Mushrooms 101: A Mushroom Class for Beginners

When

October 11, 2025    
9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Where

Burnsville High School
600 State Highway 13

Burnsville Minnesota 55337

Event Type

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 on Saturday, Sept 13. The registration link will also be in the upcoming events list at the bottom of all MMS emails until registration closes on Thursday, Oct 9 at midnight.

A classroom presentation on mushrooms, with a slide showing Chicken of the Woods. The presenter stands by the screen while attendees watch from tiered seating.

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
Colorful poster showing fun illustrations of the "safe six" mushrooms that will be among the topics of this class. The safe six are Chicken of the Woods, Giant Puffball, Morel, Lobster Mushroom, Black Trumpet, and Hen of the Woods.
Learn the “Safe Six” edibles: Chicken of the Woods, Giant Puffball, Morel, Lobster Mushroom, Black Trumpet, and Hen of the Woods.

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

Meet the class instructors

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 since 2015 and NAMA since 2022. He serves as Recording Secretary on the MMS board. 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.

Heather Erickson
Heather is our vice president and has been a member since 2018. She is the Editor of the Toadstool Review, chair of the Communications & IT committee, and enjoys MMS outreach events and speaking on the history of the MMS and mycology. Heather’s favorite mushroom-related activities include foraging, cultivation, mycophagy, and researching how mycology has impacted our culture throughout history.

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