The Sugar Bush Fair

• The Sugar Bush Fair
• Maple Syrup
• Activities at the fair

A celebration of nature’s gift of maple syrup
What do a chilly March morning, an outdoor tent and pancakes have in common? The 31st annual Sugar Bush Fair. The Spring Valley Nature Center, just northwest of Chicago, organizes the event. The fair draws hundreds of adults and children alike all eager for a taste of pancakes with real maple syrup. And that's just the beginning!

Activities
When everyone is full, they can visit the Native American and pioneer sugar camps to see demonstrations of maple syrup production.

Visitors learn how to tap trees for sap and then see how it is boiled down. The end result -- syrup! In addition to the demonstrations, a children's puppet show and hayrides make for an entertaining time.

David Brooks, manager of the center, notes that the fair has become an annual tradition for many families. He finds it impressive that people attend even when the weather is cold. But, people know that the celebration means winter is ending and spring is coming.

So if you find yourself in the Chicago area this weekend, stop by for good food and good fun!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Spring Forward, Fall Back日光節約時間的調整
美國因為四季變化因而實施
daylight savings time = DST = 日光節約時間
三月的時候要把時間調快一小時進入DST,
等到秋天的時候要調回一小時,
特點是晝長夜短改變人民的做息,
進而達到節約用電,
為了讓人民記得所以會說: Spring forward, fall back!
這也是雙關語,
春天向前跳 (春天時間向前調快)
秋天倒回來 (秋天時間調來)

Closer Look
Visitors learn how to tap trees for sap and then see how it is boiled down.
boiled down
high temperature is added so that liquid can be reduced or becomes less.
boil down
making something complicated into something simple.
- Although the assignment appeared challenging, boiling it down to a three-part plan made it seem possible.
- Your report needs to be boiled down because it's too long.

Language Lab
pioneer n.
one of the first people to travel to a new country or area and begin living there, farming etc:
- The movie talks about how the pioneers strived to survive in harsh times.
這部電影談論拓荒者們如何在堅困的環境中努力生存
someone who is important in the early development of something, and whose work or ideas are later developed by other people
- The doctor was one of the pioneers of heart transplants.
這位醫生是心臟移植的開路先峰之一

production n.
the process of making or growing things to be sold, especially in large quantities
- The new car model will go into production next year.
這部車的新款會在明年開始量產
a play, film, broadcast etc that is produced for the public, or the process of producing it:
- The production of the movie took over three years.
這部電影製作費時花了超過3年的時間
produce v.
to grow something or make it naturally
- The land produces a good harvest each year.
這塊地每年都有好的收成

tap v.
past tense and past participle tapped, present participle tapping
to get liquid from the trunk of a tree by making a hole in it
- The workers in the forest are tapping the maple trees.
工人們正在樹林裡採集楓樹的汁溢
to hit your fingers lightly on something, for example to get someone's attention
- The dancers tapped their feet in unison.
舞者們整齊畫一的踏步
unison n.
if people speak or do something in unison, they say the same words at the same time or do the same thing at the same time

sap n.
the watery substance that carries food through a plant
- The sap of the camphor trees is used to make insect repellent.
樟樹的汁溢被拿來做驅蟲劑
- The sap began to seep out and dripped into the bucket.
樹汁開始滴出來滴進水筒裡
sap v.
to make something weaker or destroy it, especially someone's strength or their determination to do something [= weaken]
- Managing this company has sapped all of Fred's energy.
管理這間公司讓Fred耗盡所有精力

to note= to mention

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