Beginner · Ages 9–12 · 13–16 · Small-group online
World Schools Debate Summer Bootcamp
A three-week intro to World Schools debate, built for total beginners
About this program
The Summer Bootcamp is the easiest way to try World Schools debate before the fall season starts. It runs as monthly cohorts in June, July, and August. Students meet twice a week for a two-hour class over three weeks (twelve hours in all) and go from never having debated to giving a real speech in a judged practice round. It is built for complete beginners, and it sets up a running start for the fall Foundation class. The 2026 cohorts have finished, and enrollment for summer 2027 opens in the spring. Students who want to start sooner can take the same course over the winter break in the Winter Academy.
Is this the right fit?
- Who it's for
- Students who have never tried World Schools (or debate at all) · Families who want to try it before committing to the fall term · Summer-break learners who like a short, focused challenge
- Prerequisites
- None at all. The bootcamp is built for students who have never debated; a first speech is exactly what they will leave with.
- Where it leads
- Graduates step up to World Schools Foundation.
Not sure which level fits? Compare all programs side by side or book a free consultation — it ends with a placement recommendation.
When it meets
The bootcamp runs as monthly summer cohorts, and each cohort meets twice a week for three weeks. The 2026 cohorts have finished. The times below are the ones 2026 ran on; the 2027 schedule is confirmed when enrollment opens in the spring.
Summer 2026 cohorts
- June cohortEnrollment closed
- July cohortEnrollment closed
- August cohortEnrollment closed
6 sessions · 12 hours total
The 2026 schedule, shown for reference · one option per student, meets twice a week
Option A · Mondays & Thursdays, 1–3 PM ET
Mondays
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT
Thursdays
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT
Option B · Tuesdays & Fridays, 10 AM–12 PM ET
Tuesdays
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT
Fridays
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT
You choose your option at checkout. Every option covers the same 6 sessions.
What students achieve
- ✓Understand how a World Schools round is structured and what each speaker does
- ✓Build and deliver a simple, complete argument (claim, warrant, impact)
- ✓Offer and answer points of information without freezing
- ✓Debate in a friendly judged practice round by the final session
- ✓Leave ready to start the fall Foundation class with a head start
What a session looks like
Every class runs the same loop, so students always know the shape of the hour.
- 0:00
Warm-up
A short speaking or thinking game to get students talking before the pressure is on.
- 0:15
Skill of the day
One idea taught directly (a speaker role, an argument, or POIs) with clear examples.
- 0:40
Guided practice
Students try the skill in pairs or small groups while the coach circulates and corrects.
- 1:15
Mini-debate
A short round applying the day’s skill, so every session ends in real speaking.
- 1:45
Feedback
The coach debriefs and each student leaves with one thing to work on next time.
Curriculum
01Session 1 · The format
How a World Schools round runs, the speaker roles, and how Style / Content / Strategy judging works
02Session 2 · Building arguments
Turning an opinion into a real argument: claim, warrant, and impact, with your first practice speech
03Session 3 · Rebuttal
Listening to the other side, finding the weak point in an argument, and answering it out loud
04Session 4 · Points of information
Offering and answering POIs without freezing, plus keeping your speech on track under interruption
05Session 5 · Teamwork and case building
Working as a three-speaker bench and building a full case together for the final debate
06Session 6 · Your first debate
A full judged practice round with individual written feedback and a fall placement note
What's included
- ✓Six live 2-hour classes over three weeks (12 hours in total)
- ✓A judged practice debate in the final session with written feedback
- ✓The printable beginner resource pack: speaker cheat sheets and a first-motion set
- ✓A placement note recommending the right fall-term class
- ✓A small-group setting capped so every student speaks in every session
Who teaches it
Biser Angelov · World Schools Coach
Won the European University Debating Championships. Finished top 16 in the world at WUDC.
Netra Easwaran · World Schools Coach
Debates with the Yale Debate Association, with a strong record on the APDA circuit. Directs World Scholar’s Cup programs.
Matt Mauriello · Debate & Writing Coach
Won the Yale Invitational on the APDA circuit. Reached the final at multiple APDA tournaments.
Tin Puljić · Debate Coach
2021 World Universities Debating Champion. Best ESL Speaker at WUDC 2020 and 2021.
Cailyn Min · World Schools Coach
Best Open Speaker at WSDC Panama 2025, a first for Team USA. USA National WSDC Team, 5th place at Worlds 2025.
Full credentials for the whole team are on the coaches page.
Our students got accepted into
Read this before you start
Everything below is free and needs no account. It is the background the first few sessions of World Schools Summer Bootcamp assume.
- What is World Schools Debate?
Worth reading before the first session if the format is new.
- The summer debate camp, explained
What the bootcamp covers, both tracks, and how it compares with other camps.
- Format quick reference
Speech order and timings on one page, printable for the first week.
- The World Schools glossary
The vocabulary the bootcamp moves quickly through.
- World Schools vs Public Forum
For students arriving from PF, every difference to adjust to.
- 40 practice motions
Sorted by motion type, for practice between sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need any experience?
No. The bootcamp is for complete beginners, including students who have never done any debate. Everything starts from what a round looks like and what a first argument is.
When and how often does it meet?
Twice a week for three weeks, two hours per session, twelve hours in total, in monthly cohorts across June, July, and August. In 2026 there were two time options: Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 PM Eastern, or Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 12 PM Eastern. The 2027 times are confirmed when enrollment opens in the spring.
What happens after the bootcamp?
Students finish ready for the fall Foundation class, which begins in early September. We send a short placement note with each student’s recommended starting point, so the bootcamp flows straight into the season.
What does my child need to take part?
A computer or tablet with a camera and microphone, and a quiet space to speak. Classes are live and online. We provide all the materials, including the printable resource pack.
What if we miss a session?
It is a short program, so reach out and we will share notes and help the student catch up before the next class. Our full withdrawal and refund terms are on the Refund Policy page.
Summer 2026 has wrapped
The bootcamp runs again in summer 2027, and enrollment opens in the spring. Dates and pricing are published then.