A parent's point of view: Learning about maple syrup with a Fenner homeschool program

Today's guest post comes from a community member and parent who attended one of our homeschool programs last month. Melissa writes the blog Cookies, Crayons, Classes & Chaos, and she was generous enough to write a post describing what she learned when her homeschool group attended a maple syrup tour at Fenner! We can't fit her entire post here, but be sure to visit the link at the bottom to see her entire post. She gives some great information about how maple syrup is made, as well as lovely photographs of the animals they encountered on their trip to Fenner.

Well, that was an interesting homeschool tour today!! Usually when our family has gone to the Maple Syrup festivals in the spring we want to cuddle up next to the warm fires where the syrup is boiling. Not so much today. Today, the campfire evoked thoughts of hot dogs, s'mores, and swimming holes, and we could use the smoke to keep the mosquitoes away instead of warming ourselves. Hard to believe it was almost 80 degrees!  I suppose this unseasonable warm weather is going to make Maple Syrup expensive since it cut the sap collecting season short.


Tree Anatomy

Lynette first taught everyone about tree anatomy using a nifty felt tree with felt "flappy" layers that peeled back to reveal each layer.

Learning about tree anatomy from Lynette using the felt tree

We learned about the trees layers starting from the outside: Bark, cambium, xylem, phloem, heartwood.

The tree rings are formed from the cambium when the xylem dies each year.

Learn more about how tree rings are formed at Real Trees 4 Kids.

Diagram from Tree Boss

"While the center of the trunk is usually "just wood" (Heartwood), the inner bark consists of living tissue. These layers are known as the Phloem and the Cambium, with the cambium being the growth layer....

"The xylem transports water and nutrients up the tree, and phloem transports products of photosynthesis back down." -- Tree Boss

How Sap Flows

We learned that the sap would freeze during the winter and make the tree "explode".  So the tree sends all its sap to the roots during the winter.

When the weather warms up during the day the sap rises and then goes back down to the roots when the temperatures go below freezing at night.

Sap, the tree's nutrients, move up and down the tree in a loop during this cycle of warm and cold periods. 

Biology 4 Kids

To read the rest of this wonderful post, click here.

Have fun and make a difference at Earth Day Extravaganza: Sunday, April 22nd

Every day we hear about environmental destruction in our world, and it may leave you thinking there is nothing you can do to make much of a difference. You CAN make a difference! On April 22nd, people around the world will stand up for the protection of our earth and participate in local events that celebrate our home planet. Together, we will call attention to environmental issues around the world and celebrate the nature we have all around us!

An exciting Earth Day Extravaganza will be held here at Fenner Nature Center, presented in partnership with the MSU Fisheries and Wildlife Club and the help of many other local organizations like The Nature Conservancy. This day of nature career exploration and stewardship features a variety of informative activities such as bird identification hikes, interactive presentations about native Michigan animals, wildflower identification hikes, and the opportunity to form a team and join our garlic mustard pull challenge! We are also kicking off our Butterfly Garden Restoration with the help of the Capital Area Master Gardeners.

As you enjoy all the activities of the day, don’t miss one of our most exciting events: Picnic for the Planet! With your help, the Nature Conservancy hopes to break the Guinness World Record for the most people picnicking in a 24-hour period around the world! Come enjoy the activities inside the visitor center and on the trails, and remember to bring a sack lunch so you can join The Nature Conservancy and make history!

Here is a schedule for the activities of Earth Day Extravaganza:

•      Mist Netting: 7:00 am – 9:00

•      Guided Bird Walk: 8:00 am – 9:00 am; 10:30 am – 11:30 am

•      Wildflower Identification Hike: 9:30 am – 10:30 am; 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

•      Small Mammal Trapping: 9:30 am – 10:30 am

•      Garlic Mustard Pull Challenge: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

•      Native Animal Presentation: 11:45 am – 12:45 pm

•      Tree Identification Hike: 10:30 am – 11:30 am

•      Pond Dipping: 11:00 am – 3: 00 am

•      Herpetological Surveys: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

•      Picnic for the Planet: 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm

•      Bluebird nest checks: TBD

•      Michigan Wildlife presentations: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Whether you intend to get your hands a little dirty and join us to help rid the park of invasive plants, create new habitat for butterflies and other integral pollinators, or simply come out to learn about nature and spend time outdoors with family and friends, we are certain that it will be an unforgettable day.

PNC Bank will also be on-site with their Mobile LearningAdventure! Be sure to stop by, check it out, and get your little ones involved in their interactive exhibits.

We hope to see you at Fenner Nature Center on April 22 for Earth Day Extravaganza!

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