Have you tried maple sugaring? This sweet family-friendly event is only around for a few months of the year when evening temps are 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. Make sure you check dates, times and weather before you head out.
The New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation
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 January 29, kick off the season with a behind-the-scenes program. You can help senior educators ID the perfect trees, drill the holes, set the spiles, and hang the buckets to prepare for this annual winter tradition. Afterward, you will forage for ingredients and make tea, and talk about the power and benefits of local evergreens. Then, on select dates in February and March, you can take a short hike to learn about the identification, history and uses of sap.
Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve in Pennington
31 Titus Mill Rd., Pennington
Head to the Watershed Center on February 18 or 15 and you’ll learn about the science and history behind maple sugaring. There are three different time slots. This event is for ages 5 and up.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
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. The program is held on Sundays, from January 19 to March 9.
Happy Day Farm
102 Iron Ore Rd., Manalapan
732-977-3607
Happy Day reopens in the early spring for its maple sugaring event. 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! Dates are February 22-23, and March 1-2, 15-16 and 22-23.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
165 Hobart Ave., Summit
908-273-8787
Learn the process of maple sugaring on February 21, and then try your hand at it. Come back for the huge Maple Sugaring Fest on March 2, where you can sample the fruits (or sap) of your labor.
Echo Hill Park
42 Lilac Dr., Flemington
908-782-1158
On February 9, you and the kids will visit the sugar bush to see sap collection in action. Get hands-on experience with sap buckets and learn about modern sap collection systems.
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Ln., Hopewell Twp.
609-737-3299
Tap the sugar maples on February 1 by joining Howell Farm’s experts for a lesson in how to tap a backyard maple tree and make syrup at home. Then on February 8 and 22, come back for more collecting sap in the woods, making syrup in the sap house, and tasting of whole wheat pancakes.
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