From tree to table: Suburban maple sugaring events teach time-honored tradition

As you pour that pure maple syrup onto your pancakes, you might want to give a nod of thanks to a maple tree.

After all, that syrup from the bottle began as clear sap - inside of a maple tree - before being processed by maple sugaring.

A number of local venues are celebrating the art of maple sugaring, the time-honored tradition of tapping trees for sap and simmering that sap to make thick maple syrup.

“It's food in its purest form. It's food coming right out of the tree,” said Valerie Blaine, nature programs manager at the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. The district's LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve will be the site of Maple Sugaring Days on Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12.

Late February and early March are the standard times for sap to begin running in maple trees, Blaine explained.

“Maple sugaring traditionally marks the transition from winter to spring. That alone is cause for celebration” she said. “We emphasize that some of the best things in life take time. Maple syrup is a slow food.”

At Maple Sugaring Days, guests can try their hand at drilling and setting a tap in a tree. They can watch the sap simmer and thicken into syrup. And then they can taste the finished product: pure maple syrup.

“We have a sampling station where people can sample 100 percent pure maple syrup, compared with imitation maple syrup (with corn syrup and additives). Most people really prefer the pure maple syrup,” Blaine said.

The Naper Settlement in Naperville is hosting its annual Spring Fever Maple Sugaring event that same weekend: Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12. Visitors can watch as trees are tapped, take part in hands-on activities, hear presentations and sample maple treats.

Justin Stech, museum educator at Naper Settlement, will be one of the demonstrators, using tools to tap trees. He said guests can learn about the historical aspect of maple sugaring.

“We look at how it was done not only in the 1800s, but before that, with Native Americans introducing it to the settlers,” Stech said.

As the clear sap drips from the tree, many visitors show great surprise when it looks like water, and not brown syrup, Stech said.

“I think most people anticipate seeing something like the finished product.”

Activities throughout the settlement offer a chance for kids to carry a yoke and bucket to transport sap, just as early settlers did. They can try out various tools, and taste maple salt water taffy.

“In our society so many things are mass-produced,” Stech said. “Everyone is familiar with syrup, but the process behind it is something very few people have exposure to. It's very eye-opening to see something that you can do so simply - like making syrup.”

St. Charles

<b>Maple Sugaring Days:</b> 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles.

Naturalists from the Forest Preserve District of Kane County will teach participants how to tap a maple tree. Guests can try drilling and setting a tap, watch sap simmer and thicken to syrup, and take a “Sugarin' Time” hike to learn about maple trees. Plus, there will be pure maple syrup samples, interactive exhibits, face painting and more. Free. (630) 444-3190 or kaneforest.com.

Naperville

<b>Spring Fever Maple Sugaring:</b> 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 11, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Learn about tree tapping and collecting sap with tapping demonstrations. Take part in hands-on activities, sample maple treats and more. $12 adults; $10 seniors (62 and older); $8 kids 4 to 12. (630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.com.

<b>Maple Sugaring:</b> 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Naperville Park District's Knoch Knoll's Nature Center, 336 Knoch Knolls Road.

Program is for kids 9 to 12 so they can see how maple trees are tapped, see how maple syrup is made from tree sap and sample pure maple syrup. This is a drop-off program; parents are not required to stay. $16 residents; $24 nonresidents. napervilleparks.org.

Northbrook

<b>Sap's Rising program:</b> 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5, and Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, and Saturday, March 18, at River Trails Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook. Walk in the sugar maple forest and learn about the history of making maple syrup. Free. (847) 824-8360 or fpdcc.com.

<b>45th Annual Maple Syrup Fest:</b> 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 19, at River Trails Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook.

Celebrate the arrival of spring with tree-tapping, crafts, games and a look at the history of maple syrup. Free. (847) 824-8360 or fpdcc.com.

Oak Brook

<b>“Get Sticky! Maple Syrup Day”:</b> 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center, 3609 Spring Road, Oak Brook. Taste samples and take a 75-minute guided tour to learn how tree sap becomes syrup. Tours begin every 20 minutes. All ages. $10. Register at (630) 850-8110 or dupageforest.com.

Schaumburg

<b>Sugar Bush Fair:</b> 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19, at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Spring Valley celebrates maple sugar with a pancake breakfast - featuring maple syrup, sausage, juice and coffee. Watch demonstrations of maple syrup production, visit a pioneer sugar camp, see a children's puppet show and take a hayride. Purchase syrup and other sweet treats. Free admission; breakfast tickets are $4-$7. (847) 985-2100 or parkfun.com.

West Chicago

<b>Maple Sugaring:</b> 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago. Learn how sap becomes syrup, and watch as trees are tapped with tools from the 1800s. Guest can help check the collection buckets, watch sap thicken into syrup and sample pure maple syrup. One-hour tours start at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. For kids 6 and older; kids younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. $5. Register at (630) 876-5900 or dupageforest.com.