Merry Lea leases the Yoder Sugar Bush in northern Allen County, part of the Yoder Farm operated by the family of Dr. Larry Yoder, a retired member of the Merry Lea staff.

We provide a day-long program of participatory experience in maple sugaring for elementary students in the Fort Wayne area.

Most programs run from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

The introduction includes a review of the day's activities and instructions about safety in the woods.

Teaching stations include:

• the history of syrup making
• tree tapping demonstrations
• sap gathering
• wood making
• effects of weather on sap flow
• maple syrup making.

All studies feature hands-on experience in small groups. The program ends with a pancake and sausage lunch.Some 20 adult volunteers from the Fort Wayne area assist with teaching, operating the sugarbush, and instructional support. Accompanying parents help to prepare the noon meal.

The 350 tap sugarbush produces about 80 gallons of syrup each year.

About one third of the production is eaten by the student visitors, another third is shared with our volunteers, and the rest is sold locally to meet expenses of operation.

A program fee of $6 per student goes to Merry Lea to cover instructional costs. Sugaring is among our most popular programs. The schedule for spring sugaring is usually full by early September, so teachers or scout leaders should call soon after the first day of September to be certain they have a place.

To apply to become a sugarbush volunteer, contact Jenny Spitler Volunteer Coordinator at Merry Lea, (260) 799 5869.

For more information about scheduling this or other programs at Merry Lea, contact Carol Good-Elliott , Environmental Science Educator at Merry Lea at PO Box 263, Wolf Lake, IN 46796 (260) 799 5869.