Maple Sugaring Home Page Our Program Merry Lea leases the family sugarbush of Dr. Larry Yoder , a member of the Merry Lea staff. We provide a day-long program of participatory experience in maple sugaring for elementary students in the Fort Wayne area. The sugarbush is located in northern Allen County. The introduction includes a review of the day's activities and instructions about safety in the woods and around hot fires.
All studies feature hands-on experience in small groups.
The program ends with a pancake and sausage lunch. Some 20 adult volunteers from the Fort Wayne area assist with teaching, operating the sugarbush, and instructional support. Accompanying parents help to prepare the noon meal. The 350 tap sugarbush produces about 80 gallons of syrup each year. About one third of the production is eaten by the student visitors, another third is shared with our volunteers, and the rest is sold locally to meet expenses of operation.