Have you tried maple sugaring? This sweet family-friendly event is only around for a few months of the year when the nights get below freezing and the day’s temps are above freezing. At most of these spots, you’ll learn how to tap a tree, collect the maple sugar water and then get a lesson on how that is turned into the delicious syrup you can pour on your pancakes.
Here’s where to try but note that spots fill up quickly so make sure to make reservations ASAP.
Howell Living History Farm
Saturdays February 4, 18 & 25
70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Twp.
609-737-3299
Learn about the traditional and modern ways of tapping sugar maples, smell and see how they that gets turned into syrup and help collect sap. The farm also has animals and other weekly activities.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
Saturdays & Sundays: January 28 & 29, February 4 & 5, 18 & 19, 25 & 26, March 4 & 5, 11 & 12
247 Southern Blvd., Chatham Twp.
973-635-6629
This program held entirely outdoors will show you how to identify and tap maple trees, plus collect sap and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
Friday February 3
165 Hobart Ave., Summit
908-273-8787
Learn the process of maple sugaring and then try your hand at it. This event is for families and kids ages 5 and up.
The New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation
Tuesday February 7
150 Snake Den Rd., Ringwood
973-835-2160
The New Weis Center offers a traditional maple sugaring program which includes a short winter tree walk, evaporator and syrup tasting. On Feb. 7, sign up for a one-time opportunity to join the educators as they set up for the maple sugaring programs and help make evergreen needle tea.
Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve in Pennington
Saturday February 25
31 Titus Mill Rd., Pennington
Head to the Watershed Center for the Maple Sugar Brunch where you’ll learn about the science and history behind maple sugaring. There are three different time slots to register for and this event is for ages 5 and up.
Lorrimer Sanctuary
February 25 and March 4
790 Ewing Ave., Franklin Lakes
Join an NJ Audubon naturalist for a fun look into the process behind making maple syrup. Learn how to identify a sugar maple tree, find out how maple sap (and eventually syrup) was discovered, collect sap and practice tapping a tree yourself.
Tenafly Nature Center
Sundays in February & March
313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
201-568-6093
The nature center will teach you the history of maple sugaring and take you on a walk to their sugar bush so you can experience the process for yourself.
Duke Farms
1112 Dukes Pkwy. West, Hillsborough
908-722-3700
March 4
Visit a sugarbush to see how trees are tapped for sap, then explore the process of making maple syrup and why it is a seasonal favorite. This walk-and-talk program is perfect for anyone age 8+.
Happy Day Farm
March 11, 12, 18 and 19
102 Iron Ore Rd., Manalapan
732-977-3607
Help Farmer Tim tap the trees the “old-fashioned way.” You’ll take a tractor ride around the 130-acre property before arriving at Olivia’s Sugar Shack to help with the process. Feed the farm animals, too!
(If you arrive home with fresh NJ maple syrup, try making one of these tasty recipes.)
If you have a maple sugaring program that you would like added to this list, please email Ronnie@njfamily.com