What’s sweet, all natural and only available fresh from the trees for a short period of time in late winter and early spring?

Maple syrup!

Every year, Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve, near Fairfield, presents the only maple sugaring program in the region that allows participants to have a hand-on experience with all facets of the sugaring process.

During this 90 minute program, attendees learn the history of maple sugaring and then are led to the forest where they select a tree, drill into in, hang a sap bucket, collect sap and watch fresh sap being cooked down into syrup before their very eyes. As soon as the syrup is ready, participants have a chance to taste the finished product.

Strawberry Hill owns a professional sap evaporator that produces syrup so delicious, so sweet, that you won’t believe it’s the same product that’s usually purchased in a grocery store. Your taste buds will rejoice and beg for more of this heavenly treat!

But wait, there’s more! Strawberry Hill’s program also includes an entertaining game show-style taste test led by the Maple Chef, in which participants get to taste a range of syrups on silver dollar pancakes and pick the ones that contain real maple. There’s also a rousing sing-along of the Maple syrup song led by Strawberry Hill’s education coordinator Eddy Rubin and featuring special guest musicians. You also won’t want to miss the Dancing Lumberjack!

Programs are scheduled this year on February 27 and 28 & March 6 and 7 at Strawberry Hill as well as on March 13 at the Gettysburg Rec Park. Advance registration is necessary for all programs, as our time slots fill up quickly!

The fee is $6 for adult members of Strawberry Hill and $4 for children; $8 for adult non-members and $5 for children.

To reserve your spot, call 642-5840 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

While at Strawberry Hill, participants may also visit the live animals in our nature center & take a hike on the trails.

The program is suitable for all ages. It’s educational, it’s fun, it’s a wholesome family activity and it’s good exercise. After participating in the program, participants will have all the knowledge needed to do sugaring on their own in their back yard. There will also be fresh maple syrup for sale as well as maple collecting kits.

The weather this winter has been absolutely perfect for maple syrup production. Strawberry Hill is gearing up for its best maple year ever. Come out and experience the magic of the maple trees this winter. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget!

Check out our Maple Sugaring page, for program times and pricing.