12 th annual
McCloud MAPLE SYRUP DAYS
SATURDAY , MARCH 5 AND 12 • 9 A . M . – 3 P . M .
The sugar maple trees at McCloud Nature Park produce a sweet treasure throughout the winter months : sap with a high sugar content . Once the daytime temperatures start rising , the sap starts flowing , and our park staff and volunteers begin collecting it . Pretty soon , we have bottles of 100 % allnatural maple syrup !
How do we know which trees to use ? How do we collect the sap ? Do the sugar maple trees die afterwards ? How do we turn that natural sweetness into syrup ? How is all-natural maple syrup different from the syrup you buy in plastic bottles at the grocery store ? How has maple syrup been made in the past ?
If any of these questions have crossed your mind or your kids ’ minds , grab your favorite flannel and head on out to McCloud Nature Park in early March to experience the 12th Annual McCloud Maple Syrup Days ! Bring the whole family because Maple Syrup Days are FREE to attend !
TAP A TREE Visit the tree-tapping station , where you ’ ll learn how sugar maple trees are identified in the winter ( with no leaves !), how sap is collected from them , and how the trees respond to being tapped .
Then try your hand at tree-tapping under the guidance of our park staff and volunteers ! This is a very popular station for photos and videos , so bring your camera !
HOW MAPLE SYRUP WAS MADE Warm yourself around a campfire as you learn how maple syrup has been made – and who made it – over the course of history . Visit the nearby Sugar Bush area with our own tapped trees to see if the sap is flowing .
Try on a yoke similar to what was used in the past to haul buckets of sap to the campfire and feel the weight of the sap on your shoulders . This is another popular photo opportunity .
HOW MAPLE SYRUP IS MADE Head on over to the Sugar Shack at the McCloud Pavilion to see a modern evaporator and learn how maple syrup is made today . Discover how the sap from maple trees becomes the tasty topping for pancakes .
Maple Syrup Days are held entirely outdoors , so be sure to dress for the weather ! We ’ ll see you at the park !
VOLUNTEERS WELCOME !
For more information , please contact us at volunteer @ hcparks . net
Teens , are you looking for a service opportunity ? Could parks and recreation be a career option for you ? Find out how you can help us ! Learn more on page 22 .
4 • www . HendricksCountyParks . org