What Makes Bergen Debate Club The #1 Debate Club

World-Class Teachers

Bergen Debate Club's coaching team includes highly skilled educators, renowned private instructors, and top-performing former debaters, providing unmatched expertise and insight.

Life-long Skills

Our curriculum is tailored to impart skills that last a lifetime. Students learn to argue effectively, speak clearly and confidently, and excel at academic research and writing.

Unparalleled Results

Bergen Debate Club students have received over 1,000 speaking awards and top-ranked finishes at tournaments around the United States. Our results speak for themselves.

Designed for all skill levels

Whether your child is a 5th grader who is brand new to debate or a high schooler who is a seasoned veteran, our classes are tailored to meet them at their skill level.  

BDC Track Record

1,000+
Awards

10+
Years Experience

4,000+
Alumini

Our Track Record

4000+
Alumni

10+ yrs
Experience

1000+
Awards

BDC Alumni Continue to Gain admission to top Colleges & High Schools

Lincoln-Douglas debate camp designed for champions

Lincoln-Douglas debate camp designed for champions

CRITICAL THINKING & PERSUASION SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

NSD Flagship's Lincoln-Douglas Debate faculty represents an elite group of championship coaches and former debaters from across the United States.

ENPOWERING STUDENTS WITH LIFELONG TOOLS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS

With curriculum tracks designed for students of all levels, NSD Flagship is where students who aspire to national championship-level success train.

LEADERSHIP & PUBLIC SPEAKING ARE TAUGHT THROUGH DEBATE CLASSES

NSD Flagship's LD camp is renowned for providing a training ground to both rising stars and top ranked LD debaters across the United States.

PROVEN & CONSISTENT RESULTS AT NATIONAL DEBATE COMPETITIONS

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 4:1 student to teacher ratio.

Elite Faculty

NSD Flagship's Lincoln-Douglas Debate faculty represents an elite group of championship coaches and former debaters from across the United States.

3-Week Bespoke Curriculum

With curriculum tracks designed for students of all levels, NSD Flagship is where students who aspire to national championship-level success train.

Where Champions Train

NSD Flagship's LD camp is renowned for providing a training ground to both rising stars and top ranked LD debaters across the United States.

4:1 Student to Instructor Ratio

We pride ourselves on providing personalized attention and interactive education for each NSD camper and ensure a 4:1 student to teacher ratio.

Over 4,000 happy families love sharing their love for BDC

“BDC has brought so many wonderful memories into our home. It seems like it was just yesterday that Stephen and Isabella attended their first class. I remember their very first debate tournament and I’m amazed at how far they have both come. Debate has taught them so many lifelong skills. BDC is there to help you every step of the way, whether it’s for the weekly classes or tournaments. There’s really no place like BDC!”

Christina Tomeo

“BDC has fostered my love for debate and a skill set I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Before joining this program, I struggled with argumentative skills, but after rigorous training and tournaments, I believe I am a much better debater and person." 

Amelia Liu

“I first started at BDC a few years back as a young, shy speaker, but since then, I have learned so many important things about debate through classes and competition. Now, I have been able to utilize public speaking and logic to persuade others, and the skills I have developed have been very helpful in many places outside of debate as well. The coaches are also highly qualified and helpful. I definitely recommend!”

Suvid Bordia

"Through many tournaments and prep sessions, one of the best parts of being at BDC is being able to work and practice with peers and coaches. No matter what, everyone helps each other and wants the team to succeed. My favorite memory was participating in the Harvard Tournament in person.  Being with like minded people who care about the same things is what makes BDC a welcoming and supportive community to all."

Isabella Tomeo

NOT JUST A DEBATE CLUB

Your child will not only learn how to become the best debater they can be — they will also gain valuable skills that will propel them forward in all areas of life. From confidence to persuasive speaking to being a thought leader, your child will become the best version of themself.

87%

increase in analytical skills, according to NSDA

90%

of debaters complete at least one graduate degree, according to NSDA

22%

higher chance of being accepted into a college, on average.

18%

higher reading test scores compared to honors students, on average.

3.75 GPA

is the average of students on a debate team.

25%

of debaters are either top ranking corporate executives or work in the executive and legislative branches of government.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this program different from the regular debate classes?
Unlike our regular 2-hour weekly classes, this program offers a more individualized approach. It includes 15 hours of tutoring, which is tailored to the specific needs and goals of each student, and 12 hours of electives, where students can choose from skill-based or concept-based courses. The flexible structure allows students to schedule tutoring at times that work best for them, while the elective component provides the freedom to focus on advanced debate techniques that are most relevant to their personal development.
What topics will be covered in the Skill and Content Intensives?
Skill Intensives focus on practical, debate-round techniques like case writing, rebuttals, cross-examination, and frontlining. These are split into three, one-hour sessions to provide students with a comprehensive learning experience. Content Intensives dive into more theoretical and advanced areas, such as frameworks, theory structure, and kritik (K) structures. These consist of five, 75-minute sessions. Each semester, students will have the option to choose from various intensive topics to best suit their individual interests and goals.
How does the tutoring component work?
At the beginning of the semester, each student will meet with a program director for a 30-minute consultation to discuss their goals and areas for improvement. Based on this meeting, students are assigned a group of 3-5 tutors who are specifically suited to meet their needs. From there, students can schedule tutoring sessions at their convenience. The tutors work closely with the curriculum director to ensure that each session is aligned with the student’s objectives and progress is consistently monitored.
What if I miss a Skill or Content Intensive?
We understand that students have busy schedules, so if a student is unable to attend a scheduled Skill or Content Intensive, the session will be recorded and made available for later viewing. This ensures that students can still benefit from the material covered, even if they cannot attend in real time.
Is there a penalty if I don’t use all of my tutoring hours?
There is no penalty for not using all of your allotted tutoring hours. However, we strongly encourage students to take full advantage of the resources available to them. If a student is not scheduling their tutoring time, we will notify parents to ensure that students are getting the most out of the program
How do electives work in this program?
Students in the Customized Learning Track can select one skill-based course and one concept-based course per semester. Skill-based electives focus on practical aspects like case writing, rebuttals, and final focus, while concept-based electives explore advanced topics such as kritiks and theory. These electives are designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the techniques and strategies required for competitive debate. Each elective consists of three sessions, allowing for a thorough exploration of the chosen topic.
Is there a requirement to attend tournaments?
While tournament participation is encouraged, we have decided not to make it a mandatory requirement for this program. We want students to focus on their development at their own pace. That being said, competing in tournaments is a great way to apply the skills learned in the program and to continue growing as a debater.
Can I purchase additional intensives or tutoring sessions?
For the time being, we are focusing on offering the core program as a complete package. However, if there is interest in purchasing additional intensives or tutoring sessions outside of the program, we may consider introducing this option in the future. Stay tuned for updates on any a la carte options.

YOUR JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE BEGINS TODAY

In-person afterschool debate classes for 5th-12th students, summer camps, national travel team and private lessons