SUMMER SPEECH & DEBATE CAMP
The Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop (MDAW) for middle and high school students is open for registration!
Attend Our In Person Summer Camp Options!

Week 1
Tues, June 20 – Sat, June 24
Quick Start for Beginners – Policy Debate
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(In Person, 9 AM-6 PM)Quick Start for Advanced – Policy Debate
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(In-Person): 9am – 6pmQuick Start Public Forum
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(In-Person): 9am – 6pmQuick Start – Lincoln Douglas Debate
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(In-Person): 9am – 6pmHigh School Congress
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(In-Person): 9am – 6pmMiddle School Policy Debate
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(In-Person): 9am – 3pm

Week 2 + 3
Mon, June 26 – Fri, June 30
High School Debate & Argumentation
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(In-Person)Middle School Congress
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(In-Person)Middle School Speech – Public Address
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(In-Person)
Mon, July 3 – Sat, July 8
Middle School Speech – Oral Interpretation
July 3-July 8 – no programming on July 4(In-Person)
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Wed, July 5 – Sat, July 8

EXTENDED CAMPS
Multi-week Camp Options
15 Day Comprehensive Policy Camp – for All Levels
Tuesday June 20 – Friday July 7; no programming on July 2 or July 4
(In-Person): 9am – 6pm
Learn More10 Day Public Forum Debate Camp – for All Levels
Monday June 26-July 7; no programming on July 2nd or 4th.
(In-Person): 9am – 6pm
Learn More10 Day Lincoln Douglas Debate Camp – for All Levels
Monday June 26 – July 7; no programming on July 2nd or 4th.
(In-Person): 9am – 6pm
Learn MoreMiddle School Comprehensive Camp
Combines: Policy Debate, Congressional Debate, and Speech Camp
(In-Person): 9am – 3pm
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Registration Changes in 2023
Fund-A-Friend at Registration
We use registration dollars to pay for the expenses related to camp, and where possible, to fund scholarships that make camp access easier for all interested families. If you can afford full pay for camp, consider making a gift that would help make camp accessible for more families with a one-time or monthly gift.
Important Deadlines to Know
The priority deadline for MDAW Scholarship applications is April 23, 2023. Apply for scholarships during registration by using the “For Financial Aid Only” option.
Cancel your registration up to May 7th without penalty; after that we don’t do refunds, except for special circumstances.
The final registration due date is Sunday, June 11th.
Financial Aid for Camp
The Summer Academic Enrichment Program will provide stipends to students on a first-come, first-served basis, to cover all or a portion of the direct cost to the student for attending one of our camps up to $1,000. Students must meet income qualifications and have earned a minimum C average in the camp’s subject area. Email Kitt at youngdk@augsburg.edu for more details.
WHY MDAW

MDAW’s Format Encourages Skill-Building
MDAW offers instructional workshops tailored to specific age groups. We work with area educators to provide a comprehensive curriculum that readies students at every level with evidence and skills for the next debate season.

MDAW Students Get TONS of Practice
We offer practice debates and skill-building drills nearly every day of camp. Middle school students find friendly competition in a full length debate at the end of their weekly sessions – so students can get a feel for the tournament experience. For high school students each session offers a number of full-length debates throughout their camp stay. In addition to this, staff facilitate re-dos, provide feedback, and create concrete steps for the student to continue improvement while at camp, carrying those skills into the competitive season.

MDAW Faculty Work Hard
We have incredibly experienced, talented folks working with students on a day-to-day basis. We make sure that students are exposed to a variety of styles while ensuring they can focus on skills and strategies they’ll use throughout the year. Our goal is to attract the best talent to our workshop so that students who attend MDAW will be prepared to have a successful season and build community.

MDAW is Budget Conscious
Our workshop operates on a not-for-profit basis. We run MDAW out of a desire to increase local opportunities for excellent debate instruction, not to make money. Tuition and room/board expenses are pegged to cost of running the workshop and providing fair salaries for staff. Scholarships are available, so don’t hesitate to contact us even though financial constraints may be a problem. We are committed to making sure no student is prevented from attending due to challenging economic circumstances, to the extent possible.
Bring urban debate to your school
Contact Amy Cram Helwich at cramhe@augsburg.edu to
learn more about how to bring these outcomes and more
to your school through debate.