Families come together for a fun, "maple-licious" and all-you-can-eat experience

Community members are invited to experience maple syrup from tap to sap to syrup at the ninth annual MapleFest celebration on Sunday, April 3 from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Camp Minikani, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee's resident camp, in Hubertus.

MapleFest is Camp Minikani's annual celebration of spring and the beginning of the growing season. The month of March is spent tapping trees, gathering sap and boiling it into maple syrup. It's also prime time for school visits, as children of various ages are guided through the syrup-making process.  

The highlight of this annual event is the All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Brunch, featuring homemade maple syrup. As a way to further celebrate nature's goodness and support the local community, YMCA Camp Minikani has added locally-sourced and grown food to the brunch menu.

A variety of fun-filled activities will be available throughout the day, including: archery, wagon and pony rides, crafts, carnival games, a preschool open house and living history tour of maple syrup-making through the ages.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults, $5 for children. Kids ages three and under are free. All proceeds benefit the YMCA Annual Campaign and the promise to help every child experience the life-changing power of camp.

YMCA Camp Minikani is located at 875 Amy Belle Road in Hubertus. For directions or more information, call 262.251.9080. To find out more about YMCA Camp Minikani, visit www.minikani.org.

WHEN: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

WHERE: YMCA Camp Minikani, 875 Amy Belle Lake Road, Hubertus, WI 53033