Maple Syrup Time

Maple Syrup Time on the Weekends

Deep River County Park General Public Program
March 9 & 10 and March 16 & 17, 2013
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
FREE

Warm days and cold nights signal the trees to awaken from their long winter's nap and begin the flow of sap. This late winter phenomenon also indicates to the maple sugar farmer that it's time to gather the buckets, drills, and spiles and head out to the sugar bush to tap the trees. This is when you, too, can see the entire process from tapping to evaporation to the finished product. Come learn about this truly North American activity, then purchase your bottle of Deep River Pure Maple Syrup.

Outdoor Activities:

Learn all about sap: Meet our interpreter in front of the Visitor Center for a short lesson on how trees are tapped and sap is collected. Begins at 10, 11, Noon, 1, 2, and 3.
Sugar Shack: Stroll to the sugar shack to witness the sap being turned into syrup in the wood-fired evaporator anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Syrup Making at the Campfire: Visit with the Voyageur-era volunteers as they make maple sugar over an open fire 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wood's Historic Grist Mill: See corn stone-ground into cornmeal. The first floor of the grist mill is open during Maple Syrup weekends. It's a perfect time to purchase your fresh ground meal.

In the Visitor's Center:

Video: "Maple Sugar Farmer" will be shown at 10:30 & 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Kids Corner: Children may put their name on a leaf and place it on our maple tree. Then learn about maple syrup through games and puzzles.
Quilting: Volunteers will be making quilting blocks for the Quilt of Valor. Join them or take a kit home to make your own block to donate.
Maple Tea Room: Warm up with hot maple tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Enjoy additional treats as you view the maple syrup exhibits. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Wood's Historic Grist Mill:

Meet the miller sho is grinding corn into strone-ground cornmeal.
Purchase cornmeal for home cooking, challenge your friends to a game of checkers in front of the wood-fired stove.
Taste our own Deep River pure maple syrup

Maple Syrup Time Weekday Field Trip Reservations

Deep River County Park Reservations for group tours taken beginning January 15, 2013. Tour dates are March 12-14 and 19-20, 2013

By reservation only: Tuesdays, Wednesday & Thursdays
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 or 11:30 - 1:30 p.m. (Tours last two hours)
$2 per person, children and adults
Minimum per reservation: $20 (advanced deposit required)
First grade through adults of all ages accepted
Call 219-769-7275 M-F 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. beginning January 15, 2013

The tour includes an Outdoor Interpretive Program explaining when and how trees are tapped and how the sap is collected. How did the settlers in North America learn about making syrup from sap? At the Sugar Shack you will see, through the steam, the entire process from sap to syrup at the wood-fired evaporator. At the Visitor Center you will learn about other syrups and get a taste of Deep River's own brand. Bottles of maple syrup are for sale, in addition to maple candy and other souvenirs.

Each group gets to put a leaf on our maple tree. Much of the tour is conducted outdoors, so please dress according to weather conditions. There are indoor alternatives in case of extreme weather.

Maple Syrup Time Just for Seniors
Deep River County Park Visitor Center         Wednesday, March 20            1 - 3 p.m.
$5.00 per person          Must be prepaid, no walk-ins
By reservation only beginning Jan. 17. Call 219-769-PARK

Here is your opportunity to learn the maple sugaring process without having to walk outside. We will bring the program to you.

Watch the delightful classic video “Maple Sugar Farmer”

Enjoy cake and coffee or hot maple tea while viewing the video
Learn about tapping trees and collecting sap
Learn how the evaporator in the Sugar Shack works
Learn where maple trees may be tapped in North America
Learn how sap turns into pure maple syrup with nothing added
Ask questions.....try to stump us!

The Gift Shop in the Visitor Center will be open after the program so you may purchase more syrup, maple sugar candy, Amish-made apple butter, preserves, maple tea and more.

Maple Tree Tapping Workshop will be held again in 2014

For reservations and more information about the Lake County Parks Call 219-769-PARK
Mon-Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time (Chicago Time)

Lake County Parks and Recreation Department Corporate Office
8411 East Lincoln Highway, Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Just west of Deep River WaterparK 4.5 miles east of I-65 on Route 30