Vaughan
July 12, 2008 10:01 PM
New summer day camp cashes in on popularity of forensics investigation experts such as Grissom
By: Keely Grasser
A report of unidentified toxins found at Dufferin Clark Community Centre attracted the response of a group of quick-thinking young crime scene investigators Wednesday.
The team discovered bags of multi-coloured liquids and had to identify the material using skills that could come straight from an episode of the TV show CSI.
It was all part of the Forensic Camper Institute, a new day camp operated by the City of Vaughan.
Under the instruction of ‘forensic specialist’ Ira Miller, campers between 11 and 14 learn problem-solving techniques and science skills to help them solve mysteries set up by camp instructors.
That morning, Mr. Miller briefed campers about the toxins in the building, said Carolyn Burton, 12.
They also had to follow clues just to find the liquids, she added.
Campers studied the liquids in their forensics lab, a small room in the community centre, with walls covered by posters and yellow evidence tape.
“We’re looking for signs to show us if this is blood or a toxin,” explained 13-year-old Sofie Uretsky, who held a vial of red liquid.
Campers were examining samples of the liquids under microscopes.
They used pH tests such as litmus paper and phenolphthalein to determine if the mystery substance was acidic or basic, Mr. Miller explained.
He also got the students to examine the differences of the substances in liquid and solid form.
Mr. Miller, dressed in a white lab jacket, held up two bags of a blue substance, one liquid and one frozen.
“What’s the only substance that expands as a solid?” he asked the campers.
“Water!” Sofie quickly answered.
One part of the mystery was solved. It turns out the other toxins were green-tinted vinegar, soap and red-tinted egg batter.
The theme of the entire week is toxins. Last week’s was impressions, said Allison Sullovey, the camp’s director.
She said the campers learned to cast footprints, cast and lift fingerprints and how to spot fingerprints on objects using ultraviolet light.
Students learn techniques each day at camp, but Wednesdays are special, since that’s the day a mystery is presented to the campers to solve.
Staff from other camps at the centre are players in each case, Ms Sullovey said.
“We’re all involved with the mystery and they come and ask us questions.”
They’ve developed an online database of each staff member, including their height, eye colour and shoe size, she said.
They’re also working toward scanning each staffer’s fingerprints into the system.
The mock crimes this summer include identity theft, fraud and hacking situations, Ms Sullovey said.
Though she said campers are learning techniques such as blood analysis, their mock crimes never centre around a murder.
“We do have younger campers in the building,” she said. “We’re trying to make what you see on CSI in small-scale and less graphic.”
Crime scene shows not only spurred the camp in the first place, but also spurs campers’ interest.
A passion for CSI shows led Vaughan’s active living co-ordinator Lorne Hilts to come up with the idea in the first place, he said.
“I love CSI,” Sofie said. “I love Grissom, Sara and Catherine. I’ve always had an interest in forensics ever since I’ve been watching the shows. I love putting the pieces together. I try and figure out the answer before the investigators on the show.”
Ms Sullovey said a science camp last year included CSI cases and the campers showed a genuine interest.
This is the first year a full forensics-themed camp is offered.
Campers also participate in sports and crafts, Ms Sullovey said. But organizers try to incorporate the skills they’ve learned into each activity.
For example, during a baseball game, they’ll look at statistics and during crafts, they’ll make foot impressions, she said.
The kids love it and parents are happy because the camp’s program is educational, Ms Sullovey said.
“You’d think 11- to 14-year-olds would say, ‘Camp stinks’, but they actually really get into it and really enjoy it,” Mr. Miller said.