Taste Freshly-Made Maple Syrup At Schiff Nature Preserve This Weekend

MENDHAM, NJ — It's the time of year for making maple syrup, and the Schiff Nature Preserve in Mendham is inviting the public to come for a hands-on demonstration of how they tap maple trees and transform the sap into delicious syrup.

The program will include the history of maple sugaring, the seasonal life cycle of the sugar maple tree, and how to make syrup — including a taste of fresh syrup made in the wood-fired evaporator.

Early settlers learned how to make maple syrup hundreds of years ago from Native Americans, and participants will learn how the practice has carried on to modern times as they identify maple trees, tap them, and process the sap.

There are three sessions at the Nature Center (339 Schiff Drive, Mendham) on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3 at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Each demonstration is 90 minutes, and registration closes the day before the event.

The program is free for members and $8 for non-members. Click here to register.

An optional two-mile field walk to the working maple grove will be offered to see the taps and collection operation. There will also be a baked good sale with plenty of maple treats.