Marvelous Maples-

This “hands-on” lesson, taught only in March, demonstrates the process of maple sugaring. Some basic concepts of forestry and tree identification are covered. Students see and participate in the entire sugaring process from sap to syrup, and taste the sweet result. The lesson encourages an appreciation of forest resources and an understanding of how people depend on, and affect, the natural environment. Students use all five senses during this lesson: they watch the crystal-clear sap drip from the tapped trees, and smell the sap boiling in the evaporator. They use their hands to twirl a drill and pound a spile. They listen to stories about how sugaring is done today. And, of course, taste buds are used to sample maple syrup! Marvelous Maples has a different format than other lessons. It is 50 minutes long.