The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Maple sugaring events on tap this month
Woodbury’s Flanders Nature Center and the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington are offering activities on maple sugaring this month.
At Flanders Nature Center, tree tapping day is set for Feb. 4, weather permitting.
No experience is needed and all ages and families are welcome to come help out. For the purposes of coordination, residents are asked to preregister for a session at 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. Tree tapping volunteers will meet at the Flanders Sugar House, 5 Church Hill Road, Woodbury. These events are free with donations accepted to support the maple syrup making program.
Volunteers are also needed to collect sap and help out at maple sugaring activities such as weekend syrup making demonstrations and the annual pancake breakfast on March 5
where Flanders syrup will be served.
Interested residents can register for the information session and/or tapping day online
on the Flanders website, flandersnaturecenter.org, or by calling the office at 203-263-3711, ext. 12. Those unable to attend either session but are interested in volunteering can call and for another volunteer opportunity.
In Washington, a maple sugar workshop is being held at the Institute for American Indian Studies at 11 a.m. Feb. 11.
“This workshop is perfect for people wanting to learn how to harvest their own maple sap. As a pre-cursor to the Maple Sugar Festival being held at the Institute for American Indian Studies on Saturday, March 11, this workshop is sure to inspire you during the sweetest time of year,” according to a statement.
Participants on Feb. 11 will learn helpful tips on how to tap trees and boil the sap down. The workshop is conducted by Museum Educator and Ecologist, Susan Scherf, with an overview of the history of maple sugar production and how it has evolved over the centuries. Traditional Native American techniques used to collect and boil sap into maple syrup and modern methods will be explained giving participants a perspective on the variety of techniques that can be used. During the course of this workshop participants will watch how traditional sumac spiles are made.
Among the many topics to be discussed include proper tree identification and how to prepare the tree for the tapping season. Participants will learn about tree health and why and when sap flows. The workshop will also focus on what to look for, and what to avoid in regard to the tapping process as well as examples of the different methods of collecting and boiling sap. The workshop concludes with a talk about the impact of climate change on maple syrup production.
Those who sign up should dress for the weather; the workshop is held outdoors. Pre-registration for this workshop is required; call 860-868-0518, or email events@iaismuseum.org. The cost is $5 for members and $15 for non-members.