Does anyone have personal experiences from sending their children to the policy debate camp for high school students at Emory. If so please give your opinion. Is it worth the expense? Is it rigorous enough?
Emory is better for younger students on the national circuit - think entering frosh/soph year. It’s rigorous for that level on the national circuit. If they;re older on the national circuit, look at UMich, SDI at MSU, DDI at Dartmouth, or Georgetown.
My son attended the one at UMich two years, and he helped to coach the one at MSU for two years after he had entered college. I also endorse these debate institutes. I know the coach/director at MSU – Will Repko. He was my son’s high school debate coach, and also a national champion policy debater. He will also serve as a coach at the Georgetown Spartan camp. ADDED: link to Spartan Debate Institute – http://debate.msu.edu/debate/sdi. Link to Gtown camp: https://georgetowndebate.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/hoya-spartan/
IMO, debate fosters many valuable skills, not the least of which are research and teamwork.
All the camps are expensive, but worthwhile if your kid has national circuit aspirations. D started policy partway through freshman year. Never went to Emory, but these were our high school summers in case that gives you any perspective/help:
Rising Sophomore: Cal [UC Berkeley] Debate Institute
Rising Junior: Cal Debate Institute/Northwestern Debate Institute
Rising Senior: Dartmouth Debate Workshop/Dartmouth Debate Institute
Post high school summer: On staff at DDW/DDI before starting college.