Maple Days
making Boy Scouting sweeter... one bottle at a time
Each spring as the days begin to thaw the sap runs, and Bear Paw's mighty maples produce the sweetest, finest syrup for miles around. For three weekends each year, Maple Days is your chance to learn by harvesting and evaporating maple syrup into sweet goodness.
Warm days and freezing nights causes sap to flow from tapholes and other wounds in the maple trees. For Bear Paw these are typical weather conditions for the end of March and beginning of April. At the beginning of the season, trees are tapped and collection begins. Raw sap is sweet, but it is way to fluid for flapjacks. So we cart the sap back to the Bear Paw Sugar Shack to evaporate the excess water. With the help of a good fire by the end of the night, pure maple syrup is ready for bottling or even better... tasting while it is still warm.
Maple Days is an annual day program for all Scouts and Scouters run on consecutive Saturdays in late March and early April while the sap is running. The program dates are dependent on the weather and will be secured as the winter progresses. The goal of Maple Days is to give Scouts the first hand experience of selecting and tapping trees, harvesting sap, and evaporating and bottling maple syrup. It is also a superb opportunity to experience the wonders of the forest in the bold Wisconsin winter.
The program begins in the morning with a pancake breakfast and concludes in the evening with a sample of Bear Paw syrup to take home. Program activities include:
Maple Days is an indoor and outdoor activity in the midst of the Wisconsin winter. Scouts should be prepared for an active day in the deep snow, and are encouraged to bring and use snowshoes and cross country skis. A limited number of snowshoes are available from the camp ranger. A pancake breakfast is provided as part of the program. Participants must provide a lunch.
While Maple Days is a day program you may choose to enjoy the vast resources of Bear Paw during your visit. Participants will be afforded ample time to create a unit lunchtime experience. After the day program concludes, evaporation of the day's collected sap continues into the evening. Scouts are welcome to stay and witness the final evaporation and bottling. An ice cream and fresh syrup social is planned for each Saturday night. Additionally, a full slate of winter possibilities exist for your weekend at Bear Paw. The camp ranger can help you with tons of opportunities for skiing, sledding, shoeing, and orienteering to name a few. Overnight camping and lodging is available to all registered units, contact the Bay-Lakes Council Center for Scouting.
Bear Paw Maple Days for 2010 will be held on Saturday 20 March, Saturday 27 March, and Saturday 3 April. The program begins at 9 AM and runs until 3:30 PM. Pre-registration is required (see below)
Once collected and evaporated, Pure Bear Paw Maple Syrup is bottled in 12 ounce bottles for your enjoyment. Bear Paw Maple Syrup is available for purchase, year-round, at the Bear Paw Trading Post. You may also purchase Bear Paw Maple Syrup online and have it shipped to your favorite address (for a small packaging and shipping fee). All proceeds from this project are used to offset Maple Days costs.
Syrup may be purchased in 12 ounce bottles for $7 (US) and shipped to the lower 48. Shipping cost
is $5 (US) for up to two bottles. To purchase, send an email to
Advance registration for Maple Days is required to ensure we have adequate materials and volunteers for each day. To complete your registration, please send this registration form and fees to the Bay-Lakes Council Center for Scouting by 3 March 2010
2010 Maple Days will be held on March 20, March 27, and April 3. The Maple Days program will be run on all three consecutive weekends and registration will be open for for any of these dates.
Your $10 Registration Fee for Youth and Adults Includes:
As Maple Days is a day program, if you would like to spend Friday or Saturday night at Bear Paw you must make a Short Term Camping reservation for a campsite or building directly with the Bay-Lakes Council Center for Scouting.
This website will be updated as the season approaches and program dates are determined. Registrants can also expect email updates
as the sap flows. For any additional concerns and questions please feel free to email the program coordinator
For more information, join the discussion on the BPSC Online Virtual Message Board
Last Updated 24 November 2009
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