If your little sleuths need to search for something other than Santa’s secret stash of presents, check out CSI:MTSU’s latest camp for kids.

MTSU’s Forensic Institute for Research and Education is sponsoring “The Great Christmas Caper,” a special mini-camp for science-minded fifth- through eighth-graders, on Dec. 20 and 21.

The young participants will use forensic science to solve a mini-mystery — did Grandma really get run over by one of Santa’s antlered crew?

Hours for the two-day camp are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is $125 includes lunch, daily snacks and a T-shirt for each participant.

CSI:MTSU camps are held each summer for high schoolers. The camps let students explore career opportunities in forensic science, offer “real-life” support for higher-level math and science courses and help develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and making presentations.

In addition to CSI:MTSU camps, the Forensic Institute for Research and Education, established in 2006 by MTSU anthropology professor Dr. Hugh Berryman, offers free public lectures featuring renowned forensic-science experts each semester. FIRE also provides regular educational and training opportunities for law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, attorneys, social workers and other groups in forensic science and homeland security.

For more information, visit www.csimtsu.com and click on the links to “The Great Christmas Caper” at the bottom of the page or call 615-494-7713. You also can register at http://tinyurl.com/a3thdmv.