Summer Academic Enrichment Eligible Programs

Goals

Most debate competitors from well-resourced suburban and private schools are expected to attend debate camp, where they can build skills and knowledge over the summer that will allow them to take a running start to the upcoming season. We designed the Minnesota Debate & Advocacy Workshop as a low-cost, high-quality alternative for students who want a rigorous but fun camp experience in the Midwest. Our goals revolve around community-building, skill-building, and forging connections between high school students and mentors in the area.

MDAW’s Congressional Debate Camp is designed to help congressional debate students gain competitive success at the local and national level.

Students will: - Grow as leaders while they learn strategies and techniques to help them develop the hard skills of congressional debate (research, writing, delivery, and round strategy). - Learn the soft skills of congressional debate (being empathic listeners, promoting dockets, gaining consensus among peers, and learning to read judges). - Learn advanced research techniques as well as how to craft legislation that debaters will vote on to the docket.

These skills are core to success in Congressional Debate, but also remain useful in the classroom and as students pursue leadership positions in their own communities. Students will learn not just how to win debates, but also how to build consensus, adapt while incorporating feedback, and using evidence to support a case for policy change.

These skills and content knowledge directly translate to essay writing and analysis in social studies courses. Public speaking, argumentative writing, and deep reading of non-fiction texts prepares students for success in their English and Advanced Placement/IB coursework.

Activities

The core principle of MDAW is that debate is best learned by doing. Students will have a practice debate almost every day at camp. MDAW is where we learn new arguments, research new topics, and try-on new ideas.

In Student Congress / Congressional Debate, students have the opportunity to write and submit their own legislation to the National Speech & Debate Association (NDSA), for a chance to have students across the nation discuss it. At regular season tournaments, students also write and submit regionally- and locally-specific legislation. Last year’s national docket included topics ranging from free community college, to amending the Constitution to end the Presidential power of pardon, to funding the offshore wind industry. Students must be prepared to think creatively to research their own cases, as well as create compelling arguments in response to others’ legislation. Our camp is designed to help students undertake this exciting and challenging task.

Each day, campers will undertake individual and group work with the guidance of coach Ross Eichele. Students will spend time researching the issues they are most passionate about, as well as proposed topics from the NSDA (national) docket.

While much of the day will be spent undertaking rigorous study and skill-building in debate, students will have intentional time for building relationships with others through free time and fun debate games. In-person campers will have the opportunity to take breaks to do fun activities like roasting s’mores, tie-dyeing T shirts, making craft projects, or simply playing frisbee on Augsburg University’s lawn.

The final day of camp will culminate in a mock Congressional hearing, where students will present the strongest cases they created over the course of camp. Students will gain feedback from judges and receive awards for their work.

Program Dates

This camp takes place from Monday June 20, 2022 – Friday June 24, 2022.

Can students reside on campus? No

Can students commute to campus? Yes

Can students take online classes? No