Northern New York Maple Project Final Evaluation Report

With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Wild Center (TWC) engaged Insight Evaluation Services (IES) to assess the impact of specific outreach activities of the Northern New York Maple Project between September 2013 and September 2015. Data for this two-year evaluation study were collected via in-depth telephone interviews conducted with a total of 25 participants, including 16 Tupper Tappers (Tupper Lake area residents who engaged in backyard tapping to provide sap for syrup production at the museum through the Community Maple Project), four local school teachers who signed up for the Community Maple School Program, three Maple Interns who were hired by TWC to carry out Maple Project outreach activities, and two restaurant owners who promoted Maple Project syrup through their businesses. Overall, the findings demonstrate that The Wild Center successfully positioned itself as a community anchor through its Community Maple Project and Community Maple School Program outreach activities by: (1) Playing a large role in organizing and facilitating backyard tapping among area residents and school children; (2) Attracting locals to have greater interest in and engagement with TWC to learn more about the museum’s sugaring efforts, as well as to learn more about other programs and initiatives taking place at TWC; and (3) Bringing together people who live in the Tupper Lake area to work towards a common goal that in turn, had benefits for those involved that went beyond the production of maple syrup. IES also conducted a Year One Assessment in 2014, the findings of which folded into the final report.

Appendix includes interview guides.