Please read the following review that was prepared by a member of the forensicsonline.net staff. This review chronicles exactly what camps offer - and what they don't - as well as providing a basic reference point in terms of what you should look for in a camp.
Deciding what camp you should attend is a lot like deciding who you should ask to prom (if you’re a guy) or how you should politely accept or decline an invite to prom (if you’re a gal). Luckily for you, you don’t need to prepare an elaborate way to ask the girl or a good excuse to say no to the guy when it comes to camps – you merely have to sign away $2000 or so. Some say debate camp is the time of their life, where new memories are made, friendships forged, and occasionally, some refining of your speaking skills. Others contend that institutes institutionalize certain characteristics and mold speakers into a uniform model, destroying individuality and character. The intent of this piece is to provide a bit of perspective into what to expect – and not expect – from a debate camp as well as providing some basic tips on what to look for if you do decide to go to an institute this summer.
To camp or not to camp?
Camps are not for everything – they’re for the ones who want to invest time, money, energy, and part of a summer into competitive speech. Naturally, camps are geared towards improving one’s status at a competition – thus, those that are not competitive in their speech categories might not benefit as much from these methods of interaction and education. As well, camps are tailored for a specific mold of speakers – they cater to those that can and want to improve. That is, if you’re Mrs. National Champion 3 years in a row, you’d probably not benefit that much. Conversely, if you’re Mr. “I don’t want to compete but I need to fulfill a high school requirement,” you might not necessarily enjoy your experience all that much.
Generally speaking, most camps are two to four weeks long, teaching participants how to improve their speech skills, how to specifically refine their talents in their respective categories, and how to master the art of competition. Some camps are more rigid than others – for example, one camp is notorious for making those who show up late sing in front of their peers and perform tedious make-up assignments (if you’re not ready to try out for American Idol, I’d suggest skipping a certain camp in Arizona). Camps vary in their length, style, techniques, and mentality. Some are focused on fun, others focus on winning – some try to merge both together but too often fail to achieve either.
The size of camps varies as well – some are small and intimate (but, at some of these camps, I don’t think you want to get intimate with other participants) while others are large and endless (get ready to memorize your 6 digit student identification number – I’m only half kidding here). Some camps tend to have very competitive participants – those willing and wanting to win at all costs, even if it means succumbing to techniques that are otherwise taboo in their respective fields. Other camps tend to mimic The Great Gatsby and replicate the socialite culture of forensics. No matter big or small, competitive or not, you’re bound to meet people you’ve never met before and should leave with a new friend or two.
Camps will not be the panacea for any problem you have. While doing this report, I asked other staff members at forensicsonline.net on their take of camps – most felt that they benefited marginally, but nothing drastic, unless it was their first year competing. Perhaps most challenging of these camps is the general variance in talent – some really strong, some really weak. Catering to meet all these needs is tricky at best and impossible at worst.
Logically, one of the most important factors in deciding whether or not you should go to an institute is whether or it not it will help you. I personally found institutes (I attended several) to be tremendously helpful in my development as a speaker – I learned how to articulate my thoughts and speak confidently. Yet, my neighbor felt it was a big waste of time for two weeks.
So to camp or not to camp? That’s an individual question – much like if you’re going to attend junior prom or not. It’s an exciting adventure, filled with fun and twists, but it’s also a degree of work and might not necessarily be the most cost-effective approach towards success.
What to Look for in an Institute
I picked some really great camps and I picked some really crappy camps to attend while I competed and while I observed. Generally, I’d suggest looking for the following factors:
- Level of teaching expertise – Some camps excel in that they have a plethora of wisdom and expertise to impart to students. In many ways, these instructions determine the value of the institute. In particular, if you’re an extemper, you might want to check out Father John’s outstanding repertoire of information at FFI. However, UT’s institute offers a unique advantage in that their student instructors are top class and provide an insight that is almost unparalleled. To figure out exactly who teaches what and how well they teach, ask fellow competitors who have attended these camps and go through the websites of these camps. Make sure you’re picking quality instructors as your education will only be as good as the instructors who teach you.
- Method of Teaching – Some camps provide a method and formula for success, others use an impromptu variant that caters to the specific population. Both work and both are beneficial – it’s just a matter of choosing which one you want. For example, if you’re doing LD debate, different camps will provide you with very divergent stock theories and approaches to theory questions. Check out the reading lists that these camps have as well as their typical day schedule – see which institutes best fit your method of education and interaction.
- Schedules, Schedules, Schedules – Before you commit yourself to a camp, make sure you know what you’re getting into. That is, check out a daily schedule at the camps you’re interested in – does the camp have a lot of recreational time or is all the time structured in class? Do you have an opportunity to have lots of practice speeches with many critiques? These are questions you’ll want to ask (and know the answer) so that you can pick the camp that fits your needs. Some policy camps are very busy with filing, researching, and evaluation – others combine elements of socializing and relaxation to complement their work schedule.
- Pick the Right Size for You – Whether you like it large or small, make sure you know how big the camp will be and what the faculty/student ratio is. Some camps will have you in classes as big as 40, some as small as 4. Larger classes provide synergy, smaller classes offer intimacy and individualized attention. See where other competitors are going – if you want to learn from a specific foe (or friend), follow them to the institute that they are attending. Also make sure you know what types of room are offered and what you will have – some provide student dormitories, others offer hotel suites.
- Pick the camp that’s best for you- Naturally, pick the one that you feel most comfortable with. You’ll learn the most when you’re the most comfortable. If you’re not a fan of leaving home to go somewhere 3,000 miles away, stick with one closer to home. If you like the people going to one camp, go there and strength your friendship. In the end, pick the camp that compliments you best (on a side note – this is also advice for prom)