BDL Kickoff
Signed permission slips are due Thursday, September 24
Overview
Congratulations on representing your team at the BDL Kickoff this year.
Getting there and back
The BDL charters the bus. All students travel with the group in both directions.
1:00pm
620 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
5:00pm
Same place — please be prompt at pickup
Two things to complete by September 24
- Have your parent/guardian fill out and sign the permission slip.
- Print out the teacher slip, collect all of your teachers' signatures, and give it to your coach. On the teacher slip, write in the due date (Thursday Sep 24) and that you're asking to miss class on Friday Oct 2.
Family Kickoff sessions
Parents and guardians are invited to an online session before the trip. Both cover the same material, so come to whichever suits you better.
6:30–7:30pm
6:30–7:30pm
Both sessions use the same Zoom room: tinyurl.com/BDLzoomroom
More information available on our family portal: brooklyndebateleague.org/families
Health and medical care
Please read our Health Management Plan, which sets out how we handle medication, illness and injury on trips. If you have any questions at all — about a condition, a medication, or anything you would rather discuss privately — please email jonathan@brooklyndebateleague.org. We would much rather hear from you before the trip than find out at the camp.
The camp




Photos: Pocono Springs Camp
Packing list
Two nights away. Label anything you would be upset to lose.
Bring
- An extra blanket and warm pajamas — the camp provides towels and sheets, but the cabins have no heat at night. October in the Poconos gets cold, so pack warmer than you think you need.
- Refillable water bottle
- Any medications you will need during the trip
- Colored pens and highlighters, if you have them
- Laptop or Chromebook, cell phone, and chargers for both — if your family does not have a laptop to spare, say so on the permission slip and we will bring one for you
- Personal hygiene items — toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, sanitary napkins or tampons
- Comfortable clothes for the weekend
- Snacks or personal spending money (meals are provided)
Optional, but nice to have
- Shower shoes
- Flashlight
- A gavel
- Bug spray & sunscreen — we'll have some, but bring your own if you prefer a particular kind
Leave at home
- Alcohol, drugs, or weapons of any kind
- Game systems
- Food delivery apps — no DoorDash, Uber Eats or similar for the whole trip
Expectations
Read these with your parent or guardian before signing.
- Bring your ambitions and your attention. This weekend is largely about getting your team and yourself ready for the school year, so be ready for meetings, prep, and some rounds.
- Follow instructions from any BDL or camp adult.
- Always be a representative of the BDL. Be kind, courteous, respectful.
- No one may order food through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or similar for the duration of the trip.
- Stay with the group at all times, including departure and dismissal.
- Always be in a group of at least three people.
- Absolutely no alcohol, drugs, or weapons are permitted on this trip.
- Students may not leave the camp grounds without an adult.
- Phones will be away for almost all of the weekend. Staff will tell you the few times they come out; otherwise keep them packed.
- You must be passing all classes to participate on this trip.
- Stay on camp grounds at all times.
- Be back in your cabin by bed check, and no leaving your cabin after bed check.
- If you want to spend time with people who are not in your cabin, do so in the common areas, not in each other's cabins.
- All students will have cabin-mates; we'll announce cabin assignments when we arrive.
- The rule of three applies in cabins too — you should never be in a cabin with just one other person.
- Stay safe by staying seated.
- Be respectful of the driver.
- Use headphones and clean up your trash.
Permission slip
To be completed by a parent or guardian, with the student present to sign.
Student
Authorization
I, the parent/guardian of [student's name], authorize my child, who attends [school], to attend the BDL Kickoff at Pocono Springs Camp, 48 Pocono Springs Way, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18302, from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4, 2026. All meals will be provided. We will be staying at Pocono Springs Camp. The main chaperone for this trip will be Brendan Gorman (brendan@brooklyndebateleague.org) from the Brooklyn Debate League.
Sunday dismissal
The bus returns to Barclays Center on Sunday, October 4 at 5:00 PM. At dismissal, my child: *
Student agreement
By signing below, the student agrees to meet the expectations for this trip.
Sign with a finger on a touchscreen, or with the mouse.
Release and waiver of liability
The full agreement is below. You can also open it as a PDF to read or keep.
Release and waiver of liability
IN CONSIDERATION OF the risk of injury that exists while participating in THE BROOKLYN DEBATE LEAGUE which consists of online, hybrid, and in-person debate coaching and tournaments (hereinafter the “Activity”); and
IN CONSIDERATION OF my desire to participate in said Activity and being given the right to participate in the same;
I HEREBY, for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or personal representatives (hereinafter collectively, “Releasor,” “I” or “me”, which terms shall also include Releasor’s parents or guardian if Releasor is under 18 years of age), knowingly and voluntarily enter into this WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY (“Release”) and hereby waive any and all rights, claims or causes of action of any kind arising out of my participation in the Activity; and
I HEREBY release and forever discharge KRISTINE DICOLANDREA, the founder of BROOKLYN DEBATE LEAGUE (“DiCo”) AND ALL STAFF OF THE BROOKLYN DEBATE LEAGUE, located Online, Brooklyn New York 11238, their affiliates, managers, members, agents, attorneys, staff, volunteers, heirs, representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns (collectively “Releasees”), from any physical or psychological injury that I may suffer as a result of my participation in the Activity.
Identification and acknowledgement of the risk
I am voluntarily participating in the activity and I am participating in the activity entirely at my own risk. I am aware of the risks associated with participating in this activity, which may include, but are not limited to: physical or psychological injury, pain, suffering, illness, data mining, phishing, viruses, malware, data breach of online information, cyberbullying, exploitation, victimization, cyber stalking, online grooming, cyber predators, digital footprint, reputation loss, image replication, economic or emotional loss, and death. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE INJURIES OR OUTCOMES MAY ARISE FROM MY OWN OR OTHERS’ NEGLIGENCE, conditions related to travel to and from the activity, or from conditions at the activity location(s). NONETHELESS, I ASSUME ALL RELATED RISKS, BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN TO ME, OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITY.
I FURTHER AGREE to indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees against any and all claims, suits or actions of any kind whatsoever for liability, damages, compensation or otherwise brought by me or anyone on my behalf, including attorney’s fees and any related costs.
I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE that Releasees are not responsible for errors, omissions, acts or failures to act of any party or entity conducting a specific event or activity on behalf of Releasees. In the event that I should require medical care or treatment, I authorize DiCo and all staff of the Brooklyn Debate League to provide all emergency medical care deemed necessary, including but not limited to, first aid, CPR, use of AEDs, emergency medical transport, and sharing of medical information with medical personnel. I further agree to assume all costs involved and agree to be financially responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such treatment. I am aware and understand that I should carry my own health insurance.
Release and waiver of liability
I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY. I EXPRESSLY AGREE TO RELEASE AND DISCHARGE DiCo and all staff of the Brooklyn Debate League and all of its affiliates, managers, members, agents, attorneys, staff, volunteers, heirs, representatives, predecessors, successors, and assigns, from any and all claims or causes of action and I agree to voluntarily give up or waive any right that I otherwise have to bring a legal action against DiCo and all staff of the Brooklyn Debate League for personal injury or property damage.
I agree that this Release shall be governed for all purposes by New York law, without regard to any conflict of laws principles. This Release supersedes any and all previous oral or written promises or other agreements.
In the event that any damage to equipment or facilities occurs as a result of my or my family’s or my agent’s willful actions, neglect or recklessness, I acknowledge and agree to be held liable for any and all costs associated with any such actions of neglect or recklessness.
THIS RELEASE SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE DURATION OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITY, DURING THIS INITIAL AND ALL SUBSEQUENT EVENTS OF PARTICIPATION.
This agreement was entered into at arm’s-length, without duress or coercion, and it to be interpreted as an agreement between two parties of equal bargaining strength. Both Participant and DiCo and all staff of the Brooklyn Debate League agree that this agreement is clear and unambiguous as to its terms, and that no other evidence shall be used or admitted to alter or explain the terms of this agreement, but that it will be interpreted based on the language in accordance with the purposes for which it is entered into.
In the event that any provision contained within this Release of Liability shall be deemed to be severable or invalid, or if any term, condition, phrase or portion of this agreement shall be determined to be unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of this Release shall remain in full force and effect. If a court should find any provision of this agreement to be invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting said provision it would become valid and enforceable, then said provision shall be deemed to be written, construed, and enforced as so limited.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I am the parent or guardian of my child participating in the Brooklyn Debate League, and I do hereby give my consent without reservation to the foregoing on behalf of my child (if participant is under 18 years of age).
Media release
I HEREBY AUTHORIZE Brooklyn Debate League to publish the photographs taken of me, and my name, for use in their printed publications, social media, and website. I acknowledge that since my participation in publications, social media and websites produced by Brooklyn Debate League is voluntary, I will receive no financial compensation. I further agree that my participation in any publication, social media, and website produced by Brooklyn Debate League confers upon me no right of ownership whatsoever. I release Brooklyn Debate League, its contractors and its employees from liability for any claims by me or any third party in connection with my participation.
Parent / guardian
I hereby release Brooklyn Debate League ("BDL"), its board members and staff from any and all liability incurred by my child during this trip. I understand and accept that in the event that my child were to commit an extreme behavioral transgression, endangering the physical or emotional safety or integrity of other scholars or staff, my child will lose this privilege, including, but not limited to, escalated consequences (suspension, detention, etc.) upon their return to the school building.
Second emergency contact
Optional, but helpful: someone other than you, in case we cannot reach you during the trip.
Left blank, nothing is recorded. Anything entered is shared with the staff on this trip. See our Health Management Plan, or email jonathan@brooklyndebateleague.org with any questions.