Maple sugar harvesting part of Hudson Valley agri-tourism

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Hudson Highlands

CORNWALL – The pandemic has created a difficult situation for businesses and the economy within the Mid-Hudson, but there is a silver lining and it presents itself in the form of outdoor recreation, something the region has in abundance with its many parks, natural beauty, agri-tourism and interactive environmental education programs that cater to students, as well as adults.

Hudson Highlands Nature Museum Outdoor Discovery Center has held its educational maple sugar tours for 21 years, and this is no exception.

The maple sugar tours run during the late winter seasons for about a six-week period, the period when New York Sweet Maples are producing sap and can be harvested through tapping of the trees. The Outdoor Discovery Center’s tour takes folks through the history of sap harvesting, the different processes for harvesting sap, and how sap becomes maple syrup.

Senior Environmental Educator at the Outdoor Discovery Center Carl Heitmuller said despite the fact they have had to downsize their staffing and lost school trips due to the pandemic and remote learning, the tours are selling out in incredibly short times and they are still touring approximately 120 people per-day across the five tours offered per day.

“This year, we’re basically filling up every time slot because of the fact that people want to get out,” said Heitmuller. “It’s outdoors, first off, and that gives them more security and they’re just getting cooped up with nothing to do. A lot of our programming we’re offering last because of our staffing and everything else; but, when we offer it- boom, it sells right out which is really good for us because at this time, we need the help because there’s not school classes,” he said.

Their preregistered sign-ups are proving that people not only want this sort of experience, but also that they are willing to support local venues. Heitmuller added that any program he can come up with that ultimately becomes promoted, has been filling up in record time. Specifically, he said their summer camps sold out in what he estimated to be 3 minutes upon registration opening.

The Outdoor Discovery Center is also paying it forward toward other local providers. As their Maple Syrup Tours are designed as an educational endeavor, they have been promoting and selling the syrup of a local maple syrup producer, Justus Asthalter Maple Syrup Inc of Parksville. 

Although the center’s Maple Sugar Tours are in high demand, there are still slots available for tours this coming weekend March 13th and 14th. Visit www.hhnm.org for available slots and pre-registration. 




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