Camp youth explore forensics and entomology
Texas A&M Department of Entomology camps offer hands-on experiences in insect science and forensic investigation
There were bugs, fake blood and a lot of science.
Middle and high school students from across the U.S. got a hands-on introduction to forensics, insects – and college life – during two immersive Youth Adventure Program, YAP, camps hosted by the Texas A&M Department of Entomology.
Lead by department faculty and graduate students, a camp focused on forensic investigative sciences while another covered general entomology. The experiences introduced students to real-world applications of biology, chemistry, geometry and more – using fake blood, forensic puzzles and live insects to do it.
Forensics YAP Camp: Science meets crime scene investigation
The YAP courses are designed to introduce students to entomology and the forensic sciences coursework and encourage them to explore careers in related fields.
The camps expose students to a range of immersive activities meant to reinforce what they are learning in class and connect it to potential college and career paths, said YAP camp instructor Adrienne Brundage, Ph.D., instructional associate professor and director of the forensic investigative sciences program in the department.
“The camps reflect all the things they are learning – biology, physics, chemistry, geometry and trigonometry – things they may not like, but it shows them why the basics matter,” Brundage said. “They love the blood spatter lesson, and that takes geometry, physics and trigonometry to calculate the area of impact. So, you see that connection happening, and they get really excited.”
The Forensic and Investigative Sciences, FIVS, camp allows students to look closer at crime scene investigation. They extract DNA samples, follow evidence-handling protocols and learn to lift fingerprints from people and objects. Activities include analyzing blood spatter and using anthropological formulas to estimate a suspect’s height based on bone measurements.
The week of activity ends with a simulated crime scene where campers apply everything they have learned to solve a fictional case.
Entomology YAP Camp: Bugs, biology and beyond
The new Entomology YAP camp course was led by Shelby Kilpatrick, doctoral candidate in entomology advised by Brundage, as part of her dissertation and teaching research. The camp is part of an ongoing camp incubator initiative, sponsored through a collaboration between YAP and the Office for Youth Engagement, OYE.
Students get hands-on experience with insect collecting, identification and preservation. Each student takes home a collection and supplies to continue exploring entomology.
Students also visit and tour multiple campus field sites and laboratories in the department to learn more about the diversity of career paths in the field. Lessons also cover insect life cycles, including highlighting decomposition patterns in forensic cases and even an art project that uses maggots to create unique designs.
Connecting students to science – and their futures
Whether through analyzing a crime scene or collecting insects, both camps established real-world connections between their classroom learning and potential college and career paths.
“The camps are really fun, and they allow us to share our excitement about entomology and forensics with students we hope to see pursue a career in the field,” Brundage said. “It’s education but it’s also public outreach because every student is going home excited to tell their friends and family about what they learned.”
