Summer Institute

*All proceeds from Summer Institute go toward our debate programs in Title 1 schools across the city. We hire summer staff based on registration numbers. For these reasons, we cannot offer refunds once tuition has been paid. Thank you for your understanding, and your contribution to our mission!

2024 Summer Schedule

HIGH SCHOOL & ADVANCED MIDDLE SCHOOL PF: IN-PERSON SESSION (2 weeks)
9-3pmEST
July 1-5 (excluding July 4)
July 8-12
MIDDLE SCHOOL PARLI & PF: IN-PERSON SESSION (2 weeks)
9-3pmEST
July 15-19
July 22-26
ONLINE SUMMER SESSION (2 weeks)
9-12:30pmEST
July 1-5 (excluding July 4)
July 8-12

Scholarship Policy

Scholarships are available to students who qualify and participate in our league through their school. Any student may participate in Summer Debate Institute, but only students who attend our league schools are eligible for scholarships. If your student is a debater at one of our member schools, please fill out this form to apply for a scholarship.

Questions? Email us at summer@debate.nyc

Dates/Times/Prices

  • Live Session (High School & Advanced Middle School PF): July 1-12 (9-3pm) // Cost: $1,699 until March 31st (option to do virtual camp on July 5th)
  • Live Session (Middle School): July 15-26 (9-3pm) // Cost: $1,699 until March 31st
  • Remote Session: July 1-12 excluding July 4th (9-12:30pm) // Cost: $699 until March 31st

If you would like financial aid, please contact your coach to recommend you or apply directly through this form. Financial aid is available to students who have financial need and debate on teams at member schools in good standing with the NYCUDL.

FORMATS (Click on each tab to read more!)

Introduction to Debate: In our introduction class you can expect students to learn the fundamentals of debate which include: public speaking, research skills and basic argument formation. Students will collaborate to incorporate these skills in a debate setting such as in-class scrimmages.

Public Forum: In public forum debate, we focus on enhancing the NSDA standards expected in a public forum round. Some skills include topic specific research on the proposed Public forum NSDA topic along with learning format specific skills in given speeches.

Parliamentary: Parli format especially focuses on listening and extemporaneous speaking skills as students work on teams of three to debate topics with limited prep.

Why Join the NYCUDL’s Summer  Debate Institutes?

History and experience. The NYCUDL was formed in 2012 and has run Summer Debate Institute every year since its founding to support debate in NYC.

Support Debate Access: All proceeds from NYCUDL Summer Institute goes directly back into our programming in Title 1 schools throughout the academic year. Thank you for your support of our mission!

Our Staff.  Our teaching staff includes incredibly accomplished debaters and coaches (including former coaches from the Northwestern University and Harvard debate teams).

The best way to learn debate is to debate!

“Intro to Debate” at Summer Institute will impart the essentials of public speaking and basic debate with a frequent mix of active practice and feedback.  Comprehensive units aim to raise skills—and enjoyment!—of public speaking, research, inquiry, vocabulary, critical literacy and higher-order thinking. Ask your instructor questions at any time. All units embrace skills that invaluably transfer to make your academic success faster, higher and stronger!

Parliamentary Debate is the largest and most popular debate format in the world as well as at the American collegiate level. Students learn more debate topics than any other debate format and unlike other debate formats. Parliamentary emphasizes extemporaneous and impromptu debate skills with limited preparation times and having to “think on your feet.” Debaters work on teams of three with time to argue topics with limited prep in this energetic format.

Public Forum debate is now one of our largest debate formats in the country.  The focus is more on persuading your audience – rather than the heavy evidence focus of policy debate.  Public Forum Debate is also unique in that it was founded to be easily accessible for the “public” so that any one can serve as a “citizen judge” and any student can be a debater. Debaters work on teams of two to present and defend their cases with active moments of crossfire questioning between speeches.

Summer Institute Registration 2024

Student Information

Mailing Address *
Mailing Address
Street Address 1
Street Address 2
City
State/Province
Zip/Postal
Grade Level In September *
Tournament Experience *

Choose Your Program

A. Choose a session
AAA. Choose a session
AAAA. Choose a session
AA. Choose a session
Please select which type of debate you would like to participate in this summer. *
Feel free to message us at summer@debate.nyc, if you have any questions.
Please select which type of debate you would like to participate in this summer. *
Feel free to message us at summer@debate.nyc, if you have any questions.

Parent Information

Student Code of Conduct

Student Code of Conduct
All students must comply with the New York City Department of Education policies.
Additionally, students must:
(1) Show courtesy and respect toward others and property at all times.
(2) Dress appropriately at all times.
(3) Use appropriate language.

Statement of Disciplinary Action
The following are some examples of disciplinary action which may be taken in the event that the NYCDOE Code of Conduct, school policies, or district policies are not followed:
(1) Asked to leave the Summer Debate Institute for the day and/or for the remainder of the program.
(2) Referred to school administration.
(3) Registration will not be refunded.

Permission Slip


Tuition

There is a tuition fee which helps to cover the cost of the instructors, facilities, tournament registration, and tournament meals. And most importantly supports our mission to expand access to underserved schools and students that do not have access to scholastic debate.

All payments are non-refundable.

In-person participants will have an additional set of forms, including covid vaccine requirements, emailed upon registration.

Parent/Guardian Consent

Permission to participate in the NYCUDL. I do hereby consent that my child may participate in the stated activity, and in consideration for the New York City Urban Debate League (NYCUDL) giving its time and supervision of such activity, do hereby personally on behalf of my child, absolve and release the NYCUDL, its agents and volunteers from any claim of personal injuries which might be sustained by my child while participating in such activities, or while returning to his/her home.

Student Code of Conduct.

I understand that my child will be expected to sign and follow a code of conduct to participate in the stated activity, and that, in the event of inappropriate behavior by my child, I may be contacted and asked to pick up him/her.

Media Consent.

I, as the parent or legal guardian of the minor named below, hereby grant permission to New York City Urban Debate League, Inc. (NYCUDL), or persons contracted by the NYCUDL, to take photographs and/or video/audio recordings of my child in connection with his/her participation in the New York City Urban Debate League for the 2020-2021 school year. In addition, and without limiting any other provision of this Consent, for the purposes of a documentary series in development by Made-By-Hand, LLC in connection with the NYCUDL, I also give unrestricted permission to Made-By-Hand, LLC and its assigns to record and edit photographs, video, sounds, voice, and media of my child in connection with his/her participation in the New York City Urban Debate League for the 2021-2022 school year for the documentary project currently titled "Up for Debate" without limitations, in perpetuity, and in all media. Furthermore, I grant permission to the NYCUDL to publish in print, electronic, or video format the likeness or image of my child obtained during the 2019-2020 school year for public relations, educational, or any other lawful purposes. I further agree that my child’s name and identity may be revealed in connection with the likeness or image. I authorize the use of my child’s likeness or image without compensation to my child or me. All negatives, positives, prints, digital reproductions, and video recordings shall be the property of the NYCUDL barring the recordings by Made-By-Hand, LLC and its assigns in which case, Made-By-Hand, LLC will retain ownership.

Online Rules

The NYCUDL Institute should be a positive learning experience for all participants. Our aim is to provide an advanced academic program for mature elementary, junior high and high school students. All participants agree to respect the rights and feelings of other workshop students and staff. These rules are not meant to be exhaustive. It goes without saying that the institute is not a “sanctuary” for conduct that violates state and/or federal law.

Our staff is here to teach and will not be distracted by students who are unable to work responsibly with others. Therefore, students who violate our communal norms will be expelled from the workshop. Expelled students will not receive any refund of tuition.

Minor Offenses that unreasonably inconvenience other students or staff members will be dealt with through consultation. Staff will first consult with the student about his or her behavior. If that consultation fails to correct the problem, staff will consult with parents. Should that fail to correct the problem, the student will be expelled. Minor offenses include, but are not limited to, lateness to scheduled activities, roll-calls, or room-checks; refusal to participate in scheduled academic activities, such as practice debates and lab drills; any electronic harassment or cyberbullying of others; disrespectful speech or affect directed to staff and/or inappropriate use of networked classroom space.

Rules of Conduct

1. Attendance at all classes is required.

2. Although students are at home, they are expected to dress in a manner appropriate for an educational setting. Clothing will be deemed inappropriate if it is disturbing to other students or in any way interferes with the educational process. Students are prohibited from wearing clothing and accessories that: have slogans, comments or designs that are obscene, lewd or vulgar; advertise alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or illegal drugs; are directed against or intended to demean individuals based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, religion, etc. Students wearing clothing deemed inappropriate will be asked to change.

3. The password students are given to enter classrooms.debate.nyc are confidential and should never be shared with anyone

4. Any other technological location references to the room should not be shared with anyone.

Payment

Would you like to purchase a t-shirt ($20 with delivery)?
The NYCUDL is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to make debate accessible to all students. All proceeds from Summer Debate Institutes further that mission. COVID-19 has resulted in hard times for everyone, but especially for non-profits in NYC. Please consider adding a tax deductible contribution of any amount to help us create the next generation of Great Debaters!
Total

Your credit card will be charged the tuition fee. *