Friday
SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMS
DEBATE SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Debate Camp has supported school co-curricular debate programs throughout Canada and the northeastern United States since 2015. Pending our availability of Debate Camp staff in your area, Debate Camp is able to assist with co-curricular debate and public speaking programs in most terms and weeks of the regular school year. Schools we have supported annually include:
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• Ashbury College - Ottawa, Ontario
• Armbrae Academy - Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Avondale Public School - Toronto, Ontario
• Bishop Strachan School - Toronto, Ontario
• Crescent School - Toronto, Ontario
• Kempenfelt Bay School - Barrie, Ontario
• Kingsway College - Toronto, Ontario
• King's Edgehill School - Windsor, Nova Scotia
• The Hewitt School - New York, New York
DEBATE CLUB PROGRAMS
Debate Camp offers Saturday morning Debate Club programs in most of the Canadian cities in which it operates. These are typically hosted at a nearby university campus and allow for campers to maintain their love of debate and skills development throughout the fall and spring semesters. Currently, Debate Clubs are offered from 10:00am - 12:00 noon on Saturdays at the following locations:
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Vancouver - University of British Columbia
Ottawa - Carleton University
Toronto - York University - Glendon
Halifax - Dalhousie University
DEBATE COACHING
Debate Camp has some of the best and well trained program staff, who in between summers, welcome the opportunity to assist youth with their ongoing debate skills development. These 5 of 6 session 1 on 1 coaching modules are individually arrranged and can be catered to meet the specific needs of emerging debaters, whether in preparation for competition and / or general advanvcement of their debate and public speaking skills
INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES ALL PROGRAMS
LEVELLED INSTRUCTION: All camps divide the grades 5 - 11 registrants into 4 or more ability groups at the outset of camp. We strive to ensure all debate partnerships and speakers opposite are at an experience level that ensures the right level of challenge. Parents may pre-register their camper into the ability group they see fit, however, Debate Camp reserves the right to ensure campers feel comfortable with their level of challenge throughout the week. To help with this, see the following link:
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INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS: Debate workshops are designed in an interactive, student-centred way and aim to help campers develop skills in case construction, refutation and counterpoint techniques, parliamentary interruptions, tools for effective delivery and efficient research skills.
TEAMWORK AND FEEDBACK: Debates happen in partnership, normally in teams of 2 or 4 speakers - who work together. Campers co-develop cases, ensure effective rebuttal and receive feedback together; often as a side - pointing out strengths of argumentation and delivery. We aim for 3 to 4 practice rounds daily.
PRACTICE: Debate Camp is a place to learn, and we believe one of the best ways to develop new skills is through practice and effective feedback. At camp, debaters are on their feet, raising points, countering and developing new abilities in an active way. We are more about this active form of learning and less about lecture-style teaching. For a full description of the debate styles used in practice click on:
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT: Debate Camp is a place of new ideas. We believe that to open young minds to the world around them, particularly global issues and current events, helps in case construction and broadens possible speech topics.
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CHALLENGE BY CHOICE: Debate camp provides countless opportunities to advocate for an idea, form a response, stand and speak on a point. Whether in impromptu speaking games, debate feuds, or formal rounds - campers who take these opportunities get the most out of camp.
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT: Camp is also a supportive place, with lots of encouragement available for those who are trying new things. Campers are coached to honour what is being said by their opponents and welcome the efforts of others, even in competition.