Kids get hands on experience making maple syrup
OTISVILLE -- In the woods behind Lakeville Middle School in far northeastern Genesee County, is something you wouldn't expect. What is it? "To our knowledge it is the only school in Michigan that has a live working sugar bush," says principal Kelli-Ann Rich. See the video below.
Kids collect the sap, from trees that are marked. They track the production of sap from the trees using geocaching techniques. 8th graders fill out actual job applications to volunteer here. Some actually make pancakes, while others tend to the actual boiling of the sap down into maple syrup. They then get the opportunity to share they have learned with the over 1000 kids that come through here each spring. "I can tell you how it's processed into here," says 8th grader Tylor Ward-Kubik, pointing to a giant evaporator system set up in an old fashioned "sugar shack", "and how everything is made pretty much." He shares his knowledge with a smile, and says he chose the job of "evaporator" so he could be close to the fire (very smart) and to be involved in the process of making the syrup. "I think it's pretty sweet," he says.
It's literally sweet, and better than store bought syrup because it's pure, says adult volunteer Keith Cregar. "this is all pure when we boil it down we don't add nothing. It's...just the way it came out of the tree," he says. Cregar watches over the delicate process of boiling the sap, making sure there is plenty of wood in the evaporator, and making sure it reaches just the right temperature for the best maple syrup. "You can take it warm and set it right there on the shelf, and it will be good until you open it," he says.
During our visit a few busloads of elementary school students from around the district came in. The ones that don't get to collect sap, still get to take a look at how it's done. The ones we talked to waiting to get inside the sugar shack said it was much better than being in school. Except these adults have them fooled. An education outside the classroom is exactly what they are getting. "It's like science and math in action, the kids are learning all the time," says Rich.
Retired teacher Bernard Fettig helped start the Sugar Bush in 1976. It began as a bicentennial project and has operated every year but two since then. 33 seasons to be exact. He still enjoys teaching students in this classroom outside the classroom. Addressing the kids sitting around the campfire he points to a dsiplay of 40 milk cartons. "Over here we have an example of how many gallons of sap it takes to make a gallon of syrup. Anyone remember that ratio? 40 to 1!" In fact, they told us it sometimes takes a day and a half to boil down one batch. I asked Fettig if that was an excercise in patience for the kids. "Patience for them, and for us," he replied. Of course I know Fettig has patience, since he taught me in 8th grade, during my days at LakeVille Middle School. He agrees with Rich that the Sugar Bush is an all-around eduaction for the kids. "It's hands on. It's multiple lessons. Science, english, social studies, the works. The application can be so broad."
The "Michigan" pure maple syrup is sold on a first come first served basis with proceeds going back to student council to be used mostly in the program. It's a self-funding project that had gained notoriety for the school. "Everyone that comes here asks about it whether it's new hires or people interviewing for jobs. What's that "Sugar Bush" thing you do?"
Pure maple syrup like the stuff made here has been shown to have health benefits you can't get from the store-bought stuff. It's packed with vitamins and minerals, and even ant-cancer agents like antioxidants. If you want to buy the syrup you can contact LakeVille Middle School at (810) 591-6281. Last year's prices were:
$8 for 1/2 pint
$14 for a pint
$24 for 1/2 gallon
