Projects

K-12 Youth Education

This year two 'Maple in the Classroom' trainings were held to instruct youth educators how to instruct youth about ecology, forest habitats, water cycles, and more through the world of maple syrup. Additionally, the Mobile Sugar Shack traveled to multiple locations across Appalachia bringing tree syrup education to many, near and far.

National Maple Syrup Day & Mountain State Maple Days

National Maple Syrup Day (December 17 annually) kicks off the maple syrup season and allows for outreach, awareness, and educational promotion of Mountain State Maple Days (third weekend in Feb & Mar annually). This year, a 24-hour campaign is planned for National Maple Syrup Day along with a collaborative cookbook, announcement of the Appalachian Maple Syrup Passport program, and news about Mountain State Maple Day. Additionally, the day will feature producers, sugar camps, and unique findings within the tree syrup community.

This Mountain State Maple Day(s), plans are in the works for incorporating a 'maple month', taking place between the first and second dates of Mountain State Maple Days. Educational stations, information stations, and an economic impact survey are also planned for maple events this winter.

Out of the Woods

The 'Out of the Woods' webinar series, hosted by Future Generations University Appalachian Program, will feature a maple season preparatory panel in the month of December. 'Successful Season Prep Panel' will air on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 7 pm and feature guest speakers Paul Ronk (WVMSPA President), Cara Rose (Agritourism Marketing Specialist), and Abby van den Berg (Research Professor) discussing what to do (or not do) to have a successful syruping season.

'Out of the Woods' will continue to air monthly episodes of the webinar series on the third Thursday of each month. Topics focus on maple syrup production, agritourism, agroforestry, sustainable farming, K-12 youth education, and alternative tree syrups.

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