Mushroom Mania: A Fungal Foray for Families

Toadstools, puffballs, chicken of the woods, witches' butter, stinkhorns, turkey-tail, earthstar, shaggy manes...fungi have such fabulous common names!

Join us for a wild mushroom identification walk and see what's growing in IslandWood’s 250-acre forest on Bainbridge Island. You’ll learn where to look for different species and gain identification tricks of the trade from seasoned foragers.

Back by popular demand! This special morning hike time is tailored for our junior naturalists and their parents/caregivers. Adults without children are welcome of course, but please note that our educators will be prioritizing the youngest members of our community of mushroomers. For general audience hikes, please head to our event calendar for more options.

Mushrooming is a fun and addictive hobby for all ages! Your guides will share information on how you can get involved and stay connected to other enthusiasts and the best resources and tools to learn more.

• $20/adults and $12/kids

• This program is designed for adults and youth ages 4 years and up.

• Children and youth must participate with a parent or caregiver.

• Enjoy cookies and hot cocoa after the hike, as you mix n' mingle with other mycological enthusiasts, meet other families who love the hobby, and learn more about educational mushroom-themed events in our area. We've got the scoop!

• This expedition is great for families to learn how to safely discover and identify mushrooms, and ask so many questions - we love your enthusiasm!

• We will not be harvesting fungi for take-home, but we will introduce you to the techniques of ethical and safe foraging, so you can support safe and thoughtful foraging in your family.

IslandWood has been so grateful to partner with our buddies and mentors at the Kitsap Peninsula Mycological Society for over a decade to bring you Mushroom Mania!

Special thanks to their volunteer guides and instructors for illuminating the forest floor (and stumps, and trunks) for us. We recommend you check them out if you're looking to learn more, as they have great events all year long. We love you KPMS!

Accessibility

We work to ensure that all reasonable accommodations are in place so that everyone can fully participate and learn during their time on our campus. All indoor spaces and many of our outdoor spaces and field structures were built and are continually maintained to meet ADA code, adhering to WAC 51-50. Learn more about the physical accessibility of our campus here.

Service animals only, please.

If you or your child(ren) are feeling unwell, please stay home and rest up! We care about you.

IslandWood Community Education is grateful for the support of the Fletcher Bay Foundation, which supports low-cost and free public programs on our Bainbridge Island Campus each year.