A Day in the Life at DiF Camp
8-9AM
Early Care
9-9:30AM
Icebreaker Games
9:30-11:30AM
Topic & Topic Field Trip
11:30-12:30PM
Lunch &
Free Play
12:30-2:00PM
Debate Skill Games
2-3PM
Topic Debate Round & Snack
3-5PM
After Care
WEEK 1
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Can we really trust the human brain? How can we best reduce our consumption of resources? How should we implement modern day reparations for racial justice? ​ These are some of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we explore big topics in kid-sized ways, as we explore nature, and have a blast with friends.
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Field Trips*
Museum of Illusions, Fire Station,
Dusable Museum of African American History, Plant Chicago
& SURPRISE TRIP!
Dates
Session 1 is 6/13/22-6/17/22.
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Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising 2nd-9th Graders**.
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*please note that topics & field trips are subject to change
**parent discretion on best fit for rising first grader
WEEK 2
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Is virtual reality a useful tool in k-12 education? Should the justice system aim to punish or heal? Should we get ban unhealthy food in schools? These are some of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we explore big topics in kid-sized ways, explore nature, and have a blast with friends.
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Field Trips*
Redline Virtual Reality, Daley Center Courthouse, Field Museum, Museum of Science & Industry & SURPRISE TRIP!
Dates
Session 2 is 6/20/22-6/24/22.
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Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising 2nd-9th Graders**.
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*please note that topics and field trips are subject to change
**parent discretion on best fit for rising first grader
WEEK 3
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Does technology have a place in art? Should assimilation be the goal in immigration? Should there be limits on what people can 3D print? These are some of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we explore big topics in kid-sized ways, explore nature, and have a blast with friends.​
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Field Trips*
WNDR Museum, Chicago Architectural Center, Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration, Harold Washington Library Center
& SURPRISE TRIP!
Dates
Session 3 is 6/27/22-7/01/22.
Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising 2nd-9th Graders**.
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*please note that topics and field trips are subject to change
**parent discretion on best fit for rising first grader
WEEK 4
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How can we best protect wildlife? How do we improve the gender imbalance in STEM? Does surveillance ​make us safer? These are some of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we explore big topics in kid-sized ways, explore nature, and have a blast with friends.
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Field Trips*
Digital Adventures, Chinese Cultural Institute, Safehouse, Shedd Aquarium & SURPRISE TRIP!
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Dates
Session 4 is 7/04/22-7/08/22.
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Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising 2nd-9th Graders**.
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*please note that topics and field trips are subject to change
**parent discretion on best fit for rising first grader
WEEK 5
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Is graffiti public art? Should we colonize space? Should we provide reparations to Native Amerian tribes? These are some of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we explore big topics in kid-sized ways, explore nature, and have a blast with friends.
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Field Trips*
Native 312, UChicago Decision Making Lab, Adler Planetarium, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian & SURPRISE TRIP!
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Dates
Session 5 is 7/11/22-7/15/22.
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Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising 2nd-9th Graders**.
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*please note that topics and field trips are subject to change
**parent discretion on best fit for rising first grader
WEEK 6
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Should we trust the news? What role does robotics have in medicine? Do animals have rights? These are some of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we explore big topics in kid-sized ways, explore nature, and have a blast with friends.
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Field Trips*
WBEZ/WGN, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Chicago Sports Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo & SURPRISE TRIP!
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Dates
Session 6 is 7/18/22-7/22/22
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Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising 2nd-9th Graders**.
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*please note that topics and field trips are subject to change
**parent discretion on best fit for rising first grader
WEEK 7
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Should we implement mindfulness in k-12 education? How do we balance economic growth with environmental protection? Should media be censored? These are some of the questions we'll be tackling this week as we explore big topics in kid-sized ways, explore nature, and have a blast with friends.​
Field Trips*
Snapology, Meditation Center of Chicago, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Museum of Broadcast Communications & SURPRISE TRIP!
Dates
Session 7 is 7/25/22-7/29/22
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Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising 2nd-9th Graders**.
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*please note that topics and field trips are subject to change
**parent discretion on best fit for rising first grader
WEEK 8
Taste of Debate Session
(4-6 Year Olds)
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This is our special session for our youngest debaters: our 4-6 year olds. Through play-based learning we’ll encourage your little one to be silly, explore their curiosity, and develop their confidence all while having a blast with new friends. Your child will work on mindful listening through games like “Repeat After Me,” and develop critical thinking skills by becoming “Super Secret Detectives” tasked with solving the Mystery of the Stolen Toy.
Times
Our Taste of Debate session has a modified schedule to best suit the needs of our youngest debaters. Camp runs from 9am-12pm with before and after-care available.
Dates
Session 1 is 8/01/22-8/05/22.
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Location
Hyde Park (address to follow). Bus Service from Lincoln Park.
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Grades
Rising Pre-K-1st Graders**.
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Learning GoalsThe Debate It Forward Big 3 Skills focus on developing and improving our Listening, Thinking, and Speaking skills by building the following micro-skills into our curriculum. They include the following focal points: LISTENING: Active Listening, Perspective Taking, Empathy, and Cooperation & Compromise. THINKING: Research & Evidence, Logical Reasoning, Problem-Solving, Argument Generation, and Ethics SPEAKING: Confidence, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Public Speaking
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Course DetailsDay One: Title Day Two: Title etc.
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Example ActivitiesExamples of activities