Minnesota Debate Initiative · Macalester College

MDI 2027
Workshops

Intensive summer training for competitive debaters, grades 7–12, in the heart of Saint Paul.

Students at MDI 2026
Students at MDI 2026
Students at MDI 2026
Students at MDI 2026
Students at MDI 2026
Students at MDI 2026
Students at MDI 2026
Students at MDI 2026
Location
Macalester College
600 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN
Grades Served
7–12
Session Dates
July 10 – July 22
2027
Competitive Debate Workshop · Sample Daily Schedule

For middle and high school debaters planning to compete in Lincoln-Douglas or Public Forum. Morning seminars and practicum, expert lab instruction, and judged practice rounds every day.

This is a sample schedule. The complete daily schedule will be released on July 1.

Overnight students living in the residence hall.

8:00 am Breakfast 8:00–9:00 am
9:00 am Seminar
10:40 am Practicum
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Practice Debates
3:45 pm Lab Small-group and 1-on-1 instruction, research, case writing, rebuttal strategy, file production
5:30 pm Dinner 5:30–6:30 pm
6:30 pm Resident Activity 6:30–8:00 pm

Day students arriving each morning and departing each evening.

8:45 am Check In
9:00 am Seminar
10:40 am Practicum
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Practice Debates
3:45 pm Lab Small-group and 1-on-1 instruction, research, case writing, rebuttal strategy, file production
5:30 pm Check Out
Cost & What's Included
Super Early Bird Registration
MDI 2027 Tuition
This rate ends October 15, 2026
Residential Program
$2,250
Overnight · July 10–22, 2027
Save $550 vs. late registration
Commuter Program
$1,450
Day program · July 11–21, 2027
Save $400 vs. late registration
Tuition Schedule
  1. Super Early Bird
    Now – Oct 15, 2026
    Resident$2,250
    Commuter$1,450
  2. Early Bird
    Oct 16 – Dec 15, 2026
    Resident$2,450
    Commuter$1,600
  3. Regular
    Dec 16, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
    Resident$2,600
    Commuter$1,700
  4. Late
    Mar 1 – Jun 1, 2027
    Resident$2,800
    Commuter$1,850

Residential Program Includes

  • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
  • Housing in GDD Hall
  • Seminars
  • Practicum
  • Practice Debates
  • Lab
  • Resident Activities
  • After-Hours Supervision

Commuter Program Includes

  • Lunch
  • Seminars
  • Practicum
  • Practice Debates
  • Lab

Not Included

  • Transportation
  • Snacks
  • Supplies
Campus Facilities
Macalester College campus

Dorms

George Draper Dayton Hall

Dining

Café Mac in Campus Center

Classrooms

  • Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center
  • Humanities Building
  • Theater and Dance Building

Financial Aid Available

We believe every student deserves access to quality debate education.

Apply for Financial Aid