ROCHESTER, NY—A springtime tradition for many New York families, Maple Sugaring returns for a 38th season at the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) Cumming Nature Center (CNC). Visitors explore the science and lore of maple syrup production with volunteer guides along the Pioneer Trail and also enjoy a pancake breakfast. Maple Sugaring, a volunteer driven event, takes place Saturdays and Sundays, March 12, 13, 19 and 20.
Visitors discover how a tree makes sap and experience different sugar processing techniques demonstrated through tactics used by the Native Americans and early pioneers, as well as modern sugar bush managers. Sugaring demonstrations take place from 10am to 2pm.
Other event highlights include a 100 percent pure maple syrup tasting in the sugarhouse and a pancake meal in the visitors center. Pancake meals are served from 9am to 1pm. All meals include pure maple syrup and a choice of beverage.
Volunteers for the event handle everything from parking logistics to pancake meal preparation. For the past several years, students from local colleges and high schools, as well as adult volunteers, have served as program interpreters along the trail to the sugarhouse. To prepare, they spend time at the CNC learning maple sugaring lore. Over the course of two weekends, 25–30 volunteers explain such facts as what part of the tree contains sap, how to tap a tree and how much sap is required to produce one gallon of syrup (40 gallons!).
In addition, an exhibit called Weeds: Untamed Wonders will be on display in the CNC Hurst Gallery during Maple Sugaring. More than a dozen artists from the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators will have pieces in this exhibit.
Maple Sugaring is the CNC’s major annual fundraising event. Maple Sugaring helps maintain CNC operations. Pancake meal costs include:
- Small meal (3 pancakes + 1 sausage): $8
- Large meal (5 pancakes + 2 sausages): $10
For entrance without a pancake meal, a $3 per person (maximum $10 per family) charge is requested for the general public.
For high-resolution images and additional information, contact Amanda Bayer, Communications Specialist, RMSC at 585.697.1962 or amanda_bayer@rmsc.org.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
