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Structured camps for middle and high school students — built by classroom teachers and top-ranked debate coaches. From first speech to TOC prep, every level has a pathway.
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Years of Camp
Students Trained
Parent Satisfaction
Expert Coaches
Any middle or high school student who wants to get better at debate — whether they've never competed or they're chasing a TOC bid. We run separate programs by experience level so beginners get real foundations, not trial by fire, and experienced debaters get coaching that actually pushes them forward.
First speech? Start here. A guided 10-day introduction to public speaking and Public Forum debate for complete beginners.
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Ready to compete? For novice and JV debaters building the skills to break into Varsity-level Public Forum.
Train with the best. Intensive PF prep for experienced competitors focused on elimination rounds, TOC qualification, and nationals.
Every camp follows a structured, day-by-day curriculum — not improvised lectures. Students always know what they're learning and why.
Practice rounds, speech redos, and real-time drills from day one. Students learn by doing, not by sitting through slides.
Low-pressure reps build confident speakers. Students practice in guided settings before competing — so they're ready, not rattled.
Argument construction, flowing, refutation, crossfire, weighing — the specific PF skills that win rounds, taught in progression.
Students learn by doing, with expert teachers building critical thinking.
Coached by classroom teachers and nationally recognized debate coaches with results at NSDA Nationals, TOC, and state championships since 2016.
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Bundle Camp + Accelerator to save $200!
Online prep classes that run before camp starts. Students build foundational speaking and argumentation skills so they hit day one ready to go — not playing catch-up. Four programs matched by age and experience level.
Interested? Add a camp first, then select Accelerator as an add-on at checkout.
Explore Camps
All CDA summer camps are run in partnership with PFBC — the nation's premier Public Forum training program. Same proven curriculum, same championship-level coaching staff, one seamless experience.
Learn More About PFBC
Founder | Carleton College
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Founder | Carleton College
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Founder | Carleton College
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Our staff aren't just award-winning debaters — they're trained educators. Every coach completes dozens of hours of instruction training before camp. That's why CDA students get coaching that actually transfers to competition results.
What’s on your mind?
CDA offers both online classes across the country and in-person class in Chicago to fit students’ needs, ensuring flexibility and access to high-quality coaching regardless of location. The National Debate Club Travel Team is hosted online with in-person and online tournaments.
Getting started is simple! Explore our class options with our easy to use class search tool or apply to join the National Debate Club for a competitive travel team.
CDA provides a full-service academy experience, combining accountability, regular progress evaluations, competitive travel teams, and introductory classes. With everything students need to excel in debate, CDA ensures you never have to look elsewhere.
The National Debate Club is CDA’s elite competitive travel team, designed for top-performing students who are ready to compete on the national circuit. Members receive advanced coaching, access to top-tier tournaments, and support to secure TOC bids and achieve success at the highest levels of debate. Click here to learn more!
Civic Debate Academy (CDA) is a premier debate coaching organization dedicated to helping students improve critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills through expert-led classes, workshops, and competitive travel teams.
