Capitol Debate Public Speaking & Debate Camp
The Lawrenceville School, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville, NJ 8648
About
Capitol Debate Public Speaking and Debate Camps offers activities such as Public Forum Debate, Parliamentary Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and a Public Forum Debate Competitive Events Elective. The program also includes a Competitive PF Training Camp, Rookie Camp, Public Speaking and Debate Camp, Public Speaking and Debate Online Camps, and After School Programs with a Club League and Debate League Season. Students take part in activities focused on Career Focused STEM, Business Communication, Legal Communications, Interpersonal Communication, The Art of Persuasion, Critical Thinking Skills, Improv, Conflict Resolution, and Communicating in a Group.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Sessions run in multi-day blocks, typically from July 12–July 23, July 26–August 06, or July 13–July 24.
• Price: Residential options range from $4,099 to $4,399 including tuition, room, and board; commuter options range from $3,299 to $3,599 including tuition during weekdays and Saturday from 9–5 with no meals provided and an option to purchase lunch; online camps are listed at $2,099 $1,999 including full online program access.
Capitol Debate was founded in 2006 and has been operating for 20 years. The program’s mission statement is that Capitol Debate exists to provide every student with the opportunity to develop essential communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills through debate and public speaking education. The leadership team is led by Founder & CEO Ron Bratt.
Staff at Capitol Debate Public Speaking and Debate Camps are described as leading educators who turn students into powerful communicators, classroom experienced teachers rather than college students, and nationally competitive debate coaches. The instructors are career educators with years of experience, are background-checked at state and federal levels, and receive extensive safety training, with adult dorm directors present 24/7. The program uses AI-Enhanced Coaching and integrates AI tools like Yoodli for personalized feedback, and also uses video coaching, an advanced collaborative learning platform, multi-format practice opportunities, and interactive digital learning tools.
The program includes a complimentary student assessment, a signature assessment process that identifies growth areas, proprietary skill development checklists, regular progress reports that track improvement, measurable outcomes for every student, and systematic advancement through skill levels. Safety-related policies include a zero tolerance for bullying policy, a nut-free policy at all locations, key card access to all buildings, residential advisors on every floor, a requirement that students remain in groups, and attendance taken at every class.
Capitol Debate reports that students from 32 countries participate, creating a diverse environment with different perspectives. The program notes that it is trusted by families in 1,500+ cities worldwide, describes itself as the nation’s premier public speaking and debate program since 2006, and lists 5 National Championships. Capitol Debate is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Top 100 Summer Camps in America.
Parent testimonials describe individual experiences, including a parent who noted “Watching Him Flourish” and highlighted improvements in Charlie’s critical thinking and ability to articulate his points. Another parent stated “Sign Me Up for Next Year” and shared that their child asked to be registered again the following year. A third testimonial, titled “She Was Safe and She Felt Safe,” comes from a parent who sent an 11-year-old eight hours from home for twelve days and emphasized that safety was their priority. Another parent reported that other parents now comment that their daughter is “such an eloquent speaker” and that the daughter wanted to return the following summer.
Last updated July 6, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Sessions run in multi-day blocks, typically from July 12–July 23, July 26–August 06, or July 13–July 24.
• Price: Residential options range from $4,099 to $4,399 including tuition, room, and board; commuter options range from $3,299 to $3,599 including tuition during weekdays and Saturday from 9–5 with no meals provided and an option to purchase lunch; online camps are listed at $2,099 $1,999 including full online program access.
Capitol Debate was founded in 2006 and has been operating for 20 years. The program’s mission statement is that Capitol Debate exists to provide every student with the opportunity to develop essential communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills through debate and public speaking education. The leadership team is led by Founder & CEO Ron Bratt.
Staff at Capitol Debate Public Speaking and Debate Camps are described as leading educators who turn students into powerful communicators, classroom experienced teachers rather than college students, and nationally competitive debate coaches. The instructors are career educators with years of experience, are background-checked at state and federal levels, and receive extensive safety training, with adult dorm directors present 24/7. The program uses AI-Enhanced Coaching and integrates AI tools like Yoodli for personalized feedback, and also uses video coaching, an advanced collaborative learning platform, multi-format practice opportunities, and interactive digital learning tools.
The program includes a complimentary student assessment, a signature assessment process that identifies growth areas, proprietary skill development checklists, regular progress reports that track improvement, measurable outcomes for every student, and systematic advancement through skill levels. Safety-related policies include a zero tolerance for bullying policy, a nut-free policy at all locations, key card access to all buildings, residential advisors on every floor, a requirement that students remain in groups, and attendance taken at every class.
Capitol Debate reports that students from 32 countries participate, creating a diverse environment with different perspectives. The program notes that it is trusted by families in 1,500+ cities worldwide, describes itself as the nation’s premier public speaking and debate program since 2006, and lists 5 National Championships. Capitol Debate is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Top 100 Summer Camps in America.
Parent testimonials describe individual experiences, including a parent who noted “Watching Him Flourish” and highlighted improvements in Charlie’s critical thinking and ability to articulate his points. Another parent stated “Sign Me Up for Next Year” and shared that their child asked to be registered again the following year. A third testimonial, titled “She Was Safe and She Felt Safe,” comes from a parent who sent an 11-year-old eight hours from home for twelve days and emphasized that safety was their priority. Another parent reported that other parents now comment that their daughter is “such an eloquent speaker” and that the daughter wanted to return the following summer.
Last updated July 6, 2026.
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