Sugaring Off Tours March 20, 2011

Saturdays and Sundays: March 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, & 20 - Tours at 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:30 pm - - Please see our February Flapjack Fling description on February 26 for information on our special pancake breakfast and more sugaring tours. - - Spring celebrations begin early at the sanctuary with the age-old tradition of maple sugaring. The warm days of late winter awaken the flow of sap in the maples, causing buds to swell and resulting in sweet-smelling billowing clouds of steam rising from the sugarhouse. On our naturalist-guided tours, learn how to identify a sugar maple, observe tapping and sap collection methods, and watch the sap being boiled down in the sugarhouse, where everyone gets a sweet taste of the final product. Afterwards, warm up in the Barn by the woodstove, indulge in a hot dog cooked in maple sap, sample our delicious soup and desserts made by our volunteers, or browse through our gift shop. Our syrup is available for sale (quantities may be limited). Tours last about an hour and run rain or shine. - - We also offer tours for schools and scout/youth groups, Tuesday through Friday, February 15-18 and March 1-11. Complete information on these programs can be found in our school and scout brochures. Download them from our website or call our office to request a copy. Registration is required. Call 978-887-9264 for details. See http://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=138-IP11WI6 for more information.