Earn an associate degree in forestry, surveying, or natural resources in the heart of the Adirondack Park.
The Ranger School offers Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees in three programs completed during one extended academic year at the Wanakena campus. Students pursue Forest Technology (the longest-running program of its kind in the country), Land Surveying Technology, or Environmental and Natural Resources Conservation. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning and field-based education, with classes scheduled 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, combining classroom lectures, laboratory work, and intensive fieldwork. Students can continue their studies at the main ESF campus in Syracuse to earn a bachelor's degree.
The Ranger School occupies a 2,800-acre campus in the heart of the six-million-acre Adirondack Park near Wanakena, New York. The main campus building houses state-of-the-art facilities including classrooms, a conference room, dining facility, library, dry lab, computer lab, student residence rooms, and recreation areas. The James F. Dubuar Memorial Forest comprises 3,000 acres of the property. Students engage in hands-on learning projects such as studying forest recovery from storms and monitoring tree stands planted generations ago. The residential setting provides an immersive outdoor education experience.
The Ranger School is open to visitors by appointment. Prospective students can schedule weekday or weekend visits by calling (315) 848-2566 or emailing the school. The institution also hosts an annual Open House on the Ranger School campus. Students typically spend a year at a college of their choice before enrolling for the intensive one-year residential program at Wanakena.
The Ranger School has trained over 4,000 students since its establishment in 1912 and has earned a national reputation for excellence. ESF graduates are in demand by businesses, not-for-profits, and local, state, and federal agencies. The college reports high placement rates for students transitioning to employment or graduate study. Career Services provides resources to help students discover career options, build professional skills, and connect with employers.