Boy Scout Finn Thornton shows participants Saturday, March 25, how two buckets were used to move maple syrup during a demonstration at the 12th annual Maple Madness at Succop Nature Park, Penn Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

PENN TWP — Participants walked down a muddy trail and into the history of maple sugaring Saturday, March 25, at the 12th annual Maple Madness event at Succop Nature Park, 185 W. Airport Road.

At four stations in the woods and grounds of the park, visitors learned how people have used maple sap and syrup through the ages, from Native Americans to today’s modern evaporator tables.

Volunteers at each station explained the methods and tools used to collect the sweet treat from trees and to the breakfast table.

“This is a walk-through the history of maple sugaring,” said Karen Stein, director of the Butler County centers of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.