Surveys

Spend a morning outdoors!

We explore the region on many biological surveys during the mushroom seasons. Exact survey locations and details will go to members via email.

Renew or join here, and see our events page for upcoming survey dates!

These are most often in the Chicago region, but are sometimes further afield and may include weekend trips.

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.