maple workshop

Boot Camp Registration LIVE

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We are excited to announce that registration is live for Boot Camp, July 17-19th.  This year, we are basing out of northeast Ohio and utilizing Lake Metroparks Farmpark as headquarters.  Boot Camp is a 3-day workshop that starts at 12:15 on Thursday, July 17th, and goes through 3 PM Saturday July 19th.  Starting the first day we will learn how to assess a potential sugarbush, then build sequentially through all phases of maple syrup production from sap collection to boiling, bottling, and sales.  Participants will gain the skills necessary for the safe, efficient, and profitable production of maple products.

Classroom sessions will be held at Farmpark with at least 5 tours of local maple producers in the area.  We are excited to not only include so many field trip opportunities this year, but we will also have an evening of value-added maple products demonstration and tasting.  A maple syrup quality and grading session is another new addition to Boot Camp that we’re excited about.

Check out the website for more details and get your spot before they are all gone – space is limited!

State Service Forester Maple Workshop

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Shortly after the 2022 Maple Boot Camp concluded, we hosted a dedicated workshop for ODNR’s State Service Foresters.  To find out who is  your local forester, click here and consult the district map and contact list.

To learn more about ODNR’s State Service Foresters, visit their website here.

The goal of the workshop was 2-fold.  First and foremost, goal #1 was to educate and work with Ohio’s forester community around the topic of maple.  Maple gets mentioned a lot at professional conferences, workshops, seminars, and in day-to-day interactions; however, mentions are most often just in passing.  Therefore, having a dedicated full day to talk only about maple as it pertains to sugaring potential was an absolute treat.  And it was extremely well received.  Everyone in attendance, which was well over half of the Service Foresters statewide, left with an enhanced knowledge of maple and increased level of comfort and ease to speak with landowners about the non-timber maple opportunities.

Goal #2 was to introduce a maple toolbox for foresters and other natural resource professionals.  This is a collaborative project that is still a work in-progress; however, it is puts actual tools in trained hands to assess maple woods for sugaring potential.  High level site assessments and fine-scale granular inventories, resource lists to get connected within the state’s maple vendor and contractor community, basic information about maple pests and identification, and more.  The toolbox empowers our state forester community to be advocates for maple while they are out doing their job and interacting with Ohio woodland owners.  As the toolbox hits full stride, we are excited to share its impact and reach!

December Ohio Maple Days & Grading Workshop

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Don’t forget to register for the Ohio Maple Days meeting scheduled for December 11 in Ashland.  We have a limited number of seats, so don’t delay too much in getting in those registrations.

We are also excited to host a syrup grading workshop on Friday, December 10th.  Please consider making a couple days of it to participate in both the workshop and the main event on Saturday.  Registration for the syrup grading workshop is on the Woodland Stewards website.

See you there!