The Maple Syrup Project

Welcome to the School District of Mauston/Outdoors Forever Maple Syrup Project page!  In January of 2024 a small group of  district staff visited the sugar bush (sugar bush refers to a forest stand of maple trees that is used to collect maple sap for maple syrup) of a neighboring district to learn more about their maple syrup project.  Many great ideas were shared and our excitement for our own project grew.  Our first hurdle was finding our own sugar bush.  In early February our school district presented our maple syrup project idea to Outdoors Forever.  Their club unanimously approved our proposal to tap trees on their property and use their facility to  boil down the sap we collected.  Through the Farm to School Grant we were then able to purchase many of the items needed for the process of making maple syrup including an arch, filter press and reverse osmosis system.  

The season came much earlier than expected.  On  Febraury 19th students from the Lemonweir Academy located and marked nearly 100 maple trees at Outdoors Forever.  The following day about 80 of those trees were tapped.  Since then it has been a whirlwind of collecting, running sap through the reverse osmosis system and boiling.  

We are excited to share our adventure with you.  Our hope is that the program grows to include many students from all age levels in the Mauston School District as well as local community members and families.  It is a learning process for everyone in many different ways.  We look forward to improving and adding to our project each year.

Thank you to Outdoors Forever for allowing us to use their facility and tap their trees.  We hope that our partnership continues to grow.  Also, thank you to everyone who has volunteered, supported and helped us along the way!

Also, thank you to Mauston Plumbing, RE/MAX Real Pros, Bsoft , Kwik Trip and the City of Mauston for your contributions to our project.