Maryland Park Service Hosts 40th Annual Maple Syrup Demonstration

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 28, 2010) — Cunningham Falls State Park will host the 40th Annual Maple Syrup Making Demonstration on March 13, 14, & 20, 21 from 10am until 2pm in the William Houck (Lake) Area.

The event will feature a working demonstration of the traditional maple syrup making process. Park staff will present regular talks explaining the syrup making process and history. Kids can enjoy free games, stories and crafts in a large heated tent. All attendees can warm themselves beside a roaring fire while listening to live music in the lakeside pavilion. Most of the attractions will be outdoors, so any attendees are asked to dress appropriately.

A piping hot sausage and pancake breakfast will be sold from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and attendees can buy Maryland made maple syrup, maple candy, and related souvenirs.

There will be a minimum donation required; proceeds will benefit the Friends of Cunningham Falls and Gambrill State Parks.

Pets are prohibited in the William Houck Area of Cunningham Falls State Park.

A sign language interpreter is scheduled for demonstrations on each Sunday.

For more information or in case of inclement weather, contact the park at 301-271-7574. Visit the park website for more information and directions: http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/western/cunninghamfalls.html.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov