One of the first chapter books I read as a kid was Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was always fascinated by the description of the Ingalls family using sap tapped from their Sugar Maple trees to make maple syrup, and in particular maple snow candy.
Homer Lake Forest Preserve actually has a grove of Sugar Maples trees that has been around for 200 years. Each February, they host Maple Sugar Days, where folks are invited out to learn about the trees and the process of tapping them for sap, as well as the history of maple syrup. On February 25th, there will be two sessions, 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. Spots are limited, so you need to register by following the links. There is a wait list available if the sessions fill up. It’s $5 per person, and you’ll get to bring a sample home with you.