Thanks to ancient geology and the Pacific Ocean, the abundant rainfall in this region results in one of the richest diversities of fungal species in the country. In this walk, we'll embrace the fall rains and get excited about cool mushrooms together! We'll get to explore the Back 5 Community Habitat Enhancement Project, not yet open to the public. The walk will include a lesson on mushroom anatomy and other conceptual tools for noticing, observing, recognizing, categorizing, and identifying mushrooms. Our group will discuss safety and ethical considerations for mushroom collection and foraging. If growing conditions permit, we will collect mushrooms for group admiration and identification. Grow your familiarity with the natural world, feel more confident navigating identification resources, and have fun!
Please dress for the weather with boots, and layers. You are welcome to bring your own magnifying glasses or field guides. Children are welcome and must be supervised by an adult.
The Back 5 is a wild habitat restoration area with uneven trails, steps, slopes, and muddy pathways. The outdoor portion is not ADA accessible, but there are portions that will be. If you would like to discuss accommodations or accessibility for this event, please contact
a2dmbG9yZXMgfCBsZWFjaGdhcmRlbiAhIG9yZw==.
Guide Bio:
Maileen Nakashima (they/them/theirs & she/her/hers) is an amateur mycologist with a background in chemistry and environmental education. They have been learning about fungi from walks with professional mycologists, colleagues in Portland Parks and Recreation, and friends in the Oregon Mycological Society for five years. Maileen loves to share information about science and the natural world with all ages. They are also an avid forager and have eaten seven species of edible wild mushrooms in Oregon this year.
You may also like the following events from Leach Botanical Garden:
Also check out other
Trips & Adventurous Activities in Happy Valley.
