Fort Drum community members celebrate annual Maple Days

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Hundreds of Fort Drum Families, community members and friends met Saturday at the Sugar Shack on 45th Infantry Division Drive to celebrate a popular North Country tradition with the Forest Management Program at this year's 7th Annual Maple Days.

Each visitor was greeted by Jason Wagner, chief of Public Works Environmental Division's Natural Resources Branch, and received a free sample of Fort Drum's own pure maple syrup.

"Last year we had about 800 visitors," Wagner said. "This year, we are at a record pace with 325 visitors in the first 2 1/2 hours.

"We are hoping to surpass 1,000 this year," he continued. "Every year, we try to add something new. This year, we added a nature trail with 23 stations, where families can have a good time exploring and learning about the trees and the animals in the area.

"My favorite part of this celebration is watching visitors come in for the first time and really having a good time," Wagner added.

Among the visitors were Sgt. 1st Class Mike Iozzo, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, with his 2-year-old daughter Hannah and his 6-year-old son Winston.

"I'm here for the cotton candy," said Winston. "I'm also excited about the nature trail."

In the middle of the nature trail, visitors will find a place called the "table of death," which displays various animal furs and skulls.

"We have everything from bear to weasel furs," said Fred Ossman, an employee with the Fort Drum Fish and Wildlife Program. "We salvage the animal furs and use them for educational purposes."

While at the table of death, Hannah touched a weasel's fur and yelled, "Yea! It's a puppy." Everyone at the table laughed.

"Hanna and Winston are having a great time," Iozzo said.

Another Family having a great time was Capt. John Hicks of 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, with his 7-year-old daughter Katie and his 4-year-old Ben.

Katie enjoyed playing "Name That Wood," a game in which kids have to use "The Nature Detectives Guide to the Trees and Forest of Fort Drum, N.Y." to identify different leaves and wood samples to win a prize.

At the end of the trail, Iozzo and his Family stopped at the Sugar Shack, where visitors can enjoy the smell and see the colors as sap is boiled at 218 degrees F or greater until the sugar is concentrated to about 67 percent to produce maple syrup.

Sap is boiled to kill any bacteria that may be present. To make maple syrup, the excess water is boiled from the sap. It takes 40 parts maple sap to make 1 part syrup, or 10 gallons of sap to make 1 quart of syrup.

"It's definitely worth the trip," Iozzo commented. "I'm surprised to see this many people here. We had a great time."

Maple Days 2012 continues from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Fort Drum.

Patrons can purchase Fort Drum's own maple syrup at Off the Beatin' Path Gift Shop on post. The shop sells a variety of items, including 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum memorabilia.

The store is located in Fort Drum's Heritage Center. Proceeds from sales at the shop benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.