University of San Diego

San Diego, CA

*Cost covers tuition, room, and board. Commuter option does not include breakfast. Cost excludes $75 fee for safety regulations, local and federal governmental compliance.

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Schedule
Capitol
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The University of San Diego was started in 1949 by Bishop Charles Buddy and Mother Rosalie Hill. It began as two separate colleges, for men and women, but merged into a single liberal arts university in 1972. The school now includes six distinct divisions covering arts and sciences, law, business administration, education, and health sciences. The University of San Diego's beautiful campus is situated five miles inland, on the edge of a canyon overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has been ranked among the Princeton Review's Top 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses. The University has become a nationally ranked Catholic institution, with an average freshman GPA of 3.89. Businessweek ranked the undergraduate program 4th in the west coast and 36th in the United States.

University of San Diego Summer Camp Video
 
 
Our Camp Parents Have Spoken!

Here's what they said about Capitol Debate's Summer Camps.
data from 2017 parent survey

Students had Fun
Students Learned a Lot
Want Students to Return
Recommend camp to their friends

See for Yourself the Impact of Our Summer Camps!

Not only will Capitol Debate students learn new skills through our programs; they will feel an increase in self-worth, learn critical thinking skills and improve public speaking and communication skills with their peers. Two weeks at camp will result in lifelong friendships and memories that will resonate with our students throughout their academic, personal and professional careers. Campers return to our program year after year because of how life-changing our Summer Debate Camps prove to be. Our parents will tell you themselves that they proudly stand by their investment in Capitol Debate because of the impact it has had on their families.

 
 
 

University of San Diego Camp Reviews

Capitol Debate makes learning engaging and fun, which is the best of both worlds!

Monique DeMonaco
Capitol Debate Parent

I have enjoyed working with Capitol debate and helping students, learn and grow to find their voice, or simply gaining a love for debate.

Ruby Nunez
Capitol Debate Staff

Teenagers are naturally looking for opportunities to be heard. Give them the skills to think critically and debate coherently, so they can learn to think for themselves and argue for their own rights. Since we are not involved in any debate club or team during the school year, doing a camp like this is desirable.

Jacqueline Toh
Capitol Debate Parent

Communication skills are the most important skill necessary for success. Capitol Debate curriculum is focused on the whole student speaker and not JUST competitive debate It is a very good mix of public speaking and debating.

Jane Boyd
Capitol Debate Staff

Based on my child's experience, it was a good combination of academic learning, and recreational activities, apart from teaching them how to live independently.

Shailja Kaul
Capitol Debate Parent

Capitol debate summer camp if your child is interested in fun learning and wanting to polish their public speaking and debate skills

Yuan Wang
Capitol Debate Parent

My debate and public speaking skills have increased so much over the course of twelve days, and even if I choose not to pursue debate in the near future, these basic fundamentals will still help out in my academic education.

Emily Zhu
Capitol Debate Student

Capitol Debate helped me since last year, and this year. I have learned so much, learning how to speak well, learning how to write cases well, and learning to be a team. I want to have a shoutout to Victor, as he is the greatest person!

Andrew Juan
Capitol Debate Student

Attending this camp was valuable for my son not only for the debate experience but it has also helped him in his school classes such as English and Social Studies. Doing research on the debate topic was so beneficial.

Minou Jaghab
Capitol Debate Parent

This is a wonderful program that introduces the fundamentals of debate and an excellent camp for younger students to get the away from home experience. Program is well run and the staff is super!

Libo Xu
Capitol Debate Parent

Activities & Schedule

Capitol Debate is the nation's leading expert in teaching communication skills to middle school and high school students. Our nationally recognized staff has hundreds of years of pedagogical experience in helping youth find their voice. Thousands of shy students have walked through our doors in our nearly 20 years of summer camps to become confident young adults and leaders in their community.

Typical daily Schedule

  • 7:30 a.m. - Rise and shine!
  • 8:00 a.m. - Breakfast
  • 8:30 a.m. - Commuter check in
  • 8:45 a.m. - Morning announcements
  • 9:00 a.m. - Leadership exercise
  • 9:30 a.m. - Morning lesson
  • 10:30 a.m. - Small group exercises
  • 11:30 a.m. - Get up and speak
  • 12:00 p.m. - Lunch
  • 1:00 p.m. - Hands-on class time
  • 2:30 p.m. - Team building exercises
  • 3:30 p.m. - Practice
  • 5:00 p.m. - Dinner
  • 6:00 p.m. - Study Hall
  • 7:00 p.m. - Commuter check out
  • 7:00 p.m. - Recreational activities
  • 9:00 p.m. - Residential unwind hour
  • 10:00 p.m. - Room check and curfew

Activities outside of the classroom include:

  • Field trip
  • Talent show
  • Spa night
  • Movie night
  • Field Day
  • Karaoke night
  • Leadership Activities
  • Team building exercises

The Capitol Advantage

Expert Staff

We have a group of accomplished educators who have taught and competed for years. Our instructors are on the leading edge of debating & public speaking. Click here to view our full staff listing.

Top of the Line Curriculum

Our programs draw students from around the world because we focus on our resources year round to ensure that we can bring the best information to our students. Our curriculum focuses on theory and application to provide results that you will be able to see as they become better, more confident speakers.

Convenient Locations

Capitol Debate’s academic summer camps are spread across the United States, from East to West as well as internationally. With such a large number of location available you're bound to find the perfect camp location for you.

  • Low faculty to student ratio – Capitol Debate firmly believes in individualized instruction, which can only happen with small class sizes.
  • Personalized Instruction – Capitol Debate instructors give students hands-on instruction with researching, writing, speaking and organizing. After practice debates, instructors give students lengthy feedback to help them improve their skills.
  • Senior faculty oversee all classes – Unlike other debate camps, Capitol Debate’s instructors have an average of 15 to 30 years of pedagogical experience in the classroom. Many have coached national champions!
  • Practice, Practice, Practice – We make sure students are not just sitting in lectures, but instead are getting up and speaking every day and applying the lessons learned in a small group setting.

Expert Staff

  • Victor Gazio

    Headquarter Staff

    • For over 15 years, Victor Gazio has utilized his passion by working with youth organizations. Victor has been involved with Capitol Debate since its inception. Prior to working full-time with Capitol …  Read More »

  • Brad Hicks

    Camp Director

    • Bradley T. Hicks has been a teacher for 20 years and currently teaches Government and Economics in Williston, Florida. He holds a B.A. from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Inspired by those se…  Read More »

  • Lauren Scoggan

    Camp Life and Wellness Coordinator

    • Lauren Scoggan is originally from Alabama and is an alumnus of The University of Alabama. Lauren taught 5th Grade in San Antonio, Texas for four years. Her passion for encouraging student's acade…  Read More »

  • Boka Golubovic

    Camp Instructor

    • Bojana Golubović is a teacher of logic, philosophy, and TOK at Gimnazija “Svetozar Marković” Niš and instructor of debate at The City of Nis Debate Club, Serbia. During the school year, she is …  Read More »

  • Ryan Rigda

    Camp Instructor

    • Dr. Ryan Rigda has been with Capitol Debate for 4 years working as a Camp Director and Instructor. He currently works as a Lecturer of Communication at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. In …  Read More »

  • Omar Moore

    Camp Instructor

    • Omar Moore served as Debate Captain & President of the Advanced Technologies Academy Debate Team in Las Vegas, NV. Throughout his four years of high school, he primarily competed in Public Forum and L…  Read More »

  • Sal Sandoval

    Camp Instructor

    • Sal Sandoval competed in Public Forum for four years at Cypress Woods High School in Houston, Texas. While at CWHS, Sal served as an officer on his team both his junior and senior year and was also th…  Read More »

  • Michael Perry

    Camp Instructor

    • As a member of the Instructional Team at Capitol Debate, Michael Perry is passionate in his desire to help students develop important life skills that will have a positive impact on their educational …  Read More »

  • Callie Teague

    Camp Counselor

    • Callie Teague is a first-year student at the University of Oregon majoring in International Studies. Callie competed in both Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debate for three years at Valencia High Sc…  Read More »

  • Calli Pesina

    Camp Counselor

    • Calli Pesina is a current senior at a high school in Texas and will be graduating in June of 2019. Throughout her high school years she competed on multiple different circuits and placing at numerous …  Read More »

  • Selma Tabakovic

    Camp Counselor

    • Selma Tabakovic competed in Public Forum for 3 years at Lakeland High School in Westchester, New York. Selma debated at the United States Congress in March 2016 regarding the unfair surveillance of Is…  Read More »

  • Ryley Hartwig

    Camp Counselor

    • Ryley Hartwig is finishing his second year at Florida State University, majoring in Political Science. When in high school, Ryley competed for American Heritage School for 3 years in Public Forum Deba…  Read More »

Please note that all payments are nonrefundable. Should cancellation be necessary, full credit will be provided up to 1 year from the date of the event, if written notice of cancellation is provided prior to May 1st for camps and at least two weeks for other programs. Any add-ons, tournament or fees paid cannot be refunded and are non-transferrable. Summer camp cancellations received after May 1st or programs cancellations after two weeks prior to program starting must also be made in writing and will follow the cancellation credit timetables. For more details please visit our Terms, Policies, and Conditions page.

About Capitol Debate

Our Summer Camp and Year-round programs have helped build students’ communication and critical thinking skills, thus leading to better academic performance at school. The curricula of Capitol Debate debate camps is aimed to equip children with the ability to structure arguments, prepare debate cases, research evidence, write rebuttal briefs, deliver speeches and refute opponents. Students become prepared to give outstanding speeches in class, perform in a school debate or join their high school debate teams, Model United Nations teams or speech teams. Learn more »

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