MN Nature Activities: March 13–20 Maple Syrup Time!

Happy spring equinox! The balance of light and dark means more time for fun in the outdoors! MN Nature has some ideas to help you enjoy the warming weather — starting with maple syrup tapping!

March Madness = Maple Syrup Time
Early spring in Minnesota is maple syrup tapping time! The freezing nights and cold days of winter give way to cool nights and warm days causing a freeze-thaw pattern that signals trees to turn up the pressure on sap flow. Hooray! It’s March!

Tree Biology
The trees store sugars in their roots all winter but when the days get a bit longer and the air warms they start to transport those food stores up their trunks and out to their branches in preparation of leafing out. And this is when the “sap is flowing” — perfect for tapping! Many trees can be tapped for syrup but the sugar maple is most favorable for flavor and sweetness. Here’s a basic tutorial: How to Tap a Tree for sap.

Events
Check out one of the many maple syrup tapping demos or celebrations this March. Here are some of the fun outdoor events happening in Minnesota this march:

————— Sunday —————

03/13/16
Maple Syruping for Outdoors Women
10:30 AM to 12 PM
Whitewater State Park

03/13/16
Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Fort Snelling State Park

03/13/16
Tapping the Magnificent Maple
10 AM to 12 PM
Wild River State Park

————— Tuesday —————

03/15/16
Circle Time Under the Pines: P is for Pines
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Itasca State Park

————— Saturday —————

03/19/16
Those Beautiful Bluebirds!
1 PM to 3 PM
William O’Brien State Park

03/19/16
Spring Orienteering
11 AM to 3 PM
Lake Maria State Park

03/19/16
Spring Equinox Hike: Last Day of Winter
1 PM to 4 PM
Itasca State Park

03/19/16
Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
10:30 AM to 12 PM
Whitewater State Park

03/19/16
Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Whitewater State Park

03/19/16
Fly Tying for Beginners
9 AM to 11:30 AM
Afton State Park

03/19/16
Becoming an Outdoors Woman Fly Tying
1 PM to 3:30 PM
Afton State Park

03/19/16
Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Fort Snelling State Park

03/19/16
Nature in Story – Wildflower myths and legends
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Jay Cooke State Park

03/19/16
BOW – Fly Tying for Women
1 PM to 3:30 PM
Afton State Park

03/19/16
Tree to Table: Maple Syruping Workshop
11 AM to 2 PM
Wild River State Park

————— Sunday —————

03/20/16
Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Fort Snelling State Park

03/20/16
Tree to Table: Maple Syruping Workshop
11 AM to 2 PM
Wild River State Park

Coming up . . .

3/20/16
Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Fort Snelling State Park

03/20/16
Tree to Table: Maple Syruping Workshop
11 AM to 2 PM
Wild River State Park

03/26/16
Maple Syruping
1 PM to 3 PM
Big Island State Park

03/26/16
Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
10:30 AM to 12 PM
Whitewater State Park

03/26/16
Maple Syrup Making for the Whole Family
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Whitewater State Park

03/26/16
Sugar Maple Demonstartion / Celebration
1 PM
Camden State Park

03/26/16
Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Fort Snelling State Park

03/26/16
Tree to Table: MAple Syruping Workshop
11 AM to 2 PM
Wild River State Park

03/27/16
Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
1 PM to 2:30 PM
Fort Snelling State Park

04/02/16
Maple Syruping Demonstration
Lake Maria State Park

04/03/16
Maple Syruping Demonstration
Lake Maria State Park

04/03/16
Women in the Parks: Maple Syruping in Your Backyard
Fort Snelling State Park

04/09/16
Maple Syrup Demonstration
Maplewood State Park

03/21/16 Ice houses must be off the ice each night unless attended north of Hwy 10, Hwy 34, Hwy 200 and Hwy 2