This Spring, the sap is flowing at Strawberry Hill
Nature Preserve hosts annual Maple Sugaring Days
(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - 2/18/2010
CONTACT:
Jane Jones, Office Manager
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve
(717) 642-5840
[email protected]
Every year, Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve – near Fairfield, Pa., and just a short drive from Historic Gettysburg – presents the only maple syrup program in the region that allows participants to have a hand-on experience with all facets of the sugaring process.
During this 90-minute program, visitors to Strawberry Hill learn the history of maple sugaring and then are led to the forest where they select a tree, drill into it, hang a sap bucket, collect sap and watch fresh sap being cooked down into syrup. And as soon as the syrup is ready, participants have a chance to taste the finished product.
Strawberry Hill’s program also includes an entertaining game show-style taste test led by the Maple Chef, in which participants get to taste a range of syrups on silver dollar pancakes and pick the ones that contain real maple. There’s also a rousing sing-along of the Maple syrup song led by Strawberry Hill’s education coordinator Eddy Rubin and featuring special guest musicians.
Programs are scheduled this year on Feb. 27 and 28 and March 6 and 7 at Strawberry Hill as well as on March 13 at the Gettysburg Rec Park. Advance registration is necessary for all programs, as our time slots fill up quickly.
Those who register by Feb. 19, the fee is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 and older. After Feb. 19, the fee is $6 for adult members of Strawberry Hill and $4 for children; $8 for adult non-members and $5 for children. To reserve a spot, call (717) 642-5840 or e-mail [email protected].
While at Strawberry Hill, participants may also visit the live animals in our nature center & take a hike on the trails.
The program is suitable for all ages. It’s educational, it’s fun, it’s a wholesome family activity and it’s good exercise. After participating in the program, participants will have all the knowledge needed to do sugaring on their own in their backyard. There will also be fresh maple syrup for sale as well as maple collecting kits.
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve is located at 1537 Mount Hope Road in Fairfield, Pa.
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