Critical Thinkers Camp
a week-long game of challenges - and coaching - to improve your thinking
June 26-30, 2023 | Dallas, Texas
Why participate?
You'll learn how to...
think critically about a wide-range of scenarios and topics. Improving your critical thinking will involve developing some important skills. You'll learn how to do the following:
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effectively plan for big, complex projects
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analyze information
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critically self-reflect
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collaborate with teammates
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be resilient in the face of setbacks
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publicly speak with clarity & confidence
You'll learn by...
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having fun! Our camp is designed to be played as a multi-day game.
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collaborating with your teammates to solve critical thinking challenges:
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feats of engineering
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escape rooms
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murder mystery
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being "coached" through the game by a camp instructor
You'll learn from...
Award-winning educators with a combined 40+ years of experience coaching students to become critical thinkers and 20+ years designing curriculum, administrating, and directing summer camps. They have coached champions---at both the state and national levels---in high school mock trial and debate.
They bring their teaching philosophy---as successful coaches---to the Critical Thinkers Camp.
What is the Critical Thinkers Camp?
A fun summer camp focused on using games to develop students' critical thinking, teamwork, and public speaking skills. This is a commuter/day camp for students who will be in grades 6-9 during the 2023-2024 school year.
We're very excited to host the first Critical Thinkers Camp in Summer 2023!
What makes Critical Thinkers Camp unique?
Solve a Murder Mystery, Escape Rooms, & Engineering Challenges!
Hear from our Camp Directors
When?
June 26-30, 2023
9am - 5pm daily
Where?
Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center
1201 E 8th St
Dallas, TX 75203
*Only commuters. No residential option exists.
Price?
One Week: $1000
Two Weeks: $1600*
* Discount for attending the Critical Thinkers Camp + Middle School Champ Camp
**Tuition includes a daily box lunch.
Our Directors
Don Gonzalez
Don Gonzalez has been a high school educator for 24 years. He is currently the Magnet Coordinator for the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet in Dallas ISD, where he recently coached one of his mock trial teams to win a national championship. In addition to his roles as a teacher and mock trial coach, Don is an experienced camp administrator. He is the founder of the Champ Camps which currently include the Championship Mock Trial Academy, Critical Thinking Camp and Championship Admissions. He earned a B.A. in both Economics and History from Southern Methodist University. He holds a Masters in Education Administration from UNT. While at UNT he also received a post- graduate certification in Gifted Education. His research focused on the identification of gifted students in under-represented groups. He also holds a Masters in Theological Studies from Ave Maria University and studied law at The University of Texas School of Law. His interests range from educational entrepreneurship to neuroscience and cognitive theory. Even before the pandemic, he has been interested in leveraging old and new technologies to enhance learning opportunities for students.
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Kris Wright
Kris Wright has been coaching and teaching high school students for 20 years. He also has more than 15 years experience designing curriculum and running summer camps. He is currently the Head Debate & Mock Trial Coach at Irma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, where he teaches 6-12th grade. Most recently he coached 4 quarterfinalists and 1 semifinalist in World School debate at the NSDA Middle School National Tournament. He has also coached state champions in Lincoln Douglas (LD) and Policy debate, as well as runner-ups in LD. His students have consistently qualified to the state and national championships. He is the founder fo the Texas Debate Collective, a nonprofit debate camp hosted in Austin, Texas. Additionally, he is very involved in helping his seniors work on their college admissions. Students he has coached on writing college essays have attended elite colleges across the country, including SMU, Columbia, Georgetown, UT Austin, Emory, and Dartmouth. He also enjoys playing video games and relaxing outside with his cat, Lily.