Maple Syruping with Kids in the Twin Cities

March is maple syrup month in Minnesota, and with an abundance of nature centers around the Twin Cities, we have ample opportunities to learn about and participate in the maple syruping process. Maple syrup events usually contain one or more of the following activities: tapping the maple trees, collecting the sap, boiling it into syrup, and the best part — according to my kids, anyway — a sample of the finished product.

Click through for a list of upcoming maple syrup events across the Twin Cities Metro.

Maple Syrup Time • $5/pp • Learn about the maple syruping process, tap a tree in the sugar bush, collect sap, bring it to the evaporator and sample!
• Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington • 3/4, 3/11 & 3/25, 2-3:30pm
• Lowry Nature Center, Victoria • 3/5, 1-2:30pm

Maple Syruping in Your Backyard | Fort Snelling State Park • Sat/Sun, March 4-26, 1-2:30pm • FREE with $5 state park vehicle permit.

Sap to Syrup | Eastman Nature Center, Dayton • Sundays, March 5-26, 1-4pm • FREE

Maple Syrup: Tapping Into Nature • $5/pp
• Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake • 3/11, 3/15 & 3/18
• Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park, New Prague • 3/24 & 3/25

3/4: Maple Syruping Day | Warner Nature Center, Marine on St Croix • 12-4pm • $5/pp • Lots of family activities for all ages.

3/18: Maple Syruping | Dodge Nature Center, West St Paul • 1-2:30pm • $7/pp or $20/family • Pre-registration required (click here). Also held 3/25/17.

3/18: Maple Syrup Through History | The Landing, Shakopee • 10am-4pm • $5-$8/pp • Take a horse-drawn trolley ride through the history of maple syruping.

3/18: Sap Into Syrup Family Event | Maplewood Nature Center, St Paul • 2-3:30pm • $5/child • Learn about the tools used to tap trees and taste test a variety of syrups.

3/18: Make Your Own: Maple Syrup | Gale Woods Farm, Minnetrista • 10-11:30am • $8/pp

3/18: Saturday Special: Magical Maples | Wood Lake Nature Center, Richfield • 10-11:30am • $3/pp

3/18: Maple Syrup Festival | Eastman Nature Center, Dayton • 1-4pm • $5/pp • Play games, watch the syruping process and get a taste of the final product.

3/18-19: MapleFest Weekend | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska • 9am-3pm • $12/pp ages 13+, under 13 admitted free • Hike the maple trail to learn about the syruping process, then get a taste of it in the Sugarhouse. Special brunches will take place on the weekend for an additional charge.

3/19: Maple Syrup Festival | Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement, Maple Plain • 3-6pm • $7/pp includes tasting syrup on pancakes.

3/20: Puppet Storytime: Maple Syrup Mystery | Westwood Hills Nature Center, St Louis Park • 10-11am • $4-$5/pp, under 2 free • Register here – also held 3/24/17.

3/25: Maple Syrup Festival & Pancake Brunch | Lowry Nature Center, Victoria • 10am-1pm • $10/pp

3/25-26: It’s Tapping Time! | Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville • 10am-4pm • A FREE event, volunteers welcome.