The MMS would like to invite new members or members who are beginners to mushrooms and mycology, to attend a beginner’s mushroom class.

This is a FREE class for MEMBERS ONLY – no guests. 

Space is limited to 70 attendees. Registering in advance for this event is required, no exceptions. Members will receive the registration link in our meeting reminder email sent on Monday, March 10.  The registration link will also be in the upcoming events list at the bottom of all MMS emails until registration closes on Saturday, April 5 at 5 PM.

This introductory class is intended for those with little or no previous knowledge about mushrooms. It will include:

• An introduction to the science of mycology
• How to sort mushrooms into five major categories
• The basics of mushroom Identification
• Poisonous mushrooms that every mushroom forager should know
• Some common mushrooms found in Minnesota, including the “Safe Six” edible mushrooms

The instructors will bring to the class some interesting mushrooms for examination and discussion.

In Mushrooms 101, you’ll learn the Safe Six: morels, shaggy manes, oysters, giant puffballs, chicken of the woods, and hen of the woods.

Meet the class instructors

Ron Spinosa
Ron is a past president of the Minnesota Mycological Society and current chair of the MMS Education Committee. He has given many presentations and workshops on mushrooms at nature centers, museums, schools, and garden clubs. He provides his identification skills as the foray educator for many if not most of our forays. Ron was a recipient of The Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award by the North American Mycological Association in 2011.

John Lamprecht
John has more than 40 years of experience as a mushroom forager, all of it since marrying into a forager family. John is a past president of the MMS, having retired in 2019 from this position after 6 years. John currently serves on the Board as Financial Chair and Membership Coordinator. He remains active as a member of the MMS Education Committee where he is the Certification Class administrator and instructor, assists with State fair, the Family Fungi Fest, foray leader and foray educator, as well as Raffle Ticket pusher at the banquet and photo contest identification assistant.

Claudette Lamprecht
Claudette has been a member of the MMS since 2007 and has served 15 years on the MMS Board in various positions. Even though she has left the board, she still serves on the Scholarship Committee, the Foray Committee as well as the Educational Committee where she planned and lead the Family Fungi Fest, assisted with the State Fair Display and teaches classes for mushroom certification and mushroom ID. In 2024, NAMA honored Claudette with the Harry and Elsie Knighton Service Award for service to the MMS.

Aaron Berg
Aaron’s mushroom obsession started in 2007 when Morels came up in his backyard after cutting down an old American Elm in 2006. He has been a member of MMS for 6 years and NAMA for 3 years. He is the recording secretary on the MMS board and Interim Diversity Committee Chair. Aaron led the Lake Carlos State Park camping foray in both 2023 and 2024, and is an active member in the MMS Funga Scientific Committee.