Cycles of freezing and thawing are responsible for one of the sweetest treats nature has to offer. The WorldAtlas ranks Ohio 8th in Maple Syrup production for 2026 at 65,000 gallons just behind Michigan’s 82,000 gallons, but that slight didn’t matter to the members of the Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club when they visited the farm of Bruce and Jodie Kavanagh to collect sap, watch syrup being made, and, most importantly, enjoy a stack of pancakes slathered with that prized commodity.

Each year the Kavanaghs graciously host the ESC. The trip begins in the woods where the ESCers learn how trees are tapped and how weather impacts the harvest. They then participate in sap collection. Hard maple trees produce the highest sugar content, but a variety of maples and other tree species can be tapped as well.

The sugar shack is the next stop. A wood fired evaporator turns forty to fifty gallons of the very slightly sweet sap into one gallon of the golden brown stuff that we love. The students learn how temperature and sugar concentration are monitored to reach the desired outcome. The combination of favorable weather conditions, hard physical labor, and heat energy give the end product its value. 

In the Kavanagh’s garage, Mrs. Kavanagh, assisted by Mrs. Tremains and  Mrs. Stoll, keep a steady stream of pancakes coming off the griddle to be consumed by the hungry ESC members (and their teachers).

The Environmental Science Club is a cooperative venture of the Logan County Land Trust and the Benjamin Logan School District. Generous support of folks such as the Kavanaghs also help to make the program possible.

Mr. Kavanagh taps a maple tree.

collecting sap

This is fun…

…but when the bucket gets too heavy, let your teacher take over.

Mr. Kavanagh had several friends assisting in the operation.

Steam from the evaporator nearly obscures Sloane’s face.

The chow line.

You won’t get anything this good at Bob Evans!

Thanks again to the Kavanaghs!