Junior Researcher's Guide to Ghost Hunting
By Karen Smith Carr

Equipment needed: Paper, pencil, camera (don't get mom and dad's, use disposable or your own), small tape recorder (if you have one) and an open mind.

So you want to find a ghost, do you? Well, the best place to start is not always the most exciting. You must remember the research part of "researcher".

The best place to find your ghost is in the history. You must start out by looking into the history of a place or area. Places with a past might have left something behind. This is not really exciting, is it? But this is where almost all paranormal research starts. Great places to check out are almost all open to the public, like battlefields. Museums and historical homes that are open to the public are great places to visit. Think how happy your parents will be when you show an interest in "history"! Learn a few things about the place you want to visit. What happened here? Who lived here? Did anything traumatic or sad happen here? These are questions you need to answer to find your ghost.

Everyone thinks ghosts are all about cemeteries, right? Well, not always. You need to be careful with places like these. Remember, this is not a place to go alone or after dark. Not because something inhuman will get you, but because it is trespassing and unsafe. Real researchers always get permission before being in any place after hours. Respect is key ... If you must investigate a cemetery, do so during the day. A great way to get some insight on the persons buried there is to do gravestone rubbings. You will need some paper and charcoal (or colored chalk). Place paper over engraved headstone and rub the charcoal across it. You will get an outline of the inscription and it makes a cool way to show your friends "Hey, I was ghost hunting in a real live (no pun intended) graveyard!" But always get permission to be there unless the cemetery is open to the public.

This is where the fun begins. You can get great shots of orbs even during the day. Orbs are small, almost solid, looking balls that sometimes appear in pictures. Orbs are thought to be ghost energy floating about. Remember to keep dust, hair and foreign objects away from the camera lens. You wouldn't want your first ghost pic to really be of your hair, would you? You might pick up odd shadows that have no explanation or foggy white shapes, if you're lucky!

Do you want to "hear" your ghost as well as see him? Try EVP. What's EVP?

Electronic Voice Phenomena ... Using your recorder, you may even be able to pick up the voices of the departed. Some researchers believe that ghosts are formed out of electro-magnetic energy (don't know what this is? Ask your science teacher, they'll be thrilled!). This energy can imprint itself on recording devices. Simply walk around your research area and ask questions with the recorder on. Questions like "Is there anyone here?" or "Does anyone have anything they need to say?" work well. If you have really done your research, you might know specific people to ask for. Don't worry if people stare at you for talking into thin air ... You know the air is really not that thin!! When you get home, review your tape. You might be surprised what you picked up besides your own voice.

These are ways to start yourself on the road to becoming a paranormal researcher. It is a new and exciting field of science that has come a long way. You can even earn a degree in parapsychology or become a certified paranormal researcher. But remember the rules, no trespassing and no trouble. You don't want to make the ghosts (or authorities) angry.

WE at APS are dedicated to advancing the science and reputation of paranormal research and are glad to help further the interest of a new generation. Please feel free to e-mail us with any question or comments.

We will be updating and adding to this section frequently.