Hot Springs Community School will offer a science camp for middle school students July 13-17 patterned after the tasks of crime scene investigators.
A crime scene and all activities will be held at the school, located at 800 Ridgeway St. The camp was made available for students in grades 6-8 because they are likely to be mature enough for the content of the activities.
"We decided to target that area because those are the ones that are mostly sitting at home without jobs," said Bill Vining, founder and principal of the school.
A $100 fee is required to attend. Limited enrollment of about 25 spots is open for the program. Scholarships are available.
Activities will be held each day from 8-11:30 a.m. Participants will conduct an investigation July 13-16. A mock trial will be held July 17.
State Rep. Charlotte Douglas will head the camp. Douglas was a science teacher for 30 years in northwest Arkansas before she retired and has experience leading similar programs.
Participants will learn how to process a crime scene by working to gather evidence in the fictional murder of Jane Snow. Local specialists have volunteered to teach students how to process the scene, collect evidence, question suspects and solve the case. The camp is the school's first summer science program.
"I would have figured it had already been done somewhere, but apparently it has not," Vining said.
Students will analyze blood splatter, study tire tracks, handle hair samples, conduct DNA analysis, use microscopes and more. Test samples from suspects will be inspected on July 16.
Volunteers include Garland County Coroner Stuart Smedley and Hot Springs police Lt. Tarbet. Vining said volunteers have been enthusiastic about the camp.
"It's just the coolest thing ever," Vining said. "I was talking to Smedley. He said, 'Yes, this is going to be fun.'"
The exercises were designed for students to learn how to use the scientific formula, deductive and inductive reasoning, observation skills and collaboration. A local surgeon will lead the class in the autopsy of an animal heart.
A local lawyer has volunteered to serve as the judge in the mock trial. A nurse has also volunteered to assist at the camp.
Participants will gather more clues in the investigation each day. Their work will lead to the resolution of the case during the mock trial.
Local on 07/03/2015