FORAY PREREQUISITES

 

• Participants are current members of Manitoba Mushroom Society (view the Members page to join) and
• Participants preferably are prior attendees of a Mushroom Discovery Workshop hosted by Manitoba Mushroom Society, Nature Manitoba, Assiniboine Park Conservancy/The Leaf, Wilderness Supply
• Review the (updated) How To Foray Workshop presentation available in the Members Only page

 

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PLANNED FORAYS

 

To sign up for a foray send an email to foray@manitobamushroomsociety.ca

Indicate which foray you would like to patricipate in. You will be contacted via EMAIL or TEXT at least one day prior to the foray regarding rendezvous time/location, preparation. READ the checklist below for mushroom forays and the How To Foray presentation on the Members Only web page. Please do not try to sign up using the WhatsApp, Facebook or Discord private members' pages we may miss your registration request.

 

• 2025 TBD  
• Additional dates TBD according to weather.

 

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FORAY PARTICIPANT GUIDELINES

 

Preparation:
• Register for the foray at least 2 days prior at foray@manitobamushroomsociety.ca
• You will be contacted via EMAIL or TEXT at least one day prior to the foray regarding rendezvous time/location, preparation, do not communicate using WhatsApp or FB
• If you have any concerns or health issues, identify them to the Foray Leader when signing up for the foray
• If you are sick with Covid, the flu or other contagious illness, stay at home
• Review the Manitoba Mushroom Society Code of Conduct
• Pack items identified in the checklist below
• Pack baskets or mesh bags for collecting specimens (not plastic buckets)
• Dogs or pets are not permitted on forays, unless they are support animals and are under control of their owners and do not threaten other participants; do not leave pets in vehicles
• Read/review the How To Foray presentation available for download in the Members Only page

Rendezvous:
• Note: the rendezvous may be the same location as the foray
• Be early, the event will proceed within 5 minutes after the rendezvous time
• Group introductions
• Read/sign Foray Waiver form prior to each foray
• Follow foray leader instructions; otherwise you may be asked to leave the foray
• There is a limit of 10 participants per foray leader
• Participants are responsible for their own transportation; they may arrange carpooling amongst themselves at a rendezvous
• Children must be properly monitored and cared for by their legal guardians
• Dogs or pets are not permitted on forays, unless they are support animals and are under control of their owners and do not threaten other participants; do not leave pets in vehicles

During foray:
• Do not begin foraging until the Foray leader has initiated the event, this is a group event
• Respect property regulations as identified by the foray leader
• Do not wander off on your own
• Do not smoke vapes, cigarettes or cannabis during forays due to fire hazard and second hand smoke
• Consumption of alcohol, cannabis or other intoxicants is not permitted during forays
• Be prepared for environmental conditions, poison ivy, insects, animals, etc.
• Some areas have a lot of poison ivy; review this resource
• Bring your packed items per checklist below
  food, water, nutritional needs, medications, whistle, compass, mobile phone
• Bring baskets or mesh bags for collecting specimens (not plastic buckets)
• Children must be properly monitored and cared for by their legal guardians
• Dogs or pets are not permitted on forays, unless they are support animals and are under control of their owners and do not threaten other participants; do not leave pets in vehicles
• Do not spontaneously eat species you find or collect
• Many forays are intended only to collect information about species found, not to harvest
• Do not expect to find edible species of fungi, identification is the reason to explore
• Do not overcollect; we encourage you to forage sustainably, leave some for other beings and species propogation
• When finding specimens, allow other foray participants to see them prior to picking them
• Share what you find with other foray participants
• The only political and religious topics will be those of fungi, plants and their allies
• Sign the Foray Waiver form at the end of each foray so we know you exited safely

After foray:
• Reimburse your carpool driver for gas expenses
• Be sure to positively identify what you find, check with the leader, resources
• For identification and sharing of species you find, in addition to book references and mushroomexpert.com:
  • Post photos (top and bottom) on iNaturalist to get proper ID confirmations
  • Post photos of the foray on the MMS Private Facebook group
  • Dry a sample of what you picked, enter the find in iNaturalist provide the ID with the dried specimen to the MMS Board, foray leader(s)
  • Send photos full resolution to foray@manitobamushroomsociety.ca to be added to the foray report
  • Avoid other social media for identification of species; wrong IDs may not be moderated
• If you ever feel ill (vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion) after eating wild foraged mushrooms go to Emergency with a sample of the species you ate; especially if symptoms appear 6 to 8 hours after eating the mushrooms; your pets can also be poisoned from eating mushrooms; refer to the North American Mycological Association Toxicology webpage.

 

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FORAY PARTICIPANT CHECKLIST

 

Essentials:
• Small pack to carry gear in
• Appropriate clothing: long pants, long sleeves, rain/cold clothing, layers
• Hiking/winter/rubber boots
• Gaiters depending on terrain/season
• Garden/winter gloves
• Bug repellant, net clothes
• Sunblock, lip balm
• Whistle on lanyard (on neck)
• Compass
• Flashlight
• Lighter or waterproofed matches
• Toilet paper in ziplock bag
• Food/snacks, water, tea/coffee
• Driver's licence
• Park vehicle pass
• Mobile phone (charged, charger)
• Personal Ouch Kit or First Aid Kit
• Vehicle fuel full
• Leader(s) mobile phone number(s)

Recommended extras:
• Baskets or mesh bags for collecting specimens (not plastic buckets)
• Magnifier/loupe
• GPS Unit
• Notebook, sketchbook, pen
• Cash for carpool expenses, venue admission
• Camera
• Canada Topo app on mobile
• First Aid/CPR Certification (recommended, required for leader)
• Mushroom reference book(s)

 

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MANITOBA PROVINCIAL PARK FORAYS

 

Manitoba Conservation has granted permission for the Society to conduct forays in Provincial Parks for the purposes of researching and building a database of fungi in different regions of Manitoba. A report of our findings will be provided to Conservation by March 2026.

During forays in provincial parks, participants are requested to practice due diligence in environmental respect of the ecosystems.

Some forays will be focussed only on collecting a few samples of specimens found for the purposes of identification and processing (cataloging, drying) for inclusion in our fungarium.

 

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PRIVATE PROPERTY FORAYS

 

The Society has conducted a few forays on private property even in its inaugural year.

If you are interested in having the Society explore your property for fungi and identify them, please contact us at foray@manitobamushroomsociety.ca

 

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THIS PAGE WILL NOT INDICATE EDIBLITY

NEVER CONSUME A MUSHROOM
THAT YOU ARE NOT SURE OF

Be    F U N G I   S A F E  



 

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POISON IVY

 

Poison ivy locations: along trails, near campsites, ground cover in the bushes at Birds Hill Provincial Park, Beaudry Provincial Park, Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Winnipeg river banks, Assiniboine Forest, Assiniboine Park, other Winnipeg parks and many other locations in Manitoba. Mushroom and plant foragers often reach into ground cover to examine or collect various fungi species, this is a perfect opportunity for poison ivy to endear itself to you.

Poison oak: also contains oils that cause an itchy rash but does not occur in Manitoba.

Poison ivy description: three large leaves that are green, yellow or red depending on time of year; outside leaves have jagged edges on one edge, centre leaf has jagged edges on both edges; leaves can be matte, shiny or waxy; when leaves have fallen in fall, winter or spring, there will be a short twig left standing on the ground with yellow/white berries from late fall until spring.

Poison ivy toxin allergy: if you contact any part of poison ivy (roots, stems, leaves, berries) it will transfer oils to whatever touched it. These oils can spread from clothing, shoes, etc. to legs to hands to face or pet's fur to your skin. An allergic reaction to poison ivy develops for about 85 percent of people; some people develop the allergy after decades of not being allergic and others vice versa. The rash may take three days to appear starting as small red bumps that develop into various size blisters. Breakouts can occur on different skin surfaces at different times, but the rash is not spreading. The rash is itchy and there is a tendency to scratch it which can damage or break the blisters and affected skin. Some people have extremely allergic reactions to poison ivy.

Posion ivy treatment: if you know or suspect you have contacted poison ivy, wash the affected area with cold water and dish soap as soon as possible to try to prevent the chance of your skin absorbing the oils. If the rash has appeared, you can try the following to alleviate the pain and itch: alcohol wipes, calamine lotion, antihistamines, and cool compresses.

Posion ivy prevention: avoid coming in contact with poison ivy; dead poison leaves can carry the oils; burning the plant or leaves in a fire can cause serious lung problems; wear long pants and sleeves and gloves; the oil can remain on clothing for a few days or longer; be careful when removing your shoes, pants and clothes that may have contacted poison ivy plants, wash them with cold water and wash your hands with cold water and dish soap; be cautious handling your pet if it has come in contact with poison ivy. Warn others if you notice poison ivy.

Posion ivy look alikes: wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis may grow in the same areas as poison ivy and while it typically has 5 leaves it sometimes has 3 leaves, so it may be mistaken for poison ivy, possibly causing undue concern; however sarsaparilla leaves are finely toothed on all edges, vs the jagged edges of poison ivy leaves.

Posion ivy song: in 1959 the Coasters originally recorded the educational and humorous song "Poison Ivy", worth listening to and singing to the plant when you encounter it.



 

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PREVIOUS FORAYS

 

Listed below are examples of Manitoba Mushroom Society forays.
Members can access all foray reports from the Members Only page.