For the first time, UW-Platteville is hosting a forensic camp for high school students. The Office of Continuing Education started the project.

“It’s designed to give students insight into the reality of crime scene investigation,” Aric Dutelle, forensic investigation professor, said. The Forensic Camp is meant to pique student’s interest in forensics and recruit them to become UW-P students

Students in their freshman through senior year of high school, as of this fall, are being accepted. Applicants must register by July 7.

“Since there are only 24 openings, applicants are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis,” Kerie Wedige, project coordinator, said. The camp will take place from July 20 to 25.

Students have the option of staying on campus in a residence hall for $375 or commuting and only paying $300.

The students will be split up into different groups and led through a realistic crime, beginning with a mock trial scene and incorporating the different aspects that go into solving a crime.

“There are three pieces to the puzzle,” Charles Cornett, who will be showing students drug analysis as well as trace evidence, said. “It’s a very hands-on experience.”

Dutelle will talk to students about fingerprints, blood spatter, footwear impressions and packaging drug evidence. They are also going to cover documentation of evidence, laboratory note keeping, chain of custody and data presentation.

According to the continuing education Web site, the trial portion of the camp will teach the students how attorneys prepare cases for trial. They will learn things such as writing an opening statement, different forms of examining a witness and how to introduce evidence in a way that follows the evidentiary rules.

The actual crime the students will cover, however, is not yet a sure thing.

“We’re still working out the nuances of the case,” Cornett said, “We wouldn’t go as far to include a dead body.”