The 8-hour soup-to-nuts course will cover the following topics: caring for and tapping maple trees, collecting & storing sap, and making and packaging syrup. Whether you want to make a few gallons for personal use or operate a commercial facility, this course will provide the fundamentals essential to making a good, consistent product.

The course meets at Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center from 7:00 – 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2 and 9 and from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 12. The Saturday session is at a working maple sugaring operation.

The $40 registration fee includes all sessions and a copy of the North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual. Experienced maple producers will also be available after the course to help participants put their learning into practice.

The course is co-sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and the Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut. Details are available at www.ct.gov/dep/Goodwin, www.ctmaple.org or www.ctwoodlands.org, or by contacting lead instructor Steve Broderick at sbroderick@ctwoodlands.org or 860-455-9534.

The Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center is dedicated to providing forestry, wildlife and general conservation education to youth and adults. Located within the Goodwin State Forest, it is operated jointly by the Connecticut DEP and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. The Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut is a non-profit, educational membership organization of large and small maple producers.