Young Mycologists & Educators

Mushrooms are amazing! Here are some resources for learning and fun. But first, a quick note:

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It is important to understand that wild mushrooms can be deadly, and you should never put one in your mouth. Almost all adults should heed the same warning. Many mushrooms look similar to one another, and it takes a lot of training and knowledge to be able to reliably tell them apart. Even nature-savvy people have made deadly mistakes in mushroom identification.

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There are numerous species that are deadly when eaten, and more that would make you sick. However, there is no danger to handling mushrooms or smelling them, although there is a type that can give some people a rash.

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In the Bush

Educators, should bring a pocket knife when showing kids mushrooms. So you can cut them apart and show the parts of the mushroom, and where its spores are. And because most of the fungus is underground, you don’t need to worry about harming it. You’re not damaging the organism in any way if you pull up a mushroom and look at it. 

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One idea for studying wild mushrooms is to see how many different varieties you can find. Taking pictures of the different species as you find them and leaves them for others to spot, if they are lucky enough!

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At Home or School

Another great way to view the entire life cycle of fabulous fungi, is to purchase one of our Grow Blocks. Great for classrooms and home. There is patience and care involved, which pays off when they start to fruit - they fruit fast! It is incredibly exciting for everyone and a wonderful hands-on learning experience.

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Our class packs include everything you need to grow flushes and flushes of fabulous fungi, full instructions and educational resources.