How Sweet It Is! Maple Sugaring in New Jersey

Growing up in South Florida amid balmy breezes and palm trees, there were certain things that just never crossed my mind. Snow was definitely one of them and basically everything having to do with snow: snow angels, sledding, snowball fights, snow shoveling…you get the picture. But one job interview, a moving truck and about 148 boxes later, my family and I are officially residents of New Jersey, braving our first winter.

I'll be honest, I never thought much about maple syrup. Sure, I knew it came from trees, maybe up somewhere in the mountains of Vermont. But lo and behold, New Jersey actually has a maple sugaring industry and this is the perfect time of year to bundle up the family and take in a demo at one of our state’s many nature preserves. My husband, 2 ½ year old daughter and I put on our warmest winter gear and headed to the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center  in Chatham.

The center is part of the Morris County Park Commission and holds maple sugaring demos from January through mid-March. I wasn’t sure what to expect as we trekked up to a cozy-looking wooden building situated on the edge of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

After paying a $3/person admission fee at Great Swamp, we went inside and had a chance to poke around a bit before “class” started. My daughter was absolutely delighted to watch both a turtle and bright-orange snake in their aquariums and she also loved the indoor sandbox where you could “stamp” different animal paw tracks. There was even a section filled with books on nature for every different age group. When Naturalist Kristen Pakonis began the demo, she was cheerful and knowledgeable, and made sure to shape the discussion so both the adults and children stayed interested. She talked all about the anatomy of trees, how they produce sap and how to identify a Red Maple tree that would give us our coveted maple syrup.

After the 20 minute crash course (including step by step instructions on the actual tree tapping process) we all bundled back up and headed outside to one of the nature trails. It took our group about 4 wrong guesses before we finally spotted a Red Maple. Kristen let a few of the dads (and one very excited 8 year old girl) take turns drilling into the tree, then helped them attach a spout and sap bucket.  Next was the really neat part – we went over to an outdoor structure which housed what looked almost like wood-burning fire place and watched as the sap was heated to evaporate most of the water, leaving us with that sweet substance we all know as syrup. The fun continued back inside the nature center where Kristen let everyone blind taste test 3 types of syrup – one of the more rich Grade A varieties that’s produced from Sugar Maples (found up in northern New England only), a super-sweet store bought variety (Aunt Jemima is my best guess) and finally, the semi-sweet syrup that comes from our very own Red Maples here in New Jersey.

Families were then welcome to stay and ask questions, look around at the animals and rotating exhibits inside the center, or – like my husband, daughter and I decided to do – head back outside and hike one of the beautiful trails to enjoy some winter wilderness.

So if you’re looking for a late winter adventure for the whole family that’s one part biology class and one part summer camp nostalgia that will fill up an afternoon you’d otherwise spend inside the house, this maple sugaring demo is definitely a winner!

Demos will take place Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm through March 11^th. Please call the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center  for more information at (973) 635-6629 or visit their website.  You can also visit the center for their Maple Sugar Festival on Saturday, March 3^rd from 12pm – 4pm ($4/person). They’ll be guided “Sugaring thru History” walks, maple syrup snow cones (yum!), crafts and games.

Here are a few other places in Jersey where you can enjoy maple sugaring season:

Environmental Education Center (Basking Ridge)

Maple Sugaring Demos every Saturday and Sunday through March 11^th at 12pm & 2pm. Free. Please call (908) 766-2489 for more information.

Tenafly Nature Center (Tenafly)

Maple Sugaring Demos every Sunday through March 11^th at 12:30pm & 2pm. Members $5/Non-members $10 (Children under 2 are free). Pre-registration required. Please call (201) 568-6093 for more information

Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation (Flemington)

Maple Sugar Living History Program. 10am-2pm Saturday March10^th, $1/Person suggested donation. Pre-registration not required. Call (908) 782-1158 for more information and for details about group tours