Bring the kids to see how maple syrup is made

Posted December 04, 2014 10:00 pm

Submitted by McHenry County Conservation District

Have you ever wondered how maple syrup was discovered? Have you ever seen more than 40 trees hooked up to collect and process sap in a scenic woodland?

The McHenry County Conservation District offers free field trips to elementary schools within McHenry County and public tours for the annual "Festival of the Sugar Maple" at Coral Woods Conservation Area, 7400 Somerset in Marengo.

Sign up for the popular Festival of the Sugar Maples School field trip starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Teachers should call (815) 479-5779 to book their outing. Field trips are for students in second through fifth grade, which are offered daily March 9-13 and March 16-19.

Students will learn the history of maple sugaring and see how the sap collection process has evolved to modern-day techniques. They will also get to visit the evaporator house and watch the sap as it is transformed into syrup.

Finally, everyone gets a taste of pure Coral Woods maple syrup before they leave. The entire length of the field trip is held outdoors, lasts about an hour and travels along a one-mile stretch of a wooded nature trail.

Teachers can call (815) 479-5779 to plan their outing.

Free public tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends, March 7-8 and 14-15. For more information, call (815) 479-5779 or visit www.MCCDistrict.org.

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