Forest Preserve District Of Will County's 'Maple Syrup Magic' Program Highlights Unique Product

Press release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:

Sap flowing in maple trees is a true sign that spring is right around the corner, but it also is a unique occurrence that happens in only a small portion of the globe.

This seasonal occurrence and its rarity will be celebrated during the Forest Preserve District’s “Maple Syrup Magic,” program on Saturday, March 6, at Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township. The free, all-ages program will feature three 90-minute sessions at 10 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Register by Friday, March 5 either by calling 708.946.2216 or signing up online.

Forest Preserve program coordinator Bob Bryerton said most people don’t realize how special this annual sap-to-syrup process really is. Maple syrup can only be produced in the Northeast and upper Midwest in the United States and southeastern Canada.

“Maple syrup is unique to our part of the world,” Bryerton said. “It is something special that only comes from our area of the world."

The Unites States produces more than 4 million gallons of maple syrup annually, with Vermont contributing the bulk of that total at more than 2 million gallons. Canada produces more than 14.3 million gallons, mostly in the Province of Quebec.

Timing also plays a big part in production.

“The syrup can only be made during the late winter/early spring as the trees come out of their winter dormancy and start to get ready to grow leaves for the summer,” Bryerton explained.

During the Forest Preserve's “Maple Syrup Magic” program sessions, attendees will be educated on how the sweet sap is extracted from maples without harming the trees and how the liquid is converted into maple syrup, a process that is as simple as boiling water but is labor intensive, Bryerton said. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup.

The program also will educate participants as to what is real maple syrup and what isn’t.

“Although many people enjoy syrup on pancakes, most don’t really know where it come from,” Bryerton explained. “A lot of the syrup that we have grown up with is corn syrup that has added thickeners and flavoring to make it taste like maple syrup. The program explains the differences and allows folks to find out which one they like better.”

The process of making maple syrup from the sap of maple trees dates back to Native Americans and early pioneers, so the program has a historical element that will be explored in addition to maple syrup's seasonal significance.

“Maple syrup making is a special part of the late winter in our area that lets you know that spring is coming soon,” Bryerton said. “When the maple syrup season ends, spring weather is usually not too far behind. For all these reasons, it is an important part of our cultural and natural history and a special way to end the winter and bring in spring.”

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This press release was produced by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The views expressed are the author's own.