MARENGO – McHenry County Conservation District offers free field trips to elementary schools in McHenry County and public tours for the annual Festival of the Sugar Maple at Coral Woods Conservation Area in Marengo.

The popular Festival of the Sugar Maples School Field Trip sign-up starts Wednesday for grades two through five. The field trip is offered daily Feb. 25 to March 1 and March 4 to 8.

Students will learn the fascinating history of maple sugaring and see how the sap collection process has evolved to modern techniques. They also will visit the evaporator house and to watch the sap as it is transformed into syrup. Finally, everyone gets a taste of pure Coral Woods maple syrup before they leave.