TA News

Here in Vermont, a passion for maple syrup is part of our history and identity. The tradition of boiling sap each spring also provides a unique educational opportunity for Thetford Academy students. 

Right here on campus, Thetford Academy has a well-maintained sugar bush and a small but mighty sugar shack (built by TA students in 2018). Students in TA’s half-day Environmental Studies and Outdoor Education course tap 250 trees a year, and each spring, they work together to collect and boil the sap.

During the course’s annual maple unit, each student is tasked with becoming a “specialist” in one aspect of maple production, like tapping, reverse osmosis, filtering, or bottling. The students are then able to demonstrate their new expertise hosting visitors from local elementary schools, universities, and the greater community. 

Each student also designs and conducts their own lab experiment, using scientific inquiry, data collection, and analysis to discover how different variables can affect outcomes in the maple sugaring process. Finally, maple season is a unique opportunity for students to connect with nature and reflect on their experiences through creative writing and poetry. 

There’s a lot to learn from maple sugaring season! If you’re interested in getting a taste of what sweet learning is like at TA, we invite you to join our students at our community sugaring event this Sunday, March 23, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public – join us!