Spring Plant & Mushroom Foray - May 18, 2025
May 18, 2025
1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Join Ariel and Maria for a day of foraging fun at the Avon Hills Folk School! The workshop will start with two slideshow presentations: one covering introductory information about wild mushroom foraging, and the other about wild edible plants we may find in the area.
Afterwards, we will hit the trails to apply our newfound knowledge to the surrounding landscape. Mushrooms and plants we may encounter include nettle, violets, fiddlehead ferns, morels, oysters, and pheasant backs! Bring your own bags or baskets, as we can sustainably pick any edible mushrooms or plants we come across!
Expect to walk about 2 miles across maintained trails as well as off-trail into forests and fields. The terrain may require bushwhacking, walking over uneven ground, logs and other obstacles. This foray portion of the class will take around 2.5 hours. This event will take place rain or shine, so please arrive prepared for the weather! In case of extreme weather, the class will be canceled and a refund will be issued.
Tuition: $100
This course is for adults 18+, or students 14+ with accompanying adult
Your Instructors
ARIEL BONKOSKI
(she/her)
Ariel Bonkoski is a self-taught mushroom identification expert that resides in Duluth, Minnesota. She has been studying fungi since 2016 and is now one of the most active mushroom identifiers in North America. Ariel has taught mushroom identification courses and led forays for colleges, public schools, mycological societies, and nature centers all over North America. Ariel is best known for her friendly and enthusiastic approach to teaching about mushrooms. She is an active Master Naturalist, with a passion for learning, giving back to nature, and connecting people to nature. Ariel spends much of her free time camping, hiking, and foraging.
MARIA WESSERLE
(she/they)
Maria has been gathering wild edibles and tracking animals since 2004 and loves sharing these skills with others. She has spent over 15 years organizing and teaching nature-related programs in the Upper Midwest. Through her business Four Season Foraging, she offers foraging and wildlife tracking workshops, creating spaces where people can learn to interact with urban and rural environments in meaningful and sustainable ways.
She is a certified wild mushroom harvester in the state of Minnesota and holds a Professional Track & Sign certificate from CyberTracker North America.