HOBART | Visitors are invited to experience the true North American activity of making maple syrup during the Deep River County Park’s Maple Syrup Time. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 9 and March 10, as well as March 16 and March 17, both indoor and outdoor activities will be offered free of charge to the public.
As the days get warmer and the nights remain cold, trees begin the flow of sap. This signals to maple sugar farmers that it’s time to start tapping the trees to make pure maple syrup. Visitors will learn all about sap during a lesson on how trees are tapped and how sap is collected. Visitors may also watch as the sap is turned into maple syrup in the wood-fired evaporator and over an open fire.
Inside the Visitor’s Center, the video “Maple Sugar Farmer” will be shown and children will be able to put their name on a leaf to place on the maple tree. Children will also learn about maple syrup through games and puzzles in the Kids’ Corner.
Visitors may also take quilt block patterns home to be donated back to Deep River County Park. During the summer, those who donated a block will be contacted to create the design of the quilt and sew together blocks. The quilt top will be sent to Quilts of Valor Foundation to be finished and given to a service person.
Quilts of Valor Foundation’s mission is to cover all combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
In Wood’s Historic Grist Mill, visitors will meet the miller who is grinding corn into stone-ground cornmeal. Cornmeal is available to purchase for home-cooking, and visitors may challenge friends to a game of checkers in front of the wood-fired stove.
For more information on Maple Syrup Time, visit www.lakecountyparks.com or call (219) 769-7275.
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