Courses at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus
Immersive summer courses at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC) give students the opportunity to learn via hands-on, place-based education and deepen their appreciation for the natural world. For the last three weeks in May, students live and study at LUREC, which offers 98 acres of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands about 60 miles northwest of Chicago. Students stay on campus in a dormitory setting, eat meals together in the cafeteria, and complete the equivalent of one semester-long course in only three weeks.
Faculty members teaching the courses take advantage of the LUREC facilities and the nearby natural areas and farms in McHenry County to combine classroom learning, lab activities, and hands-on experiences in the field. View the video above for an overview of the LUREC experience or read more here.
In addition to the summer session, faculty members use the facilities at LUREC throughout the academic year for field trips for courses such as plant biology, bird conservation, and ecology.
LUREC Summer Session 2025
The 2025 Summer Session at LUREC will run from May 11 through May 30. The following courses will be offered:
ENVS 280 Principles of Ecology Lecture
Instructor: Ray Dybzinski
Ecology Lecture is designed to foster an in-depth understanding of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and the environment at organizational scales ranging from genes, individuals, and populations to communities, ecosystems, and landscapes. Topics include population dynamics, species interactions, community dynamics, food webs, ecosystem functions, and landscape ecology with a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry and data interpretation. The LUREC version will use the diversity of habitats on the LUREC campus and the diversity of ecosystems in the region (i.e., a lot of field trips).
ENVS 398 Special Topics: Professional Credentials and Training for Ecologists
Instructor: Brian Ohsowski
This class will give students the professional licenses and certifications necessary to be marketable ecological professionals in the field. Hoping to land a job in restoration, conservation, or ecology after graduation? This class is for you. Certifications include (1) IL Boating License (2) NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certificate (3) IL Pesticide Commercial Not-for-Hire Applicator License (4) FAA 14 CFR Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot License (5) S-130 Firefighter Wildland Training Certificate and (6) Chicago Wilderness Burn Pile Burn Boss Certificate; in addition to many other skills. Additional cost of approximately $940 for certifications.
Scholarships
Students who register for a LUREC class before April 1 will receive a scholarship between $700 and $1,600, depending on the availability of funds. Scholarships will cover room and board and a portion of the tuition. Email SES@luc.edu for more information.
Immersive summer courses at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC) give students the opportunity to learn via hands-on, place-based education and deepen their appreciation for the natural world. For the last three weeks in May, students live and study at LUREC, which offers 98 acres of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands about 60 miles northwest of Chicago. Students stay on campus in a dormitory setting, eat meals together in the cafeteria, and complete the equivalent of one semester-long course in only three weeks.
Faculty members teaching the courses take advantage of the LUREC facilities and the nearby natural areas and farms in McHenry County to combine classroom learning, lab activities, and hands-on experiences in the field. View the video above for an overview of the LUREC experience or read more here.
In addition to the summer session, faculty members use the facilities at LUREC throughout the academic year for field trips for courses such as plant biology, bird conservation, and ecology.
LUREC Summer Session 2025
The 2025 Summer Session at LUREC will run from May 11 through May 30. The following courses will be offered:
ENVS 280 Principles of Ecology Lecture
Instructor: Ray Dybzinski
Ecology Lecture is designed to foster an in-depth understanding of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and the environment at organizational scales ranging from genes, individuals, and populations to communities, ecosystems, and landscapes. Topics include population dynamics, species interactions, community dynamics, food webs, ecosystem functions, and landscape ecology with a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry and data interpretation. The LUREC version will use the diversity of habitats on the LUREC campus and the diversity of ecosystems in the region (i.e., a lot of field trips).
ENVS 398 Special Topics: Professional Credentials and Training for Ecologists
Instructor: Brian Ohsowski
This class will give students the professional licenses and certifications necessary to be marketable ecological professionals in the field. Hoping to land a job in restoration, conservation, or ecology after graduation? This class is for you. Certifications include (1) IL Boating License (2) NOLS Wilderness First Aid Certificate (3) IL Pesticide Commercial Not-for-Hire Applicator License (4) FAA 14 CFR Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot License (5) S-130 Firefighter Wildland Training Certificate and (6) Chicago Wilderness Burn Pile Burn Boss Certificate; in addition to many other skills. Additional cost of approximately $940 for certifications.
Scholarships
Students who register for a LUREC class before April 1 will receive a scholarship between $700 and $1,600, depending on the availability of funds. Scholarships will cover room and board and a portion of the tuition. Email SES@luc.edu for more information.