Join self-proclaimed "mushroom Maineiac" David Spahr and get the inside information on the wild mushrooms of the Northeast. Edible and medicinal mushrooms represent an opportunity for sustainably foraging and enjoying healthy, locally sourced food and present a potential for health benefits beyond good nutrition.

This presentation will cover finding, collecting, identifying and preparing the safe and common edible and medicinal mushroom species of Maine, New England, and Eastern Canada. Nature enthusiasts, cooks, foragers, herbalists, and others will enjoy and benefit from David's expertise. Topics will include matching species with appropriate foods, discovering mushrooms that contain unique medicinal properties, and exploring information about dyeing fabrics and paper.

David's book, Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada, will be available to purchase.

The Wilderness First Aid course will give participants background knowledge and hands-on skill practice to recognize and treat a number of injuries and illnesses one might encounter in the outdoors.  This course is geared toward outdoor recreationists and those who live or work in remote locations who would like to become more self-reliant when definitive medical care is an hour or more away.  This course is a 16 hour course that covers patient assessment, first aid skills, rescues, and evacuations in backcountry settings.  Participants will receive instruction and practice skills covered in the course.  As part of the skill instruction, participants will use traditional medical equipment as well as learn how to improvise when traditional equipment is not available.  

Parts of the skills training will be in the woods behind the school, so please dress and have appropriate footwear.

Students who successfully complete the course will earn a 2 year Wilderness First Aid Certification through the Emergency Care and Safety Institute.

Come learn about the Chaga Mushroom: its uses, benefits and side effects.

Inonotus obliquus, commonly called chaga, is a fungus in the family Hymenochaetaceae. It is parasitic on birch and other trees. The sterile conk is irregularly formed and resembles burnt charcoal.

This two-hour course will include walking in the woods to find edible wild food along with detailed descriptions of plant habitat and structure of the plants. Bring: notebook and pen, basket, mesh or other bags, wax or brown paper bags, knife, bug repellant and hat, water or other refreshment and a snack, gloves, waterproof boots (preferred), tall socks into which you can tuck your pant legs. Optional: GPS, backpack, field guide, magnifying glass.

PLEASE NOTE: This walk will be along the Harrison Avenue Nature Trail. You must access Harrison Avenue from the Ash Street intersection (it is closed at the Rte 126 intersection). From Ash St. turn right onto Harrison and drive past the Road Closed sign to the parking area on the left side of the street. Meet either there or at the head of the trail.

This two-hour course includes a walk through the woods to find edible mushrooms along with detailed descriptions of habitat and structure of mushrooms. Most mushrooms found in nature are not edible, but learning this is more important than knowing which ones to eat. David Spahr has collected edible mushrooms for 45 years and is a member of the Maine Mycological Society and North American Mycological Association. He is on the Maine Mushroom Task Force developing rules for the foraging and sale of wild mushrooms. Minimum age is 12 with an adult.