In Brief:
Title: Explore the Science of Maple Syrup Production at RMSC Cumming Nature Center 37th Annual Maple Sugaring
Location: 6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY 14512
Date/Time: 9am-3pm Saturdays and Sundays, March 21, 22, 28 and 29
Media Contact: Debra Jacobson, Director of Marketing and Community Affairs, 585.697.1944, debra_jacobson@rmsc.org
Explore the Science of Maple Syrup Production at RMSC Cumming Nature Center 37th Annual Maple Sugaring
ROCHESTER, NY--A springtime tradition for many Western New York families, Maple Sugaring Weekends returns for a 37th season at the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) Cumming Nature Center (CNC). Visitors explore the science and lore of maple syrup production with volunteer guides along the CNC Pioneer Trail and also enjoy a pancake breakfast. Maple Sugaring, a volunteer driven event, takes place Saturdays and Sundays, March 21, 22, 28 and 29.
At Maple Sugaring, participants learn how a tree makes sap and discover the different processing techniques while enjoying the outdoors. Sugaring demonstrations take place from 10am-2pm. Other highlights include a 100 percent pure maple syrup tasting in the sugarhouse, and a pancake meal in the visitors center. Pancake meals are served from 9am-1pm. All meals include pure maple syrup and a choice of beverage.
Pancake Meal Cost:
• Adult meal (5 pancakes + 2 sausages): $10; RMSC members $9
• Child meal (3 pancakes + 1 sausage): $8; RMSC members $7
Without the pancake meal: $3 per person (maximum $10 per family) is requested for the general public.
"Our Maple Sugaring event is a success each year largely because of the great work put forth by our many dedicated volunteers," said Dave Gotham, Director, CNC. "Their efforts and expertise help create a family-friendly experience for the public as they learn about the intriguing science and history of maple sugaring."
Dave Gotham serves as the sugar maker (the expert who turns the sap into pure maple syrup), and has been since the Cumming Nature Center's sugaring program began in March of 1979. Sugaring processes are demonstrated through tactics used by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), 1790s pioneers, as well as modern sugaring operations.
Volunteers for the event handle everything from parking logistics to pancake meal preparation. For the past several years, students from local colleges and high schools, as well as adult volunteers, have acted as program interpreters along the trail to the sugarhouse. To prepare, they spend a day at the CNC learning maple sugaring lore, from how a tree makes sap to the different processing techniques of Native Americans, early pioneers and today's modern sugar bush managers. Over the course of two weekends, 25-30 volunteers explain such things as what part of the tree contains sap, how to tap a tree and how much sap (40 gallons!) is required to produce one gallon of syrup.
In addition, a new exhibit will be on display in the CNC Hurst Gallery during Maple Sugaring. From Beasts to Botanicals: Natural Science Illustration is open to the public from March 1 through May 3 and features twenty-six illustrations from members of the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI). Of note, a new painting submitted by Kate Fady for its premier showing is "Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus) Life Cycle with Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)."
Maple Sugaring is the CNC's major annual fundraising event. Maple Sugaring helps maintain CNC operations.
For high-resolution images and additional information, contact Debra Jacobson, Director of Marketing and Community Affairs, RMSC at 585.697.1944 or debra_jacobson@rmsc.org.
About Rochester Museum & Science Center
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium, and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester's past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
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