Inspired by the biggest small-screen genre of the new millennium, outside of reality television, 100 teenagers from as far as Brisbane, the NSW south coast and Canberra converged on The Armidale School last week for the 15th Forensic Science Camp.

The Camp is designed for talented and motivated science students who are in Year 9 (Qld) or Year 8 (in NSW and other States). It began last Tuesday and wrapped up on Saturday afternoon.
Still recovering from her role as Camp Manager/Convenor is Assistant Director of Studies at The Armidale School, Seonia Wark. “Teenagers who had never met before worked in groups of three to solve a crime scenario that older students had spent 10 months creating,” she said. “Each year, a team of 14 students attend Camp for a second year, to run it. They spend almost a year organising the Camp. Other staff and I were there to support and supervise, but the students ran everything, from budgets to food and boarding house arrangements. The kids were so motivated and resourceful, and loved the opportunities that the Camp presents.”
Mrs Wark said that the popularity of TV shows like those within the CSI and NCIS franchises have helped to foster interest in science. “You could see the television influence in the kids’ knowledge of forensics. We try to dispel the glitz a bit and demonstrate some of the realities of forensic science. Kids came from all over. They were very keen on their science. Many are eager to contribute to society; a lot spoke of wanting to be lawyers and assisting the disadvantaged. They were at the Camp to get insights into investigative procedures.”
The focus for the Camp is complex problem solving with a forensic science theme. The Camp’s residential nature and recreational program ensured there was fun as well as rewarding challenges.
The Camp also provides leadership experience for past campers. There were nine controllers and three Camp Directors/Controller Managers (all from Year 10).
Veda FitzSimons from Bombaderry High School on the NSW South Coast, was a ‘Controller Manager’ at the Camp. “During the 10 months leading up to the camp, Kyle Hardingham and I reviewed the work of the 12 Controllers. We also led the Controllers during the camp. We were responsible for the camp and the enjoyment of campers,” she said. “The roles I have experienced at these camps have changed the way I look at things. It was a completely different way of learning. You must be resourceful and work with other intelligent kids to find solutions. I appreciated the experience of leading 12 of my peers and felt a strong sense of responsibility – knowing that my work (in the lead-up) would impact on the camp’s success and how the controllers related to the campers.”
Jack Tearle is in Year 9 at TAS but at the Forensic Science Camp, he was a ‘Controller’. “Our job was to create and manage the crimes that the campers had to solve,” he said. “The biggest challenge was getting the campers to change what they were thinking without them knowing, by introducing evidence and subtle hints,” he said. “It was so rewarding to see the campers working through the crime that I had written, and solving it.”
The junior forensic teams applied a variety of skills and techniques such as soil analysis, DNA, blood analysis, microscopy, gas chromatography, database searching, fingerprint analysis, cryptography and collaborative problem-solving.
Bryan Morley from Year 8 at The Armidale School was one of the campers. “As an investigator, I did a lot of things, made new friends and had fun. I learnt a lot about forensic science, like fingerprinting and requesting search warrants,” he said.
The goal of each group was to solve their crime, and then use the evidence they had collected in a mock trial on the Saturday, which was open to parents and members of the public.

Story: Gary Fry