Pacelli fourth-graders gather at the Sugar Shack Thursday to learn about maple syrup. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Teacher/Naturalist Sydney Weisinger demonstrates to a Pacelli student a tool that determines water density. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

With steam coming off maple sap making their hands sticky, Sydney Weisinger shows Pacelli fourth-graders Leslie Teoba, left, and Dylan Miller learn about boiling down sap to syrup. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Teacher/naturalist intern Meredith Maloney shows Pacelli fourth-graders how to tap a maple tree. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Pacelli fourth-graders hunt for sap-filled buckets at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Colt Orum pours out sap into a larger collection bucket. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Pacelli fourth-grader Caerter Bissen checks for maple sap during a maple syruping class at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Thursday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Jay C. Hormel Nature Center teacher/naturalist Sydney Weisinger shows Pacelli fourth-graders what to look for when spotting a silver maple tree Thursday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Pacelli fourth-graders gather around to learn about collecting maple sap. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com