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The Oregon Debate Institute is the nation’s premier debate and speech camp. The ODI offers Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced levels for high school debaters and speakers and incoming UO freshmen. Our student-teacher ratio is 4-1. There will be multiple programs tailored to a variety of forensics events.

The curriculum of the institute focuses on a combination of group lectures and small labs.  We teach current events and how to apply current issues in a concise format to win debate rounds. Other programs will focus on public speaking practices and workshops.

The staff of the ODI has included the 2011 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence champions, the 2011 National Parliamentary Debate Association National Tournament champions, the 2010 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence runners-up, the 2009 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence #1 seed, and the 2008 and the 2009 National Parliamentary Debate Association National Tournament runners-up. Staff members have also been into deep out-rounds and finals at various regular season tournaments in NFA-LD, Extemp, CEDA/NDT and Impromptu. Additionally, the staff includes college debate coaches from around the nation, many of whom have coached national champions in college forensics.

ODI Alumni have been in the final round of the Oregon State Tournament (Public or CX) in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and the semi-final round in 2011. Campers have gone on to win tournaments in Policy, PoFo, Parli, Public, Extemp, Impromptu, and LD.  ODI Alumni include Matt Bolstad, Hailey Sheldon, Matt Gander, Hank Fields, Chris Flemming, Ross Burford, Tim Harper, Tim Borgerson, Brandon Schierman, Mack Conroy, Dante Toppo, Ryan Mills, Kehl VanWinkle, Elizabeth Fetherston, James Miller and Alex Payne.  ODI makes speech and debate champions – you could be next.