Frequently Asked Questions
Who can attend the BFI?
The camp is designed for students entering the 9th grade or higher. However, we do occasionally include students who are participating in forensics in the 7th and 8th grades. If you have a younger student (grades 7 or 8) and you have questions about the camp, email us.
Arrival Information
Students planning to attend the BFI can find information about on-site check-in/registration, directions to campus, and other details about attending camp under the “Info for Students” link above, or by clicking here.
Spending Money
The amount of additional spending money you should bring depends on your own spending/eating habits. At minimum, you should either bring lunch or $8-10 to purchase lunch on campus. Many students choose to purchase snacks during the camp. If you wish to do so, please plan in accordance with your needs and preferences. There are several ATMs available on campus for students who need to access funds.
Dining
Students wishing to purchase lunch will have access to the University of Utah Student Union Food Court. The union dining facility boasts an expansive variety of options and include meal options that will satisfy any tastes or special diet (e.g., vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.). In addition, the student union provides snacks and other items for purchase on an individual basis throughout the day.
Parking
Students wishing to park their vehicle on campus will be required to purchase a parking permit from the University of Utah, utilizing their online parking permit system available by clicking here. Parking on campus is not managed by the BFI and the BFI can assume no responsibility for tickets or damages incurred while parking on campus.
Do I need a computer?
Bringing you own laptop or tablet computer is HIGHLY recommended. However, computer labs are available for use by students attending the BFI in the event you don’t have a computer or your computer stops working during camp. Likewise, printers are abundantly available, but bringing your own will provide a large measure of convenience during camp.
Student: Staff Ratio
The BFI strives to offer an individualized learning experience for every student who attends. Vital to achieving this goal is maintaining a student:staff ratio that enables students and staff to work closely with one another. At the BFI, we work to ensure that we meet a student:staff ratio of 8:1 or less. This enables our faculty to identify the individual needs of each participant and to offer instructional support to maximize each student’s learning and success.
Departure Info
Students planning to attend the BFI can find information about camp check-out/departure under the “Info for Students” link, or by clicking here.
Typical Day
A typical day at the BFI is organized around four components emphases: camp lectures that teach fundamental skills to support success across forensics activites, e.g., research, flowing, etc.; event lectures that focus on specific aspects of a competitive event, e.g., debating the counterplan, progressive vs. traditional LD, etc.; event labs that focus on hands-on, active learning geared toward students' chosen events, and critiqued practice rounds. Each morning students will participate in a camp-wide lecture and an event-specific lecture. After lunch, students will participate in an event lab, research and office hours time, and end the day with a critiqued practice round.