BETHLEHEM, N.H. (Feb. 26, 2024)— Celebrate spring with the return of the popular NH Maple Experience at Forest Society North at The Rocks in Bethlehem. Registration is open for March 16, March 23, March 24, March 30, March 31, and April 6, with tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Maple sugaring has been a sweet tradition for centuries in New Hampshire, where smoke rising from sugar houses tucked into the woods signals the welcome arrival of spring. As the days warm, sap begins to flow through sugar maple trees, ready to be collected and crafted into sweet maple syrup, sugar, and candy. The New Hampshire Maple Experience is a hands-on, educational experience that includes tapping a maple tree, a horse-drawn wagon ride, a visit to a working sugar house by tractor, and maple tasting with syrup, donuts, and pickles. Participants will leave with the knowledge of how to identify a maple tree, how to tap and boil the sap to make syrup, and an understanding of the history of maple sugaring.

This year, guests can also visit the newly renovated 1884 Carriage Barn, which is being transformed into a North Country headquarters for the Forest Society, powered by green energy. The program center will soon host a gift shop, exhibits, forest and nature education programs, and offices for locally based conservation and outreach staff. The Gardener’s Cottage at The Rocks has also been renovated and is available during Maple Month for short term rentals via Bretton Woods Vacations for visitors seeking accommodations. (Learn more at https://www.brettonwoodsvacations.com/rocks/)

“We created the New Hampshire Maple Experience to share both the history and the continuing practice of maple sugaring in New England,” said Nigel Manley, senior outreach manager for the Forest Society at The Rocks “This hands-on experience is truly unique and exciting for all ages. Participants will hand drill holes and tap metal spouts into the trees, and if you are lucky, and the conditions are right, the sap will start flowing.”

Visitors will also meet fifth-generation sugar maker, Brad Presby, as he plies his trade in the sweet-scented steam of the sugar house.

The spectacular White Mountain views, including the Pliny, Kilkenny, and Presidential ranges, the Christmas Tree Farm, the new solar array, and the allure of an authentic farm experience draw visitors near and far for the New Hampshire Maple Experience at The Rocks. The landmark 1,400-acre property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers agri-tourism and eco-tourism opportunities throughout the year.

"What makes the New Hampshire Maple Experience different is that kids and adults alike will learn how to identify a sugar maple tree versus a red maple, use an authentic brace and bit to tap a tree, and the knowledge and enthusiasm shared by our staff and volunteers, including Brad Presby, a fifth-generation maple sugarer,” adds Manley. “It’s truly a fun and engaging experience for the whole family that is not to be missed.”

Maple syrup from The Rocks’ own sugar bush will be available for purchase inside the New Hampshire Maple Museum, where visitors can see maple artifacts from the extensive collection of legendary sugar maker Charlie Stewart of nearby Sugar Hill.

NH Maple Experience at The Rocks:
Dates: March 16, March 23, March 24, March 30, March 31, and April 6
Times: Tours leave hourly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and last approximately 2 hours.
Cost: $20/per person (children 5 and under are free). Ticket includes tapping a maple sugar tree, two wagon rides, maple tasting, and more.
Reservations: forestsociety.org/maplemonth
Learn more: info@therocks.org

ABOUT THE ROCKS
The Rocks is a 19th century White Mountain estate that was donated to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests in 1978. The ongoing Forest Society North at The Rocks Campaign seeks to raise $8.5 million to renovate the property and build on a tradition of conservation, education, and innovcationf. For more information, visit forestsociety.org/the-rocks.

ABOUT THE FOREST SOCIETY
The Forest Society is a private, non-profit land trust and forestry organization established in 1901. It currently holds 797 conservation easements statewide permanently protecting more than 131,000 acres of New Hampshire’s landscapes. The Forest Society now owns 196 forest reservations constituting more than 63,000 acres in 105 New Hampshire communities.