The Puget Sound Mycological Society Ctr For Urban Hort Univ Of Wash

TO FOSTER THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF MYCOLOGY AS A HOBBY AND A SCIENCE, AND TO ASSIST RELATED INSTITUTIONS IN THESE PURPOSES. WE REPRESENT A VARIETY OF INTERESTS IN FUNGI: THE CULINARY, THE WEEKEND NATURALISTS, THE SERIOUS AMATEUR, AND THE PROFESSIONAL MYCOLOGIST.

BEN WOO MEMORIAL FORAY: A MEMBERS ONLY WEEKEND EDUCATIONAL SESSION WITH SPEAKERS, CLASSES AND FIELD TRIPS EXPLORING THE FORESTS, COLLECTING AND DISCUSSING THE NUMEROUS SPECIES COLLECTED. CLASSES OFFERED COVER BASIC IDENTIFICATION, DYING WITH MUSHROOMS, COOKING, THE ROLE OF FUNGI IN VARIOUS HABITAT, ETC.

PSMS OFFERS A NUMBER OF CLASSES: 1) INTRODUCTION TO MUSHROOMS AND MUSHROOM HUNTING 101: THE CLASS COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS ON ECOLOGY, TERMINOLOGY, BASICS OF IDENTIFYING, EDIBLE AND TOXIC MUSHROOMS, POISONING SYNDROMES, HUNTING, COOKING AND CULTIVATION. 2) MUSHROOMS 102: POISON & EDIBLES, 3) DYEING FABRICS WITH MUSHROOMS, 4) CULTIVATION, 5) MYCOPHAGY, AND 6) NAVIGATION SKILLS. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS - FUNGAL DNA SEQUENCING CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT: IDENTIFICATION OF INTERESTING COLLECTIONS FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. BEN WOO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION REGARDING FUNGI IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. K-12 GRANTS: SUPPORTS THE STUDY OF FUNGI IN K12 CLASSROOMS IN WASHINGTON STATE. PSMS HELPS TEACHERS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE AND FURTHER THEIR STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF FUNGI AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN OUR LIVES. FIELD TRIPS ARE OFFERED IN THE SPRING AND FALL FOR MEMBERS TO EXPLORE THE FOREST, COLLECT AND IDENTIFY MUSHROOMS, AND DISCUSS FINDINGS.

ANNUAL WILD MUSHROOM SHOW: THE SHOW, A TWO-DAY PROGRAM, IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC OUR KNOWLEDGE OF AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE FUNGAL KINGDOM. THE EXHIBIT INCLUDES DISPLAYS OF MUSHROOMS COLLECTED FROM THE REGION, DIVIDED BY CLASS, SPORE COLOR, AND OTHER FEATURES. THE SHOW ALSO INCLUDES TABLES FOR MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, A MICROSCOPY SECTION, MUSHROOM CULTIVATION, DYING WITH MUSHROOMS, LECTURES, A CHILDRENS TABLE, ALONG WITH BOOK AND MERCHANDISE SALES.

MONTHLY MEETINGS: MEETINGS ARE HELD WITH SPEAKERS OF MYCOLOGY AND OPEN TO MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. MEETINGS ARE HELD IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY TO ACCOMMODATE A WIDER AUDIENCE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON. IN PERSON MEETING GUESTS FREQUENTLY BRING IN MUSHROOMS FOUND ON HIKES OR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR IDENTIFICATION PRIOR TO THE START OF THE PRESENTATION.