Join us for a fun, educational afternoon celebrating the sweet Maine tradition of maple syrup production! Whether you’re an experienced sugarer or a maple novice, this event offers a unique opportunity to explore MOFGA’s beautiful sugarbush, watch the sugaring process, and learn winter tree identification, all while enjoying hot drinks and the warmth of a crackling outdoor fire. Pre-registration is required for all visitors. In registration, please select all the tours you will be attending, reflecting the number of friends and family joining in!
Event Schedule:
- 12:00 PM – Arrival: Visit the registration table to pick up tour ticket(s), which correspond with the tour(s) you selected during pre-registration. Get settled in with hot drinks, check out the tabling, and watch the evaporator in action or hangout by the fire.
- 12:30 PM – Tour 1 Begins:Â Pre-registration required; capped at 15-30 people per tour
- Choose from three guided tours:
- Sugarbush Tour – Visit MOFGA’s sugarbush and learn about sugarbush management, from silviculture to certification to funding opportunities.
- Tree ID Tour – Learn winter identification of Maine’s tree species.
- Sugar Shack Tour – Learn about the maple syrup-making process and different types of evaporators.
- Choose from three guided tours:
- 1:30 PM – Tour 2 Begins:Â Pre-registration required; capped at 15-30 people per tour
- Same options as Tour 1.
- 2:30 PM – Tabling, Hot Drinks, & Evaporator:Â After the tours, stick around to chat with experts, enjoy more hot drinks, and watch the evaporator running. The outdoor fire will continue for a cozy afternoon.
- 3:00 PM – Our event concludes—thank you for joining us!
Questions? Email [email protected].
Accessibility:Â
The MOFGA grounds are relatively flat, but do include some uneven terrain (a mix of grass, gravel, pavement, and forest paths). MOFGA has a tractor-powered “people mover” to move people across longer distances on the grounds. There are 2 accessible parking spaces in the parking lot, which is located across from MOFGA’s main building. The main building is also the easiest access point for restrooms. Walking tours differ in duration and accessibility, but are designed with a diversity of movement abilities and comfort levels in mind. Read below for some information on what each of the tours entails.
The Sugar Shack Tour will involve minimal walking/moving across flat dirt, grass, and gravel terrain. It is located right next to the main gathering point for the event. Tour attendees will be in close quarters while inside of the sugar shack.Â
The Sugar Bush Tour will involve a mix of walking through mixed woodland terrain, and standing on uneven ground. This tour does not follow a trail. The tour route will feature relatively low amounts of woody debris, but does include tripping hazards. The tour will cover less than a mile.
The Tree ID Tour will involve a mix of walking through, and standing on, through woods paths on uneven ground. The tour will cover less than two miles.
