ABOUT THE CAMP

DO YOU WANT TO COME?

FOR 2008 CAMPERS

How do we select our applicants?

Every year we receive more applications than there are places at the Forensic Camp. This pleases us because we can see that the Camp is widely recognized for what it is, the premier extension vehicle for able junior secondary students. But it places us in the odious position of having to accept and reject among the applicants. We can only base our decisions on the information that the applicants provide us.

There is a growing tendency for some schools to request more and more places. We appreciate the compliment but don’t want to see the Camp serving only a small handful of very keen schools. Reluctantly we must limit the numbers from any one school to 8. If a larger number is included in the original application we will accept a maximum of 8 then hold the remainder until close to Camp time when one or more may be accepted if there is a cancellation. We will fill positions created by cancellation in the order applications were received.

What we would like you to send us?

1. The “Why you want to come” essay (obligatory)
   We want to know whether you are genuinely keen to be at the Camp. Some may apply because their friend has applied or their parents want them to. We also want to know if you can express yourself clearly and logically in writing, so we ask all applicants to write about 100 to 200 words telling us why you want to come to the Camp.
2. Your “academic credentials” summary (obligatory)
   We want to know if you have the qualities that will allow you to benefit from the Camp. How well you perform at school can be an important indicator, so we would like you to provide a summary of information related to your academic performance (under academic we include drama, crafts and arts). This may include:

   (a) The classes you are in and approximately where you rank in that class

   (b) How have you gone in any of the state wide or national quizzes?

(c) Any other achievement that might be relevant, eg debating team, drama productions.

3. School support statement (desirable but not obligatory)

The camp management values the input of school teachers who have specific knowledge of their students and we trust a teacher's judgment that the applicant has the qualities that will allow him/her to benefit from the Camp. We are also aware that many campers (eg those doing home schooling) do not apply through a school, so we cannot make a supporting note from a school obligatory.

We ask that a supporting teacher emails us a short note of support for the applicant (forensiccamps@bigpond.com). If a number of students from the same school is applying, it would be economical of the teacher’s time if the one letter covered all of the applicants.

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