Cataraqui Conservation’s Maple Madness is back again at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area to celebrate the onset of spring and the history, heritage and ongoing allure of the maple syrup-making process.
What has become a tradition for many families and individuals throughout the Cataraqui Region, as well as thousands of folks from out of town, has an even more special resonance this year, as Cataraqui Conservation’s Maple Madness is marking its 40th anniversary in 2023, with a slate of special activities and amenities for this momentous and historic occasion.
This 40th-anniversary edition of Maple Madness runs all weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in March, as well as every day during March Break (March 13 to 17), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is required and further information, online registration, and specific activity times are posted on our website at https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/maple-madness
Throughout Maple Madness, visitors can take our tractor-drawn wagon rides back to the sugar bush to enjoy a self-guided tour among our interpretive stations where staff and volunteers will teach you about the process of making maple syrup through the centuries of time. You can also enjoy fresh pancakes with hot maple syrup available for purchase at the sugar shack.
The Outdoor Centre at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area is the starting point for everyone’s Maple Madness journey, with a host of kids’ activities, including face painting, button making, as well as our new Maple Shop, where you will be able to purchase Cataraqui Conservation merchandise and delicious maple sugar and maple syrup products to munch on right there, or to take home.
As part of our anniversary celebration, the first 50 people to purchase pancakes in the sugar bush, or maple products in the Maple Shop will receive a special commemorative gift, courtesy of Cataraqui Conservation. Visitors are also encouraged to participate in our Maple Madness photo contest by sharing their best and most fun photos of their time in the sugar bush. Additionally, if you have any old photos or memories from visiting Maple Madness at some point over the last four decades, you can also send them to us and be part of our Maple History Project. In both instances, photos will be used to promote Maple Madness this year, and in years to come.
With the beginning of the fifth decade of Maple Madness, Cataraqui Conservation is also initiating a new public fundraising initiative. By donating in person or online on our website you can help us expand and refurbish our Maple Madness program and facilities so it can be enjoyed for another 40 years.
For more information about the 40th Anniversary, registration, activities, contests and how to plan your day visit https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/maple-madness