Super Spy Science

From real history to video games, spies are a fascinating source of stories and adventures! And any good spy needs a helping hand from super science and mysterious math! In this camp you’ll learn about the science of spying and build your very own spy kit, complete with code-making tools, invisible ink, and your own biometric ID.

When?

Tuesday August 6 - Friday August 9, 2024

9:00am - 12:00noon.

Who?

This camp is for students aged 10-14 years.

Cost

The camp fee is $240 (including taxes).

If the fee is a barrier to your participation, a limited number of bursaries are available for eligible families - please email [email protected] to inquire.

Where?

The Vancouver School for Science and Technology (VISST): 1490 West Broadway, Vancouver.

Why should you attend?

Find out how super spies use household items and simple methods to deceive and defeat their adversaries.

Use your new found spying skills to impress friends and family.

Try something you won’t find in school: Learn about the applications of physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics in fun, interactive and hands-on activities.

Earn a certificate of completion from the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology.

What will you learn?

Codes and ciphers: From ancient times to quantum encryption, how to create messages only your friends can read (and how to break other spy’s codes)! You’ll learn about different ciphers, and challenge one another to decode your hidden messages!

Invisible inks and digital deception: Hiding your messages in plain sight through chemistry and technology. You’ll experiment with different invisible inks, learn how to make your own (no, not just lemon juice!), and discover some of the especially tricky methods of hiding your secrets in plain sight!

Spying and surveillance: Learn about the spy gadgets and even build a few! No, you won’t have any exploding pens, but you can learn about seeing around corners, how listening devices work, and how to use light to hear conversations!

Identity checks and Biometrics: From fingerprints to retinal prints, how to catch would-be imposters (and how to be one). You’ll build an identity kit that proves who you are, including your voice print and other biometric data.

Camp Instructor

Philip Freeman, VISST Teacher

Philip has 25 years of experience teaching physics, mathematics, and philosophy. He has won a number of awards for his teaching, including being an inaugural winner of the Canadian Association of Physicists Award for Excellence in High School Teaching. In addition to his work at VISST, Philip trains other physics teachers, develops educational resources for the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and TRIUMF (Canada’s national particle accelerator), and is a long-time executive of the BC Association of Physics Teachers. He also has been a scientific consultant for provincial exam development, and for a number of award winning entertainment and game projects. Philip has degrees in Physics, Mathematics and Education. He and enjoys hiking, programming, and reading widely in his free time.

Additional Notes

Refund policy: Email us at least 2 weeks (14 days) prior to the start of the camp for a full refund.

VISST reserves the right to cancel camps and refund camp fees due to low enrolment. In this event, we will provide as much advance notice as possible.

Questions?

Please email [email protected]