When people who love wild mushrooms say “foray,” they’re talking about organizing a group to go into the forest to look for fungi. The purpose of a foray can be to hunt for edibles, collect for scientific study, or look at the beauty and diversity of mushrooms. Forays can last from an hour or two, to a multi-day overnight trip. Sometimes a member brings a camp stove and ingredients and we cook and eat our harvest on site.
Member Forays
CMS Forays are open only to CMS members. We closed Registration to non-members in 2014 due to the popularity of our forays and the inability of CMS Members to attend forays because of non-member registrations. Email Notifications for forays are sent to CMS members only. We may also post upcoming forays on this Website and on the CMS Facebook Page as an extra notification for members to check their email for a link to the Registration form. To receive Member Foray Registration notices, become a CMS Member; Membership starts at $15. To learn more about Member Forays and what to expect, read on …
Equipment and Gear needed
We are in Oregon. Always be prepared for wet conditions.
- Most Important: A watch to keep track of the time.
- Be prepared! Rain gear, warm clothes, and waterproof boots are best. It is always better to bring extra clothes than be cold.
- Brightly colored outer clothing or a safety vest is also recommended.
- Mushroom basket or container, Pocket Knife, and/or soft brush for wiping mushrooms clean.
- Food suggestions: Water, coffee, lunch, and snacks.
- Fully charged cell phone and a GPS unit if you have one. GPS unit can be handy for finding your way back to the car, and to save good mushroom spots for later reference.
- Identification Books (optional, there will be identification on site).
- A whistle and an Epipen if you need one.
- Mushroom Permit – You will be notified if a mushroom permit is required for your destined area.
- Parking Pass (or cash) – If required, you will be notified of the type of Parking Pass (e.g. Oregon State Parks Pass, Federal pass) that you will need to bring to avoid paying a fee.
Outdoor Safety Tips from USDA Forest Service
Foray Rules and Etiquette
- Waiver Form. As part of the Registration process, each Adult participant is asked to acknowledge a CMS standard waiver form. Click here to Download Liability Waiver Form.
- Permit. If required in the mushroom hunting area, you may not collect mushrooms without one. You may still accompany us and participate in the educational portion of the foray.
- Safety Information. When you gather at the meeting location, the Foray Leader will provide some safety instructions and a description of the foray area and its boundaries. Please pay close attention to this information.
- Be Courteous. You must be considerate of the Foray Leader and your fellow participants.
- Must be Counted. Before leaving any foray area, including the parking lot, the Foray Leader will count the number of participants. If you leave the area or the foray you must tell the Foray Leader.
- Watch/Time Piece. At all times during the foray, you must have the accurate time or buddy up with someone who has one.
- Several Locations. Often forays will cover one or more areas or stops. The leader will give a time for everyone to return to a particular location. Return Promptly. Otherwise, you risk being asked to leave and not go on future forays.
- Aware of Location. Pay attention to your surroundings and which direction you are traveling. This will help you identify the habitat for mushrooms and help keep you from getting lost. It is always best to have a foray buddy.
Please Listen. These forays are offered for everyone’s enjoyment and education. Please be considerate and helpful to those with less experience. The primary purpose of the foray is to educate you about habitat and mushrooms, not just edibles. Our most important objective is to help you learn safe mushroom collection practices and to ensure everyone’s safety in the woods. This is not a training for commercial mushroom pickers. If the Host of the foray determines at any time that you are not following the rules or instructions, you will be asked to leave and no longer allowed to participate in this foray or possibly future forays. The The Foray Leader may not be a mushroom ID expert. Never eat any mushroom that you have not personally collected and absolutely identified as edible. Be sure to read the Edibility Guidelines. When in doubt, throw it out! We may go to relatively remote locations with rough terrain. We may or may not be close to roads and trails. Be aware of your limits. We do not want you to get hurt or lost. We endeavor to provide a safe, educational experience, but ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety. CMS assumes no liability.