Celebrate the beginning of spring with Sugarin’ Off at River Bend Nature Center

Chip learns all about maple trees at River Bend Nature Center

RACINE -- River Bend Nature Center will once again host the spring time tradition of Sugarin’ Off pancake breakfasts to celebrate the maple sugar harvest. Sunday breakfast are scheduled for March 6, 13 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pancakes with 100% Wisconsin maple syrup, sausage, orange juice, coffee, tea, or milk are on the menu. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Admission: $8 Adults / $5 children 10 & under / children under 3 are free.

Chip learns the process of making syrup

Following your breakfast, hike through the woods to observe and learn the process of maple sap collection and syrup production.

Volunteers will tap 70 maple trees on the nature center grounds and collect sap to make the syrup. See the sap boil over a roaring fire as it concentrates into “liquid gold”. When the sap is boiled, the sap’s naturally occurring water evaporates as steam, leaving the sap and its sweetness to concentrate into maple syrup.

Chip hangs in kitchen, learns final steps for making maple syrup

Pure maple syrup is 100% maple sap that has been boiled down; 40 gallons of sap makes one gallon of syrup. A gallon of pure maple syrup weighs 11 pounds!