Maple Sugaring at the VIC
| This site is no longer being updated with VIC program and event information. For current information on VIC programs and events, visit: www.paulsmiths.edu/vic. For updated information on the maple sugaring program at the Paul Smith's College VIC, see: http://www.paulsmiths.edu/vic/maple/. For current information on Adirondack nature trails and natural history, visit: http://wildadirondacks.org/. |
Sugar House at the Paul Smiths VIC (4 December 2013)
Maple Syrup Pricing 2016 (PDF)
The Paul Smith’s College VIC is collaborating with Cornell Maple to expand maple syrup and sugaring opportunities in the region. The VIC has developed two demonstration sugar bushes – one with lines and one with buckets – to model what a family could do in their own back yard. The sugar bushes are located near the intersection of the Skidder Trail and the Easy Street Trail.
- For the 2013 sugaring season, the VIC used a mobile sugar shed set up near the VIC Building.
- During the fall of 2013, VIC staff, along with volunteers and Paul Smith's College students, built a new VIC Sugar House. The majority of the lumber was harvested from the VIC grounds, and some was milled on site by students using the college saw mill.
Maple products produced at the VIC are sold at the VIC store. The VIC offers clinics on maple sugaring and participates in the Maple Sugar Weekends. The maple project has also been integrated into the environmental education programs for school children, and interpretive signage has been developed for both the VIC Sugar House and the VIC Sugar Bush.
We also encourage VIC neighbors to participate in our community maple sugaring program. You collect the sap, and we process it to make beautiful sweet syrup. For more information, contact Brian McDonnell at the VIC: bmcdonnell@paulsmiths.edu
Adopt a Sugar Maple (Acer sacharum)
Support the development of maple sugaring at the VIC by adopting a Sugar Maple tree we will tap. You will be investing in the education of an intern, tapping and equipment for “your tree” and the best part is you get a quart of maple syrup from “your tree!” “Adoption papers” are at the front desk of the VIC. Adoption is $50 (not including shipping for your quart of maple syrup). Checks can be made payable to Paul Smith's College VIC.
2016 Maple Events at the VIC
Introduction to Maple Sugaring & Community Maple Training
Saturday, 20 February 2016
Come on over to the VIC and learn about modern methods of designing, installing, and maintaining a sugar bush for bucket, bag, or tubing sap collection. “Backyard tapping” and the VIC’s community-based maple program will also be addressed. The program runs from 10:00 to noon. The cost is $20 per person.
Contact: Brian McDonnell, bmcdonnell@paulsmiths.edu
Maple Tapping Workshop
Saturday, 5 March 2016
Join the VIC sugaring crew from 10:00 AM to noon, as we tap the maples to begin the process of making syrup. We'll talk about species identification, proper tapping techniques, enhancing your sugar bush, and the pros and cons of sugar bush locations. We will demonstrate tapping trees for bags, buckets, and tubing. Weather and conditions permitting, we will be in the sugar bush coaxing the trees along. Cost: $20 per person; $10 per person for Friends of the VIC.
Maple Weekend
19 & 20 March 2016
The VIC will be part of the Northeastern New York Maple Producer’s region-wide event. Come for a tour of our interpretive sugar bush, visit the sugar house, try some maple confections and baked goods, learn about maple sugaring, sign up for our Community Maple Project, and support the VIC by “adopting" a maple or by buying a jug of Paul Smith’s-made maple syrup. There will be a "Sap to Syrup Workshop” at noon on Saturday. The cost for the workshop is $20 per person.
"Sap to Syrup" Maple Workshop
19 March & 2 April 2016
Work with Paul Smith's VIC sugar makers to experience all aspects of the syrup making process. The class is hands on. Participants will monitor sap quality, learn to work with reverse osmosis equipment, assist with the wood-fired evaporator, and draw off a finished batch of VIC maple syrup. The program is part of the New York Maple Weekend. The program runs from 9:00 PM to noon. $20 per person. Preregistration required. Limited to 10 participants per session.
Contact: Brian McDonnell, bmcdonnell@paulsmiths.edu
Maple Weekend
2-3 April 2016
The VIC will be part of the Northeastern New York Maple Producer’s region-wide event. Come for a tour of our interpretive sugar bush, visit the sugar house, try some maple confections and baked goods, learn about maple sugaring, sign up for our Community Maple Project, and support the VIC by “adopting" a maple or by buying a jug of Paul Smith’s-made maple syrup. There will be a "Sap to Syrup Workshop” at noon on Saturday. The cost for the workshop is $20 per person.