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.

PLEASE CALL AHEAD OR CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST AVAILABILITY! MANY ACTIVITIES HAVE A REGISTRATION LIMIT.

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE NORTH METRO

Eastman Nature Center | Dayton

• March 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2021 : Journey into the Sugarbush
  Private groups of up to 9 people can tap a maple tree, listen to a story from the past and sit by the cauldron where sap is cooked into syrup. This program is entirely outdoors. Reservations required.  Various times available. $25/household. Registration code: 2ENC1200.
• March 21 & 28, 2021: Maple Syrup Season Celebration
  Explore maple syruping at your own pace. Watch as sap is boiled into syrup in a cauldron, learn how to collect sap, take a photo with Paul Bunyan and learn how climate change is impacting on the maple syrup season. Drop In. 1pm-4pm, FREE. Activity #2ENC1210.

French Regional Park | Plymouth

• March 13, 16, 18, 21, 22 or 24, 2021: Maple Syruping with Family and Friends
  An educator will lead your private group through the sugarbush to tap a tree, learn how sap is boiled into syrup and taste the product. This program is entirely outdoors. Pre-registration required. 10am-1pm, $20/group. Choose a timeslot. Activity Code: 2REC1200.
• March 15, 20 or 23, 2021: Geocaching for Maple Syrup with Family and Friends
  Learn about geocaching and maple syrping on this family adventure. This program is entirely outdoors. Pre-registration required. 10am-1pm, $25/group. Choose a timeslot. Activity Code: 2REC1201.

Harriet Alexander Nature Center | Roseville

• March 20 & 21, 2021: It’s Tapping Time!
  A FREE event, volunteers welcome. 10am-4pm on Saturday and 12-4pm on Sunday.

Tamarack Nature Center | White Bear Lake

• March 13 & 27, 2021: 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. Registration Required.

Wargo Nature Center | Lino Lakes

• March 4, 2021: 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. Search Keyword: “Maple”.
• March 20, 2021: 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. Search Keyword: “Maple”.

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE SOUTH METRO

Cleary Lake Regional Park, Prior Lake

• March 16, 21, 23, 26 or 27, 2021: Maple Syruping with Family and Friends
  Follow an educator through the sugarbush with your private group to tap a tree, learn how sap is boiled and taste syrup. Choose a timeslot, $20/group. Activity Code: 2SCT1200. (Full)

The Landing | Shakopee

• March 2, 2021 or March 9, 2021: My Preschooler & Me: Maple Sugar
  Explore outdoors with kids ages 2-6. Themed stories, activities and crafts. Reservations required. 10-11:30am, $5/pp. Event Code: 2LAN1000.
• March 10-14, 2021 & March 18-21, 2021: Maple Sugaring for Families
  Learn about maple syrup while you walk through the sugarbush and tap a tree to boil down. Reservations required. Choose between 17 sessions, $20/family. Event Code: 2LAN1201.
• March 14, 2021: Sugar on Snow
  Learn history of maple sugar and make your own sweet maple candy and explore the park. Reservations required. Choose between 5 sessions 10am-3:30pm, $5/pp. Event Code: 2LAN1200.
• March 20, 2021: Maple Sugaring for Teens
  Hands-on experience making maple syrup, tapping a maple tree, collecting sap and turning it into syrup over a fire. Reservations required. Ages 13-19. 2:30-4:30pm. $8/pp. Event Code: 2LAN1202.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | Chaska

• March 27, 2021: MapleFest
  Pick up a to-go pancake kit and take a self-guided digital tour with Maple Syrup stops. $20/person. Registration is Required.

 Outdoor Center | Eden Prairie

• March 6, 2021: Maple Syrup Making
  Learn the history of maple syruping and sugar. Participants make a makuk, which is a container for storing small items. Register one family member. $15/family. Registration Required.

Pond-Dakota Mission Park | Bloomington

• March 14, 2021: Maple Sugaring
  Learn about choosing trees to tap, collecting the sap, and boiling it down to make syrup. Drop-in program for all ages. 1-4pm, FREE.

Richardson Nature Center | Bloomington

• March 13 & 20, 2021: Maple Syrup Time
  Learn to identify a maple, tap a tree and collect sap. Watch an evaporator and taste maple syrup. Dress for outdoors. 2pm-3:30pm, $5/pp. Activity Code: 2RNC1200.
• March 18, 2021: My Preschooler & Me: Trees and Maple Syrup (Wait List)
  Explore trees and the maple syrup process with your child ages 2 to 6. 10am-11:30am, $5/pp. Activity Code: 2RNC1010.

Westwood Hills Nature Center | St. Louis Park

• March 1 & 5, 2021: Puppet Story Time – Maple Syrup
  Open play and exploration, naturalist-led activities, puppet show and a hike. 10am-11:30am, $4-$5/person. Registration Required.
• March 21, 2021: Maple Syrup
  Tap a tree, collect the sap and take it to the cooker. Discover how to turn sap to syrup. 1pm-3pm, $5-$8/person. Registration Required.

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE WEST METRO

Baker Outdoor Learning Center | Maple Plain

• February 28, 2021: Family Maple Syrup (Full)
  $25/family includes  tapping, boiling and tasting syrup. Activity Code 1BLC3210.
• March 7, 2021, March 14, 2021, March 28, 2021, March 30, 2021: Maple Syruping (Filling Quickly)
  Learn about tapping maple trees and taste test against grocery store syrup. $5/pp. Various afternoon times available. Registration Required. Activity Code 2BLC1200.

Baylor Regional Park| Norwood-Young America

• March 20, 2021: Maple Syrup Festival
  A start to finish maple syrup experience. Register for one-hour time slot between 11am-3pm; $5pp

Gale Woods Farm | Minnetrista

• March 13, 2021: Make Your Own: Maple Syrup
  Explore the sugarbush, tap trees, evaporate and make syrup. 9:30-11am, $8/pp. Activity Code 2GAL1200.
• March 15, 2021: My Preschooler & Me Puppet Escapades: Maple Syrup Magic (Full)
  Ages 2-5 with adult, pre-registration required. 9:30am-10:30am & 10-11am, $4/pp. 2GAL1000.

Lowry Nature Center | Victoria

• March 13, 2021: Maple Syrup Festival
  Learn how maple syrup and sugar are made now and in the past. Watching tapping, sap collecting, boiling and then taste the final product. Dress to be outdoors. Reservations required. Choose between 7 sessions 1pm-4pm.  $5/pp.

MAPLE SYRUP IN THE EAST METRO

Carpenter Nature Center | Hastings

• March 7-11, 2021: Maple Tree Tapping
  Help tap trees in the sugarbush. Learn to identify the maple trees and the tools needed and how to get the sap out of the tree. Mask required. Dress for outdoors. Free; donations encouraged. Pre-register for time slot, limited space. 2pm-4pm.
• March 27, 2021: Maple Syruping Open House
  Witness the process of sap becoming syrup. Register for a time to drop in between 12-4pm. $5 suggested donation.

Home School Maple Syruping Activities

• February 22, 2021: Home School at Lowry – Maple Syrup | Lowry Nature Center, Victoria
  Get ready for the upcoming syrup season and explore the process of sap to syrup. Reservations required. 10am-11:30pm, $4/pp.
• February 24, 2021: Home School at Lowry – Maple Syrup | Lowry Nature Center, Victoria
  Get ready for the upcoming syrup season and explore the process of sap to syrup. Reservations required. 10am-11:30pm, $4/pp.

At Home Maple Syrup Activities

• March 1-31, 2021: Free Online Program from Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Learn how the arboretum staff turns the sap into syrup or try it out with a maple tree where you live. Follow along online with activities, videos, and quizzes for all ages.
• March 13, 2021: Curious Connections: Maple Syrup Basics virtual workshop with Springbrook Naturalist. Join the Springbrook Naturalists in to learn about the sugar bush, what basic supplies you’ll need, how to tap a tree and boil down the sap, storage and more.
• March 20, 2021: Online Kit: Tasting Maple Syrup with Three Rivers Parks. Try some maple syrup made at Eastman Nature Center and learn about maple syruping and climate change impacts. This program is taught online by staff from Eastman Nature Center; kits can be picked up the week before the program. Reservations required by two weeks prior. $15/kit.
• Add a Maple Fairy to your own Maple Tree. We love fairy gardening and adore this little Maple Fairy from Imagine Childhood.

• Online Research: The Three Rivers Park System – Maple Syrup Page contains information on maple syruping process, science and history.  The Minnesota DNR’s page also offers valuable information.
• Books to Read: We’ve created a Maple Syrup booklist — including books about Maple Trees, Maple Syrup and Maple Syruping — in our Bookshop.org Shop*.
• Taste Test: Compare the taste of real maple syrup to non-maple pancake syrup and to maple-flavoring in products like these Jelly Belly beans from Vat19.  Are they the same? What differences do you find?

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*This article includes an affiliate link to Bookshop.org, an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. Family Fun Twin Cities receives a small commission on books ordered through our link. If you want to find a specific local bookstore to support, find them on this map and they’ll receive the full profit off your order. Otherwise, your order will contribute to an earnings pool that will be evenly distributed among independent bookstores (even those that don’t use Bookshop). Learn more here.

**Family Fun Twin Cities has an affiliate relationship with Vat19 and Imagine Childhood. We receive a small commission on any products bought through our links.

Go to Page 2 for our spring 2020 listings. We expect later than normal announcements this year, but you can peruse last year’s offerings to get an idea what to watch for in your own area: