Manning Park Foray 2026
Join the Vancouver Mycological Society for a multi-day mushroom foray in beautiful Manning Provincial Park!
This is an educational and scientific foray focused on fungal identification, ecology, biodiversity, and documentation. Participants will explore a variety of habitats, collect specimens for identification and scientific documentation, and learn alongside other members of the mycological community. We will be collecting specimens for DNA sequencing through the Mycomap BC project, pictures for iNaturalist, and specimens for the UBC herbarium.
Please note: This is not a culinary or mushroom-dyeing foray. Collections will be made only for identification, education, documentation, and scientific purposes. We have permission from BC parks to collect only for these reasons. Participants interested mainly in collecting edible mushrooms should be aware that this is not the focus of the event.
Registration Options (for members)
2-Day Foray — $250
Oct 9-11, 2026
3-Day Foray — $300
Oct 9 -12, 2026
Friday night will include arrival, a light meal, and orientation to the event. Registration includes accommodation, meals, organized forays on Saturday Oct 11. The focus of Oct 12 will be on specimen organization, identification and sorting. A more detailed schedule will be shared with registered participants closer to the date.
Accommodation
Accommodation is shared and rustic/basic. Please come expecting a comfortable but simple group experience rather than hotel-style accommodation. Bedrooms and common spaces will be shared with other participants, and privacy may be limited.
Food & Drinks
Meals will be provided during the foray. Please let us know about dietary restrictions when registering.
Refrigerator space is very limited, so please do not plan to bring food requiring significant fridge space. Participants are welcome to bring their own drinks, but please plan accordingly for storage and consider bringing a small cooler if needed.
Children
This event is primarily designed for adults. Mature children who are comfortable participating in organized outdoor and educational activities may be able to attend with a parent or guardian, depending on age and circumstances.
All minors must be directly supervised by their parent/guardian throughout the event. Participation by children is subject to approval by the VMS Board/organizing committee. Please contact us before registering a child.
Pets
No pets or dogs are permitted at the foray.
Before You Come
Please review the following resources before attending:
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Carpooling: a spreadsheet will be shared with confirmed participants to use at their own risk to arrange carpooling
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Trail and outdoor safety:https://www.
northshorerescue.com/ education/outdoor-safety/ -
Manning Provincial Park maps and information: https://manningpark.com/maps-
stats/ -
iNaturalist foray project: https://www.inaturalist.org/
projects/vms-manning-park- foray-2026 -
MycoMap / species records: https://www.inaturalist.org/
projects/mycomap-bc-a-dna- sequencing-project
Participants should come prepared for variable mountain weather, uneven terrain, and time outdoors in forested areas. Appropriate footwear, clothing, and personal outdoor supplies are essential.
We look forward to a weekend of exploring, learning, identifying, and documenting the incredible fungal diversity of Manning Provincial Park!
Here is the registration link (must be a current member):
October 13th 2026 General Meeting
Visitor Centre (note exceptional location!), Van Dusen Gardens (5251 Oak St.)
Doors at 7pm, Talk at 7:30pm
Dr Ludovic Le Renard presenting
One mushroom, many names
One mushroom species may be known by several names, and several mushroom species still hide under a single name. This talk explores ways in which mushrooms accumulate multiple names over time, and how a single name can conceal greater species diversity than is represented in mushroom field guides. The ongoing MycoMap BC DNA barcoding effort is revealing a great deal of new species in British Columbia, and new names are coming our way in large numbers. Let's get prepared to deal with them!
Introducing MycoMap BC: A DNA Sequencing Project
We're excited to announce MycoMap BC, a project aimed at documenting fungal and slime mould biodiversity in British Columbia. Through a partnership with Mycota Lab, free, year-round DNA sequencing for mushroom and slime mould collections is available to anyone in BC. Your contributions will help us better understand the unique biodiversity of our province.
How to Participate
We invite mushroom enthusiasts, backyard collectors, and mycologists to help us collect thousands of specimens from all regions of BC. Here’s what you'll need to get started:
- A collection box
- An iNaturalist account and a camera or phone
- A food dehydrator
Once your collections are dried, you’ll ship them to our Victoria, BC collection point. We are currently accepting all collections made in 2025.
For detailed protocols, FAQs, and shipping instructions, please visit
mycota.com/the-mycomap-bc-network/. You can also find a link to our iNaturalist project and a form to receive the mailing address for your specimens.
Launch Event
Join us for a virtual launch event and celebration on September 16th at 7 PM via Zoom. The event will feature guest speakers including Stephen Russell of Mycota Lab and Andy Mackinnon and Kem Luther, authors of Mushrooms of BC. They will discuss the importance of DNA sequencing, followed by an overview of the collection protocol. There will also be a Q&A session. Register for the event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/l0L8ztPTQjGI4cvxq17-fA
We will also be hosting an online mycoblitz from September 17th-24th in hopes of hitting our first 1000 specimens! Join our iNaturalist project (linked on website below), and start making collections to join our leaderboard.
Project Support & Contact
This project is supported by the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society, the BC Biodiversity Program, the Metchosin Foundation, Whistler Naturalists, SERAL (Society for Education, Research and Arts on the Land), and the Vancouver Mycological Society.
For any questions or to offer support, please contact project coordinators Elora Adamson (elora.adamson@svims.club) or Ann McCall (ann.mccall@svims.club).
Happy collecting!
We are pleased to officially announce the VMS Discord Server – an additional community space for you to hang out with and learn from your fellow mushroom enthusiasts.
Logged in VMS members can view vanmyco.org/discord and join the server
New Blog Posts: Detailed histories and more!
Stuck inside? We've got lots of new articles for you to read. Enjoy!
A History of Mushroom Cultivation in BC - by Paul Kroeger
Four Decades of Vancouver Mycological Society: How mushrooming in BC has changed - by Paul Kroeger
Health and safety issues concerning commercial marketing of Edible Wild Mushrooms in British Columbia - by Paul Kroeger
BC’s Truffle Industry: The Next Frontier is Underground - by Rosi Hunter
Get on our Instagram feed
Spotted a cool mushroom? Share it with the club (and the world) by using the hashtag #vanmyco. Your pictures will automatically appear in the feed below.
Please note: this is not an identification service, but a way for club members to easily share their unique vision of fungi.