Join naturalist and educator Dave Muska for a walk through the Woodbury Mountain Preserve in search of the wondrous fungi of Vermont’s landscape. Our time together will be inspired by the mushrooms we encounter and our own personal inquiry as we make our way through the lush forested ecosystem of this preserve.

Topics of discussion will include mushroom ID, fungal ecology, cultural history and uses of local fungi for food & medicine, and much more. Participants will additionally learn how they may contribute to fungal conservation efforts through the ‘Fungi of Vermont Community Science Initiative’. A short training of recording mushroom observations using the iNaturalist App will be included. It will be helpful to have the iNaturalist app downloaded to your phone and to have an account created before our walk.

Please Bring:

• Please wear weather appropriate clothing and footwear for walking outdoors off trail and on uneven terrain.
• Water, snacks, and any other items to keep yourself healthy and happy are encouraged.
• A basket or hard sided container for collecting mushrooms for later study and spore prints
• A Hand Lens/Magnifying Glass
• Mushroom Field guide (optional)
• Phone w/iNaturalist App Installed (encouraged)

About Dave:

Dave Muska is a naturalist, educator, and founder of Ondatra Adventures, a business devoted to providing meaningful connections to the natural world through Guided Excursions, Naturalist Study, and Wilderness Living Skills. He is also a naturalist at the North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier, VT and serves on the leadership council of the State of Vermont Fungal Scientific Advisory Group (FSAG). Dave offers instruction and apprenticeships in Fungal Ecology, Wildlife Tracking, Mushroom Identification, Wilderness Living Skills, and much more throughout the Northeastern US and beyond. He has studied with many talented professionals in the fields of his expertise and continues to learn, understanding that a true educator must also be a student. Dave believes that developing a personal relationship with the natural world is a fundamental component of a healthy life and a global community.