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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. Hosted at the University of Illinois Chicago
Camps
Students Trained
Parents 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.
CDA Speak
Your first speech starts here. A guided 10-day camp that takes students from zero experience to their first competitive debate round — through improv games, coached practice, and a structured curriculum built by real classroom teachers.
CDA Launch
Launch is a 10-day intensive for students who know the basics of debate but need structured coaching to break into consistent competition. Students leave with topic-specific research, a full evidence packet, and the skills to hold their own in a Varsity round.
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.
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.
Head Coach | St. Luke's
Bryce coached Public Forum for the Lakeville Debate Team, growing the squad from a couple of students to a nationally competitive squad of a dozen debaters. Bryce also served as the President of the student-run Minnesota NPDA and is the foudner of Public Forum Boot Camp
Director of Debate | Civic Debate Academy
Katheryne was top speaker at Harvard , top-5 speaker awards at Valley, Blake, and Bronx, semifinalist at the TOC, 2x champion of the Valley, finalist at the Harvard, and semifinalist at Blake. As a coach, Katheryne has worked as an assistant at Taipei American School as well as ISD and NSD
Assistant Coach | The Blake School
Christian has worked as an assistant debate coach at the Blake School. Since then he has coached multiple invitational, state, and national champions, (NDCA and TOC) and was a Senior lab leader at the Harvard Debate Council’s Summer Workshops
Head Coach | St. Luke's
Bryce coached Public Forum for the Lakeville Debate Team, growing the squad from a couple of students to a nationally competitive squad of a dozen debaters. Bryce also served as the President of the student-run Minnesota NPDA and is the foudner of Public Forum Boot Camp
Director of Debate | Civic Debate Academy
Katheryne was top speaker at Harvard , top-5 speaker awards at Valley, Blake, and Bronx, semifinalist at the TOC, 2x champion of the Valley, finalist at the Harvard, and semifinalist at Blake. As a coach, Katheryne has worked as an assistant at Taipei American School as well as ISD and NSD
Assistant Coach | The Blake School
Christian has worked as an assistant debate coach at the Blake School. Since then he has coached multiple invitational, state, and national champions, (NDCA and TOC) and was a Senior lab leader at the Harvard Debate Council’s Summer Workshops
Head Coach | St. Luke's
Bryce coached Public Forum for the Lakeville Debate Team, growing the squad from a couple of students to a nationally competitive squad of a dozen debaters. Bryce also served as the President of the student-run Minnesota NPDA and is the foudner of Public Forum Boot Camp
Director of Debate | Civic Debate Academy
Katheryne was top speaker at Harvard , top-5 speaker awards at Valley, Blake, and Bronx, semifinalist at the TOC, 2x champion of the Valley, finalist at the Harvard, and semifinalist at Blake. As a coach, Katheryne has worked as an assistant at Taipei American School as well as ISD and NSD
Assistant Coach | The Blake School
Christian has worked as an assistant debate coach at the Blake School. Since then he has coached multiple invitational, state, and national champions, (NDCA and TOC) and was a Senior lab leader at the Harvard Debate Council’s Summer Workshops
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.
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.
