Foray Committee

What We Do to Provide Forays for Our Members

1. The Foray Committee meets first in January or February to start the process of deciding on a proposed schedule of forays for each year, including locations and dates.  New locations and camping foray events can be proposed by committee members or any MMS member.
2. Permit applications are submitted to the MnDNR for forays at MN State Parks locations (required).  The MnDNR limits our forays at their parks to a total of 35 participants.
3. Foray boxes that contain almost everything needed at forays, are checked and resupplied as needed.
4. Initially, key foray team members (Foray Leader and Foray Educator) are recruited first from committee members and then from the general MMS membership based on interest, availability and previous experience.  New foray leaders are provided the opportunity to be mentored at a foray or forays by an experienced MMS foray leader.  Members who are interested in becoming an Educator (mushroom identification expert) can apply for our Educators-In-Training program.
5. Foray Committee members annually review any changes proposed to foray sign-up rules and member attendance limits for each season: Spring, Summer, and Fall.
6. Once the foray schedule is finalized by the committee, additional foray team members are assigned based first on experience and then on a willingness to learn.  Foray teams are usually staffed by 5 volunteers with an average of 30 participants.
7. Foray schedules and sign-up dates announcements are composed and communicated to members as early as possible prior to each season.
8. Foray sign-ups and special weekend or extended weekend foray event registration is set up and managed by foray event managers using our Ticket Tailor online event platform account.
9. After each foray event, foray leaders provide a brief email report to the committee chair on outcomes, educators turn in recorded species lists, and foray boxes are returned or conveyed to someone to be used at another upcoming foray.
10. The Foray Committee meets sometime after the conclusion of the fall foray season to discuss notable successes and any issues that occurred.

Do you want to get involved beyond attending MMS forays? The Foray Committee welcomes enthusiastic volunteers! You can volunteer to help as a Foray Committee member or as a Foray Team member or both! Volunteering to staff a Foray Team provides an opportunity to learn, make new friends, and share foraging experiences while helping stage a successful and enjoyable foray for all. Team roles include:

Foray Leader

• Leads a foray team and provides foraging instructions and how to stay safe to participants at a foray.
• Communicates with foray team members and participants about the upcoming foray, handles any attendee and waitlist changes after sign-ups have closed.
• Experience attending forays (preferably MMS forays), and is comfortable guiding and communicating with a diverse group of foragers and amateur mycologists.
• Some personal mushroom identification experience will be helpful, but expert level knowledge is not required.

Foray Co-Leader

• This is a role for those who would like to learn how to be a foray leader.
• An experienced foray leader will be your mentor. You should observe, ask questions, and assist.
• Experience attending forays, and is comfortable interacting with and helping to guide a diverse group of people.
• Has some personal mushroom identification experience, but does not need to be an expert.

Foray Educator

• Provides expert identification of a variety of mushrooms at a foray.
• Can discuss characteristics and key facts to know about species identified.
• Submits the recorded list of species identified at foray to species list manager.
• This position requires an advanced knowledge of mushroom taxonomy and identification.
• Foray Educators must be approved by the Foray and Education Committee chairs.

Foray Co-Educator

• This is a role for those who would like to learn how to be a foray educator.
• Assists the Educator during the ID session by looking up species in guide books and recording species found.
• The foray educator will be your mentor. You should observe, ask questions, and assist.
• Some personal experience identifying mushroom species, and a willingness to learn about fungi species and genera.
• An interest in developing their identification skills through our Educator-In-Training program.

Foray Assistant

• Foray assistants may check in members, help with ID table setup and takedown, address participant questions or problems, and/or lead subgroups of participants into the woods.
• Duties assigned are mutually agreed on with the foray leader.
• All levels of knowledge are welcome.