WASHINGTONVILLE — Several thousand school children will visit PPL Montour Preserve’s Sugar Shack over the next three weeks, and Lexi Girarti on Tuesday was among the first to learn about maple syrup.

“It tastes like it has a lot of sugar,” said Lexi, 8.

The third-graders at Schick Elementary School, Loyalsock, visited the Sugar Shack and other maple syrup areas Tuesday.

Brynn Dunkleberger, 9, said the syrup was “really awesome.”

Nicholas Salvatori, 8, said he didn’t know where syrup came from before visiting the Preserve. Another 8-year-old, Cody Shope, said: “I learned that it’s made in a big container to get the bugs out.”

Dick Hess, of the Preserve’s Environmental Education Center, told children that a gallon jug of real maple syrup sells for about $50. It is costly because “You have to tap a whole bunch of trees, strain the sap, cut a lot of firewood to cook it with and stand for eight long hours to cook it.”

People selling maple syrup must meet government standards of 67 percent sugar, compared with 2 to 3 percent sugar when the liquid is tapped from the tree, Hess said.

After it is cooked, the syrup is strained through a heavy felt bag to remove dirt or insects — spiders especially like the sweet liquid — and then it is put into containers, Hess said.

If the syrup is cooked longer, it becomes more sugary and can be made into shaped candies.

Hess invited the children to bring their families to free open houses from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and March 8 at the Preserve. “There will be a family here selling syrup, candy and jellies,” he said.

Programs begin on the hour during the open houses, starting in the environmental education center with a talk and film. Afterward, it is a short walk through Goose Woods to the Sugar Shack. Those attending should dress for the weather.

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