St. Alexander Students Harvest Sweet Success by Tapping Maple Trees in Their Schoolyard
Learning takes many forms at the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board (NPSC), and outdoor education is no exception. On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Mrs. MacAskill’s Social Skills class at St. Alexander Catholic Elementary School stayed close to home, exploring the maple syrup production process right in their own schoolyard.
This hands-on experience, led by school community partner Harry Goulais, a member of Nipissing First Nation, and St. Alexander Educational Assistant Paulette LeBlanc, offered students a chance to learn about the traditional and holistic process of tree tapping, sap collection, and syrup production.
Through this experience, students not only discovered the step-by-step process of making maple syrup but were also able to sample Harry’s homemade version, paired with freshly prepared fry bread.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage with nature, science, and local Indigenous knowledge and culture in a meaningful way,” said Rhonda Lindeman, principal of St. Alexander. “As stewards of God’s creation, it’s important that we learn to carefully and respectfully interact with the environment. There’s no better way to do that than by stepping outside and learning from those who have a deep and intentional connection to the land, like Harry has.”
Following the lesson, students were able to identify key takeaways, including the different types of trees from which sap can be collected and the boiling time needed to produce syrup.
NPSC and St. Alexander wish to extend their sincere gratitude to Harry Goulais and Paulette LeBlanc for sharing their knowledge and providing our students with an unforgettable experiential learning session.
