On Wednesday, West Penn firefighters used hydraulic rescue tools to cut open a car damaged in a rollover crash. Penn-Mahoning EMTs carefully removed a woman from the vehicle and took her to a nearby ambulance.

Standing by, documenting the scene were a group of investigators - children in grades 3-7 taking part in West Penn CSI camp.

The annual weeklong day camp, held at West Penn Elementary, is back in session after two years off due to the pandemic. Students are spending the week learning all about crime scene investigations from the officers who actually conduct them.

“Everything the officers do, we give them a little taste of it,” said Michele Bittner, a fifth-grade teacher in the Tamaqua Area School District.

CSI Camp started in 2015 - a joint effort between Bittner and West Penn Police.

Students receive lessons in the real techniques used by police officers, taught by Officer Jason Lorah and Cpl. John Kaczmarczyk.

Lessons range from fingerprinting and shoe print casting, to drug identification and crime scene photography.

On Tuesday, they got to apply the investigative methods they learned, documenting the aftermath of a vehicle crash.

Lorah said the goal is to re-create hectic real-world conditions in the controlled environment.

“They see the same things we do,” Lorah said.

During the simulation, West Penn Fire Co. No. 1 used their hydraulic rescue tools to remove the doors and roof of a vehicle while protecting the driver inside - played by Bittner. Penn-Mahoning EMTs then took over, removing her from the vehicle. A MedEvac helicopter from Lehigh Valley Health Network circled overhead, but got dispatched to transport a patient at the last minute.

Students often return year after year, getting more in-depth in their understanding of CSI.

Madison Schaeffer, a Tamaqua Middle School student, said the lessons go more in depth than what they would learn in school.

“It explains a lot more than looking it up on the internet, or watching a TV show,” she said.

Some students eventually become counselors - helping younger campers learn the ropes. It’s even influenced some past campers to pursue it as a career.

Counselor Jillian Tite started at CSI Camp when she was in elementary school. Now she’s headed to college to study forensics.

“At first it was a lot to take in, but I realized I loved it, and I just continued with it,” she said.

The police, fire and EMTs also enjoy the impact they get to make on youth. Connor Evans, Assistant Chief with West Penn Fire Co. No. 1, was once a student in Bittner’s class. Now he’s proud to teach the current group of students.

“They’re doing CSI, and they get to see what we do as well. It’s great to teach the youth,” he said.