Photo By Master Sgt. Kelly Simon | Maple syrup fanatic Zachary Spicer made sure to get every last drop of maple syrup...... read more read more
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. - This year, as in every year past, there’s something new to look forward to. The kids will love the new face-painting and arts and crafts tent, and for the parents there’s coffee and hot chocolate for sale to chase away the chill.
Walking up to the Maple Days entrance, you will be greeted by Jason Wagner, the National Resources Branch chief, with a word of welcome and a free bottle of maple syrup. Wagner will run your family/group through what is available on the grounds and start your maple journey off with an exuberant “Have a great time!”
Next you’ll get to the "photo booth" also new this year, put on by the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program. The kind volunteers will help get your photo situated, and have it printed and waiting for you when you are ready to leave.
The obvious next stop is the sample of maple cotton candy, which one youngster exclaimed was, “the best thing I’ve ever eaten!”
What could be better to wash that cotton candy down than a steaming sample of fresh, as in just out of the evaporator, piping hot, sweet maple syrup? If you ask Zachary Spicer, son of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team 1st Sgt. Joel Spicer, “nothing.” Zachary continued licking his cup clean, ending in a state of maple euphoria.
Once you have the sugar buzz under control, stop in at the Sugar Shack and ask Don Mahan, a natural resources specialist and maple syrup aficionado, why that sweet goodness seems to go straight to your head. “When sap is taken from the tree it’s at about two percent sugar. The final product of maple syrup is about 67 percent sugar,” Mahan explained to a group of syrup seekers gathered around the evaporator.
“If you haven’t been on the maple tour yet the next one is starting in about five minutes,” the booming voice of Travis Ganter, a soil conservationist, North Country native and maple syrup fanatic announces over the squeals of delight from around the maple grove. Ganter has been with the Natural Resources Branch for a decade, “well, 14 years if you count when I was working summers on Fort Drum,” he explains after the maple tree tour.
Ganter looks forward to Maple Days for many reasons, chief among them the opportunity to teach others about a process that’s been used for generations right here in this area. But the real reason he looks forward to the annual event is without a doubt, “tasting fresh maple syrup coming out of the evaporator. I just doesn’t get any better than that.”
Of course, Ganter isn’t the only one excited about sweet maple goodness. The Johnsons have been attending Maple Days for the past four years, although they were short Capt. Erik Johnson, the flight surgeon for 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, on the family’s first trip due to deployment. Since his return the family has looked forward to Maple Days each year.
“We love the woods and we love maple syrup,” Johnson explained, holding his 6-month-old daughter bundled up against the chilly air.
Johnson’s wife, Becky said she was happy to be outside after the rain of the past week. “I liked going on a walk through the woods… and maple cotton candy,” she said with a smile whispering, “it tastes good!”
Young Caleb Johnson liked everything about Maple Days and couldn’t choose a favorite. His sister Abby liked the bean bag toss, and 3-year-old Sammy said his favorite was, “cotton candy,” as he looked sadly into his empty cup.
Heading to Abby’s favorite event of Maple Days, the bean bag toss is an event where everyone is a winner, at least to Scott Siegfried, the stream team leader and bean bag toss supervisor, he’ll let you have a maple sugar candy no matter how the bags fall.
Make sure not to miss the freaky, furry animal display table where you can pet and paw at some of the pelts and skulls of North Country critters. The Natural Resources guys are more than happy to tell you all about “that cute little guy” who just so happens to be a member of the weasel family!
On to the nature trail; don’t forget your map! There’s a long course for the mobile and adventurous, and a shorter version for smaller legs, and attention spans. On either course you’ll hear children’s voices shouting, “the next one’s mine” as they race ahead on the trail with their siblings.
After that hike a little break is in order. Try your hand at making your own tree disc necklace and if you don’t mind waiting patiently, get your face painted!
Before you head home to make pancakes to go with your syrup make sure you stop by the Off the ‘Beatin Path gift shop table where you can purchase various North Country goods, as well as more Fort Drum maple syrup. It’s sure to be a sweet time.
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.24.2016 10:54 |
| Story ID: | 193387 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NY, US |
| Hometown: | WATERBORO, ME, US |
| Hometown: | WATERTOWN, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Visitors make sweet discoveries at Fort Drum Maple Days, by MSG Kelly Simon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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