If you've lived in southeastern Pennsylvania for more than a year, you are likely familiar with the region's inconsistent weather patterns that accompany the changing of the seasons. As winter draws to a close every year, the frigid nights are contrasted with warm days, confusing local wildlife and Lancastrians alike. Although it might be inconvenient for residents to leave the house with a warm jacket they won't need for another 12 hours, the erratic weather makes the area a perfect place to find nature's sweetest treat: maple syrup.

Maple trees that are located in cold climates accumulate sap in their trunks and roots to prepare for winter. In early spring, the trees convert the sap's starch to sugar, after which it is pumped throughout their branches to grow new leaves. The process relies on the alternating daytime and nighttime temperatures to distribute the stored tree sap, as the repeated thawing and refreezing of the liquid allows it to flow to other parts of the tree. Maple trees can be found in other states such as Georgia, but their warm climates render the sap unable to be harvested.

For nearly 50 years, the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation's Environmental Center has organized an annual series to explain the process of extracting maple syrup. Park naturalists host the series at Lancaster County Central Park, where they discuss the history of maple syrup and its many products. After an interactive demonstration that includes tapping a tree and boiling its sap, guests are traditionally invited to sample freshly made maple sugar candy.

This year, the maple sugaring series will kick off on Saturday, Feb. 24. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors may stop by Pavilion 11 at Lancaster County Central Park, 733 Williamson Road, Lancaster, to participate in educational activities with senior naturalists such as Lisa Sanchez. Additional maple sugaring events will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, March 3. Homeschool groups are invited to schedule weekday sessions online. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/lancmaplesyrup.

"Natural maple sugar is a combination of sucrose and fructose, and it has a lower glycemic index because of how your body breaks it down," said Sanchez, who has been making maple candy for 30 years. "It also contains vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium and magnesium, which you only get from something made the process of photosynthesis."