Rooted in Fungi: Spring Mushrooms

Rooted in Fungi is a seasonal, two-part mushroom series designed to help you build confidence in understanding and observing wild mushrooms in Western Pennsylvania.

This spring session includes both an in-depth indoor workshop and a guided outdoor identification walk, offering a complete educational experience from foundation to field.

Part I – Indoor Workshop (May 2)

We begin indoors with a structured introduction to spring mushroom species commonly found in our region. Participants will learn how mushrooms differ from plants, explore habitat and tree associations, and understand key safety principles for observation and identification. We will examine fresh and dried specimens up close, discuss spring species such as morels, oyster mushrooms, and dryad’s saddle, and review the environmental conditions that influence fruiting. Each participant will also create a handcrafted mushroom seasoning blend to take home.

Part II – Outdoor Identification Walk (May 16 at 8:30 AM)

Two weeks later, we will…