Congressional Debate

Congressional Debate is an event where students debate legislation in a group setting as if they were members of the United States legislature. Congressional Debate bridges the presentation and pathos skills learned in speech events and the research and argumentation skills learned in traditional debate events. Students gain an understanding of a wide variety of the most prescient issues facing the United States and the world. Students who participate in Congressional Debate become more knowledgeable of real world issues and develop the ability to opine on a broad variety of issues, making themselves more aware members of society as they mature. While competing at local and national tournaments, students in Congressional Debate are uniquely positioned to meet other students from diverse backgrounds due to the inherently social nature of the event.

Congressional Debate Experiences

2 Week - Residential: $3,299.99, July 14 - 28, 2024 (Recommended)

2 Week - Residential with Speech Event Add-On: $4,299.99, July 14 - 28, 2024 (Recommended)

2 Week - Residential with 1-on-1s Add-On: $4,549.99, July 14 - 28, 2024 (Recommended; limited remaining spots due to high demand)

1 Week - Residential: $2,399.99, July 14 - 21, 2024

2 Week - Commuter: $2,399.99, July 14 - 28, 2024

1 Week - Commuter: $1,799.99, July 14 - 21, 2024

Stated prices exclude transaction fees if paying online by credit or debit card. While paying online by credit or debit card is our preferred payment method, we also offer alternative payment methods—more information available here.

Ascend California - Congressional Debate
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Why Congress at Ascend?

 

  • Track Record: Every winner of the Tournament of Champions in Congressional Debate this decade has been part of Team Ascend: Rohit Jhawar (2020), Andrew Sun (2021), Anish Beeram (2022), Tyler Luu (2023), and Fadhil Lawal (2024). No other camp has achieved the same level of success in Congress. Check out a recent panel interview Quest Sandel led with Rohit, Andrew, Anish, and Tyler.

    Recent wins by our alumni have also included the 2023 NSDA Senate, 2023 NSDA House, the 2023 and 2024 California State tournament, and 2023 and 2024 Texas State tournaments.

  • Top Tier Coaches: Our coaches are both champions and coaches of champions from all over the country! This will ensure you receive multiple perspectives on success and preparation for the local, state, and national level. This vast experience and diversity of coaches is why Ascend is perfect for students of all ages and experience levels.

  • Personalization: One of Ascend’s founding principles is that each of you are unique debaters with different styles. Rather than a one-size fits all approach, our coaches take a personalized approach to help you grow as a debater. Read more about the Quest 4 Success to learn about the personalization you’ll get from our Curriculum Director.

  • Extended Learning: Your Ascend experience isn’t limited to two weeks. From the start of camp through the end of 2024, you will receive access to our expansive video database which includes special lectures and advanced techniques from our coaches. You will also receive access to additional online office hours and live lectures designed to improve your skills both before and after camp.

  • Balance: Our curriculum is meticulously curated to teach and perfect both “lay” and “flow” concepts in order to create a balanced debater. This balance in our curriculum will turn your weaknesses into strengths while highlighting what makes you special.

The Quest 4 Success

“We want to be a critical part of every student’s quest to the top. By guaranteeing an individual plan, 1-on-1 coaching, and resources beyond camp, the Quest 4 Success fulfills this goal.”

-Quest Sandel, CEO, Co-Founder and Congressional Debate Curriculum Director

 

We are proud to have the most decorated Congressional Debate Coach in the nation, Quest Sandel, as our Curriculum Director. While Quest has run Congressional Debate at Ascend since our inception, we are excited to offer every Ascender at least two 1-on-1 sessions with Quest. Quest’s greatest strength is his ability to help debaters find a winning style that is unique to their personality, and these sessions are designed to do that. After the first session, Quest will partner with the student’s lab coaches to execute an individualized plan throughout camp called the “Quest 4 Success.”

Students will have ample opportunity to meet with Quest during daily office hours to conduct check-ins on their progress and receive even more individualized attention. The second 1-on-1 will be closer to the end of camp and is designed to “polish” all the work that has been done already. Students will walk into this session having learned most of their curriculum, completed 1-on-1s with multiple coaches, and on the verge of completing their “Quest 4 Success” plan. During this session, students will receive a final lesson tailored to them that will supercharge them into the new competitive season!

The quest doesn’t stop here though. Quest will collaborate with each student’s lab coaches to create an individualized “scouting report” that will contain a summary of progress, strengths and weaknesses, and a list of helpful drills. This report can be shared with parents, private coaches, or a school coach upon request. Lastly, once the season starts, students will have access to a question bank. This is a Google Form that students can fill out any time during the school year with questions or upload practice videos. Once a week, Quest will review the form and respond within a week of submission with either an answer or feedback.

Key Features

  • One-on-One Sessions

    We deliver a greater focus on one-on-one sessions than any other camp so that we can provide coaching specific to your needs. On average, you will receive one-on-one instruction every other day of camp. You will have the ability to work with the coaches that best fit your style. One-on-one sessions allow for a greater focus on your individual needs as a debater.

  • Mock Rounds

    We don’t just believe in teaching concepts. We believe that the best way to fully understand them is by practicing the lessons that are taught by our coaches in a tournament-like setting. We will offer at least one mock round a day and oftentimes two mock rounds a day where you will receive feedback that is tailored to the concepts that you are learning.

  • Office Hours

    During camp, instructors will be available to answer any questions in an office hour setting even when we’re not doing active instruction. You will also have access to virtual office hours during the three weeks prior to camp beginning and one week after it ends.

  • Resource Database

    You will receive access to our Congressional Debate video database through the end of 2024. The database includes nearly 100 videos featuring 6 national champions, so you can continue learning anytime, anyplace, even after camp concludes.

  • Lectures

    Every Ascend staffer will give lectures on concepts most conducive to your development as a Congressional Debater, ranging from the most common legislative topic areas to the skills most vital to you becoming a successful Congressional Debater. Our staffers will also discuss some of the issues within Speech and Debate and how you can combat them.

  • Regional Specialization

    Congressional Debate norms can vary region-to-region and from the national circuit to your local league. Since Ascend coaches are from across the country, they will ensure that no matter where you’re from, you’ll be able to succeed on both the national circuit and in your local league.

Sample Daily Schedule

  • 8:00am-9:00am: Breakfast

  • 9:00am-10:30am: Mock Round 1

  • 10:30am-12:30pm: Skill Lectures

  • 12:30pm-1:30pm: Lunch

  • 1:30pm-3:00pm: Lab Focused on Strategy & Drills

  • 3:00pm-5:00pm: One-on-Ones & Topic Lectures

  • 5:00pm-6:00pm: Mock Round 2

  • 6:00pm-7:00pm: Dinner

  • 7:00pm-7:45pm: Feedback on Mocks

  • 7:45pm-9:00pm: Office Hours

    Subject to change: Fun activities and other Ascend events can change the schedule on any given day.

 
 

Speech Event Add-On.

For ambitious students who compete not only in Congressional Debate but also a speech event during the season, Ascend is extending the opportunity to develop these two highly related skillsets simultaneously! Students can participate in one of extemporaneous speaking, platform or an interpretation event. Given certain school speech and debate programs require students to do both speech and debate, we want to ensure that our students are able to flourish and shine in both events. Please note this opportunity is only offered to those attending in-person both weeks of camp.

 
 

1-on-1s Add-On.

Ascend believes that one-on-one coaching is crucial to the success of our students. Therefore, we are pleased to offer a special plan designed to increase one-on-one attention during the camp. This would take place after dinner for an hour every single day with our champion coaches after lab instruction: Eleven 1-on-1 sessions with our instructors. Please note this opportunity is only offered to those attending in-person both weeks of camp.

 

Congress FAQs

  • We anticipate offering 5 different labs in Congress during Summer 2024 that vary by complexity. To determine lab placements, each student will be asked to submit a recording of themselves giving a congress speech to the best of their abilities. In addition, they will submit an evaluation form detailing their experience within Congressional Debate and noting some of their accomplishments. Subsequently, a panel of coaches will watch these videos and determine the current skill strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the student. Students will be assigned to labs tailored to their specific skill and experience. During the first two days of camp, our coaches will determine through their individual work with a student whether or not that student is better suited in a more experienced or less experienced lab. Ascend guarantees an opportunity to work with every single coach regardless of their lab assignment.

  • We have many students who attend Ascend more than once during their speech and debate journeys. In fact, we have some who have attended Ascend 4 summers in a row (It’s a ton of fun, we swear!). For Congress at Ascend California 2024, we are most excited about the below enhancements to the experience we delivered last summer:

    >The addition of a 5th lab means further lab-specific customization of curriculum so that we can ensure all students receive an educational experience that best meets their needs. Returning students are likely to be place in a more advanced lab than they were placed last summer, reflecting the growth they experienced from Ascend California 2023 and the following year of debate experience.

    >The new addition of “Quest 4 Success” means that all Congress students will now have at least 2 sessions with Quest for the first time ever. We’re also excited to roll out the “Quest 4 Success” plan, which Quest will develop for each student to guarantee a bespoke and individualized experience.

    >The 1-on-1s add-on: For the first time ever, we are offering the option to add-on 11 hour-long 1-on-1 sessions throughout camp with our champion coaches. Ascend is already hyper focused on individualized attention, but this 1-on-1 offering brings the level of individualization to a new level.

  • Yes! Our school year coaching program is called Champions Debate, which offers programming in both Congressional Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking. Learn more at out dedicated Champions Debate website.

  • If you are able to attend Ascend California in-person, we highly recommend doing so. Ascend California is our flagship experience.