The Northwest Environmental Education Council presents:

Intro to Edible Mushroom Identification in Western Washington
An overview of mushroom species, edibility/toxicity, and field identification methods

Course ID: BIO - 302
October 26 - 28, 2007, (2.5 Days)
Friday - Sunday, Short Course / Retreat
Olympic National Forest
Olympic Park Institute-Lake Crescent

Instructor: Thom O'Dell, Ph.D., Mycologist & Howard Sprouse


Register Online | Directions | Accommodations | Course Catalog
Download Information Packet (PDF File)

Description: The course provides an introduction to edible mushroom identification. Emphasis is on basic identification skills of the best edible mushrooms and their poisonous look-alikes. Advanced students are welcome and would also benefit from the class.

About the Instructor: Thom O’Dell has over twenty five years experience collecting, studying, growing and eating mushrooms. He has many publications including scholarly papers, books, chapters and field guides. He received his Ph.D. in Botany and Plant Pathology from Oregon State University in 1992 and conducted field ecological studies in Olympic National Park as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. Thom was the first regional mycologist for the USDA Forest Service where he supervised surveys for rare fungi and trained federal botanists in their identification. He currently works for The Remediators Inc. a soil bioremediation company in Port Angeles, WA commercializing methods to clean contaminated soil using fungi.

Course Topics:

Friday - October 26, 2007, 10:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.

10:00 – 10:30 Introductions, course objectives, safety

10:30 – 12:30 Intro to mushroom identification,
            fungi and mushrooms – what are they?
            gilled versus non-gilled mushrooms
            overview of identifying characteristics
            Is it edible?
-LUNCH

13:00 - 16:00 Field trip around OPI/Marymere Falls Trail

16:00 – 19:00 Lab, Specimen ID, focus on non-gilled fungi

Saturday - October 27, 2007, 8:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

08:00 – 09:00 Fungi of the Olympic Peninsula

09:00 – 14:00 Field trip to Soleduc Falls
-LUNCH

14:30 – 18:00 Specimen ID, focus on gilled fungi, demonstration of microscopy and microscopic features

Sunday
- October 28, 2007, 8:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

08:30 – 11:30 Lab

11:30 – 12:00 Closing remarks, course evaluations
-LUNCH

Intended Audience: Nature enthusiasts seeking an improved edible mushroom identification skills. This class has a 30 people maximum.

Course Materials: Each participant will receive a copy of the course proceedings including notes and reference material on the first day of the course.

Optional Textbooks: Arora, David. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi, buy this book.

Arora, David. All That the Rain Promises, and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms, buy this book.

*Any other mushroom field guide is acceptable.
*Additional reference material will be provided.

Continuing Education Units: 2.0

What to Bring: Please bring a sack lunch for Friday, a water bottle and appropriate clothing as much of this class is outdoors. Click here to see a complete list of items we recommend you bring.

Registration: $475, Includes accommodations, food and course materials. You may register via the link below or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 206-762-1976.

Registration and Payment Policy: All registrations cancelled before 5 P.M. on October 1, 2007 are fully refundable. All registrations made between October 1, 2007 and October 22, 2007 must be paid in full at the time of registration and are 50% refundable until 5 P.M. on October 22nd. The registration fee becomes 100% non-refundable on October 23, 2007. Registrations may occur up to the day prior to the course provided that space is available.

Register Online | Directions | Accommodations | Course Catalog
Download Information Packet (PDF File)


OTHER PROGRAMS OF THE NW ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION COUNCIL

To find out more about NWEEC's programs send us email.

Northwest Environmental Education Council
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
650 S. Orcas Street, Suite 220, Seattle, Washington 98108
Phone: (206)762-1976, Fax: (206)762-1979
www.nweec.org