ABOUT THE CAMP

DO YOU WANT TO COME?

FOR 2008 CAMPERS

 

History of the Camp

The unique format of the Forensic Camp which is responsible for the intense atmosphere of realism that is created was conceived by Kelland Hardingham, a science teacher at The Armidale School (TAS). Kel, Martin Levins, the computing coordinator at TAS and Martin’s wife Leslie Levins, developed the concept and ran a four-day camp for talented/enthusiastic Year 8 science students in the North-West region of NSW in 1993. 104 students attended.

The producer of ABC’s “Quantum” (predecessor of the science program “Catalyst”) was impressed with the concept and sent a team up to film the camp. An eight minute feature was run on Quantum in 1993. The reputation spread and in response to demand, Kel and Martin broadened the catchment area and in 1994 and 1995 four-day camps were run, catering for students from all over NSW.

The BHP Science Teachers Awards are awarded annually to teachers who devise outstandingly imaginative and effective programs. The BHP Secondary Teachers Award for 1994, with a significant cash prize, was won by Kel Hardingham in recognition of the quality of the concept on which the Forensic Camp is based.

The Camp did not run through the second half of the 1990’s but was relaunched in July 2001. Intelligent, enthusiastic Year 8 students from across Australia were invited to attend and they came. The camp was oversubscribed and has been each year since then. The development of more powerful and sophisticated computer technology (both hardware and software) and the introduction of a range of new laboratory tests has allowed the organisers to intensify the atmosphere of realism that has been the hallmark of the TAS Forensic Camp since its inception. An extra day was added to allow for the inclusion of a courtroom-trial of the arrested suspects. All Campers play a court role. Real practising lawyers act as judges at the Trials, their intimate knowledge of court procedures helps maintain the realism. It is remarkable, considering the fact that over 70% of campers live more than 500 kilometres from Armidale, that a large proportion of campers have parents and other family members in the courtroom audience. Members of the public are also invited to attend.
Each year, the Camp at The Armidale School attracts students from all corners of the eastern states; from places as widely spaced as Broken Hill and Batemans Bay, Moree and Albury, Cairns and Hobart, Bundaberg and Mildura. Chartered coaches travel from Canberra and from Wollongong picking up campers along the way. Campers come from city selective high schools, country central schools, International Schools, Catholic schools, Christian schools, GPS schools and every other kind of school.

The Future?

Kel Hardingham has retired after 45 years of teaching and he and he intends to establish forensic camps throughout Australia, or at least in the capital cities. It is his intention to seek out schools that see virtue in becoming the home of the Forensic ‘Camp’. The new Forensic ‘Camps’ won’t necessarily be residential. Students will come each day to participate in the activities that lead through the scientific methods and problem solving that are part of all the forensic camps but return home at the end of each days activities. To date (2008), authorised camps have been held in Hobart, Sydney and Atlanta (USA) and current discussions will see Victoria and Queensland on board.