Whitman National Debate Institute

The Whitman National Debate Institute is a one to three week camp for debate at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. It is designed specifically for high school coaches and students interested in Policy, Lincoln-Douglas,and Public Forum Debate. WNDI is highly regarded and well known throughout the high school debate world, even recognized by the National Forensics League, the nation's speech and debate organization [http://www.nflonline.org/SponsoringNFL/Advertisers] .

Cost

The Camp features prices based on event, and time you spend at the camp. Public Forum is only offered for one week at the camp, and the program costs $775. LD and Policy Debate are offered at $1375 for two weeks, and $1875 for three weeks. There is also a scholars program, offered for three weeks at $975.

[http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/cost.htm]

Some feel this camp to be a bit pricey, and indeed, it is a bit more expensive than some other camps. Supporters would argue that the quality of evidence is higher, the camp is more informative, and the camp provides three meals a day (as opposed to many, only two), and that this justifies the higher price.

Policy

The camp aims at sufficing the policy debaters' needs by organizing the camp into small "labs" which are able to research evidence, discuss theory, and carry out practice debates.

The camp produced 5800 pieces of evidence for policy debaters in 2006. This evidence included 14 cases, 12 disadvantages, 10 counterplans and 14 kritiks. [http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/policy.htm]

Since fewer people stay for the third week, WNDI claims this week to be an extra, individual advantage for students who stay, and receive one-on-one attention.

LD

The Lincoln-Douglas portion of the camp boasts small labs, advanced theory, and coverage of all topics that are to be featured the following debate season. They also mention a similar third week advantage as Policy. [http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/ld.htm]

Public Forum

It is more difficult to claim camp as a benefit to the persuasive, monthly changing in topic, PF debate. But the camp here emphasizes one-on-one attention, and a focus on argumentation, and the debate in as much of a sense of strategy as it can be put into.

If you choose the Public Forum Program, you will focus on the key aspects of Public Forum debate including crossfire, sound argumentation, rebuttal crystallization, being able to prepare on new topics each month. We will emphasize strong, persuasive speaking. You will work with people who have a strong knowledge of good public debating skills.

[http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/pubforum.htm]

Scholars

The scholars program is for three week LD and Policy debaters who show extraordinary merit and talent.It mainly functions as a scholarship opportunity with more individual attention and evidence.Among the staff are nationally ranked debaters Ben Meiches and Matt Schissler. [http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/policy-scholars.htm]

Coaches Program

In addition to student debate, coaches can use the camp to get evidence for their students, learn about the debates so that they are better equipped to coach them, and judge debates for pay. [http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/coaches.htm]

Coach attendance costs $700, $1000, and $1400 for one week, two weeks, and three weeks respectively. They can gain discounts however, of $100 off per student they bring (up to $300), as well as up to $50 off a week for judging. [http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/cost.htm]

Comments

Comments about the camp are available [http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/camp/comments.htm here ]