National Travel & Tourism Week

Written by Amanda Quimby, CVB Marketing Director

May 2-10, 2015 is National Travel & Tourism Week. This is a week long promotion of the impact travel and tourism had on the U.S. economy. Travel is more than just fun and excitement, travel means jobs and a growth. 

In celebration of NTTW, the CVB is going to cover the $2 admission fee to Lincoln Parish Park Monday through Friday, May 4-8, 2015, for anyone and everyone who wants to visit! From walking and biking trails to the beautiful lake and fishing opportunities, there is something new to experience every time you visit. 

Lincoln Parish Park
211 Parish Park Road in Ruston, LA.
Operation Hours: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Bring a book or your tablet (wifi available!) and enjoy some alone time, bring the crew out to grill or picnic, try a new place for you and the dog to walk. Have a canoe? Bring it. Fishing pole? Bring it. Camera? Definitely bring it. Whether you just spend an hour or two or you make a day of it, we hope you discover new things to love about the park and Ruston. Don't forget to share your pics with us @RustonCVB #RustonLA!

Another reason to visit the park this week: a chance to win $100!
And it's pretty easy so stop by and learn how.

Tell us what does travel and tourism means to you. @RustonCVB @USTravel #NTTW2015

Amanda Quimby is a native of Franklin Parish, a University of Louisiana at Monroe alumna and now a proud Ruston resident. As the marketing director for the CVB, she has an love for travel and tourism, and the coolest job ever. Amanda’s favorite things: coffee, wine and swing jazz. When she’s not working, ...just kidding. She’s always working. Follow her on Instagam and Twitter.

2015 Crappie Masters Tournament

Today is registration day! If you haven't already registered online, be sure to come by Lincoln Parish Library Events Center at 5:00 p.m. Following registration will be a seminar at 6:30 p.m.

The tournament will take place tomorrow, Saturday, April 18 at the following lakes: Lake D'Arbonne, Caney Lake, Lake Claiborne. Participating anglers will be able to fish any of the the lakes between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Weigh-in will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the North Louisiana Exhibition Center located at 165 Fairgrounds Road in Ruston. Crappie Masters pay out over 100% of the entry fees in cash and prizes! Winners from this tournament quality for the 2015 National Championship in Nashville, Tennessee.

Don't forget about the kids! Crappie Masters will also offer a free fishing rodeo for kids at Lake D'Arbonne for ages 15 and under. Registration for this event begins at 8:00 a.m. and fishing is from 9:00-10:30 a.m.


For more information visit www.crappiemasters.net or www.experienceruston.com!

Tell us about your adventures in #RustonLA!

            

NCLAC’s Summer Arts Camps are back!

Written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director 

The North Central Louisiana Arts Council’s Summer Arts Camps are back for 2015! For more than twenty years, NCLAC has offered art camps for students enrolled in 1^st through 6^th grades (entering 2nd through 7th in the fall).

Students in 2D class - 2014

 These five-day camps, held Monday-Friday from 9am-noon, are taught by artists and art educators. This year’s camps will offer classes each day in drama, visual art, and new this year—PERCUSSION!

Camp schedule is as follows:

Ruston 1, June 22-26 at Presbyterian Church of Ruston

Jonesboro, July 6-10 at United Methodist Church, Jonesboro

Ruston 2, July 13-17 at Presbyterian Church of Ruston

This year we will have Matthew Knopps, art teacher in Ouachita Parish, and Hillary Clary, talented art teacher in Caddo Parish, instructing our visual art classes. Although these teachers teach outside Lincoln Parish, Knopps lives here in Ruston, and Clary is a Ruston native. They are both graduates of Louisiana Tech.

James Waller, a Lincoln Parish musician and former director of the Percussive Arts Institute of Ruston, will be teaching our music classes.

Stephanie Tippi Hart, a local theatre personality and soon-to-be PhD candidate at Arizona State University, will lead our drama classes. You may also know Hart as RPAR’s Zumba instructor.

For more than twenty years, NCLAC has offered art camps for students enrolled in 1^st through 6^th grades (entering 2nd through 7th in the fall).

These five-day camps, held Monday-Friday from 9am-noon, are taught by artists and art educators. This year’s camps will offer classes each day in drama, visual art, and new this year—PERCUSSION!

Camp schedule is as follows:

Ruston 1, June 22-26 at Presbyterian Church of Ruston

Jonesboro, July 6-10 at United Methodist Church, Jonesboro

Ruston 2, July 13-17 at Presbyterian Church of Ruston

This year we will have Matthew Knopps, art teacher in Ouachita Parish, and Hillary Clary, talented art teacher in Caddo Parish, instructing our visual art classes. Although these teachers teach outside Lincoln Parish, Knopps lives here in Ruston, and Clary is a Ruston native. They are both graduates of Louisiana Tech.

James Waller, a Lincoln Parish musician and former director of the Percussive Arts Institute of Ruston, will be teaching our music classes.

Stephanie Tippi Hart, a local theatre personality and soon-to-be PhD candidate at Arizona State University, will lead our drama classes. You may also know Hart as RPAR’s Zumba instructor.

NCLAC's Summer Arts Camps 1) are loads of fun 2) provide quality, creative instruction and 3) are reasonably priced. 

Dragons in Final Friday play, The Magic Compass - 2014

Weeklong camps are $60 if you register and pay by May 1; $65 after May 1. Camp fee includes supplies and a daily snack. Camp hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-noon. Space is limited to 44 per camp, so check your schedule and register your child today!

Those interested may register by phone at (318) 255-1450, or by downloading a registration form from http://www.nclarts.org/summer-art-camps/.

Forms and checks should be mailed to NCLAC, PO Box 911 Ruston, LA 71273, or dropped off at our office inside the Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 N Vienna St. in Ruston.

Tell us about your adventures in #RustonLA!