Forestry Department

For Louisiana residents who envision a career rooted in the state’s rich natural resources, the Forestry Department in Ruston is not a typical public campground; it is the premier professional training ground for future forestry experts. Located at the heart of Louisiana Tech University’s esteemed College of Applied & Natural Sciences, this site serves as the crucial base for the required Forestry Summer Field Session, often affectionately called "Summer Camp." This immersive, multi-week experience transforms students from academic learners into skilled, job-ready natural resource managers, providing an education that is deeply practical and entirely essential for thriving in the Louisiana timber industry.

The core mission here is hands-on learning. While traditional campgrounds offer amenities for relaxation, the "camp" provided by the Forestry Department offers specialized facilities dedicated to the rigorous study of sustainable forest and wildlife management. Louisiana Tech is nationally recognized for excellence in this field, and the Ruston campus location is the gateway to a curriculum focused on the real-world skills needed to thrive in the woods of Louisiana—from timber cruising and tree measurements to wildlife habitat analysis. This intense "campground" experience is designed to build expertise through challenging coursework and invaluable in-field practice, positioning graduates to lead in a sector that employs thousands of Louisianians. It is an exclusive opportunity for those dedicated to a professional future in Louisiana’s beautiful and vital forests.

The Forestry Department is conveniently located at 4484 US-80 in Ruston, LA 71270, situated directly on the main highway leading into the city. This address identifies the location of the academic facilities associated with Louisiana Tech University, placing it in an area that is easily accessible from across Northern Louisiana and the wider region. For students and agency representatives traveling for field sessions and collaborative research, the location offers seamless access from major arteries. Ruston, itself a growing hub in the state, provides all the necessary urban amenities while maintaining close proximity to the sprawling forest lands that make up much of Northern Louisiana, including portions of the vast Kisatchie National Forest.

The accessibility of this base is crucial, as the Forestry Summer Field Session is not confined to the campus grounds. Students frequently venture out on field trips to significant locations across the state, including the Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center in Sabine Parish and even sites in neighboring states. The Ruston facility, therefore, acts as a centralized command post, an academic and logistical hub from which professional learning and research projects are launched. Its location on US-80 facilitates quick movement for both commuting students and large field vehicles carrying surveying and measurement equipment. The choice of Ruston reflects the Department’s commitment to combining top-tier academic resources with convenient access to the varied forest environments that define the Louisiana landscape.

The "services" provided by the Forestry Department are entirely focused on academic rigor and professional development, ensuring students receive the highest quality, most practical forestry education available in the South. This is a specialized facility, not a leisure site.

• Professional Field Training: Offers the essential Forestry Summer Field Session (Summer Camp), a rigorous, hands-on program required for Forestry majors, typically covering nine credit hours of specialized field instruction.
• Curriculum Focus: Instruction covers essential Forestry skills including Forest Measurements, Field Silviculture, GPS Technology in Natural Resource Management, and Forest Sustainability & Recreational Use.
• Expert Collaboration: Students gain invaluable access to and expertise from representatives from leading organizations such as Roy O. Martin, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and consulting foresters.
• Advanced Facilities: Located near the burgeoning Forest Products Innovation Center (FPIC) on the South Campus, providing students with access to cutting-edge research and transdisciplinary project space related to the timber industry.
• Career Development: Programs are structured to build professional skills, including communication with private landowners, and offer valuable internship opportunities that prepare students for immediate career success.
• Research Opportunities: Students can work closely with faculty on a variety of research projects, gaining hands-on experience and developing professional networks within the industry.

The distinguishing features of the Forestry Department as a center for learning and field work emphasize its role as a leader in sustainable natural resource management for Louisiana.

• Top-Ranked Program: Louisiana Tech is home to the South’s top-ranked Forestry Program, providing students with an education recognized nationally for excellence in Forest Management and Wildlife Habitat Management.
• Hands-On Learning: The program requires extensive, in-the-field opportunities to learn skills like estimating timber volume, managing trees from planting to harvest, and collecting spatial data using GPS.
• Real-World Field Trips: The Summer Camp includes extended field trips, such as a visit to the Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center, ensuring students are exposed to diverse regional forest ecosystems and management practices.
• Industry Networking: The unique structure of the Summer Camp facilitates direct interaction with numerous agency and company representatives, providing mentorship and immediate networking opportunities for career placement.
• Focus on Sustainability: The curriculum heavily emphasizes sustainable forest and wildlife management, preparing students to address the modern challenges facing Louisiana’s vital timber and conservation sectors.
• Access to Kisatchie: The location provides excellent logistical access to the Kisatchie National Forest, where many Louisiana public campgrounds and forest management areas are located, serving as a frequent outdoor laboratory for students.

For all inquiries regarding enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Forestry program, the Summer Field Session, or professional consulting services offered through the Department, please use the main contact information for the Louisiana Tech University College of Forestry.

• Address: 4484 US-80, Ruston, LA 71270, USA
• Phone: (318) 251-4143 / +1 318-251-4143

For Louisiana high school graduates, parents, or professionals considering a career change into natural resource management, choosing the Louisiana Tech University Forestry Department is a choice to secure a top-tier professional future. It is worth choosing not because it is a campground, but because it is the South's top-ranked program for Forestry. The "Summer Camp" is a powerful selling point—it’s a necessary, intense experience that provides the kind of hands-on, real-world skill development that Louisiana employers demand, going far beyond typical classroom instruction. Students gain proficiency in tangible skills like timber estimation and GPS data collection, making them immediately marketable upon graduation.

Furthermore, the location in Ruston, combined with the extensive network of industry partners like the U.S. Forest Service and Roy O. Martin, provides unparalleled networking and career placement opportunities right here in Louisiana. The opportunity to work on cutting-edge research through the FPIC ensures students are prepared to innovate within the industry. While the single customer review provided is simply "Oof," this is likely a testament to the rigorous, challenging nature of the required field session, a challenge that ultimately leads to high professional competence. Choosing this Forestry Department means choosing to invest in a successful, sustainable career managing the beautiful and economically vital forests of Louisiana, backed by the prestige of a nationally recognized program.