Where will the students stay on the Wake Forest Campus?
We're happy to announce that this year, the workshop students will be housed in South Hall, the newest dorm for first year students. Opened in 2010, South Hall is modern, spacious, and conveniently located to the cafeteria and other buildings the students will use during the workshop. More information can be found on the Wake Forest Residence life website.
When should we arrive and depart?
Arrival for Policy. We are checking in students between 3 PM and 7 PM on June 7th. We strongly encourage students to arrive before 7 PM so they have time to settle into the dorm before our opening events which begin at 7:30 PM. If a later travel time is unavoidable, we can make specific arrangements to accommodate it.
Arrival for PF, Congress, and IE. We are checking in students between 3 PM and 7 PM on June 7th. We strongly encourage students to arrive before 7 PM so they have time to settle into the dorm before our opening events which begin at 7:30 PM. If a later travel time is unavoidable, we can make specific arrangements to accommodate it.
Departure for Policy. Ideally, students will depart after breakfast on June 14th. Shuttles to regional airports will begin with the first scheduled departure that morning. There are no workshop-related events on June 14th, so the camp is officially finished that morning, other than final transportation for departing students. If you are picking up your child, 9 AM-10 AM is an appropriate pick-up window.
Departure for PF, Congress, and IE. Ideally, students will depart after breakfast on June 13th. Shuttles to regional airports will begin with the first scheduled departure that morning. There are no workshop-related events on June 13th, so the camp is officially finished that morning, other than final transportation for departing students. If you are picking up your child, 9 AM-10 AM is an appropriate pick-up window.
Arrival for PF, Congress, and IE. We are checking in students between 3 PM and 7 PM on June 7th. We strongly encourage students to arrive before 7 PM so they have time to settle into the dorm before our opening events which begin at 7:30 PM. If a later travel time is unavoidable, we can make specific arrangements to accommodate it.
Departure for Policy. Ideally, students will depart after breakfast on June 14th. Shuttles to regional airports will begin with the first scheduled departure that morning. There are no workshop-related events on June 14th, so the camp is officially finished that morning, other than final transportation for departing students. If you are picking up your child, 9 AM-10 AM is an appropriate pick-up window.
Departure for PF, Congress, and IE. Ideally, students will depart after breakfast on June 13th. Shuttles to regional airports will begin with the first scheduled departure that morning. There are no workshop-related events on June 13th, so the camp is officially finished that morning, other than final transportation for departing students. If you are picking up your child, 9 AM-10 AM is an appropriate pick-up window.
Do you offer shuttle service from the airport?
Shuttle service from the regional airports (Greensboro, Raleigh-Durham, and Charlotte) will be scheduled as needed for pick-up and drop-off of students. You can purchase shuttle service through your account on our website. For shuttle service to and from Raleigh , the cost is $100. For shuttle service to and from Charlotte, the cost is $80. For shuttle service to and from Greensboro, the cost is $40.
You can enter your flight information directly into your account on our website. As this information comes in, we are building a schedule for transportation to minimize wait and travel times. At the beginning of June, we will send out the final transportation schedule, along with the names, contact information, and meeting places for the drivers assigned to each run so that you can communicate with them directly in the event of flight delay.
How does the evidence packet work?
Unlike most other policy camps, we provide the complete set of evidence to be used during the workshop before it begins. Our goal is to make the evidence in possession of each team equal, so all debates will use the provided evidence packet. The evidence packet will be delivered on or about May 20.
Our basic formula for the contents of the evidence packet is one affirmative, one major negative position, and one case neg for every ten students, along with a topicality file. We find that this provides choice for the debaters while still making the possible debates manageable so we can work on in-round debate skills.
Who stays in the dorms with the students?
Residence Assistants, usually Wake debaters, live in the dorms with the students. A Residence Assistant will be on call 24 hours a day, and we have both male and female RAs on duty to make sure every student has someone they feel comfortable with. We place emphasis on making sure the students settle into dorm life as much as possible, as we believe that sleeping well and enough is critical to their successful learning during workshop activities. RAs are also teachers at our workshop, and their primary duties in the evening include talking over the following day's debates with the individual teams.
In addition, there is a Residence Advisor who stays in the dorms. She has been a teacher and mother for many years, so she has the experience required to handle any immediate or urgent problems that arise.
Can I request a roommate or partner?
Yes, you can. Both may be entered through your account on our website. Both roommate and partner requests will be honored where mutual. This means both parties must make the request. Workshop staff will confirm partnership and roommate arrangements before June 1. Contact information will be supplied so you can coordinate with your partner and roommate before arrival at the workshop.
If you don't know who you want to room or partner with, don't fret. Most students don't, so we make partner pairings and roommate assignments for them. We base these decisions on experience, skill level, and age in an attempt to find a fit that produces the best educational opportunities for each student. Part of the fun of debate workshop is meeting new people, and it is also an important life skill.
How safe is the Wake Forest campus?
The Wake Forest campus is very secure. Entrance to campus is permitted through three gates, each of which requires authorized entry after hours. The dorms use key-card access, so only those staying in that specific dorm can gain entry at any time. The Wake Forest Police are friendly and competent, and regularly patrol the campus day and night. For more information about campus safety provisions, you can access the WFU Police website.
During workshop events, judges, RAs, and the Workshop Director will supervise the students. Given the nature of the workshop, there will be one staff member for every four students. Each day is divided up into debates, so if a student oversleeps or forgets where they are supposed to be, it will be noticed immediately.
During workshop events, judges, RAs, and the Workshop Director will supervise the students. Given the nature of the workshop, there will be one staff member for every four students. Each day is divided up into debates, so if a student oversleeps or forgets where they are supposed to be, it will be noticed immediately.
What will we eat during the workshop?
Other than breakfast and a couple special evening meals, students will eat in the Wake Forest cafeterias, which are quite good. Students will have a swipe card that allows them access to a wide variety of healthy food choices. The main dining hall, which Wake students affectionately refer to as “The Pit”, is included in the workshop tuition and has everything from pizza to an excellent salad bar.
We provide breakfast in the dorm. This involves some combination of cereal, bagels, fresh fruit, yogurt, or biscuits. Students eat breakfast while listening to a 15 minute mini-lecture drawn from the previous day's debates or activities.
There are also a variety of other options on campus, including Subway, Moe’s, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, and several convenience stores. These are not included in the meal plan, however, and will have to be purchased by the students with their spending money.
If you have special dietary needs, please communicate those to us via e-mail once you have received your welcome packet. Accommodations can be made through the dining hall, and we are happy to assist.
There are also a variety of other options on campus, including Subway, Moe’s, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, and several convenience stores. These are not included in the meal plan, however, and will have to be purchased by the students with their spending money.
If you have special dietary needs, please communicate those to us via e-mail once you have received your welcome packet. Accommodations can be made through the dining hall, and we are happy to assist.
What should I bring?
We recommend you bring the following items to Wake Forest for the workshop. Since the dorms are designed for college students, there are outlets, internet access, and desk space, so students can bring other items if they like.
-Laptop (highly recommended, internet access provided)
-Cell Phone
-Linens (twin long size – not as rare as it sounds)
-Pillow
-Clothes (all casual)
-“Yard” Clothes (for Frisbee, etc.)
-Pens / Paper / Flow Pads
-Toiletries
-Towels
-Spending Money
-Evidence Packet (electronic or printed, or money to print on campus)
For those with space limitations dictated by travel, linen service is available for $40 through your website account. This includes sheets, pillows, towels, and a blanket. If you choose to purchase linen service, it will be waiting for you when you arrive.
-Laptop (highly recommended, internet access provided)
-Cell Phone
-Linens (twin long size – not as rare as it sounds)
-Pillow
-Clothes (all casual)
-“Yard” Clothes (for Frisbee, etc.)
-Pens / Paper / Flow Pads
-Toiletries
-Towels
-Spending Money
-Evidence Packet (electronic or printed, or money to print on campus)
For those with space limitations dictated by travel, linen service is available for $40 through your website account. This includes sheets, pillows, towels, and a blanket. If you choose to purchase linen service, it will be waiting for you when you arrive.
Will I need spending money?
Tuition covers room, meals, and instruction. There are a variety of places on campus where students will use spending money, from the bookstore to the Starbucks. We encourage students to bring an appropriate amount of spending money to the workshop to cover drinks, snacks, etc. Many students bring a pre-paid debit card to use at campus facilities, but a small amount of cash will probably be useful. There is also an ATM on campus where students can withdraw cash.
Are there laundry facilities?
Yes, there are. Given the length of the workshop, most students do not need them, but if you are going directly to another workshop at the end of the Earliest Bird, you can use them to start the next camp with clean clothes.
When are final payments due?
Final payments are due June 1st, unless specific arrangements have been made. Payment can be made through your account on our website.
What paperwork do I need to fill out?
Other than the online application process, we'll need you to fill out a medical form (which will include your doctor sending your vaccination records) and a risk release form. These will be sent out with the welcome packet beginning in early April.