As the spring rains end and the air begins to warm, the forest and meadow floors burst with a fungal feast. The Glacier Institute offers a thorough two-day introduction to the enormous number of fungi and their role in the northern Rockies ecosystem as a source of nutrition for the entire forest.

On the Flathead National Forest land, Montan's leading fun guy, Larry Evans, will focus your search on mushrooms growing in such specialized habitats as melting snow banks and recent forest burns, with an emphasis on burn ecology.

Learn how to use a botanical key to identify fungi. On Saturday evening you will taste test the edible mushrooms collected during the day and enjoy a potluck dinner while viewing slides of different spore groups. Those familiar with mushrooms outside of the northern Rockies will discover a plethora of new species that are unique to this area.

All mushroom lovers are welcome. Fungi collection will take place in the Flathead National Forest.

For more information about mushrooms, be sure to visit Larry Evans' website, www.fungaljungal.org.

The Glacier Institute

Moderate

18+

July 02, 2010 - July 03, 2010

Cabin

$170 includes lodging at Big Creek July 2 - without lodging $140