Nestled in the heart of pristine Eugene Oregon, the Oregon Debate Institute utilizes all of the research capabilities and training opportunities one can expect from the prestigious University of Oregon including the multi-million dollar Knight Law Library. The Oregon debate institute began offering instruction in public forum debate in the summer of 2005 and has been fervently building its program, attracting staff with national and global recognition.

The camp runs July 30th – August 14th and includes instruction on public forum theory and strategy from some of the nation’s top coaches.

The camp focuses on deep theory and issues understanding, emphasizing both the rhetorical aspects of effective public debate as well as analytical skills needed to excel. The Oregon Debate Institute is perhaps the only school in the country that offers instruction recognized on a global level and, despite its new status in the public debate camp community, is rapidly becoming one of the more notable institutes in the country. Information on the camp can be found online. Entries received on or before July 1st will receive a tuition discount.

Leading the camp is University of Oregon Forensics Co-Director Aaron Donaldson. Aaron, along with camp co-director Jason Lear, represented the U of O at the 2005 BP (world’s style public forum or British Parliamentary Debate) World Universities Debate Championships. The team was the first publicly funded, American team in the tournaments 25 years of existence to advance beyond the preliminary field of over 320 teams into the elimination rounds of 32. Ultimately the team landed in semi-finals, one round away from the World’s Final round and among the top 8 teams on the planet. They advanced beyond public forum speakers from notable institutions like Oxford, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and several law schools from across the globe.

Donaldson was a successful collegiate public speaker (NPDA) from Carroll College, at one point ranking 3rd in the country and was recognized as the 12th speaker in the nation at the 2003 National Parliamentary Debate Association National Championship. He currently coaches the nationally recognized program at the University of Oregon.

Joining Donaldson is recent UO graduate Jason Lear. Lear was one of the few undergraduate students at the World’s tournament in the elimination rounds of competition, and the only undergraduate student in the semi-final round. Jason is a 2 time Extemporaneous National Champion and was the 14th speaker in the nation at the 2005 NPDA National Championship Tournament.