Sugar House Field Trip

Today we went on a field trip with our homeschool group to the Dry Brook Sugar House. It was a very pleasant day, with sunny skies and not too cold. I kept Rachel, Hannah and Dan home from school so they could come and our friends Julie and Alexius rode up with us. Bessie's schedule did not allow her to attend this time. This happens more and more and is a more difficult reality of her growing up. Lots of lively conversation and a stop for donuts made the drive enjoyable.

The children watched as they saw a tree being tapped in the more tradition way with a drill, spile and bucket.

Then they learned how this particular sugar house does it with taps, tubing, large tanks and an oil fired evaporator. It is still a very labor intensive operation and during sugaring season, these folks work very long hours.

We had lunch in their very nice dining room and were treated to ice cream with maple syrup, yum.

The entire evaporating process was explained and questions were asked and answered. All the kids were given activity books and little bottles of syrup.

Before leaving, we wandered around the cow barns (the family that runs the sugar house also owns a diary farm). Everyone is always reluctant to leave their friends.

Gabe especially enjoys spending time with his buds.

I think Dan wanted to climb right in with the cows. All the kids had a great time.

If you live in or close to NY, they will be having Maple Weekends on March 19-20 and March 26-27. Many sugar houses will have open houses with demonstrations and activities. Check here for participating sugar houses. Visiting a sugar house is great family fun.