ROCKFORD, Mich. — The Rockford Education Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Edgerton Trails Elementary School to support construction of a Maple Syrup Sugar Shack as part of the school’s Outdoor Education Program.
The Sugar Shack will serve as an outdoor classroom where students learn the full process of maple syrup production, from identifying and tapping maple trees to boiling sap and bottling the finished syrup.
Students will measure trees to determine which can be safely tapped, collect sap during maple season, and observe how it is boiled down to create pure maple syrup. The experience connects hands-on learning with lessons in science, math, and environmental studies.
The Outdoor Education Program, led by teachers Tara Dzirbowicz and Jodi Noakes, will give all Edgerton Trails students the opportunity to participate in activities at the Sugar Shack. In the coming years, the program will also expand to provide students from across the Rockford Public Schools district opportunities to participate in outdoor learning experiences at the site.
“This project is a great example of how hands-on experiences help bring learning to life,” said Beth Meyer-Kraff, Executive Director of the Rockford Education Foundation. “Students will be able to explore science, math, and nature in a meaningful way while seeing the full process from tree to pancakes!”
The Sugar Shack will become a permanent feature of the school’s Outdoor Education Program, expanding opportunities for students to learn through nature-based experiences.
