Maple syrup season is a sure sign that spring is right around the corner. To find out where maple syrup comes from, attend “Get Sticky! Maple Syrup Sunday” on March 22 at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Rd. in Oak Brook.
The program, which runs 10 a.m. ‒ 2 p.m., features a guided stroll through the woods to discover the secret of turning tree sap into syrup. It is open to all ages and costs $10 per person. Advanced registration and payment are required. To register, call (630) 850-8110.
To make syrup, sap is gathered from trees and then reduced down until the remaining liquid has the right sugar content. Depending on the initial sugar content of the sap, 40 to 50 gallons of sap are needed to make one gallon of syrup. Maple syrup can only be produced in certain parts of the U.S. and Canada and only at this time of year due to specific weather conditions needed to produce the proper sap. At one time maple syrup was one of the few sweeteners available in much of North America.
“People love this program because it offers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes process of making maple syrup,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Redick, District 2.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for 100 years. More than 4 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 145 miles of trails, five education centers and scores of programs each year. For information, call 630-933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the District’s e-newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube pages.
