How can the teachings of fungi help us heal our broken relationship with the land? How can they teach us that we are not alone?

Fungi are everywhere, and as our neighbors, fungi can offer us hope and insight on how life works. Without fungi, we wouldn’t have the plants that sustain us today, and we wouldn’t have the food and medicines we use every day. Through the view of ecology, the scientific study of the interconnected relationships of living things, perhaps we can learn how to work with fungi and how to live responsibly on a damaged planet.

Join us for this mushroom walk and talk to learn about fungi and their ways of building relationships in ecosystems with plants and animals.

Please note that this is not a foraging class.

Recommended Reading:

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Please come prepared to walk for 2 hours on an easy/moderate trail on an unpaved path in Altadena. Children are welcome. Children under 12 do not need a ticket. Please wear closed-toed shoes, and bring water and sun protection. The exact address and meetup instructions will be emailed before class.

Aaron Tupac (they/them) is a conservation mycologist, educator, and community organizer based in Los Angeles whose work explores fungi and their essential role in the interconnection of all living beings. Aaron is the organizer of the fungi-focused community education group Exploring the Mycoverse and works as a fungi collector for the Fungal Diversity Survey on their CA Fungal Diversity Survey Project, the first state-wide project of its kind. Aaron also serves as the chair of the North American Mycological Association’s Conservation and Stewardship Committee. Aaron is passionate about making fungi education inclusive and cultivating better relationships with the land.

image #2: earthstar mushroom at Theodore Payne Foundation

Refund Policy:

If you are feeling sick or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, we urge you to stay home, regardless of vaccination status. Please note credit or refunds are not available within 7 days of the event.