Cameron Jacyna, 6, tried his hand at throwing a tomahawk during Sugarin’ Off, a pancake breakfast put on by the River Bend Nature Center. (photo by Denise Lockwood)

Let the maple syrup making begin. River Bend Nature Center, 3600 N. Green Bay Rd., kicked off the first of several pancake breakfasts on Sunday to celebrate the maple sugar harvest on Sunday, March 1.

The sap wasn’t quite flowing freely from the trees because it was just a little too cold, but organizers believe the spring thaw is coming.

The breakfasts include pancakes with 100 percent Wisconsin maple syrup, sausage, orange juice, coffee, tea, or milk. Tickets can be purchased at the door; $8 for adults / children under 5 free. The breakfasts will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday March 8, 15 and 22.

Following the breakfast, take a tour through the sugar bush, learn how the nature center taps 70 maple trees and reduces it to syrup in our wood-burning evaporator.

Denise Lockwood has an extensive background in traditional and non-traditional media. She has written for Patch.com, the Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee Magazine and the Kenosha News.