Fifth grade students from Deauville Gardens West Elementary School recently visited Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve in Commack for an engaging, hands-on lesson about the maple sugaring process.

During their visit, students gathered inside a traditional-style hut to hear the story of how Native Americans used natural resources to create the tools needed to tap maple trees and collect sap. They learned how these tools were constructed and used long before modern equipment existed.

After the introduction, fifth graders observed the maple trees on the farm, where they watched the tapping tools in action and saw sap being collected firsthand. Once the sap was gathered, the group watched as it was boiled down and transformed into maple syrup and maple sugar.

The trip allowed students to witness the full cycle of the maple sugaring process, deepening their understanding of natural resources, history and traditional practices through a real-world experience.