Image 1 of 8
Image 2 of 8
Image 3 of 8
Image 4 of 8
Image 5 of 8
Image 6 of 8
Image 7 of 8
Image 8 of 8
July 17-19, 2026
Join Ariel and Maria for a weekend of foraging fun at the Avon Hills Folk School! Mushroom expert Ariel will lead hands-on workshops on mushroom foraging, getting creative with mushrooms, and how to participate in citizen science mycology. Plant forager Maria will hold engaging classes on culinary and medicinal herbs and natural dyeing. There will also be joint foraging walks led by both instructors. Campers will go home with a better knowledge of the world around them and handcrafted goods. Rustic camping is provided onsite.
Schedule
Friday
Campers arrive anytime after 3pm
6pm: Potluck dinner
After dark UV hike with Ariel
Saturday
8:30 - 9:30am: Breakfast
10am - 12:30pm: Ariel & Maria slideshow presentations
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
2pm - 4pm: Foraging group hike for plants & mushrooms
4pm - 5:30pm: Workshop
5:30pm - 6:30pm: Dinner - Wood fired pizzas with foraged mushrooms (gluten free and dairy free options available)
7pm - 8:30pm: Workshop
8:30pm: Bonfire and social
Sunday
9am - 10am: Breakfast
10am - 12pm: Group hike
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm - 3pm: Workshop
3pm: Pack up camp
What to Bring
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Good walking / hiking shoes
Bags or baskets, we can sustainably pick any useful mushrooms or plants we come across!
Tuition: $215
Materials: $15
Since this is an all day course, lunch is included.
This course is for students 18+.
If you’re traveling from out of town, onsite camping is available for $10 per night. Campers are responsible for bringing their own tents and camping gear. Camping is primitive, with no hookups or electricity. A portable toilet is located near the camping area, and while there are no showers onsite, a shared restroom inside the house is available for use. Potable water and a hand-washing station are provided, and outlets in the workshop can be used to charge phones and other electronics. We also have several great local lodging options nearby if camping isn’t your preference.
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.