Rent-A-Sap-Bucket

For over ten years, thousands of school children have visited the sugar bush at Bendix Woods County Park in New Carlisle, Indiana to learn how maple syrup is made. Depending on the age of the child, he or she may see a puppet show featuring Miss Maple, Baby Bud, and Mr. Root; hear about various historical methods for maple syrup collection; tap a tree, and, of course, get to taste the syrup. It's a wonderful way for kids to connect with their food as they learn that real maple syrup comes from a tree, not the supermarket shelf.

The educational program, including all activities and necessary equipment, is funded through the Park's "Rent-A-Sap-Bucket" drive where an individual can make a donation of $35.00 and, in return, receive two tickets to the Sugar Camp Days Breakfast on March 15 and 16, 2008, one pound of Bonneyville Mills' cornmeal, a maple leaf candle, two half-pint containers of Bendix Woods' pure maple syrup, and have his/her name entered in a drawing to win a season pass redeemable at all St. Joseph County Parks. And, if you're one of the first 50 to reserve your bucket, you get your name posted on a sap tank. (Wouldn't this be a fun, out of the ordinary Valentine's Day gift?)

If you're handy with a hammer, Leslie Witkowski, the Park's Interpretive Services Assistant Manager, invites you to Tapping Day which will be held this year on Saturday, February 16th. You'll work outdoors tapping trees and getting the sugar bush ready for making maple syrup. For more information about how to volunteer for this activity, call Leslie at 574-654-3155.

Thirty-one Indiana counties have at least one active maple syrup producer. Next week, I'll have more on this including some great recipes using Indiana maple syrup.

Photos: Courtesy of Bendix Woods County Park