Sugar Maple trees are indigenous in much of North America including Connecticut. Native Americans were the first people to use the gifts of the maple tree to produce maple syrup and sugar that so many of us enjoy today.
As the days get warmer but the nights stay cold, it's the right season for maple sugaring. If you have always wanted to produce your own maple syrup but didn’t know where to begin taking to the Maple Sugar Workshop @ the Institute for American Indian Studies on Saturday, February 11 beginning at 11 a.m. is a good way to learn about this age-old process. This workshop is perfect for people wanting to learn how to harvest their own maple sap. As a pre-cursor to the Maple Sugar Festival being held at the Institute for American Indian Studies on Saturday, March 11, this workshop is sure to inspire you during the sweetest time of year!
If you want to get a jump on the sugaring season along with helpful tips on how to tap trees and boil the sap down yourself don’t miss this workshop that is perfect for beginners, novices, and veterans alike. Conducted by Museum Educator and Ecologist, Susan Scherf, this workshop gives participants an overview of the history of maple sugar production and how it has evolved over the centuries. Traditional Native American techniques used to collect and boil sap into maple syrup and modern methods will be explained giving participants a perspective on the variety of techniques that can be used. During the course of this workshop participants will watch how traditional sumac spiles are made.
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| Learn the proper way to tap a maple tree |
Highlights of this workshop also include learning the basics of collecting and boiling the sap down. Among the many topics discussed will be proper tree identification and how to prepare the tree for the tapping season. Participants will learn about tree health and why and when sap flows. The workshop will also focus on what to look for, and what to avoid in regard to the tapping process as well as examples of the different methods of collecting and boiling sap. The workshop concludes with a talk about the impact of climate change on maple syrup production.
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| A fun hands-on workshop |
It is important to dress for the season because the majority of this event will be held outside. Pre-registration for this workshop is required. To register for this informative and fun workshop click here, call 860-868-0518, or email events@iaismuseum.org. The price of participation is $5 for members and $15 for non-members.
About the Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.
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