Upcoming Events
Science on Screen: Phantom Thread at FilmScene
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and FilmScene for a Science on Screen event showcasing Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread with the pre-show presentation “Thread Carefully: Navigating Edible and Poisonous Fungi in Iowa”
The world of fungi is often shrouded in mycophobia, an irrational fear of mushrooms often rooted in cultural tradition rather than scientific reality. Amanda Flaata, Chair of the Arts Committee, will explore common myths that have led to such misunderstandings and establish best practices for the safe foraging of mushrooms in Iowa.
Mushroom Day @ The Museum
We’ve partnered with the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History to bring you a fungi-filled day of discovery! Join us at the museum to celebrate the fascinating world of mushrooms right here in Iowa and beyond.
Be the first to explore the museum’s brand-new Mushroom Activity Booklet, a foldout zine packed with hands-on fun for all ages. Use it to search high and low during an indoor mushroom scavenger hunt, spotting the shrooms tucked into exhibits and dioramas throughout the museum galleries. The booklet also unfolds into a full-page mushroom poster you can color at home with other activities.
Foray at Sherman Park with Clinton County Conservation
Join us at the very first foray of the year, where we’ll keep our eyes peeled for early spring mushrooms (including morels) alongside our friends at Clinton County Conservation!
We will meet at the parking lot at the north entrance to Sherman Park. If coming from 160th Ave. take a right when you get to 274th St. onto Sherman Park Rd. If coming from 274th St. continue straight onto Sherman Park Rd.
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Clinton/Park/Sherman-Park/Events/28487/Mushroom-Foray
Mushroom Ramble at Wickiup Hill
Marty Augustine of the Prairie State Mushroom Club will lead participants on a search for fungus at Wickiup Hill on this morning. Meet at the Wickiup Hill Learning Center. We will head to the woods to see what we can find along the Cedar River.
This event is free, but registration is required to keep the size of group small.
Foray at Brown's Woods with Black Iowa Outdoors
Join PSMC and Black Iowa Outdoors for a foray in West Des Moines! Note that we will be including an EventBrite registration link closer to the date of this foray; please register before attending the event.
Fungarium! at Johnson County Open House
Johnson County Conservation is holding their "second Saturday" CEC Open House this weekend, from 12:00-3:00 PM. Head to the Conservation Education Center in Kent Park anytime between 12-3 to explore in the Discovery Room, say hi to the education animals, and check out some self-guided fungi STEM and art stations.
Fungarium! Lunch and Learn
Join Art McBreen, Treasurer of the Prairie States Mushroom Club, on Wednesday, March 4th at Noon for an engaging Lunch & Learn presentation celebrating the launch of the Fungarium! exhibit at the Central Park Nature Center.
PSMC at Freeze Fest
Pass by our table at the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Freeze Fest, a free annual winter family event featuring both indoor and outdoor activities for all ages!
Fungarium! at Wickiup Hill Learning Center
Join Art McBreen, Treasurer for the Prairie States Mushroom Club, for a narrative and informative presentation about the launch of the Fungarium! Exhibit at Wickiup Hill Learning Center. The exhibit and Art's compelling story is sure to captivate and add to our excitement in hosting this exhibit from November through February!
Shrumans Card Game Night at Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge
Join PSMC at Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge to participate in a playtest of Shrumans, a mushroom-inspired card game created by local mycophile and illustrator Candice Broersma!
This event is part of the first annual Game Store Day. Those who cannot attend at 6 PM or later are welcome to stop by earlier to playtest Shrumans and/or participate in the other fun activities planned for that day!
Fungus Among Us: Foray with Lisbon Public Library
Join us at Palisades-Kepler State Park for a guided foray! We will meet at the picnic table near the Cedar Cliff Trail and begin the event with a reading of the children’s book “Mushroom Rain” by Laura K. Zimmermann followed by a brief “Intro to Mushrooms” presentation. Afterwards, we will set out to walk the Cedar Cliff Trail and keep an eye out for fall fungi.
*Precise location TBD!
Presentation and Mushroom Foray
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and Jasper County Conservation for a brief presentation on the kingdom of fungi and then explore the forest, learning about key aspects of identification.
Coralville Library Fall Foray
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and the Coralville Public Library for another mushroom program! We will meet at the Library in the E. Jean Schwab Auditorium for a quick presentation on fungi, and proceed to the Clear Creek Trail to see what interesting fungi we can find! We will drive/carpool to the Tom Harkin Trailhead, which is on Camp Cardinal Blvd south of the post office.
This event is free and open to all.
Indian Creek Foray
Want to learn more about the wonderful world of mushrooms?
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club at Indian Creek Nature Center to explore fungal diversity in Iowa!
We will meet at the Nature Center for an informational session and head off into the woods to find as many mushrooms as we can – perhaps even edible ones! Afterwards, we will identify what we collected back at the Nature Center. Registration is recommended but not required.
Mushroom Foray
Come and explore the forest with the Prairie States Mushroom Club and Cerro Gordo County Conservation in search of fungi! Learn about the key aspects of identification and discover a hidden kingdom of life.
Conservation Coffee Club: Iowa's Fascinating Fungi
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and Cerro Gordo County Conservation at Lime Creek Nature Center for coffee, tea, and treats followed by a presentation on all things fungi--why fungi are important to a healthy ecosystem, key aspects of identification, and myths and safety while foraging.
Wings and Wild Things
Celebrate Iowa’s natural world during the second year of the Wings & Wild Things Festival. Wings & Wild things showcases the wild and wonderful flora and fauna of our region, as well as outdoor recreation activities in our area. Grab food from local food trucks and enjoy a day spent exploring Johnson County’s Kent Park.
Cordova Park Foray
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and the Marion County Conservation Department for a mushroom identification and edibility foray. This is free public event. Registration is required. We will meet in the classroom.
Get Outside! Iowa City
Get outside and explore the region’s outdoor recreation, wellness, and adventure opportunities! Try a variety of activities and connect with local organizations, clubs, and businesses. Learn, engage, and enjoy the outdoors—free and open to all!
The Prairie States Mushroom Club will be at the shelter between the amphitheater and cabins.
Clinton County Foray
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and Clinton County Conservation for another mushroom foray! Stomp through Eden Valley Refuge with mushroom experts searching for fall fungi.
Foray with OUTdoors Iowa City
Join OUTdoors Iowa City and the Prairie States Mushroom Club for a fall foray at Cangleska Wakan! We will meet at the west parking lot and will be keeping an eye out for hen of the woods, ringless honey mushrooms, and other edible and inedible autumn-loving fungi.
Draco Hill Nature Farm Foray
Join PSMC and Draco Hill Nature Farm for a foray on the farm! Open to all.
Presentation with Iowa City Parks & Rec Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation/Outreach
Join us at the Ned Ashton House in Iowa City for a presentation and activities about mushrooms and fungi in Iowa - and maybe even a brief foray on the grounds!
From Iowa City Parks and Recreation: “Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department is committed to providing high-quality recreation programs for everyone in our community. Adaptive and Inclusive programs provide leisure opportunities for individuals with disabilities. All individuals are welcome to participate in all programs that Recreation Division has to offer, regardless of ability, age, sexual orientation race or religious affiliation.”
Maquoketa Caves Foray
Jump into the exciting world of fungi with Prairie States Mushroom Club and Jackson County Conservation. A mushroom expert will be guiding participants on a hike through the forest to look for mushrooms big and small. Come explore a world hiding right under our feet! This event is great for all experience levels. No previous mushroom knowledge required! All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult.
PSMC at Join & Thrive
PSMC will be at the Join & Thrive fair on September 7th at FilmScene!
Club fair starts at 4:30, after the Join or Die screening which begins at 3.
Buy your tickets for the show here: https://icfilmscene.org/film/join-or-die/
Wickiup Fall Mushroom Foray
Prairie States Mushroom Club and Linn County Conservation will host a Fall Mushroom Foray where we will wander the woods seeking fantastic fungus. The fall is a grand time to experience different fungi than we often see in the spring, so sign up and join us if you are able. Free event but limited space so sign up soon to hold your spot! You can learn more about the second half of mushroom season!
Jones County Foray
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club for an introduction to mushroom foraging followed by a hike around Central Park. August is an excellent time to look for fungi, whether edible or just beautiful. Expect to find oyster mushrooms, coral fungi, and perhaps even chanterelles!
Hike + Foray at Jester Park with Black Iowa Outdoors
Join us for a PSMC X Black Iowa Outdoors hike + foray at Jester Park Nature Center in Granger, IA!
Please register here if you plan on attending.
Coralville Library Summer Foray
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and the Coralville Public Library for another mushroom program! We will meet at the Library in the E. Jean Schwab Auditorium for a quick presentation on fungi, and proceed across the street to the Clear Creek Trail to see what interesting fungi we can find!
This event is free and open to all.
Cedar County Foray
Join PSMC and Cedar County Conservation for a foray at Townsend Wildlife Area! This is a primarily oak-hickory forest - perfect for finding interesting mycorrhizal fungi like chanterelles, boletes, Russulas and Amanitas. Parking space is limited so carpooling is recommended. Please bring water, long pants, and bug spray!
Woodbury County Night Hike
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club to explore the wonderful world of biofluorescent and bioluminescent fungi! Led by an expert guide from the Prairie States Mushroom club. Please bring a flashlight and, if you have one, a UV light.
Limited to 20 participants. Please pre-register by calling 712-258-0838 or emailing camps@woodburyparks.org.
Woodbury County Foray
Embark on a fungi-filled adventure with the Prairie States Mushroom Club! Join an expert guide for an afternoon fungi finding foray to learn about poisonous, edible, and unusual wild mushrooms.
Limited to 20 participants. Please pre-register by calling 712-258-0838 or emailing camps@woodburyparks.org
Cordova Park Foray
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and the Marion County Conservation Department for a mushroom identification and edibility foray at Cordova Park on Saturday, July 13th from 9 am until 12 noon.
Fungarium! at Hurstville Interpretive Center
Join the Prairie States Mushroom Club and Jackson County Conservation for a presentation-then-foray at Hurstville Interpretive Center and Maquoketa Caves! The wondeful Fungarium! museum display, curated by PSMC treasurer Art McBreen, will be moving to Jackson County for the next leg of its journey across Iowa. Come listen in to Art’s presentation as he tells the story of how the display began, and how it has evolved over time into a rather popular exhibit.
Friends of Palisades Foray
Join Friends of Palisades and the Prairie States Mushroom Club on this summer foray!
Meet at the Cedar Cliff Trail. To get there, follow the road well into the park. The Cedar Cliff trail is the trail is at the end of the road along the beach.