Maple Syrup Programming
The Sweet Taste of Spring!
Enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of spring with your students in the sugar bush at the Tiffin Centre for Conservation!
Join us for an interactive tour of a working sugar bush that demonstrates the Indigenous, pioneer and modern-day methods of maple syrup production.
Morning and afternoon tours and programs are available, generally between the end of February and the middle of April. All tours and programs include a visit to the Sugar Shack and a taste of fresh maple syrup!
Maple syrup and maple products will be available for purchase following the tour. Supplies may be limited.
Program Fees and Options
$12.00/student
Our maple syrup program provides an in-depth look at tree ecology and maple syrup production. Students enjoy hands-on activities including drilling and tapping trees.
$17.30/student
Spend a day at Tiffin! Combine a maple syrup program with an elementary or high school program of your choice. Orienteering, snowshoeing or winter wildlife are just some of the programs available. Contact our environmental education staff for details.
Virtual Sugar Bush Tours are available for $33.40 which includes a pre-recorded video and 20 minutes live! Ask for more details!
We also offer shorter Maple Syrup Tours for community groups – contact us for details.
Our Facilities & Equipment
In addition to 300 acres of conservation lands with unique natural features, the Tiffin Centre boasts a wide range of facilities to accommodate your group including:
- 6,000 ft2 learning centre
- Fenced outdoor Free Play Space
- Outdoor classroom
- Picnic pavilion
- Group campground
- Accessible trail system
- Snowshoes and kick sleds
- Operating maple sugar bush
- All-terrain wheelchairs available
Booking Programs at Tiffin
- All programs must be reserved in advance.
- All programs are predominately outdoors.
- Programs run rain or shine; proper outdoor dress is essential for all participants, including teachers & volunteers.
- The Tiffin Centre has a boomerang lunch program—all food waste is returned home. Please remind students to bring garbage-free lunches!
- Lunch time activities and discipline are teachers’ responsibility.
How to Book a Program
- Step 1: Email us at outdoored@nvca.on.ca or call 705-424-1479 ext. 280 to speak with our environmental education staff and select a date and discuss program availability.
- Step 2: Once your date has been selected and confirmed, you will receive a booking form.
- Step 3: Complete, save and return the booking form to outdoored@nvca.on.ca.
- Step 4: You will be sent an email confirming your booking!
Fees
Unless otherwise noted:
- Full Day = $18.55 per student
- Half Day = $12.85 per student
- In some cases, Grade 4 classes from the SCDSB are charged at a different rate. Please contact us for more details.
Teachers and EAs, and up to 3 additional adult volunteers can attend free-of-charge (higher numbers for JK/SK).
Minimum booking—20 students per program, or a minimum fee of $371.00 for a full-day or $257.30 for a half-day program.
A different pricing structure applies to preschools and daycares – please visit the program page for details.
Hot Chocolate & Camp fire lunch available!
Let us provide the hot dogs and all the fixings for $3 each! Students roast their own hot dogs over an open fire.
Hot chocolate is available for $25 per class.
Cancellation Policy
There is no charge to cancel if at least 2 weeks’ notice is given before your scheduled visit. If a cancellation is received with less than 2 weeks’ notice, your group will be charged for 50% of the scheduled number of students or the minimum fee.
In the event buses are cancelled due to inclement weather or teacher union job action, the cancellation fee is not required if the program is rebooked.
Please call to reschedule.
Damages
As with all NVCA clients, visiting groups are responsible for the condition of the property and the conduct of participants. Damage to NVCA property may result in withdrawal of future booking privileges and users will be charged for any replacement costs, repairs and/or cleaning.
More Information
If you have questions about our programs, facilities or reservation procedure, please contact our environmental education facilitator by phone at 705-424-1479 ext. 280 or by email at outdoored@nvca.on.ca.
Education Team
Environmental Education