Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/10/2003

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tree should have a short trunk with lots of foliage. When we tap trees, we select a spot on the tree about 9.-4 feet above ground level, A hole approximately 2 Y~ inches deep amd 7/16 - Y~' inch wide is drilled, slanting slightly upwards to help the downward flow of sap into the bucket. A spiel, or spout, is inserted into the hole, a bag hung, and voila, sap should begin to drip into the bucket. If we are unable to boil the sap soon, it is frozen for later us~. Due to the 3% sugar content, approximately 30' gallons of sap are needed to make 1 gallon of syrup. The Maple Sap is Ru~nin$! Spring is in the air! Longer days and thawing days that alternate with freezing nights generally means maple syrup time at the Wargo Nature Center. For the Ojibway, the season for maple sugar making came when the crows returned. This was usually mid-March when t_here was still snow on the ground. They Lived 'in shelters covered with hides and birch bark while they collected maple sap and bo/led it down into syrup a_nd sugar. Tree sap is water that carries certain minerals taken by the roots of the trees from the soil together with organic substances made by tee leaves. These compounds, dissolved in water, Provide the nourishment upon which the tree depends upon for its Life and growth. When the air temperature rises above 32 F., maple syrup expels carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide forms bubbles that collect in the fibers surrounding the sap vessels. The expanding carbon dioxide squeezes the vessels and puts pressure on the sap inside. This pressure forces the sap upward and downward towards the points of least resistance. A tap hole creates an unexpected point of low resistance when it severs the vessels. Maple sap contains on the average about 3% sugar, though it varies from 1% - 12%. Under good conditions, a single tree may yield up to 30 ga/Ions of sap'in 24 hours. At Wargo, we tap larger trees, with diameters no smaller than 10 inches measured at four feet above ground level. For the best production, a · A Wargo Nature Center presenter shows attendees the maple syruping process. Over 75 people attended the Maple Syrup Festival held at the Warg0 Nature Center on March 8-9 and over 100 students have attended a maple syruping program this month. They have learned about the unique cultural history of this age-old process, tapped a tree amd sampled the results. The next time you are passing by the nature center and the sap is. running; stop by for a special treat! Summer 3,ob F( irs Begin A series of. three summer job fairs have been planned across Anoko County. The first was held at Chomonix ~olf Course on March 22nd, 2003. The morning job fair turned-up several people interested in working ct the golf course, as well os a few folks interested in other job throughout the park system. 25 Page 3