Frequently Asked Questions
.
If I am an out-of-state student, what times should I plan to fly into and out from Phoenix?

Students should arrive in the morning of the day that their event starts, and leave in the mid-afternoon to evening of the last day of their event. Note: We recommend that you wait until May to purchase airline tickets if your tickets are nonrefundable, since we are not responsible for the cost of tickets in the unlikely circumstance that any portion of the camp is canceled.

If I am coming from out-of-state, can I arrive the day before camp starts or leave the day after?

If you are attending an event that starts on July 22th, you can arrive early and stay in the dorms on the night of the 21st for an additional cost of $20.  However, if you are attending in LD or PF, you will have to make arrangements to stay in a hotel on the night of July 13th, since we do not have access to the dorm rooms until the 10th.  The same applies for students whose flight departs the day after camp ends: if your event ends on July 22nd, you can stay in the dorms that night for an additional $20.  However, students who wish to flight out on July 30th will have to stay in a hotel.

Regardless of when you are arriving or departing, we can provide transportation to and from the airport. There is a $15 fee to cover the cost of gas and of parking at the airport. (That $15 pays for your airport transportation at both the start and end of camp.)

Students in the past who arrived a day early have stayed in the Four Points Sheraton at 1333 S. Rural Rd, Tempe, which is across the street from the Barrett campus. There are a number of other hotels within walking distance of campus.

Do you have financial aid available?

Yes.  As a nonprofit camp, we are committed to ensuring that financial need is not a barrier to attending camp for anyone.  Please contact us if cost is a burden.

Can I pay reduced tuition if I can only attend for part of the time?

Yes.  Let us know which days you will be missing and we will reduce tuition accordingly.

Do you accept students who have no experience in the event?

Yes. We can accept pure novices who have never debated before or who have never debated in the event they wish to attend the camp for.

Will I still benefit from the camp if I have attended SWSDI before?

Yes.  The curriculum is organized so that students who attended the camp last year will be able to hear different lectures and learn new skills.

What times should commuter students be dropped off and picked up each day?

Students can be dropped off any time before lab sessions start at 9:30 a.m.  (Breakfast will be served from 9:00-9:30, and commuters are welcome to come for breakfast too at no extra charge.)  They should be picked up at 9:00 p.m. each evening.

If I am a commuter student, can I drive myself to camp?

Yes, but it is not free.  Students who wish to drive themselves will have to purchase a parking pass from ASU, which costs approximately $20 per week.  If you wish to drive yourself, contact us several weeks before camp so that we can reserve you a parking pass.

What clothes should I wear—do I need to bring a suit to dress up for competition?

No, students are not expected to dress up.  Just bring clothes that will be comfortable for the hot weather.

Will I be able to do laundry?

Yes, residential students will be able to use the laundry machines and driers in the dorm building.  Students planning to do laundry should bring their own detergent and cash to pay for it.

What do I need to bring to camp?

A complete packing list is included in the information packet sent to accepted students.

Should I bring a laptop?

It is highly recommended that you bring a laptop if you have access to one.  However, laptops are certainly not mandatory and students who do not bring one can use the computers in the computer lab.

Is the campus safe?

The camp is held within the Barrett Honors College complex, which is a gated residential complex accessible only to summer camp students and staff.  SWSDI and ASU staff are accessible 24 hours a day.

Do I have to sign up for Duo Interp with a partner from my school?

Yes. Students in the Interp events work on preparing and practicing a piece that they could potentially use during the school year, and we believe it is difficult to get much out of this process without having a partner present. If you sign up for Duo and your partner is unable to attend, you will be able to switch to Humorous or Dramatic Interp instead.