Explore the fascinating world of wild mushrooms on the Finding Fungi Guided Mushroom Hike & Hunt at Chestnut Hill Farm. This educational hike will teach beginners how to identify and group similar fungi, provide tips for locating mushrooms in unexpected places, and offer insights into connecting with mycology no matter where you live or travel.

During a stroll across the historic 170-acre property, participants will learn about the ecological importance of mushrooms, their role in diversifying diets through sustenance foraging, and their potential future uses in medicine, cosmetics, and as a sustainable protein source. The hike will focus on foraging safety, identifying poisonous look-alikes, and highlighting common edible and medicinal fungi found in Massachusetts.

Led by experienced guides, the program emphasizes the role mushrooms play in our ecosystems. Foraging will be for educational purposes only, and mushrooms found on the hike are not for consumption. Families with children ages 6 and up are welcome to join in discovering the wonders of fungi in their natural habitats.

About guide Amanda:

Trustees guide Amanda is an amateur mycologist with experience in foraging New England’s edible and medicinal fungi, growing edible mushrooms in commercial settings and researching and developing myco-remediation techniques. She is a combined Global Environmental Studies master’s student at Clark University, with a focus on food systems, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and utilizing fungi as a tool for addressing food insecurity in urban communities.

A founding member of the Clark University Mycology Club, Amanda is a member of the Boston Mycology Club, an employee at Fat Moon Mushroom Farm in Westford, MA and the creator of The Fungi for Everyone Project. The project focuses on the creation of a small-scale community fungi farm in the heart of Worcester that recycles cardboard waste from local residents to produce varieties of Oyster mushrooms, Wine Caps, and Shiitake for nearby residents to eat. The farm provides delicious, protein-rich food, and hands-on agricultural education for children and adults.

Amanda shares her fungi facts and foraging on Instagram @mandysmushrooms and updates on her fungi-growing process and @FungiForEveryone.

Please note, though we love dogs, they are not permitted at Chestnut Hill Farm.

Questions? Want to become a Trustees member and enjoy free and/or discounted programs? Contact ChestnutHillFarm@thetrustees.org.

Cancellation Policy: In the event The Trustees cancels a program due to severe weather, low enrollment, or other circumstances, we will notify registrants by email and issue a full refund or transfer to another scheduled program within two weeks of the cancellation. To cancel a reservation, please contact Chestnut Hill Farm 7 days prior to the start of the program to receive a full refund. Refunds will not be granted for cancellations placed fewer than 7 days before the start of the program.