<p>My son has very little experience in high school debate due to the limitations of our school district. However, in a fledgling program, he stood out and enjoyed debate very much. He also made it to States in Forensics with very little training. Truthfully, he has potential but he has never even observed programs with well-trained student debators, and he has tons to learn. </p>
<p>His future college accepts novices, but he has the time to go to camp this summer for debate, and he would like to understand debate much better and to begin to develop skills. He has no ego problems and is not embarrassed about being the older newbie, but most programs we locate online do not seem to accept recent high school graduates. He will be 18.5 this summer, and I realize that the programs seem to be all about rising 10th and 11th graders. </p>
<p>Anyone have an idea? Anyone know of a camp that is willing to prep students heading for college debate teams? He knows he is not first string material and is simply ready for a learning experience. We are in VA but open to distant places, too.</p>
<p>many thanks!</p>
<p>Well I’m not quite sure but you can try [UTNIF:</a> The University of Texas National Institute in Forensics](<a href=“http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/debate/UTNIF/index.html]UTNIF:”>http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/debate/UTNIF/index.html)
which is the University of Texas’s debate camp… I don’t know about the age limit but yeah haha. Also, [Cross-X.com[/url</a>] is a great website for high school debaters and provides a LOT of insight on debate stuff and stuff. Oh, and scouring their website, I found this, which might be helpful: [url=<a href=“http://www.cross-x.com/vb/showthread.php?t=979584]College”>http://www.cross-x.com/vb/showthread.php?t=979584]College</a> Debate Camp? - Debate on the Web](<a href=“http://www.cross-x.com/]Cross-X.com[/url”>http://www.cross-x.com/)</p>
<p>And the national championship is from June 12- 16, which is in Durby, Kentucky, if your son wants to watch really great debaters. 
And for the best of the best debaters, the Tournament of Champions (TOC) is from May 2-4 at the University of Kentucky. But if your son is somewhat of a beginner (and I’m pretty sure he’d go slow, talk wise) then that’s not an option, but I’m pretty sure it’d expose your son to college debate, which I THINK is spreading (talking really fast), which is what the TOC is.</p>
<p>Oh, and in case your son can’t go to any debate camp this summer, there’s always the wondrous internet! :)</p>
<p>Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>thank you rocketblues! good leads!</p>