Skip To Main Content

A Sweet Tradition: Grade 5 Learners Tap into Maple Syrup Making

A fifth grade student taps a maple tree on campus with guidance from an OTS staff member.
A Sweet Tradition: Grade 5 Learners Tap into Maple Syrup Making

At Old Trail School, every season brings new opportunities for exploration, discovery and hands-on learning in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park—including winter!

Recently, our Grade 5 students embraced one of winter’s most time-honored traditions: making their own maple syrup. Guided by their teachers and watchful staff members, students embarked on a journey that connected science, sustainability and history, all while deepening their appreciation for the natural world. From identifying and tapping sugar maple trees right here on campus to collecting sap and carefully monitoring the boiling process, they experienced the full cycle of maple syrup production firsthand.

A bottle of Old Trail School maple syrup.

The process is both an art and a science, requiring patience and precision. Students learned how temperature fluctuations influence sap flow, how evaporation transforms watery sap into thick, golden syrup, and how indigenous peoples and early settlers pioneered the practice long before modern sugaring techniques.

Best of all, their hard work paid off—quite literally—with bottles of sweet, homemade maple syrup to share with the OTS community. 

Experiences like this are what make an Old Trail education unique, blending hands-on exploration with meaningful academic connections. By immersing themselves in the natural world, students gain a deeper understanding of science in action and the rich traditions that shape our region—all while having a little fun along the way!

Other School News

A Buddy Portrait is displayed in the Primary School hallway.
Fostering Connection Through ECP Buddy Portraits

Our preschool Buddy Portraits project is a heartwarming example of how our youngest learners develop critical life skills such as empathy, collaboration and creativity in an engaging and meaningful way.

Read More about Fostering Connection Through ECP Buddy Portraits
Rehs ’30 Earns Third-Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo
Rehs ’30 Earns Third-Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo

OTS is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Rehs ’30, who recently earned her third-degree black belt in taekwondo. This significant milestone reflects years of discipline, perseverance and dedication to her craft.

Read More about Rehs ’30 Earns Third-Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo
A fifth grade girl works on her face jug project in the art room.
Art Students Explore History Through Ceramic Face Jugs

Fifth graders are currently wrapping up the wet clay portion of their ceramic face jugs, also known as ugly jugs. This long-standing OTS art project combines hands-on art-making with a deep dive into the history of this unique form of folk art.

Read More about Art Students Explore History Through Ceramic Face Jugs
A first grade boy proudly displays his diorama featuring a cobra in its natural habitat.
First Graders Investigate the Wonders of the Animal Kingdom

Curiosity and creativity go hand in hand at OTS, and our first graders recently showcased both in a project that brought the animal kingdom to life. The project was designed to deepen students’ understanding of the natural world while fostering research, critical thinking and presentation skills.

Read More about First Graders Investigate the Wonders of the Animal Kingdom
Geology Experts bring Fossils to OTS
Geology Experts bring Fossils to OTS

Recently, our Grade 3 students had the unique opportunity to explore the wonders of geology with the help of real-life experts from the University of Akron Field Station.

Read More about Geology Experts bring Fossils to OTS
The "Leaf Man" artwork of a Preschool 2 student.
Preschool 2 Celebrates the Wonders of Fall

Old Trail School's Preschool 2 students are embracing the beauty of autumn on campus, exploring colorful leaves, acorns, and other natural treasures as they create their own "Leaf Man" artwork inspired by Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. 

Read More about Preschool 2 Celebrates the Wonders of Fall
Exterior photo of Firestone Hall at dusk