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Sunday July 30, 2000 Oakville Beaver Weekend1 3 Kidscience Camp gives children insight into police work B y M a r ie -L o u is e L a n g lo is SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Kids want to have fun, but they never said that they didn't want to learn, too. Kidscience Camp, a summer program developed and operated by Jean Bertollo-initially at Appleby College, is now in its sev enth year. This year, for the first time, it's being held at Fern Hill S chool. The idea behind Kidscience is for kids to learn about science in a fun and stimulating environment, with hands-on practical appli cations. Bertollo puts her teaching degree to good use. She takes her love of science and the enthusiasm of the children to develop weeklong science programs that captivate the imaginations of the children. "Doing this allows me to be creative and think like a kid," says Bertollo Each week Kidscience features a different theme. An annual favourite is called `Kidsleuth'. Kidsleuth gives children ranging in age ffom 8-12 a chance to participate in solving a crime. They have the opportunity to learn real-life forensic science and then use those investigative skills to solve the crime. Inspector Robin McElary-Downer o f the Ontario Provincial Police, whose own chil dren have attended Kidscience in the past, got involved when Bertollo called on her for help in setting up a `crime scene'. From there, the program developed to the point where M cElary-Downer brought in Special Constables from the Forensic Identification Services Section in Orillia along with Burlington OPP officers. this is now the fourth year that the OPP has been invited by Kidscience to come and share forensic science expertise with the chil dren. On Day 1, the campers arrive at Kidscience and are introduced to a crime scene. They spend time observing the scene and then go into a classroom setting to dis cuss what they have seen. Day 2, the OPP is brought in to show the kids the different types of devices used in an investigation. They are then introduced to techniques such as collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Different work stations are set up for the children and include finger printing, tire tracking, physical matching of items, footprint matching and tool mark iden tification. This is where the kids receive the actual hands-on experience. "It is really neat to see the kids so tumedon by science," said McElary-Downer Later on the second day, "suspects" are introduced. Days 3 and 4 are spent going through the procedures of professional detec tives. Materials are tested and analyzed as the children continue studying the evidence and putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. On the final day, the evidence is brought before the "court". The challenge for the kids is then to solve the crime. Kidsleuthing is just one way that Bertollo has made science interesting, challenging and showing how it's applied in everyday life. "I am always amazed at how well the chil dren process the information," says Bertollo. Who knows what these junior scientists may achieve after being exposed to the world of science in such a positive way? Officer Denise Low (above) gives the Intoxilyzer test to Kate Nishida at the Kidscience Camp, while officer Dave Sibley (right), works with a group of kids studying and trying to match up tire tracks of imaginary get-away vehicles. Photos by Christine Smyth Portables may still be seen at OTHS property in fall A town committee has been asked that additional portables requested for Oakville Trafalgar High School go back on the agenda. The portable item was deferred July 18 by Oakville's site planning committee, which suggested the matter await an OTHS overcrowding committee's report. But that report cannot be completed before December and that's too long to wait, says Michael Ellis, Halton District School board's vice-chair. "In conversation with facilities superintendent Gerry Cullen, this was seen as very detrimental to school program ming," said Ellis, currently acting chair while Ethel Gardiner is away. "The deferral doesn't do us any good." He has asked in writing that the board's request for portables at OTHS be reconsidered at the site planning committee's Aug. 8th meeting, prior to the new school year. Ellis said placing portables at Oakville Trafalgar H.S. is part of the board's capital strategic plan. The plan is aimed at build ing new schools, closing old ones and making other capital improvements. "I don't think the committee quite understood the direction of the board," he said. "Hopefully we can get this turned around." The trustee said the board could take the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board to get it resolved. - .ill ............; : r : : r r A KOHLER O W NED COM PANY 15 Kitchens on Display · O ver 400 combinations of colour & finish · Free Design Service · Com puter Aided Design · 30 Years in Business · 175 Stores · 11 Price Levels · Compare O u r Prices & Quality · Professional Installation · Granite, Laminate & Solid Surface Counter Tops 8 4 2 - 5 2 2 2 o a k v il l e 490 Speers Rd. (1/4 m ile W e s t o f D o rv al)