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Forensic Science Camp at Pomfret School

This summer, Pomfret is teaming up with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center to host an overnight summer camp for middle school students interested in forensic science.

 

Program: Forensic Detectives: A Cold Spring Harbor Lab Science Camp
Dates: Sunday, July 12 – Friday, July 17
Age: Entering Grades 7–8
Cost: $2,500.00 per camper
Type: Overnight Camp
Location: Pomfret School | Pomfret, Connecticut

Register Today

Questions?
Contact Camp Director Becky Grassi at
(860) 963-6197 or bgrassi@pomfret.org.

 

While the popularity of true crime podcasts and television shows like CSI have brought forensic science into the mainstream, they often glamorize the field, leaving viewers with a skewed understanding of how real investigations work. Through an immersive series of hands-on labs and activities, this program cuts through the Hollywood drama to give participants an inside look at the true nature of forensic science.
 
Process a Simulated Crime Scene
Apply real-world techniques to secure and collect crucial evidence, including fibers, fingerprints, footprints, hair, and blood. 

Explore Specialized Fields
Dive into the fascinating disciplines of forensic pathology, entomology, and criminal profiling.
 
Understand the Science
Investigate the scientific principles behind analyzing evidence like fingerprints and blood spatter.
 
Conduct DNA Analysis
Perform an actual DNA analysis, interpret the findings, and evaluate the pros and cons of various DNA profiling techniques.

 

Sunday

Afternoon Arrival
Check in and set up your dorm.

Team Building Activities
Get to know your fellow campers.

Dinner in the Dining Hall
Share a tasty meal with the group.

Monday

Anthropometry
The early stages of criminal investigation. 

CSI Part I: Crime Scene Preservation 
Mapping a crime scene. 

CSI Part II: Evidence Collection 
“Tagging and bagging.” 

Tuesday

Intro. to Trace Evidence 
Hair, fiber, and fingerprints. 

Fingerprint Analysis Part I 
Making and analyzing your own fingerprints. 

Fingerprint Analysis Part II 
Dusting the evidence.

Wednesday

Blood Spatter Analysis 
Introduction to blood spatter patterns.

Analyzing Team Blood Panels
Determining their origin and significance.

 

Thursday

DNA Analysis
Analyze DNA collected from our crime scene.

 

 

Friday

Parent Day
Calling all parents! 
Join us for a presentation of key findings.

Afternoon Departure
Gather your belongings and say goodbye.


 

 


Christina Newkirk

Educator
DNA Learning Center NYC at City Tech, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Your instructor this week is Christina Newkirk, an educator at the DNA Learning Center (DNALC) NYC at City Tech in Brooklyn. Christina brings over a decade of expertise in STEM education to the program. Her instructional approach is defined by a multidisciplinary perspective, blending a lifelong passion for the life sciences with a background in communication and the arts. Before joining the DNALC, Christina held educational roles at several of New York City’s leading scientific institutions, including the Bronx Zoo, the American Museum of Natural History, and the New York Academy of Sciences.

 

Hilltop Campus

 

Nestled on a stunning hilltop in rural Northeastern Connecticut, Pomfret School has been called "one of the most beautiful schools in the world."

Dorm Rooms

 

As a camper, you’ll stay in a shared room in a campus house dorm. Rooms include access to a common room and shared bathroom.

Delicious Meals

 

Each day, you’ll enjoy three delicious meals in our Dining Hall, thoughtfully crafted by Executive Chef JD Mellowship and his team. 

Evening Activities

A group of students sit in a circle around a campfire making s'mores at a high school on the East Coast

 

When the day ends, camp is just beginning. Evening activities include guided hikes, lawn games, trivia nights, and more. 

VISTA

Classroom instruction takes place in Pomfret's 22,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art science center. Opened in 2024, VISTA is anchored by the Hamilton Hub on one side and an outdoor Maker Yard on the other, featuring classrooms, learning commons, and advanced laboratories for physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science.
 

Virtual Tour

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

The DNA Learning Center (DNALC) is an operating unit of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, one of the world’s preeminent biomedical research institutions. Founded in 1988 as the first science center devoted to genetics education, the DNALC serves as the bridge between cutting-edge scientific research and the public — translating the discoveries of modern research into hands-on learning experiences for students and teachers alike. Since its inception, more than 750,000 students have participated in its hands-on instruction through field trips, summer camps, and research projects.

Students who attend this camp benefit from:

  • Science expertise: The DNA Learning Center has over 37 years of expertise in education in genetics and molecular biology. Our educators have advanced degrees and experience teaching all over the world, offering students the opportunity to learn from the best.
  • Hands-on experimentation: Hands-on experimentation to get students involved and interested in what they are learning, making a measurable and lasting impact on their scientific understanding.
  • High-tech science experiments: We incorporate technology used by leading scientists in our experiments, allowing students to develop their understanding of biology and genetics concepts through lab investigations.
  • Lasting friendships: Since students will be meeting other learners with similar interests, they'll be able to form connections and create friendships that can last a lifetime.


About Pomfret School

Come for camp. Stay for school.
Founded in 1894, Pomfret is a private high school for 350 boarding and day students located in Connecticut. Set on a stunning 500-acre hilltop in Northeastern Connecticut, we are less than an hour from Boston, Hartford, and Providence, and only three hours from New York City. We are consistently ranked one of the top independent schools in the country for our expert faculty, challenging curriculum, competitive athletics, deep human relationships, and stunning hilltop views. Our students routinely attend the world's most selective colleges and universities. And beyond college, our alumni are quite literally changing the world.