides families everything they love about NSD’s summer camps: best-in-class education and curriculum.

Championship Staff

Our tutors have unparalleled track records as championship coaches and debaters.

NSD Tutoring At A Glance

Individual coaching is an excellent way for students to receive a curriculum customized to fit their needs, at a pace appropriate for them. Whether a student is seeking an introductory curriculum to the fundamentals of debate, or seeking advanced work on a series of specialized debate skills, each student’s individual tutoring program is tailored to fit their needs.

Access to tutors drawn from the pool of our summer faculty, which represents a selection of the best debate coaches in the country

Coaching sessions focus on a curriculum suitable to each student

Structured drills and practice to solidify improvement 

Supporting materials and assignments that students can complete between sessions

Flexible scheduling to fit into each student’s summer schedule

Students receive free access to NSD’s Skill Builder curriculum. Skill Builder features stand-alone curriculum modules intended for independent study, built by top faculty. Skill Builder helps students solidify background skills ahead of camp, so students can focus on what matters most while they are tutoring.

Purpose built by top debate coaches to help students improve their debate skills through focused, individual work

Step-by-step, easy to use modules with tools to improve their debate skills and arrive ready to maximize their improvement

Includes drill materials and rubrics for self-assessment, so students can practice on their own

Great for students with skill areas they want to improve on their own, and for true beginners who who want an introduction to debate

Helps students focus on the most valuable work during sessions, not on catching up

Over 5000 happy Alumni love sharing their love for NSD

"If I could choose any camp to go to in order to feel prepared for a new year of debate it would be NSD — it provided the perfect balance of education and friendliness, both ideals any camp should strive for, yet not many achieve."

Lilly Broussard
Philadelphia LD Alum

"I met friends who I still stay in contact with today. Compared to other debate camps, I would say NSD has a more rigorous curriculum — it was very challenging yet rewarding. NSD prepared me well for the two most important seasons of my debate career."

Evan Li | Flagship LD Alumni
2020 LD Debate National Champion (1st Place out of 5000+ Competitors)

"NSD stood out with its camp tournament, flexibility in debate styles, and the opportunity to compete and learn with the top debaters in the US. I became more confident in my skill level and knowledge in debate and left better prepared to debate with or against any style of debate."

Zion Dixon | Flagship LD Alumni
2022 LD Debate National Champion (1st Place out of 5000+ Competitors)

"I attended NSD for four years and it played a transformative role in my debate career. NSD's faculty are unparalleled and boast a diverse skillset in argument style and content. More importantly, I made friends at NSD that I still spend time with today, even in college."

Animesh Joshi | 3x Flagship LD Alumni
2020 LD National Runner-Up (2nd Place out of 5000+ Competitors)

A PARENT'S PERSPECTIVE

By Dave McGinnis

I am a debate coach, a debate camp instructor, and a parent of a successful debater. For the past three summers, I’ve chosen to send my son to NSD, and we will be sending him again this summer.

Like most parents, my first concern is always my son’s safety and well-being. NSD employs a residential life staff — adult professionals who monitor students’ experience, check them in and out so that someone always knows where each student is at, takes care of them when they are ill, enforces the rules, and helps them when they have any of a variety of problems. NSD employs several people solely for this function — these are not camp instructors pulling double-duty.

Read More

As a coach, my primary concern is always the quality of my students’ educational experiences, and as a proud dad, that concern is magnified! The two best aspects of NSD are the quality of its instructors and, vitally, the quality of the student body. My son, Conal, first attended NSD after 7th grade. He was very new to debate. Yet his lab instructors were all top-flight debaters and coaches; all three of them had attended the TOC and two of them had attended multiple times and “cleared” to TOC elims. This was a “low” lab, meaning a lab for relatively inexperienced debaters; but at NSD, every lab is coached by champion-level instructors. In addition, outside of lab time, Conal had the opportunity to interact with every instructor at the camp through lectures and individual mentoring sessions. He could choose to work with anyone from a recent TOC champion to a PhD candidate in philosophy.

Possibly even more important is the fact that NSD attracts many of the top debaters in the country. The caliber of my students’ colleagues at camp drives my students to learn more. NSD hosts students from all levels of debate — from novices to national champions. The fact that the top level of debaters at NSD are among the best in the nation is a huge benefit to the entire camp, because it raises the bar for everyone involved.

This year, after Conal’s third NSD experience, I asked him if he might want to try an alternative camp, for a change of pace. He flatly refused, telling me that his summers at NSD were among the main reasons that he qualified to the TOC as a freshman and, as a sophomore, has accumulated four TOC bids.

Many of these advantages apply to other camps you might find around the country. But over the course of a 21-year coaching career, I’ve had experience with all of them. Only NSD combines all of these characteristics.

Read Less

-David McGinnis
Head Coach at West Des Moines Valley High School

#1
# Rated Debate Camp
*based on student rankings/bids
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BIDS
5000+
ALUMNI
500+
SPEAKER AWARDS