maple flats
06-17-2007, 09:28 PM
Tomorrow I will again be giving 4 presentations at a grade school about maple syrup. 2 classes for grades K-3 and 2 classes for grades 4-6. The kids have numerous presentations given simultaniously and the sign up to attend the ones they want. Last year I was told the max class allowed would be 15 but all 4 I gave had between 16 and 18. I thought that was great, it meant more kids were interested. This year is planned by the school to be the same but i told the principal that 20 or even 25 was good with me. I show them what sugarmaples look like (the school butts up to a village park that is full of them), show how tubing is run, explain the evaporator and show how much wood I put in every 5 minutes. I pass around a display board with about 20 different old taps mounted to it. And of course I hand out samples. The older groups get a little more detailed info than the younger ones. I drive school bus to this school and have been asked by several students over the last few weeks if I was going to give the presentation again, and often by ones who only heard about it last year from those who did attend but didn't sign up til this year. I love it!
I have also planted the idea of a maple field trip or in school presentation with a few other schools. One was this past week when I took a group on a field trip and I intentionally made the return route past a real nice set-up of tubing on a hillside that is visible from the road, and can even be seen enough with the leaves on to explain a little about it. I used the inside PA system and gave a 2-3 minute talk about what it was and what they were doing. The large SS tank was clearly visable at the road and some of the latterals could be seen. After this the kids asked several questions and the teachers thanked me when we returned to their school for all of the information I had given during the trip, this might be my next school to do a presentation at, time will tell.
I have also planted the idea of a maple field trip or in school presentation with a few other schools. One was this past week when I took a group on a field trip and I intentionally made the return route past a real nice set-up of tubing on a hillside that is visible from the road, and can even be seen enough with the leaves on to explain a little about it. I used the inside PA system and gave a 2-3 minute talk about what it was and what they were doing. The large SS tank was clearly visable at the road and some of the latterals could be seen. After this the kids asked several questions and the teachers thanked me when we returned to their school for all of the information I had given during the trip, this might be my next school to do a presentation at, time will tell.