Summer Camp
Where Champions Train Future Champions
Kritikal Discussions Summer Camp is a FREE, week-long ONLINE debate program focused on Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate. Running from July 5 to July 9, the camp offers comprehensive instruction and practice opportunities, followed by an optional tournament from July 10 to July 12. Our mission is to make high-quality debate education accessible to all students, regardless of students' educational background or location.
Our instructors are successful debaters on the national circuit level. You’ll be learning from national debate champions, including debaters who won the TOC, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Sunvite, and Ridge.
Whether you're a beginner, a JV debater looking to learn progressive arguments, or a varsity competitor aiming to secure a bid, we have courses suitable for EVERYONE. We place students into labs at their level and offer a variety of electives to tailor our curriculum to students' needs.
Our camp is completely FREE and fully ONLINE, allowing students from all regions and backgrounds to participate. This format supports our mission to expand access to high-level debate education for everyone.
With the interactive courses we offer, including labs, electives, practice rounds, and demonstration debates, students stay actively engaged and consistently challenged.
Sample Schedule
(In EST, a specific schedule will be sent out during the week of May 30)
Spencer Swickle debated for five years at American Heritage Broward/Plantation. He won the TOC, Harvard, Yale, Sunvite, the Tradition, and FFL states. He accumulated 20 bids to the TOC. His debate interests include theory, moral philosophy, and postmodernism kritiks. Outside of debate, he enjoys playing video games, basketball, and listening to music! Specializes in Philosophy and Theory.
In debate, Harris mainly read soft left affirmatives and critical positions, but is also familiar with topicality and policy arguments. He has done policy debate a few tournaments, but mostly competed in LD. During his career, he won seven national tournaments, broke at the TOC twice, won the Florida state championship, and reached late elimination rounds of the NSDA tournament twice. Outside of debate, he enjoys wake surfing, reading, and going to the gym.
(Listed in alphabetical order by grade level)
Chloe is a graduate from American Heritage Broward. She broke at numerous national tournaments, won Sunvite, and semifinaled National Speech and Debate Season Opener. She has 4 total career bids. Her debate interests include philosophy and theory arguments.
Salma is a junior at Horace Greeley High School and debates in LD. She qualified for the TOC in her sophomore and junior years, breaking both times. She has 9 total career bids and has won several tournaments and finals others. She mainly reads kritikal arguments and occasionally some policy. Outside of debate, she loves to read and study history as well as spend time with her family and friends.
Andy is a rising senior at Horace Greeley High School who specializes in critical and philosophical argumentation. They've advanced to out-rounds at major TOC-qualifying tournaments and have been competing on the LD national circuit since their sophomore year. Andy particularly loves postmodernism and identity based arguments rooted in colonial studies. Outside of debate, they enjoy drawing and ornithology. They’re excited to share their love for debate with more people!
Evan Lee is a debater from The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. He’s peaked #1 for his state in Lincoln Douglas debate. He’s particularly interested in the educational value of debate. Outside of school, he enjoys playing golf, eating, and listening to music.
I'm Angel, a rising senior at Plano West High School in Dallas, Texas. I've qualified to the TOC and reached bid rounds at various national level tournaments like Emory and Harvard, as well as 17th place at the national tournament. I'm mainly experienced with kritikal arguments, but I spend a lot of time thinking about phil positions, trad debate and disadvantages. Outside of debate I like reading, listening to music, and driving!
Emma is a rising senior at Immaculate Heart, located in Los Angeles. She qualified to the Tournament of Champions her junior year, reading policy oriented arguments with a touch of philosophy. She reached late elimination rounds at numerous tournaments, such as the Loyola Round Robin, Jack Howe, Damus Hollywood Invitational, CPS, Peninsula invitational, Berkeley, etc. Outside of debate she enjoys going out with her friends and playing with her dog.
Kaitlyn is a senior at Coppell and debates in LD, primarily reading identity-based kritikal arguments. She qualified for the TOC her sophomore and junior years. She consistently reaches elimination rounds at national tournaments including semifinals of the Kandi King Round Robin and finals of the TOC Digital Debate Series 2. Outside of debate, Kaitlyn loves reading and playing with her dogs.
Emma is a rising senior and the Speech and Debate Captain at LHP. In debate, she primarily read soft left affirmatives and critical arguments but is also familiar with philosophy and policy positions. She reached elimination rounds at multiple national tournaments, including Cypress Tradition, Harvard, Sunvite, and Lexington. She was third speaker at Harvard JV and ninth speaker at Sunvite. Outside of debate, she enjoys baking, reading, and listening to music.
Neel is a rising junior debating for Lake Highland Prep. He primarily reads the capitalism kritik and soft-left affirmatives, occasionally reading policy and existentialist arguments. As a freshman, Neel qualified for NCFL Nationals in Chicago. In his sophomore year, he TOC-qualified, finaled the Lexington Round Robin, earned multiple speaker awards, and reached elimination rounds at national tournaments including Apple Valley, the National Speech and Debate Season Opener, the New York City Invitational, Lexington, Florida Blue Key, TOC Digi, and the Nova Titan Invitational. When not debating, Neel enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and playing with his dog.
Thatcher is a rising junior who debates for Loyola High School. He reads a wide range of positions, from kritiks such as capitalism and ableism to typical policy arguments and theory. This year, he reached three bid rounds, was fourth speaker at Golden Desert, placed fifth in the state of California, advanced to elimination rounds at Peninsula, Harvard-Westlake, Golden Desert, and TOC Digis 2 &3, and qualified for NSDA nationals . Outside of debate, he enjoys playing pickleball and participating in foster care for dogs at home.
Chase is from Fort Lauderdale High. Chase has made it to semis at Blue Key in Novice LD, quarters at Tradition in LD, semis at Nova Titan in LD, quarters at Sunvite in LD, and had success at some local tournaments as well as qualifying for NSDA Nationals twice.
Taro is a rising junior debating for Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida. His interests involve policy and theory arguments, with some philosophy oriented Ks on the side. In freshman year, he broke at FFL Varsity States and finaled a few novice tournaments, winning Stanford in the novice division. As a sophomore, Taro broke at numerous national circuit tournaments and went 3-3 at the rest. He also participated in the Durham Round Robin, aka the Cavalier Survivor Challenge. When not debating, Taro enjoys playing the piano, taking photos on film and digitally, filming and editing videos, and programming.
Jacob is a rising junior heading into his second year in varsity debate. He mainly reads policy and K arguments. He actively debates on the national circuit and reached elims at Sunvite. Debate is really important to him and he loves learning new topics.
Justin is a rising junior at American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. Debate wise, his argument interests include the Nietzsche K, Meta-Theory, Spark, and tricky philosophy. He has reached outrounds at multiple national circuit tournaments, including the Barkley Forum and Florida Blue Key, and has qualified for and broken at the NSDA national tournament this year. He is the only sophomore at Harvard to reach the octofinal stage, accumulating a TOC bid in the process. He also semifinaled FFL States, getting second place speaker. Outside of debate, he enjoys playing the violin, running for his school's track team, and reading philosophy.
Hello, I’m Conan. I am in the class of 2028 and have been doing LD debate since the 2022-2023 Academic year. I started debate in a small Miami school without huge prep groups, large coaching personnel, etc, where I learned how to debate by constantly practicing and watching numerous videos by myself. I began my high school debate career at American Heritage Broward, where I met many amazing people and further refined my debate skills, which I am still doing today. I specialize in philosophy and theory now, but I used to LARP. Outside of debate, I do a lot of community service, play guitar and saxophone, and read philosophy and political literature. I look forward to working with you all this summer!