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. We’ll keep adding events as they trickle in – usually by late February. Look for 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.

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE TWIN CITIES CENTRAL METRO

Fort Snelling State Park

• March 15, 2020: Maple Syrup in Your Backyard
  Learn about the equipment necessary and process for tapping maples in your own backyard. 1-2:30pm. FREE with $7 state park vehicle permit.
  
• March 21, 2020: Maple Syrup in Your Backyard
  Learn about the equipment necessary and process for tapping maples in your own backyard. 1-2:30pm, FREE with $7 state park vehicle permit.
• March 22, 2020: Maple Syrup in Your Backyard
  Learn about the equipment necessary and process for tapping maples in your own backyard. 1-2:30pm, FREE with $7 state park vehicle permit.
• March 29, 2020: Maple Syrup for Women and Families
  Join a naturalist for a fun afternoon of learning about maple syrup history and method. Please pre-register. 1-3pm. FREE with $7 state park vehicle permit.
  
• March 29, 2020: Maple Syrup in Your Backyard
  Learn about the equipment necessary and process for tapping maples in your own backyard. 1-2:30pm, FREE with $7 state park vehicle permit.
  

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE NORTH METRO

Eastman Nature Center | Dayton

• March 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2020: Sap to Syrup
  All ages drop in program. Discover maple syruping history and techniques. Taste the final product. The 15th is bilingual: Vénga y Pruebe la Miel de Arce. 1pm-4pm, FREE.
  
• March 7, 2020: My Preschooler & Me: Nature Discoveries – Maple Syrup
  Learn about maple syruping with your 2-6 year old. Registration required. 10-11:30am, $5/pp.
  

French Regional Park | Plymouth

• March 28, 2020: Maple Syrup Festival
  Tap a tree, collect sap, and watch it boil down. Sample the park’s natural sweetness with pancakes. Pre-registration required. 10am-1pm, $6/pp.
  

Harriet Alexander Nature Center | Roseville

• Feb 29 & March 1, 2020: It’s Tapping Time!
  A FREE event, volunteers welcome. 12-4pm.
  

Tamarack Nature Center | White Bear Lake

• March 14 & 21, 2020: Sap into Syrup
  Sign up for one of three sessions. Learn all about tapping trees, collecting sap and making syrup. 1-3:30pm, $7/person.
  

Wargo Nature Center | Lino Lakes

• March 5, 2020: Nature Play: Magical Maples
  Ages 2-5 with a parent, includes outdoor play, stories and crafts. Pre-registration required. 10am-11:15, $6/child + vehicle fee.
  
• March 21, 2020: Maple Syrup Festival
  Learn about the tradition of gathering maple sap and cooking it down to make maple syrup and sugar. Make maple crafts and go on a scavenger hunt. Pre-registration required. 2-4pm, $5/pp+ vehicle fee.

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE EAST METRO

Carpenter Nature Center | Hastings

• March 20, 2020: Preschool Story Time: Syruping
  Hike to the “sugar-bush” to tap maple trees, watch the process of turning sap into syrup and then sample. Program starts indoors, but be ready to hike in the spring snow and mud. Pre-register, limited space. 10-11am, $5/child.
• March 22 & 29, 2020: Making Maple Syrup Public Program
  Listen to a story about maple syruping, go outside to tap a maple trees, and sample some maple syrup. Ages 2-5 with adult, pre-register. 1-3pm, $6/pp.

Maplewood Nature Center

• March 14, 2020: Backyard Syruping
  Learn how to make maple syrup at home. 1:30-3pm, $5/pp.
  
• March 21, 2020: Maple Sap into Syrup With ECFE
  Parents stay with their children during the entire class. Pre-registration required. 10-11:30am, $5/child, ages 0-preK.

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MAPLE SYRUP IN THE SOUTH METRO

Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake

• March 21, 2020: Tapping Into Nature
  Drop in program to identify, tap and collect syrup from maple trees. Then learn how to boil into syrup. 10am-1pm, FREE.
  

Dodge Nature Center, West St Paul

• March 7, 2020: Pancake Breakfast
  Enjoy pancakes and pure maple syrup. Explore this Minnesota tradition with a naturalist-led hike to learn about the process of maple sap collection and syrup production. 8-10:30am. This is a free event, walk-ins are welcome, and donations are appreciated.
• March 7, 21, & 28, 2020: Maple Syruping
  Tree tapping demo, collect sap, visit the evaporator, and sample maple syrup. Geared for K+. Pre-registration required. 1-2:30pm,  $7/pp.
• March 13, 2020: Nature Playdate – Syrup Season
  Tap a tree, boil sap, and taste the sweetness of springtime. Ages 2-5, pre-register. 10-11:15am, $10/child.
  

Pond-Dakota Mission Park | Bloomington

• March 8, 2020: Maple Sugaring
  Outdoors, learn about choosing trees to tap, collecting the sap, and boiling it down to make syrup. Inside the house, watch syrup transform into sugar and sample maple candy. Drop-in program for all ages. 2-4pm, FREE.
  

Richardson Nature Center | Bloomington

• March 7, 2020: Maple Syrup Time
  Learn to identify a maple tree and collect sap. Watch sap boil in an evaporator and taste test real maple syrup. Drop-ins welcome. 2-3:30pm, $4/pp.
  

The Landing | Shakopee

• March 10, 2020: My Preschooler & Me: Early Explorers – Maple Syrup
  Explore historic Eagle Creek with kids ages 2-5. Play, sing, read stories and create a craft. Reservations required. 10-11:30am, $5/pp.
  

Wood Lake Nature Center | Richfield

• March 8, 14 & 15, 2020: Saturday & Sunday Special: Magical Maples
  Hike into the woods to help collect and boil syrup and learn a little history. 3-4:30pm, $3/pp.

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE WEST METRO

Baker Outdoor Learning Center | Maple Plain

• March 8, 15 & 29, 2020: Family Maple Syrup
  $6/pp includes tasting syrup on pancakes.

Gale Woods Farm | Minnetrista

• March 2, 2020: My Preschooler & Me Puppet Escapades: Maple Syrup Magic
  Ages 2-5 with adult, pre-registration required. 10-11am, $4/pp.
  
• March 23, 2020: My Preschooler & Me Farm Beginnings: Sap to Syrup
  Ages 2-5 with adult, pre-registration required. 9:30-11am, $6/pp.
  

Lowry Nature Center | Victoria

• Feb 29 & March 7, 2020: Laura’s Adventures: Sugar on Snow
  Learn about Laura’s life in the big woods through old-fashioned crafts and treats. Visit the forest, tap a maple tree, and see how syrup is made. Reservations required. $7/pp ages 5+.
  
• March 9, 2020: My Preschooler & Me: Lowry Little Ones: Maple Syrup
  Indoor and outdoor maple syrup fun with your Pre-K. Bring a picnic lunch for after or hike on your own. Reservations required. 10-11:30am, $5/pp ages 2-6.
  
• March 23, 2020: My Preschooler & Me: Puppet Escapades: Syrup Time
  Take in a puppet show and explore activity stations before the performance. Reservations required. 10-11am, $4/pp ages 2-6.
  

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | Chaska

• March 29, 2020: MapleFest
  Hike the maple trail to learn about the syruping process, then get a taste of it in the Sugarhouse. 8:30am-2:30pm, $15/pp ages 13+ (attend a brunch for an additional $10-$15/pp).
  

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MAPLE SYRUPING ROAD TRIPS

March 21, 2020: Maple Syrup Family Day | Forest History Center, Grand Rapids
Participate in collecting sap and boiling it down. Sample maple treats like candies, popcorn, and lemonade, then tour a local sugar bush and commercial syrup production facility. 10am-4pm, included with $6-10 site admission.

March 28, 2020: Maple Sap, Sugar & Syrup | Mille Lacs Indian Museum, Onamia
Learn about traditional and contemporary sap harvesting and processing methods. Sample maple sugar. 11am-4pm, included with $6-10 site admission.

March 28, 2020: Maple Syrup Day | Osprey Wilds, Sandstone
A pancake brunch and hands-on maple syruping program. 10am-2pm, Cost for brunch and program is $15/adult, $10/child (5-12 years); if you just want to come for the programming, cost is $5/person

TBA: Maple Open House | B&E Trees, Cashton WI
Tours of the farm and sugar house, self-guided tours, outdoor games, and more. Visitors are invited to taste maple syrup hot off the evaporator, tap a tree, and come along for a day of adventure. Bring your boots, and be ready to get muddy. FREE.

Home School Maple Syruping Activities

March 11, 2020: Homeschool: Sweet Science | Eastman Nature Center, Dayton
Ages 10-14 can create tasty treats to explore the chemistry behind making candy and maple sap sugars. Reservations required. 10am-12:30pm, $5/pp.

March 16 & 19, 2020: Maple Syrup Program | French Regional Park, Plymouth
Ages 5-17 can identify maple trees, tap them, and collect the sap. See how sap boils into syrup and taste a delicious sample. Reservations required two days. 1:30-3pm, $6/pp.

Maple Syruping With Scouts

March 1, 2020: Maple Syrup Program | Baker Near-Wilderness Settlement, Maple Plain  Identify and tap maple trees. Collect the sap and cook it to make tasty maple syrup or sugar. Reservations required. 3-5pm, $5/pp.

March 7, 2020: Making Maple Syrup | Carpenter Nature Center
Space is limited so call 651-437-4359 to pre-register and ask about how this program meets badge requirements. 1-3pm, $6/scout.

March 11, 1010: Girl Scounts: Sweet Science | Eastman Nature Center, Dayton
Ages 10-17 create tasty treats to explore the chemistry behind making candy and maple sap sugars. Reservations required. 6-8pm, $5/pp.

March 12, 2020: Maple Syrup Program | Lowry Nature Center, Victoria
Ages 5-17 identify and tap maple trees. Collect the sap and cook it to make tasty maple syrup or sugar. Reservations required. 4:30-6pm, $5/pp.

March 16, 2020: Maple Syrup Program | French Regional Park, Plymouth
Ages 5-17 identify and tap maple trees. Collect the sap and cook it to make tasty maple syrup or sugar. Reservations required by two days prior. 4:30-6pm, $5/pp.

March 19, 2020: Maple Syrup Program | Cleary Lake Park, Prior Lake
Ages 5-17 identify and tap maple trees. Collect the sap and cook it to make tasty maple syrup or sugar. Reservations required by two days prior. 4:30-6pm, $5/pp.

March 22, 2020: Scouts Maple Syrup Time | Wood Lake Nature Center, Richfield
Hike into the woods to help collect and boil syrup and learn a little history. 3-4:30pm, $3/pp.