Osseo Education Center students take trip filled with syrup and smiles

On March 14, students from the Osseo Education Center participated in a field trip to the Eastman Nature Center to learn about the process of making maple syrup. 

Students explored the grounds of the nature center, learning how to identify maple leaves and trees, how to determine the age of the trees and what time of year is best for tapping maple trees. Once they found a tree ready to be tapped, each student helped to drill the tap hole before the spout was inserted and the bucket was secured to the tree. As the sap started to drip out, the students had the opportunity to try the sap to see what it tasted like.  

After tapping a tree themselves and gathering the sap, students learned how it was boiled to turn it into syrup. They then watched a video about the history of maple syrup and had the opportunity to try a few maple syrup foods.