Friends of Maplewood

Events

Meditation at Maplewood State Park

Beginning in June, on the evenings of the full moons, you are invited to meet at Maplewood to relax and be present in nature. One of the jobs the Moon has is to stabilize Earth on its axis, so it is not so wobbly. Join us and let the stillness of the outdoors stabilize you so you don’t feel quite so wobbly too!

Saturday, June 3 from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm Josh Hanson Memorial Picnic Shelter

Monday, July 3 from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm Josh Hanson Memorial Picnic Shelter

Tuesday, August 1 from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm Josh Hanson Memorial Picnic Shelter

Wednesday, August 30 from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm Josh Hanson Memorial Picnic Shelter

Meditation will be facilitated by Sue Nyhus, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; phone: 218.731.1827

Running Wild Trail Run

Registration and more information for this event can be found online at Running Wild Trail Run or you can register the day of the race.

June 10, 9:00 Maplewood State Park

Josh Hanson Memorial Picnic Shelter

There will be the following races:

Wee Run Wild 200 yards for kids age 4 and under

Kid’s Run Wild 200 years for kids 5 – 7

1-mile LIFE Hike

7 K Trail Run

Questions: Call Maplewood Park Office 218-863-8383

Schools attend Park to learn about Maple Syrup

Maplewood State Park was busy with elementary students on May 17, 18, and 19 as classes from different communities came to Maplewood to learn about maple syrup and how it is made. First let me explain that we know maple sap season is over, but we have learned that you can teach about making maple syrup anytime, and it is much nicer for the students if they can come when the snow is gone, so they don’t have to stand around and shiver and walk through all those mud puddles. Or much to the teacher’s worry, they end up jumping in them.

This school maple syrup education is provided by the Friends of Maplewood State Park with volunteers from their organization. This year they had 5 different schools come to Maplewood for maple syrup education. (Alexandria Carlos Elementary 2^nd graders, Fergus Falls Adams Elementary 2^nd graders, Underwood Elementary 6^th graders, Detroit Lakes Rossman Elementary 4^th graders, and Frazee Elementary 4^th graders) Each visit requires a total of about 11 volunteers and it is a way for the Friends group to help kids learn about maple syrup. This year 410 students, teachers, and parents came to learn about making maple syrup.

Station 1 taught them how to identify a maple tree even when it doesn’t have leaves. They also counted rings to learn the age of different trees.

Station 2 taught them how to tap a tree and they got to experience trying it. They also used an old wooden yoke to try carry 2 pails of sap.

Station 3 taught them about the Native Americans and maple syrup. Did you know that maple syrup is a gift to the entire world from Native Americans? They learned how Native Americans figured out that sap from the maple tree, when cooked, produced maple syrup which they turned into maple sugar so they could transport it. The students also watched how they would cook the sap in a hollowed-out log using hot rocks.

Station 4 gave them the opportunity to taste sap, real maple syrup, and imitation maple syrup. Then they voted to see which syrup tasted best to them and learned why pure maple syrup is so much better for them. Did you know it takes 40 pails of maple sap to make 1 pail of maple syrup?

Station 5 showed them how many people today cook maple sap over an outdoor cooker. They also got to go inside the sugar shack and see the evaporator the Friends of Maplewood uses to cook sap today.

After their sack lunch they were served a cup of ice cream topped with pure maple syrup. And finally, it was a hike up Hallaway hill to wear off some of that excited energy before boarding the bus for school. It was a fun day for the kids, the teachers, the parent helpers, and the Friends volunteers.

For more information

For the most up-to-date information about events and activities in the park, refer to the Minnesota DNR Maplewood State Park website. There you will find the time and location of specific events within the park grounds.

Events

Questions: Call Maplewood Park Office 218-863-8383

For more information

Friends of Maplewood

Park Office

Links

Maplewood Weather