Time: Saturday 16th (10am – 4pm) & Sunday 17th (8am – 4pm)
Location: SWI Paradise Meadows Information Centre

SWI was delighted to host its 5th Annual Mycology Workshop on September 16 in the Ruth Masters Nature Hall in the SPWC at Paradise Meadows, followed by a hike into Divers Lake on the 17th. We had our usual experts Andy MacKinnon, Tom O’Dell, and Kem Luther, but missed the presence of mycologists Shannon Berch, and Juliet Pendray, and photographer James Halkko, who had all succumbed to illness. Erin Feldman happily stepped in at the last minute as the team’s 4th member for the ID sessions and Forays. Andy began the day with his scintillating presentation “The Mysterious World of Mushrooms” to our 16 enthusiastic participants. The day proceeded with further presentations, fungus ID sessions and forays out into the Park, and the usual break for our traditional wild mushroom soup at lunch. We were graced with glorious sunshine up on the Plateau, clouds appearing only in the later afternoon. The drought conditions over the past three summers has resulted in a dearth of fungal species to see in the park in September, but our participants did bring a fair range of samples for the ID sessions. And on the hike to Divers Lake on Sunday we were not disappointed, although we could not expect the profusion of fungi from the very first workshop in 2018. The feedback from our participants was overwhelmingly positive.

Instructors:

Time: Saturday 17th (8am – 5pm) & Sunday 18th (8am – 4pm)
Location: SWI Paradise Meadows Information Centre

The 4^th Annual SWI Mycology Workshop was held on Saturday September 17^th in the Ruth Masters Nature Hall (Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre), followed by a hike to Divers Lake on Sunday September 18^th. Under the guidance of our usual expert panel of Vancouver Island Mycologists: Andy MacKinnon, James Holkko, Juliet Pendray, Shannon Berch, Thom O’Dell and, together with Kem Luther, the small group of participants enjoyed presentations on mushroom ecology and photography, including intensive identification sessions and forays into the park.  The weather was perfect for once – no need of tarps to cover the lunch table (and the windows of the lecture hall could be open for air circulation while we continued to observe COVID 19 protocols).  The only thing missing was a good array of fungi species out in Paradise Meadows.  Only Russulas were plentiful, somehow emerging in spite of the overall dry conditions of August and September.  Those who came on Sunday to the moister Divers Lake area did find more species including the Bears Head illustrated in the photo collection.  We received excellent feedback from our participants and the experts who work so well together had a fun time. We all look forward to the 5^th Annual Workshop in 2023. 

The photographs recording the event were mostly taken by James Holkko, an amazing photographer of fungi as his presentation revealed, but also an expert at capturing human action.  Only the shot of lunch, the Divers group and the Bears Head were not. 

Instructors:

Thank you to everyone who came out to this years Mycology Workshop! Participants enjoyed basic and advanced presentations on mushroom ecology, identification and photography by some of Vancouver Island’s best-known mycologists, followed by two hands-on short field trips to Battleship Lake and Helen McKenzie Lake.

Thank you also to the knowledgeable and dedicated presenters:
Shannon Berch – Research scientist with BC Ministry of Environment
James Hollko – award winning research photographer of fungal species for VMS and Environment Canada’s Manning Park Survey
Andy Mckinnon – Retired forest ecologist, mycological interests in plant fungal partnerships, President of South Vancouver Island Mycological Society
Thom O’Dell – Ph.D, over 35 years of experience studying and teaching about mushrooms
Juliet Pendray – Learning consultant, 14 years experience sharing knowledge about mycology

Photos by James Hollko