FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2004

New sugar shanty at the Frink Centre enhances students’ learning in outdoor education
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) is pleased to announce that a new sugar shanty has been built at the Frink Outdoor Education Centre in Plainfield, Ontario. The ten-foot by seven-foot building contains a small evaporator that will be used to make maple syrup. Students who visit the Frink Centre each spring will have an opportunity to see how maple syrup is made and even get to taste the sweet treat!

Designed and constructed by Dick Bird, a former HPEDSB teacher, the sugar shanty is a welcome addition to the outdoor education facility. All materials, time and labour were donated free of charge. Up until now, students have gone to private sugar bushes for maple syrup demonstrations. Although this has worked out well, there is no question that being able to host maple syrup demonstrations on-site enhances the curriculum programming that the Frink Centre can offer.

“The addition of a sugar shanty at the Frink Centre is another way that we are creating superior learning opportunities for our students. By learning about the history of maple syrup and seeing how it is made, elementary students are fulfilling aspects of the Science curriculum,” remarks Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board.

This spring, more than 1,200 students are expected to visit the Frink Centre. According to Bea Heissler, Outdoor Education Coordinator, students will learn about maple syrup production through four demonstration stations:
1. History – An introduction to maple syrup; the native and pioneer methods.
2. The Maple Tree – Biology and physiology; what makes the sap flow.
3. Measuring & Tapping – The age of the tree; proper tapping techniques.
4. The Evaporation Process – Different ways of concentrating sugars, the evaporation in action.

“Having the new sugar shanty on-site is a dream come true! Although we have talked about building one for a few years, one thing or another made it not possible. This year everything came together. We are so happy that now students can come to the Frink Centre to see maple syrup being made right here!” remarks Heissler.

The H. R. Frink Outdoor Education Centre was established at the Plainfield Conservation Area in 1972 by the former Hastings County Board of Education and the Moria River Conservation Authority. It was named after Herbert Frink, a well-known local educator and conservationist who was an advocate of outdoor education. The Frink Centre is operated by the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board in partnership with the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. Refer to the attached Backgrounder for more information about the Frink Centre.

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 46 elementary and eight secondary schools serving 18,700 students, employing 1,067 teachers and 775 support staff. The Board covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south, and Quinte West to the west.

Background on the Frink Centre
The H.R. Frink Outdoor Education Centre was established at the Plainfield Conservation Area in 1972 by the Hastings County Board of Education and the Moria River Conservation Authority. It was named after Herbert Frink, a well-known local educator and conservationist who was an advocate of outdoor education.

The Centre is operated by the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board in partnership with the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board.

Quinte Conservation owns the land on which the Centre is located, and has assisted both in labour and financially with special projects. Quinte Conservation also provides artifacts for the sugar bush demonstration and supports the Centre through its involvement in the Friends of the Frink Centre.

Since 1993, the Friends of the Frink Centre have played an important role by consolidating community support for the Centre and providing the funding necessary for special projects such as the Wetland Ecology Boardwalk. The Friends of the Frink Centre have expanded outdoor education programs to the community by offering workshops, specialized programs to day camps and other youth groups, and Family Activity Days.

For more information, contact:
• Bea Heissler, Frink Centre Coordinator, (613) 477-2828