Master Mushrooms, From Curiosity to Confident Field Knowledge

$385.00

A 16-week online deep dive into mushroom ecology, identification, edibility, and taxonomy; with a regional focus on the Aspen Parkland, Western Boreal Forest, and Northern Rockies.

Designed for curious beginners through experienced foragers who want structure, depth, and scientific grounding.

This workshop happens once annually.

35+ Years

Mushroom experience

180

Groups educated

2000+

People taught

If you want to..

Invest your time in a durable, offline skill

…one that compounds through observation, experience, and seasons rather than updates and algorithms.

Learn to see patterns instead of memorizing names

…by understanding relationships, structures, and ecological roles rather than isolated traits.

Replace guessing with confidence in the field

…using a deliberate, step-by-step approach that holds up even when you’re unsure.

Become literate in the landscapes you live in

…so mushrooms become part of how you know a place, not just something you find there.

Then this workshop is for you!

Details

Format

Live online sessions + Interactive Q & A

Duration

16 weeks, for 16 sessions

Session length

90-120 min each, every Monday

Start Date February 2, 2027, 7:00 - 8:30 PM MST

Over the 16 weeks, this means

Time to absorb material

Space for reflection and questions

Skills that compound instead of overwhelm

Master Mushroom Curriculum

Foundations

100 - Mushroom lifestyles & ecology.
101 - Should I eat it? A look into edible mushrooms.

Safety & Use

200 - Poisonous mushrooms, common toxins and remedies.
201 - Introduction to medicinal mushrooms.

Identification & Taxonomy

300 - Mushroom taxonomy, how science sorts out the mess.
301 - Morels, cup fungi, and other Ascomycetes.
302 - Boletes.
303 - Polypores.
304 - Russulas and Lactarius.
305 - Light spored, gilled mushrooms, Module 1.
306 - Light spored, gilled mushrooms, Module 2.
307 - Dark spored, gilled mushrooms, Module 1.
308 - Dark spored, gilled mushrooms, Module 2.
309 - Inky caps and relatives.
310 - Puffballs, Toothed Mushrooms, Corals, and more..

Field Skills

400 - How to use and write identification keys.
401 - How to describe mushrooms accurately.
402 - Keeping meaningful field notes and photos.
403 - Tools that make your mycological life easier.

After this workshop, you will:

Recognize major mushroom lifestyles and ecological roles, seeing patterns across forests and seasons
Confidently distinguish edible, poisonous, and medicinal species using repeatable criteria
Identify boletes, polypores, gilled mushrooms, morels, cup fungi, and specialty groups with structured understanding
Place unfamiliar species into meaningful categories rather than guessing
Document mushrooms accurately using field notes, photography, and identification keys
Select and use tools that make observation and foraging easier and more effective
Move confidently in the field, making informed decisions without hesitation
Connect theory, observation, and experience into your own method of mycology

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Martin Osis

Expert field mycologist and educator

Martin Osis teaches about fungi to individuals, businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions.

Martin On Mushrooms was started in April 2024, after Martin had spent the last 35 years teaching over 2000 people about field mycology. He is:

Past President, and a founding member of the Alberta Mycological Society.
Past Vice President and Canadian Trustee of the North American Mycological Association.
Past member of the Pacific Northwest Key council