June 20 - August 7, 2010
If you are looking for the most comprehensive and challenging summer workshop experience, the Michigan Seven Week Program is for you. These labs offer the only cohesive, continuous Seven Week summer program for high school debaters. The Seven Week Labs offer a student to faculty ratio of 9 to 1 or better a better ratio than any major lab in the country. In addition, the 2009 Seven Week Labs turned out arguably the best evidence set in the country (the 2009 Seven Week evidence set was over 7000 pages). Seven Week Labs are available for rising Seniors and Juniors.
The Seven Week Program is our most exclusive camp. ONLY THE TOP 81 Juniors and top 36 Seniors WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE SEVEN WEEK CAMPS. The only applicants who are elligible are students who will be a Junior or Senior entering the 2010-2011 debate year. The Seven Week Lab combines technological innovation (video taped debates, paperless debate, etc.) with the best debate instructors in the country and our incredible University of Michigan research facilities to make the most comprehensive camp experience available in the United States.
Seven Week Lab Instructors:
Seven Week Seniors Lab Instructors
Dr. Jarrod Atchison, Trinity University
Jenny Heidt, Westminster Schools
Calum Matheson, Glenbrook South High School and Harvard University
Seven Week Juniors Lab #1 Instructors
David Heidt, Westminster Schools and Emory University
Elli Kuenzel, Emory University
Jason Peterson, St. Mark's and the University of Michigan
Seven Week Juniors Lab #2 Instructors
Josh Clark, Juan Diego Catholic High School
Maria Liu, The University of Michigan
Scott Phillips, The Potomac School
Seven Week Juniors Lab #3 Instructors
Kuntal Cholera, St. Mark's and the University of Texas at Dallas
Michael Greenstein, Glenbrook North High School
Shunta Jordan, Pace Academy
A list of the qualifications of these teachers is provided in our faculty section.
Dr. Jarrod Atchison, Trinity University
Jenny Heidt, Westminster Schools
Calum Matheson, Glenbrook South High School and Harvard University
Seven Week Juniors Lab #1 Instructors
David Heidt, Westminster Schools and Emory University
Elli Kuenzel, Emory University
Jason Peterson, St. Mark's and the University of Michigan
Seven Week Juniors Lab #2 Instructors
Josh Clark, Juan Diego Catholic High School
Maria Liu, The University of Michigan
Scott Phillips, The Potomac School
Seven Week Juniors Lab #3 Instructors
Kuntal Cholera, St. Mark's and the University of Texas at Dallas
Michael Greenstein, Glenbrook North High School
Shunta Jordan, Pace Academy
The unique format of the Seven Week Labs ensures that students receive an intensive, comprehensive and non-duplicative curriculum. This years program will, once again, split the Juniors and Seniors into separate labs. The Seven Week Lab Leaders will split up the research assignments so that no assignments will be duplicative and every single student will receive every bit of evidence the four Seven Week Camps produce. The Junior and Senior labs will make practice round schedules together so you still have exposure to all of the Seven Week Faculty and teams. This program therefore offers unparalleled opportunities for in-depth instruction and learning, and extensive analysis of the new national debate resolution.
We believe that the structure of the Seven Week Program is entirely unique and cannot be duplicated in any other camp environment in the country. If you want to elevate every aspect of your debate ability in an intensive Seven Week environment this is the camp for you!
What did the 2009 students think of the experience:
Would you recommend the Michigan Debate Institutes to friends and teammates?- 98% yes
Would you recommend the Michigan Seniors Lab to friends and teammates?- 97% yes
Would you recommend the Michigan Juniors Program to friends and teammates?- 95% yes
"The decision to spend seven weeks of my summer doing debate work was a tough one for me, but I knew I made the right choice when I got to Michigan. It's filled with brilliant lab leaders at every levelof the program who genuinely care about your progress, and it enabled me to improve every aspect of my debating without feeling overburdened or stressed out. I would recommend it to any one who wants a competitive edge earned in the company of people who share your love for the game."
Ellis Allen, Westminster Schools (GA), Winner of the 2009 Greenhill and Michigan Tournaments and Top Speaker at the 2009 St. Mark's Tournament, Attended 2008 Michigan Classic for Sophomores and 2009 Michigan Seven Week Juniors Program, 10/15/09
"I've told all our Juniors to go to Michigan Seven Week next year. Given the time available and quality of the lab leaders, you are guaranteed to improve in almost every imaginable aspect of your debating. If I could go back, I'd go to Michigan again."
Brad Bolman, The Pembroke Hill School (MO), Finalist at the 2009 New Trier Tournament and Winner and Top Speaker of the 2009 Kansas City Community College Tournament, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 10/13/09
"Attending Michigan Seven Week Seniors was definitely the right decision. Michigan offers a rigorous debate program that has prepared me to excel at every aspect of debate. With dedicated lab leaders that work countless hours, high-quality evidence, practice debates, and lectures, Michigan creates champions."
Helen Gomez, Carrollton Sacred Heart (FL), Semifinalist at the 2009 Georgetown Day School Tournament and Quarterfinalist at the 2009 St. Mark's Tournament, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 10/15/09
"The Seven Week Seniors Lab was not only the most rigorous camp experience I've had in high school, but also the most rewarding. The lab leaders really had a vested interest in making sure we all left with progress, whether that be skills in round or research before it. The new ways I learned how to execute arguments as well as think about debate as a whole made it possible for me to truly prepare myself for a competitive year."
Misael Gonzalez, Whitney Young (IL), Finalist at the 2009 Greenhill Tournament and Winner of the 2009 Valley Tournament and 2009 Michigan Seniors Round Robin, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 9/15/09
"Michigan was a great camp experience! I got to work with some of the best and most dedicated lab leaders in the country. As a result, I grew as a researcher, a speaker and as a debater. Ann Arbor was great, I made a ton of friends and had a great time."
Alex Pappas, Glenbrook North (IL), Winner of the 2009 St. Mark's Tournament, Attended 2008 MNDI and 2009 Michigan Seven Week Juniors Program, 10/13/09
"Debate camp is one of the most important decisions a debater can make; and out of the large selections, attending Michigan was by far the best choice. It gave me intense practice debates against the top juniors across the country, an outstanding compilation of evidence, access to the University of Michigan library which included a wide array of elite search databases, a chance to meet and hang out with some of my best friends, and tips from some of the best coaches in the country to help further enhance the way I debated and made sure that even the smalest schools could compete throughout the entire year."
Lee Quinn, Mountain Brook (AL), Finalist at the 2009 Wake Forest, Marquette, and Samford Tournaments, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Juniors Program, 10/14/09
"Out of all the debate camps that I have been to Seven Week Seniors was not only the most helpful but also the most fun. There is a high emphasis on skills development through practice rounds and mini debates that is not available at other camps. This unique aspect of Michigan means more time spent one on one with lab leaders and less spent acting as an evidence mill."
Lewis Sharp, The Pembroke Hill School (MO), Finalist at the 2009 New Trier Tournament, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 10/15/09
Fees
Would you recommend the Michigan Seniors Lab to friends and teammates?- 97% yes
Would you recommend the Michigan Juniors Program to friends and teammates?- 95% yes
"The decision to spend seven weeks of my summer doing debate work was a tough one for me, but I knew I made the right choice when I got to Michigan. It's filled with brilliant lab leaders at every levelof the program who genuinely care about your progress, and it enabled me to improve every aspect of my debating without feeling overburdened or stressed out. I would recommend it to any one who wants a competitive edge earned in the company of people who share your love for the game."
Ellis Allen, Westminster Schools (GA), Winner of the 2009 Greenhill and Michigan Tournaments and Top Speaker at the 2009 St. Mark's Tournament, Attended 2008 Michigan Classic for Sophomores and 2009 Michigan Seven Week Juniors Program, 10/15/09
"I've told all our Juniors to go to Michigan Seven Week next year. Given the time available and quality of the lab leaders, you are guaranteed to improve in almost every imaginable aspect of your debating. If I could go back, I'd go to Michigan again."
Brad Bolman, The Pembroke Hill School (MO), Finalist at the 2009 New Trier Tournament and Winner and Top Speaker of the 2009 Kansas City Community College Tournament, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 10/13/09
"Attending Michigan Seven Week Seniors was definitely the right decision. Michigan offers a rigorous debate program that has prepared me to excel at every aspect of debate. With dedicated lab leaders that work countless hours, high-quality evidence, practice debates, and lectures, Michigan creates champions."
Helen Gomez, Carrollton Sacred Heart (FL), Semifinalist at the 2009 Georgetown Day School Tournament and Quarterfinalist at the 2009 St. Mark's Tournament, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 10/15/09
"The Seven Week Seniors Lab was not only the most rigorous camp experience I've had in high school, but also the most rewarding. The lab leaders really had a vested interest in making sure we all left with progress, whether that be skills in round or research before it. The new ways I learned how to execute arguments as well as think about debate as a whole made it possible for me to truly prepare myself for a competitive year."
Misael Gonzalez, Whitney Young (IL), Finalist at the 2009 Greenhill Tournament and Winner of the 2009 Valley Tournament and 2009 Michigan Seniors Round Robin, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 9/15/09
"Michigan was a great camp experience! I got to work with some of the best and most dedicated lab leaders in the country. As a result, I grew as a researcher, a speaker and as a debater. Ann Arbor was great, I made a ton of friends and had a great time."
Alex Pappas, Glenbrook North (IL), Winner of the 2009 St. Mark's Tournament, Attended 2008 MNDI and 2009 Michigan Seven Week Juniors Program, 10/13/09
"Debate camp is one of the most important decisions a debater can make; and out of the large selections, attending Michigan was by far the best choice. It gave me intense practice debates against the top juniors across the country, an outstanding compilation of evidence, access to the University of Michigan library which included a wide array of elite search databases, a chance to meet and hang out with some of my best friends, and tips from some of the best coaches in the country to help further enhance the way I debated and made sure that even the smalest schools could compete throughout the entire year."
Lee Quinn, Mountain Brook (AL), Finalist at the 2009 Wake Forest, Marquette, and Samford Tournaments, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Juniors Program, 10/14/09
"Out of all the debate camps that I have been to Seven Week Seniors was not only the most helpful but also the most fun. There is a high emphasis on skills development through practice rounds and mini debates that is not available at other camps. This unique aspect of Michigan means more time spent one on one with lab leaders and less spent acting as an evidence mill."
Lewis Sharp, The Pembroke Hill School (MO), Finalist at the 2009 New Trier Tournament, Attended 2009 Michigan Seven Week Seniors Program, 10/15/09
The cost of participating in a Seven Week Lab is $5350 plus a $60 Application Fee. Students who are admitted will be required to submit a non-refundable $1000 deposit shortly after receiving their acceptance. Payment of the balance must take place no later than June 1. Please check the "specials" section to see ways that you can save money while attending the Seven Week Camps!
Detailed Fee Payment Schedule - payments_7week.php
Application and Admission
Students who wish to apply to a Seven Week Lab must submit a completed application by May 1 and a $60 non-refundable application fee. Students will be notified of their admission status no later than May 15. Students attending must confirm via a non-refundable deposit shortly after their acceptance. Please do not call to inquire about admission status unless you have not heard from us by May 15 as there will be a wait list.
