Children standing outside with coats on in front of a fire

Sap, Syrup, and Sugar

March 2027 (3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 17 & 18)

Grades 2 - 12

This guided tour takes place at the Nature Center ONLY.  If you are interested in visiting both the Nature Center AND the Historic Village for maple-themed programming, see our Maple Festival Field Trip HERE.

Groups will explore the history of maple sugaring guided through a series of stations:

  • Practice tapping a tree.

  • Meet our cooper and learn why his trade was so important to maple sugaring.

  • Visit our modern sugarhouse and learn how we make maple syrup today!

  • See what a 19th century sugar camp may have looked like, and how the community came together to make maple sugar.

  • Venture out into the woods and explore our “maple history trail” on it you will learn about the evolution of tools used to collect sap.

  • Understand the science behind maple products, what is sap? why does it “flow” through a tree”? why do we tap sugar maples?

  • Taste the difference between “pancake syrup” and maple syrup over two silver dollar pancakes. 

Questions? Contact education@gcv.org

Other Details:

  • We suggest a ratio of 1 adult per 10 students (adults include both school staff and chaperones).

  • Schools are divided into groups of no more than 30 students AND adults.  

  • Schools will be charged at a rate of $250/group.

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