CURRENT SEASON: 2024
Event Schedule
PPMS Events are generally held monthly from April -October. The 2024 season is shaping up to be a great one! This year there will be more hands-on events, culinary events and surprise guests. Monthly events are free and open to all, but forays and other select activities are for members only. Join now! You can also view past recorded events anytime on the Pikes Peak Mycological Society Youtube channel.
August 8th, 2024
Annual Mushroom Cook & Taste with chef Chris Starkus
This special event is limited to current PPMS members only and there are only 35 spots available so register ASAP!
When: August 8th 6-8pm
Where: Pop Kitchen & Events 2902 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
What to Expect: Chef Starkus will be preparing a selection of small bites and beverages incorporating locally foraged fungi. This is a great opportunity to experience the many different ways to enjoy Colorado mushrooms!
Donations: As this is a unique event for our club members only (no other Myco clubs in CO do something like this!) we are suggesting a $20 donation. You can donate to our PayPal or at the door using cash.
August 10th, 2024
Community Science and New discoveries from DNA Sequencing with Mandie Quark
Molecular mycologist by training, Mandie Quark is also a researcher, writer, and editor with a passion for the advancement of community science. Devoted to fungal DNA barcoding initiatives, Mandie is the only person who works for all three of the leading community mycology organizations in North America. She is Communications Lead for the Fungal Diversity Survey, the only biodiversity conservation organization in North America exclusively devoted to fungi. Mandie also recently stepped into the role of California Citizen Science Liaison for Mycota Lab. She also volunteers much of her time to the Ohio Mushroom DNA Lab. Mandie actively contributes to the North American Mycological Association DNA Sequencing Committee, where she spearheaded the Commercial Mycoblitz in 2024. Mandie lives and works in the California Bay Area, while continuing to tour the world as a keynote speaker, photographer, and field collector during mushroom season.
Where: Fountain Valley Nature Center
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
August 10th, 2024
UV evening foray with Alan Rockefeller
This is a first time PPMS UV foray event. We will be foraying in the dark with Alan using 365nm UV light looking for hidden gems in the forest.
Where: TBD
Time: Meet at 7:30pm, Depart at 8:00pm
August 11th, 2024
CMS Fungus Fair at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Time: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
August 14th-18th, 2024
Telluride Mushroom Festival
PPMS will be leading forays again this year at TMF!
August 21st, 2024
Dr. Alison Pouliot
Russula Roulette
Every forager knows the danger of confusing edible mushrooms with toxic lookalike species. In Switzerland, the Pilzkontrolleure, or mushroom inspectors have been saving lives for over a century by plucking poisonous mushrooms from people’s baskets and sending them home with the edible fare. Despite being only a seventh the physical size of Colorado, Switzerland has over 400 mushroom inspection offices staffed by 1500 inspectors.
The Swiss are well versed in fungi and foraging and this has also stimulated mycological research. Yet in Alison’s homeland Australia, all biodiversity – including fungi – is protected at all three levels of government and hence foraging is illegal on public land.
In this talk Alison will share stories of her work across continents and explore the tensions between foraging and conservation, and the different approaches of various nations to both protect species and keep mushroom hunters happy.
BIO
Dr. Alison Pouliot is an ecologist, author and professional environmental photographer with a focus on fungi. Her work spans both northern and southern hemispheres ensuring two autumns and a double dose of fungi each year.
Alison is actively involved in teaching, research and conservation, and has conducted over 800 fungus forays across many countries. Alison is author of The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers and Meeting with Remarkable Mushrooms. www.alisonpouliot.com
Where: Bear Creek Nature Center
245 Bear Creek Road
Colorado Springs, CO
Time: 6:00pm
September 18th, 2024
PPMS Vice President, Michael Williams aka Myco Williamsii, will lead a mushroom cloning workshop. Learn how to cultivate spawn from your favorite mushrooms. Free and open to the public.
Where: Manitou Arts Center 513 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
When: 6-9pm
September 25th, 2024
Edward Elzarian will lecture on a variety of mushroom species and discuss his work helping to document fungal finds in the region through the Denver Botanical gardens.
Where: Bear Creek Nature Center
245 Bear Creek Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
When: 6-8pm
September 28th, 2024
PPMS will host a table at the Colorado Cool Science Festival. We will have microscopes set up for exploring mushroom features and many dried and fresh specimens to practice your ID skills on. There are many other unique learning opportunities at other booths, as well. This is an excellent event for kids, so be sure to bring them along!
Learn more about the festival here and the schedule of events here: www.coolscience.org
Where: University of Colorado Colorado Springs
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
When: 10am-4pm
October 16th, 2024
Did you know you can make paper from mushrooms? Jessica Langley will show us how this is done in a hands-on workshop! Free and open to the public! Only 30 spots available, so sign up today.
Where: Manitou Arts Center
513 Manitou Ave
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
When: 6-8pm