Volunteers Sought for Festival of the Sugar Maples

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL -- The McHenry County Conservation District is looking for volunteers to help out at this year’s Festival of the Sugar Maples. The popular event will be held on March 2 and 3 and March 9 and 10 at Coral Woods Conservation Area, 7400 Somerset Drive in Marengo.

Volunteers are needed to help lead tours through the maple sugar grove, teaching visitors how to identify maple trees in winter, and interpreting the traditions of syrup making, according to a news release. Other positions involve working in the evaporator house where the syrup is made, demonstrating tree tapping, and teaching historical methods of sap collection while dressed in historical costume.

Interested adults or teens can call the Volunteer Coordinator at 815-338-6223 ext. 1201. A special event training session is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon.

In addition to the festival dates, free tours are offered for school groups in grades kindergarten through 5th grade the weeks of March 5 to 8 and March 12 to 14 while the public tours will be held on March 2 and 3 and March 9 and 10. Groups leave every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is held completely outdoors.

PHOTO VIA THE MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT