Maple Sugar Madness at Prescott Farm Audubon Center!

At Prescott Farm Audubon Center, March is the month where folks can experience the process of making maple syrup the Old-Time-way.  Families and friends of all ages can take turns using a brace and bit to drill a hole, place a spile (spout), hang a bucket, taste sap from the tree, and learn to identify a sugar maple from all the other trees in the woods by distinguishing bark, twigs, texture and other characteristics. 

On Saturday March 8, 15 & 29, Prescott Farm Audubon Center will offer hands-on maple sugaring programs for all ages. Scott Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of Prescott Farm Audubon Center says “This program differs from all the other sugaring operations in that we offer up-close participation in all the aspects of sugaring, from tapping, gathering, boiling, and tasting maple syrup, to discovering the natural history of maples and the maple sugaring process.”  Each hour and half program takes place both outdoors in the sugar bush and inside the sugar house. Program Director, Cathy Duffy says “There is a short walk from parking at the Samuel P. Pardoe Building through our quiet woods back and forth to the sugar house. Be sure to dress for the outdoors, and especially wear boots. We have made pathways through our incredible cover of snow right now, but sugar season can be mud season. One of Audubon’s purposes is to help people enjoy their experience of the outdoors.”
 

On Saturday March 22 Prescott Farm Audubon Center celebrates the sweet season with its special Sugar House Open House. On this day, staff from the Center help participants experience the heritage of sugaring.  “We make yummy treats such as leather aprons and maple candies.  And we make spiles, or spouts, to bring home, the same way traditional Native Americans made them, by using twigs from the sumac tree, which is spongy and therefore easily hollowed,” says Program Director, Cathy Duffy.  The special Open House also offers tours of the sugar house and sugar bush, and a raffle for a jug of fresh syrup.

Scott Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of Prescott Farm Audubon Center says “These are extremely popular programs so please sign up early. Our programs are designed to be small to give everyone a chance to experience old time sugaring!  Kids of all ages all agree that after the work of making it, the sweet, smoky, rich flavor of fresh maple syrup is sure worth it.”

Contact the Center at 366-5695.   Maple Sugar Madness Month! Saturdays,
March 8, 15, 22, 29. Three programs per day: 10:30 am- 12, 12:30-2:00,
2:00-3:30.  $8/person or $24/family for members; $10/person or
$30/family for non-members.  Saturday March 22, Sugar House Open House
10am – 3 pm.  $8/person or $24/family for members; $10/person or
$30/family for non-members.  Reservations are required for all programs.
 

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