Oakton making maple syrup again Wednesday
Oakton Community College's campus at 1600 E. Golf Road in Des Plaines includes virgin remnants of upland woods, with sugar maples and red oaks.
The college has been preserving the area and using steps such as controlled burns to keep out invasive species, said Ken Schaefer, staff naturalist and groundskeeper for the last 30 years.
For the last six years, Schaefer has made maple syrup with sap from the sugar maples to inspire student and staff interest in the features of the woods and the work of preserving the area.
On Friday, students drifted through the area as he boiled sap for hours in an evaporator. He will be collecting sap and boiling it again from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and staff, students and the public are welcome to stop by. The woods is by the middle entrance to Parking Lot A.