Samantha Tjaden Archives - Reynolds College Blog

Reynolds College Blog

Now taking applications for CSI Camp 2025

by

Back for its third year, Missouri State University’s Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) camp will host two full sessions during Summer 2025.

Incoming high school students — freshmen through seniors —  are eligible to attend the program, which is sponsored by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ).

The first camp is scheduled for June 9-12. The second camp will be held July 28-31.

Sessions run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Since CSI camp is a day camp only, the university does not offer nightly accommodations or transportation to MSU from hotels.

Camp tuition remains $275 per camper, the same as last year. Tuition fees include a camp t-shirt and daily lunch.

Each camp can accept up to 40 students.

[Read more…] about Now taking applications for CSI Camp 2025

CSI Camp brings future crime solvers to MSU campus

by

The first of two CSI Camps, hosted by Missouri State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, was held June 10-13.

High school students from around the Midwest, including Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Illinois, attended this year.

The camp offers introductory training in basic criminal evidence-gathering techniques, such as fingerprinting, blood spatter analysis and plaster casting.

Now in its second year, the June camp enjoyed full enrollment of 40 students. The second camp will be held July 8-11.

Expanded training, smaller groups for 2024 camp

According to assistant professor Dr. Samantha Tjaden, camp organizers used what they learned from the 2023 camp to base the 2024 experience on what students want to learn.

“We have added more hands-on experiences to our camp from last year,” Tjaden said. “For example, we were very lucky to have Springfield Police Department investigators come share their experiences with our campers this year. We have also evolved the blood spatter component of our camp to include Luminol.”

“Both years that we have had the CSI camp have been an amazing experience but—like anything—we are learning and adapting to the needs of our campers,” she added.

Teacher explains a procedure to a student
Kamina Andrisevic listens as Dr. Tjaden explains fingerprinting techniques.

Ideas for 2025 camp in the works

Tjaden is not only one of the camp faculty instructors, she also serves on the planning committee with fellow camp instructor Dr. Michael Kyle. Tjaden lends her professional expertise and assists with content delivery and development.

“Professors Kyle and Tjaden are superb at connecting and building rapport with high schoolers, and they both have a wonderful ability to explain complex aspects of forensics in very down-to-earth ways,” said Dr. Brett Garland, head of the criminology and criminal justice school.

Camp organizers are already planning more techniques and topics for 2025, according to Garland.

“I’m looking forward to us integrating more on the search and seizure and interrogation side—since both are critically important to successful investigations—and maybe running interactive scenarios in those areas,” he said.

[Read more…] about CSI Camp brings future crime solvers to MSU campus

Now taking applications for CSI Camp 2024

by

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice crime scene investigation (CSI) summer camp will return for its second year June 10-13, 2024, on the Springfield campus of Missouri State University. Sessions run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

UPDATE: Due to popular demand, a second CSI Camp has been added for 2024. It runs July 8-11. Applications accepted until June 16.

Incoming high school students freshmen through seniors are eligible to attend.

Early applications are encouraged, as space for the summer camp is limited. Online applications are now being accepted.

Camp tuition is $275 per camper. Tuition fees include a camp t-shirt and lunch daily. Lodging is not provided.

What is CSI Camp?

CSI Camp covers topics like basic criminal investigation, forensic analysis techniques, crime scene processing and collection and packaging of evidence.

Camp activities include lifting and examining fingerprints, casting tread impressions, identifying and examining blood spatter/stains and more.

Apply now

Assistant professor of criminology Dr. Michael Kyle returns to lead the camp this year. Kyle was instrumental in envisioning and leading the first CSI Camp in 2023. Dr. Samantha Tjaden, assistant professor of criminology, will also facilitate camp sessions again this year.

Also returning to ensure a quality camp experience are Dr. Brett Garland, director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Administrative Assistant Christy Titus.

For more information, contact the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at 417-836-3799 or criminology@missouristate.edu.

Check out CSI Camp

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice holds first CSI summer camp

by

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, in partnership with the Missouri State University Public Safety Training Center, launched its first crime scene investigation (CSI) summer camp July 17-20, 2023.

The entire camp, which was constructed around solving a real-life criminal case, gave 33 high schoolers from Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas a crash course in investigative strategies and forensic techniques. Hands-on activities included fingerprint dusting, lifting and fuming; blood stain and splatter analysis; shoe print casting; firearm tool mark analysis; packaging evidence; report writing and more. [Read more…] about School of Criminology and Criminal Justice holds first CSI summer camp