Biodiversity Monitoring Training: Mushrooms and Fungi

Date/Time
Date(s) - Oct 4th, 2025
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

A graphic with rippling turkey tail mushrooms overlaid by banners that read "Become a Biodiversity Monitor! 'It's like Pokemon Go but real life' -multiple people. Session 2: Mushrooms & Fungi. Sat. October 4th, 2-5 PM, Chesterfield MA." The Hilltown Land Trust and iNaturalist logos are overlaid. Contribute to community science and learn about ecology in a supportive environment at HLT’s new biodiversity monitoring program series. Whether you’re a brand-new beginner or seasoned professional, you’ll come away from this program ready to gather data for ecological science.

We’ll be joined by Pioneer Valley Mycological Association president Jess Evans to talk about identifying fungi for science. Jess is an outdoor educator and mycologist who will encourage participants to look deeper into fungal relationships with the forest and learn to document mushroom finds for community science. Bring your curiosity!

What You Need

A smartphone with a camera, OR
A camera and GPS unit (we have plenty of loaners!)

COST: Suggested donation $0-25
AGES: Adult and teen (minors must be accompanied by an adult)
DOGS: Please leave non-service dogs at home.
RSVP: Required

Accessibility

Bathroom: No indoor bathroom facilities – this is a “use the trees” program.
Distance Traveled: 0.5 to 2 miles, depending on group interest and abilities
Fragrances: To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, please refrain from wearing strong fragrances. Depending on the temperature during the day, we may sit around a fire.
Parking: Unmarked parking spots in a compacted dirt parking area.
Public transportation: Public transit is not available to this location. Contact us if you are interested in coordinating a carpool.
Seating: Backless wooden benches at an outdoor lean-to.
Surfaces: Compacted dirt parking area, on and off-trail forested terrain, potential for mud.

We’re happy to discuss your access needs for this event! For questions and accommodation requests, please reach out to Sarah at sarah@hilltownlandtrust.org or call (413) 628-4485.