Maple Sugarin’ Weekend 2016 Schedule
Camp Ondessonk’s
2nd Annual Maple Sugarin’ Weekend
Friday, March 4th
4:30-7:00 – Early arrivals: Check In at St. Noel – Welcome to Camp Ondessonk! Ondessonk Staff will be around to greet guests and see people to their rooms. Feel free to take a stroll around Camp or go for a hike. Dinner will not be available but feel free to bring your own or drive into town.
Late arrivals: Please see posted room assignments; keys in the drop box outside the main door. Please go ahead and move into your rooms and make yourself at home! The basement of Noel is open for all to enjoy, make coffee, or roast S’mores. Any questions or concerns please call my Greg Santen’s cell (309) 657-5110. We will see you in the morning!
Saturday, March 5th
7:00 Lighting of the fire box.
Get up early and assist in the beginning of the evaporating process on the St. Noel patio as the Camp O staff spark the fire and pour in the first gallons of sap collected earlier in the week.
8:00 Coffee and a quick continental breakfast will be available in the basement of St. Noel.
10:00 Check-In
10:30 Welcome Circle – Meet to Frame the Week
Take a moment to introduce yourself and get to know your fellow sugarin’ companions.
Discover the basics of maple sap collection, evaporation, equipment, and boiling process
Learn to identify maple trees in winter and how and why they make sap.
See a presentation on the History and Folklore of Maple Syrup Making.
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Maple Tree Tapping at Durbin’s Barn
Hop on the Camp bus and drive out to Durbin’s Barn to tap trees!
3:00 Maple Sap Collection
Optional hike back to Main Camp. Stop off at trees already tapped at Lalemant and Lalande.
4:30 Continue the Boil/Social Time/Relax
Assist in adding our fresh sap to the evaporator on the St. Noel Patio. Or take this time to enjoy the late afternoon. Hang around the evaporator, take a stroll, get to know other folks, and simply relax until dinner.
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Evening Program: Finishing and Bottling
Learn how to “finish” the boil on the stove top and bottle your own syrup to take home!
Spend the rest of the evening enjoying the warmth the campfire.
Sunday, March 6th
***Ask staff about local parishes in the area for mass***
8:00 Pancake Breakfast – Enjoy the fruits of your labor!!! St. Noel Dining Area
9:00 Pack up / Wrap up
Join the Ondessonk Staff and assist with feeding the herd up at the Stables.
Each family will go home with a bottle of Ondessonk Maple Syrup!
Feel free to enjoy Camp for the rest of the day, but please be out of your rooms by 10am.