Maple sugar harvesting a part of Hudson Valley agri-tourism

CORNWALL – The pandemic has created a difficult situation for businesses and the economy in Mid-Hudson, but there is a silver lining and it comes in the form of outdoor recreation which the region has in abundance with its many parks and natural beauty, Agritourism and interactive environmental education programs for students and adults.

The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum’s Outdoor Discovery Center has hosted its educational maple sugar tours for 21 years, and this is no exception.

The maple sugar tours last around six weeks in the late winter seasons. During this time, the New York Sweet Maples produce juice and can be harvested by tapping the trees. The Outdoor Discovery Center tour takes people through the history of juice harvesting, the different methods of harvesting juice, and how juice is made into maple syrup.

Carl Heitmüller, Senior Environmental Educator at the Outdoor Discovery Center, said that despite the fact that they had to downsize and lose school trips due to the pandemic and distance learning, the tours sell out in incredibly short times and still travel around 120 people a day over the five tours offered per day.

“This year we are basically filling every time slot because people want to get out,” said Heitmüller. “First of all, it’s outside and that gives them more security and they just get cooped up with nothing to do. We recently offer many of our programs because of our staffing levels and everything else. But when we offer it, it’s sold out, which is really good for us because at that point we need the help because there are no school classes, ”he said.

Their pre-registered registrations prove that people not only want this type of experience but are ready to support local venues too. Heitmüller added that every program he can develop that is ultimately advertised has been replenished in record time. In particular, he said their summer camps sold out within 3 minutes of the registration opening.

The Outdoor Discovery Center also pays it to other local providers. Since their Maple Syrup Tours are designed as an educational project, they have promoted and sold the syrup from a local maple syrup maker, Justus Asthalter Maple Syrup Inc of Parksville.

While the centre’s Maple Sugar Tours are in high demand, there are still slots available for tours this coming weekend, March 13thth and 14th. visit www.hhnm.org for available slots and pre-registration.

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