Monthly Meetings/Presentations
Would you like to learn more about the mysterious world of fungi? The Cascade Mycological Society hosts monthly meetings, September through May from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Amazon Community Recreation Center, 2700 Hilyard St, Eugene. For 2016, the CMS Meeting night is on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. But, it is a good idea to check the website as scheduling conflicts can occur.
Come mingle with and learn from expert mycologists and the local mushroom enthusiasts of CMS. All CMS monthly meetings are open to the public. You are welcome to bring mushrooms in for identification during the show & tell portion held the first 30 minutes. We then have guest speakers on various fungi related subjects, followed by an informal tasting table of delights brought in by members.
Some of the noted speakers CMS has hosted in the past include Langdon Cook, Bart Buyck, PhD, Matt Trappe, PhD, Bitty Roy, PhD, Alija Bajro Muji, PhD Candidate, Dennis R Benjamin, MD, Ja Schindler, Debbie Viess, Taylor Lockwood, Steve Trudell,PhD, Maggie Rogers, Molly Juillerat, Skye Weintraub, ND, Charles Lefevre, PhD and Michael Beug, PhD.
Seasonal Classes
We partner with the City of Eugene Recreation Services to offer free, seasonal educational opportunities to the community.
Intro To Wild Mushroom Foraging – 121726
Do you enjoy eating local wild mushrooms but are afraid to forage for them? Learn how to safely identify and consume wild mushrooms. Discover their habitat, which mushrooms to avoid and which choice edibles are easiest to identify and find. The presentation includes an edible & non-edible mushroom display and wild mushroom tasting based on season and weather availability.
This class is taught in cooperation with the Amazon Community Recreation Center, 2700 Hilyard St, Eugene. Free Class, Open to persons 16 years and older. Pre-registration required at https://recenroll.eugene-or.gov/.
Family Mushroom Foray – 121714
The Cascade Mycological Society guides us on a fungi identification hunt in our own neighborhood. Explore the Amazon Park and waterways for fall mushrooms. We won’t be picking on this trip, just identifying. Amazon Community Recreation Center, 2700 Hilyard St, Eugene. Pre-registration required at https://recenroll.eugene-or.gov/.
Mushroom Foray – 121909
In partnership with Cascade Mycological Society we offer a trip to the woods in search of mushrooms. This trip will be educational and with luck we will find some edible varieties. Open to persons 18 years and older. Transportation included. Cost $32. Meet at Amazon Community Recreation Center, 2700 Hilyard St, Eugene. Pre-registration required at https://recenroll.eugene-or.gov/.
Forays
There is no substitute for being out in the woods and locating fungi on your own. Generally, we foray at least once a month while fungi are appearing. There are also special walks, talks and trainings. Visit our forays section for more information about what to bring on a mushroom foray and what to expect. Upcoming forays are noted on the calendar and posted in our member newsletter. Pre-registration is usually required and forays are open to members only, one more reason to join CMS.
Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Mushroom Festival
The Mushroom Festival is always the last Sunday in October. For 2016, the date is Sunday, October 30th. You will find the details and schedule of all the planned Festival Activities, Food, Plant, and Art Vendors at Mount Pisgah Arboretum 2016 Mushroom Festival.
Please contact us to get involved.
Grants and Scholarships
Teaching And Demonstration Grants
The Cascade Mycological Society awards grants of up to $200 for those wishing to teach children (kindergarten through grade 12) about mycology. The grant is intended
to introduce children to mycology and may be used by the recipient to teach lessons on mycology, host a speaker, conduct a field trip, grow mushrooms in the classroom, obtain books for school use, and the like.
The amount awarded will be based upon merit and the cost of the proposed project. Cascade Mycological Society is willing to assist applicants in developing projects. In addition, Cascade Mycological Society may be able to provide additional resources for projects, such as by arranging for speakers or foray leaders.
Freeman Rowe Educational Scholarship
CMS has been proud to offer the Freeman Rowe Educational Scholarship since 2008. Eligibility for the scholarship is limited to Oregon college students (community college or university undergraduate, or graduate) who are engaging in mycology research. The scholarship(s) are awarded for research that forwards the understanding of the biology and ecology of fungi or that demonstrates the practical uses of fungi.
The successful candidate will receive up to $1,000 and will be expected to present the results of the research at a CMS general meeting. Applications may be submitted at any time through our online application form.
Additional Resources
Lane Community College offers top notch mushroom educational courses. The Biology of Mushrooms course is a popular and fascinating introduction to mushrooms.
Through field, classroom, and laboratory work students identify and develop an understanding of mushroom evolution, structure, function and place in the ecology of the areas studied. Saturday or Sunday trips to the Cascades and Central Oregon Coast are required.