Chanterelles & Wild Edibles: Forage + Tasting

Learn all about foraging for chanterelles and other edible summertime mushrooms, plants, and berries! 

Join us at Big Rock Creek in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin to spark your curiosity and build your confidence foraging for wild foods! This beginner-friendly class is perfect for those new to foraging or anyone looking to hang out with like-minded individuals that love and appreciate nature. 

What to Expect

• Interactive Education: Start with an engaging presentation discussing everything you need to know to get started foraging. We’ll discuss foraging basics, identification tips, cooking & preservation techniques, safety, technology, and more. Get hands-on with fresh examples (if available) to practice identifying key features before we head out to the forest.
• Forest Exploration: Wander through the woods at Big Rock Creek as we search for edible wild mushrooms, plants, and berries. We will also be identifying important trees along the way.
• Potential Finds: We never know what we will find, but it’s the season for mushrooms like chanterelles, boletes, chicken of the woods, berries, and more! While we will focus our hunt mostly on mushrooms, we will also discuss and harvest edible plants or berries.
• Taste What We Find: A brief cooking demo and light tasting will be prepared with the mushrooms we find. Please reach out if you have dietary restrictions to see if I can accommodate. Cocktails and other food will be available for purchase from Big Rock Creek.
• Community and Sharing: Bring home any mushrooms that we don’t cook or plants we find! If we find enough, we’ll divide them evenly to ensure everyone leaves with a treat.
• Gear Up: Browse foraging essentials like mushroom knives, books, and other tools available for purchase.

Approximate Itinerary

1:00-2:00 – Educational Presentation
2:00-2:30 – Break & Gear Shopping
2:30-4:00 – Foraging Adventure
4:00-5:00 – Wild Mushroom Tasting
5:00-5:30 – Review & Q&A

Important Details

• Who Can Join: Anyone that is able to walk slowly through the woods, over uneven terrain, for up to two hours is welcome. The event is designed for adults, but children are welcome at the same rate if they’re excited to participate.
• A day pass is required for anyone that does not have a Big Rock membership or is not already camping at Big Rock Creek. These can be purchased ahead of time here. Come early or stay late to enjoy the property.
• What to Bring: Here is a list of some items to consider bringing along. Items such as mushroom knives, bags, and books will be available for purchase. Sturdy, close-toed footwear and long pants are recommended.