Data Detectives Camp

About Us
The National Center for Health Statistics(NCHS) Data Detectives Camp is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) camp that focuses on statistics for rising 6th and 7th grade students.
The camp has been conducted annually since 2016 as a commuter camp, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a virtual camp since 2020. This 1-week, 2-hour-a-day camp is an exciting opportunity for boys and girls to learn about the basics of statistics through a variety of fun, hands-on activities!
The Data Detectives Camp activities cover statistical concepts to help teach kids to think like a data detective by asking the right question, collecting the needed information, analyzing the data, and determining the answer.
We are offering two sessions a day. Please note that students will have to stay in their chosen session for the duration of the camp.
Applying to the Camp
- Applications are no longer being accepted.
- Submission deadline was May 30.
- Up to 15 rising 6th and 7th graders will be selected per session to participate in this 1-week virtual camp.
- Decisions will be e-mailed to parent/guardian by the week of June 20.
Date/Time: | August 8–12, 2022 Session 1—9AM–11AM (EST) Session 2—1PM–3PM (EST) |
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Eligibility: | Children entering 6th or 7th grade |
Location: | Online through Zoom video conferencing |
Cost: | There is no fee for registering or attending the camp |
Online camp requirements: |
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Contact: | datadetectives@cdc.gov |
Sample of Camp Activities
Daily activities will revolve around statistical concepts that will be explored through a variety of virtual activities, individual and group projects, and computer programs.

Learn about distributions by examining the height of fellow campers. See how a 7-foot-tall basketball player throws off the average height of the class.

Collect data to draw comparisons between variables, such as number of siblings and arm span. Can you draw any conclusions? Which is a better predictor of height?
Data

Learn to display your data through figures and charts. How does data visualization allow you to interpret your data and draw conclusions? What are its limitations?
Friday

Review the concepts you learned on the last day of camp with fun, group trivia games.
Conducted by: National Center for Health Statistics, Camp Director Dr. Ryne Paulose
In Partnership with:
- American Statistical Association
- CDC Museum
- University of Maryland, Joint Program in
Survey Methodology - University of Maryland, Social Data Science Center
- University of Maryland, School of Public Health
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Department of Justice