Saturday, August 31st, 9:30am

This survey is our yearly collection survey for our annual Chicago Botanic Gardens Show! The woods never disappoint for fungal diversity!

The survey will be followed by our yearly picnic cookout where we’ll have goodies for the grill. Please feel free to bring something to share! The IMA will provide burgers, dogs, buns, and condiments that we’ll procure day-of based on how many people join.

Exact survey and picnic location and details will go to members via email. Renew or join here.

Attending a survey is a great way to get involved and begin your education in fungal identification (mushrooms, lichens and other fungi). Learn how to hunt for morels in spring, identify chanterelles in the middle of summer, or search for boletes in the fall. Here you will learn the numerous characteristics necessary to help identify mushrooms and other fungal species, while discovering their important ecological roles and making new friends and acquaintances.

These surveys are intended to educate IMA members on fungal (mushrooms, lichens, and other fungi) identification, while documenting the fungal diversity of the region. The specimens obtained during these surveys enrich the scientific collections of the Field Museum and serve as a record of fungal diversity of individual locations at specific points in time. They also are used to track changes in our fungal community.

The survey schedule is a benefit of IMA membership. If you are interested in starting your education right away, join us and we’ll be happy to introduce you to the world of fungi through one of our surveys.