4th grade students from Samara Community School had an incredible day at Westmoreland Sanctuary! Students first learned about all maple sugaring and were able to tap a tree! They learned how sap comes out of the tree (and even were able to taste it!), saw the sap boiling, and then were able to taste the syrup! Students practiced using a bucksaw to cut the wood for the fire and learned how people used to carry the heavy buckets of sap using a yoke. They learned about how to drill a hole in a tree and add a spile for the maple syrup to drain out of. Finally, they attached the bucket to collect the sap. 

After a break for lunch, students learned all about the history of candle making! They learned about all the different materials that people used to use for wicks and for wax. Then they made their own candles. Wicks were attached to hangers. Students needed to dunk the wick in the can of wax, then pull out the wick and count to five for the wax to cool. They learned that it takes a lot of time to make one candle!

To end the day, students went on a short hike.  Highlights were the ice on the trail and the cute chipmunk who was walking through the leaves!