Bill Batterman is the Attendance at a summer institute has become a critical component of a student’s success in contemporary interscholastic policy debate. While motivated individuals can still compete at a very high level without the benefit of a camp experience, those students who are able to take advantage of summer institute opportunities can substantially improve their argumentation skills, understanding of the topic, and enjoyment of the activity. Whether the camp runs for a week or for nearly two months, a student who immerses him- or herself into policy debate during the off-season and spends his or her time working with experienced teachers and committed peers will find themselves at a sizable advantage when they return to the rigors of competition in the Fall.
Given the investment in both time and money required by today’s institutes, it is imperative that students take their debate training seriously and make the most of their opportunity. Regardless of the institute one attends or the lab that one is assigned, it is those students who invest the most effort during their stay at camp that come away with the most rewarding experiences. The following discusses some of the most important ways that debaters can maximize the utility of their attendance at summer institutes. When September rolls around and your first big tournament of the year gets underway, you’ll be glad that you didn’t waste even a single opportunity to hone your skills and gain a leg up on your competition.