MILFORD, Ohio — While many sports fans will make their selections in the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament (March madness), those at the Cincinnati Nature Center will use the month to teach others about their Maple Madness.<br>
“This all began in 1996,” said Education Specialist Jason Neumann. “We demonstrate the maple tree tapping process on four consecutive Saturdays here at Rowe Woods.”<br>
The Cincinnati Nature Center’s Rowe Woods is located six miles east of Milford on Tealtown Road in Clermont County. More than 16 miles of trails wind through the 1,025 acres of eastern deciduous forest, which includes many field, stream and pond habitats.<br>
Throughout the year, Cincinnati Nature Center conducts hikes, educational programs and events for people of all ages. But during the final two weeks in February and the first two in March all eyes are on the metal buckets that hang from the numerous maple trees in the woods.<br>
“Our key is to get folks involved in something, and with the maple tree tapping it’s like a treasure hunt, going from tree to tree,” Neumann said.
A freezing night followed by warm day is the ideal situation when attempting to tap maple trees.<br>
“You want that fluctuation in temperature,” Neumann said.
Volunteers and guests are the heartbeat of this operation. Some prefer to gather sap from the pails while others prefer boiling the sap and keeping the fire stoked at the sugar house.<br>
Last year the Cincinnati Nature Center produced 25 gallons of the tasty syrup. This Saturday (March 8) the Cincinnati Nature Center will offer a pancake breakfast at Rowe Woods, with maple syrup made from the tree sap gathered at Rowe Woods.
For more information contact the Cincinnati Nature Center at 513-831-1711.