We’re back to offering in-person sessions!

Overview

This two-week session takes place from June 24th to July 7th at Swarthmore College In Pennsylvania. It is open to Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas debaters and is suitable for debaters of all experience levels, circuits, and competitive ambitions.It is especially recommended for students looking for a smaller environment with more individualized attention. 

Swarthmore College

Just 10 miles from Philadelphia and about two hours from New York and Washington D.C., Swarthmore is the perfect site for VBI in the Northeast. Swarthmore is the #3 ranked liberal arts college in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. It has been named #1 in the country six times, and many call it one of the "Little Ivies." Swarthmore has a reputation for sending students to elite graduate programs in law, medicine, business, and academia, and its historic Peasley Debate Society is highly competitive

LODGING AND FOOD

Students and staff will stay in David Kemp, and Mertz halls. Most students will share a room with another camper. Roommate request forms will be sent out in the spring after students have registered. 

VBI tuition covers three meals per day for students in the Sharples Dining Hall.

TRAVEL

Students arriving by plane should plan to land no later than 3 PM on June 24th and students arriving by car must be on campus by 4:00 PM. Students may arrive beginning at 7 AM.  We recommend trying to arrive as early as possible. All students must be off campus by 12 PM on July 7th. If you are unable to make this times work, please contact us as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. 

VBI will provide transportation by hired shuttle to and from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to students arriving and departing within the designated travel window (7 AM - 3PM). Students will be greeted at baggage claim by staff wearing VBI t-shirts and holding signs. The airport transportation fee is $100. Students arriving outside of the travel window are responsible for providing their own travel. 

Frequently asked questions

Answers to frequent questions about VBI Philadelphia can be found HERE.

OVERVIEW

This two-week session takes place from July 30th to August 12th at the University of California Los Angeles. It is open to Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas debaters and is suitable for debaters of all experience levels, circuits, and competitive ambitions. It is especially recommended for students looking to get a head start on the September/October 2023 topics, which will be used during the second week of the session. The final week is our September/October topic workshop, which will be singularly focused on preparing for the Sept/Oct 2023 topic.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

Located right off of the famous Sunset Boulevard between Bel Air and Westwood, UCLA offers students the best of Southern California on one of the most beautiful and comfortable campuses around. US News and World Report has UCLA ranked as the #1  public college in the United States.  Business Insider says that UCLA has the 5th best college food in the country. At UCLA student have a chance to learn while staying at one of the country’s best colleges.

LODGING AND FOOD

Students and staff will stay in Sunset Village. Nearly all students will share a room with one or two other campers. Roommate request forms will be sent out in the spring after students have registered. 

VBI tuition covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner for students in UCLA's dining facilities 

TRAVEL

Students arriving by plane should plan to land no later than 3 PM on their sessions start date and students arriving by car must be on campus by 4 PM. Students may arrive beginning at 7 AM. We recommend trying to arrive as early as possible. All students must be off campus by 12 PM on their session end date. If you are unable to make this times work, please contact us as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. 

VBI will provide transportation by hired shuttle to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to students arriving and departing within the designated travel window (7 AM - 3PM). Students will greeted be greeted at baggage claim by staff wearing VBI t-shirts and holding signs. The airport transportation fee is $100. Students arriving outside of the travel window are responsible for providing their own travel. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers to frequent questions about VBI LA can be found HERE.