Sap Collecting and Maple Syrup Making in the Sugarbush

I finally got the opportunity to do something I have been dying to do FOREVER!

Not skiing (I don't really want to go skiing)...

Not spelunking (doing that this summer, hopefully)...

Not even skydiving (definitely on my bucket list)...

I went SAP COLLECTING IN THE SUGARBUSH!!

In the words of the great Burton Guster:
​"You know that's right."

A couple of weeks ago, Jacob and Reed took me... 

I mean, I dragged Jacob and Reed with me....

No- Jacob and I took Reed to the Cincinnati Nature Center for a "Sap Collecting and Maple Syrup Making in the Sugarbush" activity.

It. Was. Awesome.

When I say that I have been wanting to do this forever, I mean it!  I read about maple syrup making in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy when I was a little girl, and ever since then I have wanted to experience this process for myself.

We started our adventure at the brisk 9 AM hour (a true act of love in itself by my dear hubby). We met up with our FANTASTIC guide, Mr. Art at the outdoor learning center.  I may have cut in front of several small children to get a front-row seat for Mr. Art's presentation.

​How rude!

I realized my lack of manners/weirdness by the time we arrived at the sugarbush and allowed the children to see again.  The knowledgeable Mr. Art and his assistant talked about the different types of sap collecting methods and how to empty and replace the buckets correctly.

After a brief chat, they literally set the kiddos (and me!) loose in the sugarbush.

We walked through the woods looking for buckets labeled with blue or red tape.  Other colors were reserved for other groups later in the day.

​I think we found one!

Need help?  Please say yes.  Please, please, please?!

YES!!

I mean... I would love to help you, sweetie.

Look at all of that sap!  So cool!  I thought sap was brown.  And I didn't realize a tree could make so much.  But Mr. Art said that sometimes the volunteers get emergency calls because the sap is overflowing.

Mr. Art knows everything!  And I might volunteer with CNC one day, just to get that "overflowing sap" phone call.

Oh, and the beautiful nature is a bonus, too.

We tromped around the sugarbush for quite a while and then took our buckets back to the outdoor learning center.

I think I embarrassed TLO.  Or wore him out.  Or something.  Not sure about that face...

---

The volunteers at the learning center explained the syrup-making process.

They already had the evaporator running and had a batch of syrup ready to go.

These are my people.

We tried some maple syrup- DELICIOUS- and took a little hike back to the car.  We will definitely do this again next year.  

Only the best outdoor education for The Little Outdoorsman, of course.

​It has absolutely nothing to do with me.

Yet another wonderful experience at the Cincinnati Nature Center!  In case you haven't noticed, we go there a lot.  I have linked below a few other CNC posts (click on the pics).

Winter Hike

Summer Days with Mama

I am so excited that spring is nearly here, aren't you?  I hope you get to enjoy the season to the full.  Enjoy the last official weekend of winter!