Spring Mushrooms and Lichens | Educational Program

Spring Mushrooms and Lichens | Educational Program

Hike Overview Continued

May 23 at 7 a.m.

Instructor: Julia Smit

This course will provide a thorough introduction to fungi and the role they play in the northern Rockies  ecosystem. We will study common species of fungi and lichen, their macroscopic features, spores and  ecological niches. We will look at the ecological role of fungi in forest ecosystems and the effect mushrooms can have on management practices. Since spring and fall species are quite different,  be sure to sign up for our Fall Mushroom course to get a complete mushroom experience.

Meeting Place: Glacier Institute Field Camp  

Itinerary (subject to change):  We will begin the day at 7 a.m. with questions, discussions, and slide viewing throughout  the early morning, and then depart for prime mushroom habitat near Glacier in the Flathead  National Forest. We will learn to identify and study the complexities of local mushrooms and search for mushrooms growing in such specialized habitats as melting snow banks and recent  forest burns. We will seek out the different ecological niches- riparian, sylvan, and open lands of northern Rockies fungi and we will search to find several species in each site. Students will  get a glimpse of the enormous number of fungi that are the source of nutrition for the entire  forest. We will harvest mushrooms throughout the day and bring them back to Field Camp for  closer viewing. The final lecture will summarize the groups of fungi, the  hallmarks of field identification and a summary of the genera covered in class.

Food:  Please bring a trail lunch, plenty of water, and snacks for the day.

Park Entrance Fees: Participants are responsible for purchasing their park entry passes prior to the course. These can be purchased online at:  https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74280.   

Academic Credit: Please see our ‘2026 Academic Credit’ link on our website to learn about OPI credits for our courses.

Equipment: You will receive a Field Camp gear list once you register. Most importantly are  comfortable hiking shoes, snacks, water bottle at least 1-2 liters, backpack, rain gear, hat, and  sunscreen. Weather can be varied, especially in the spring and fall, so please be prepared with  appropriate clothing, with extra warm layers. A field journal and pencil to take notes while you learn  and any field guides that you like to use are optional. If you have a basket that you like to use for  collecting mushrooms please bring it along. We will provide paper bags for specimens. Please bring  fresh samples of any mushrooms you have found in the week prior to class.  

Physical Requirements: Moderate hikes, with less than one mile and 500 feet elevation gain. We  will mostly be hiking off-trail through both open and dense stands of forest, searching for our fungal  friends.

Recommended Reading: The following references will provide background reading (suggested, not  required): 

Fungi are often invisible, showing themselves only when they fruit. A familiarity with the basics of  fungal terms and anatomy, or at least appearance, will greatly enhance your appreciation and ability  to work with these amazing organisms.  

Good written descriptions can be found in the following:  

• North American Mushrooms by Hope & Orson K. Miller.  
• Mushrooms of North America by Roger Phillips.  
• Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora.  
• A Field Guide to Western Mushrooms by Alexander Smith.  
• Mushroom: The Journal of Wild Mushrooming by Leon Shernoff, Editor.  
• Fungal Jungal Newsletter by Western Montana Mycological Association.
• Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountain Region by Vera Stucky Evenson & Denver Botanic Gardens 

The Essential Guide to Rocky Mountain Mushrooms by Habitat by Cathy Cripps, Vera Evenson, and Michael Kuo