Chick of the Woods Foraging

Private Hunt
2026-05-22 12:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
We are on a private foraging adventure today. Interested in learning more?
We offer private foraging adventures tailored to your interests and location. While we specialize in wild mushrooms, we’re also happy to explore edible plants, berries, nuts, and even help with tree identification. These guided experiences are perfect for individuals or groups—whether you have your own land and want to learn what’s edible right in your backyard, or you’re looking to gather a group of curious friends for an off-site foraging outing. We’ve hosted private hunts for a wide range of groups, including corporate outings for companies like Best Buy, schools such as Hennepin Technical College, homeschool kids, senior groups, bachelorette parties, and family get-togethers.
You can choose the location, or we’re happy to suggest one. After the forage, we can prepare a wild mushroom tasting using what we find, or bring along a curated selection of mushrooms to cook on-site. You’ll also get to take home everything we gather.
Pricing starts at $300 for a 3-hour session, and you can use the custom spreadsheet we created (best viewed on a computer) to estimate the cost of your own personalized adventure. Message us at in**@*************ds.com to schedule a phone call and chat about your land, your goals, and what kind of foraging experience you’re looking for.

Mushroom Hunt and Plant Foraging with optional Crawfish Boil and Live Music
2026-05-23 13:30 - 17:00 | Big Rock Creek, 1674 WI-87, St. Croix Falls, WI, 54024, United States
Join us on Me’morel weekend for springtime foraging, cajun food, and live music at beautiful Big Rock Creek! This beginner-friendly class is perfect for those new to foraging or even anyone more experienced, but looking to forage in a beautiful, private area and hang out with like-minded individuals that love and appreciate nature. Together, we’ll learn all about foraging safely for common, edible mushrooms and plants.
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 to practice identifying key features before we head out to the forest.
Gear Up: Browse foraging essentials like mushroom knives, books, and other tools available for purchase.
Forest Exploration: With nearly 1000 acres of private forest, we’ll only scratch the surface as we search for and harvest edible wild mushrooms and plants. Mushroom and plant growth varies with the environment, so we can never guarantee what or how much variety will be found – but we will be hunting in an area that has been known to produce mushrooms and tasty edible plants. We will also be identifying important trees along the way.
Potential Finds: Spring mushrooms like oysters, morels, pheasant back, velvet foot, and edible plants like nettle, ramps, fiddleheads, watercress, and more! Unlike public land, we will be able to harvest edible plants we find!
Community and Sharing: Bring home any mushrooms or plants we find! If we find enough, we’ll divide them evenly to ensure everyone leaves with a treat.
Crawfish Boil and Live Music: Totally optional, but if you’re up for relaxing, eating, and chatting a bit after our forage, bring some extra money for food and drinks. This event is organized by Big Rock Creek and will be fun for the whole family! Beside food and music, there will be cocktails, face painting, bounce houses, animals to pet, and more! Read more about the event on their website. And if you’re up for making it a weekend, check out their incredible camping, glamping and cabin options.

Approximate Itinerary
1:30-2:30 – Educational Presentation
2:30-3:00 – Break & Gear Shopping
3:00-4:30 – Foraging Adventure
4:30-5:00 – Review Finds and Q&A
5:00-?? – Crawfish Boil and Live Music (optional)

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.
Location: Big Rock Creek – 1674 State Highway 87 St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
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.
What to wear: Sturdy, close-toed footwear and long pants are recommended. If the conditions have been wet, consider waterproof footwear.
Day Pass: A day pass is required for everyone visiting Big Rock Creek and must be purchased ahead of time on their website.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

Cancel 72+ hours before the event for credit toward a future class.
Cancellations within 72 hours are not eligible for credit.
Severe weather cancellations will result in a credit for future use.
A minimum number of attendees is required; refunds will be issued if the class is canceled due to low enrollment.

This is a rain or shine event—get ready for an unforgettable day in the great outdoors.

Reserve your spot today and join us for this exciting foraging adventure!

Me'Morel Day Mushroom Hunt
2026-05-25 13:00 - 16:30 | 1 hour south of Minneapolis
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. Together, we’ll learn all about foraging safely for common, edible mushrooms.
What to Expect

Interactive Education: Start with an engaging presentation discussing everything you need to know to get started foraging. Get hands-on with fresh examples (if available) to practice identifying key features before we head out to the forest.
Forest Exploration: Wander through woods as we search for and harvest edible wild mushrooms. We will also be identifying important trees along the way.
Potential Finds: Spring mushrooms like oysters, morels, pheasant back, and more! While we will focus our hunt on mushrooms, we will point out edible plants as well!
Community and Sharing: Bring home any mushrooms 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
4:00-4:30 – 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.
Location: 1 hour south of Minneapolis
A parking pass is required.
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.
What to wear: Sturdy, close-toed footwear and long pants are recommended. If the conditions have been wet, consider waterproof footwear.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

Cancel 72+ hours before the event for credit toward a future class.
Cancellations within 72 hours are not eligible for credit.
Severe weather cancellations will result in a credit for future use.
A minimum number of attendees is required; refunds will be issued if the class is canceled due to low enrollment.

Disclaimer: Mushroom growth is never guaranteed.
This is a rain or shine event—get ready for an unforgettable day in the great outdoors.

Reserve your spot today and join us for this exciting foraging adventure!

Know the Trees - Find the Mushrooms
2026-06-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Theodore Wirth Park, 3200 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55405
Find More Mushrooms by Knowing Your Trees
THIS IS NOT A MUSHROOM HUNT. THIS IS A TREE IDENTIFICATION CLASS.
Ever spend hours wandering the woods unsure where to look for mushrooms? Learning tree identification solves that problem. When you know which trees host your favorite edible mushrooms, you stop guessing and start finding.
In this class, Chick of the Woods will teach simple, practical tree identification techniques that go beyond leaf shape, with a focus on trees that host choice edible mushrooms. You’ll learn what trees deserve your attention and which ones you can pass by.
A few days before the walk, you’ll receive an exclusive video covering tree ID basics and key mushroom-loving trees. This prep work means less lecture and more hands-on learning in the woods.
The in-person portion is a fun, guided walk on established trails, practicing real-time tree identification and connecting trees to the mushrooms that grow with them.
You’ll leave feeling more confident, capable, and equipped to forage smarter for years to come.
Who this class is for

Beginner and intermediate mushroom foragers
Nature lovers curious about trees and fungi
Gardeners and outdoor educators
Anyone tired of guessing where mushrooms grow
A unique, practical gift for the outdoorsy person in your life

Chanterelles & Wild Edibles: Forage + Tasting
2026-07-12 13:00 - 17:30 | Big Rock Creek, 1674 WI-87, St. Croix Falls, WI, 54024, United States
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 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.

A Walk in the Park - Lebanon Hills - Eagan, MN
2026-07-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Lebanon Hills Regional Park
This month’s featured park: Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, MN
This “Walk in the Park” series is all about getting outside, exploring new places, and “seeing what we can eat” along the trail. These walks are meant to be casual, curious, affordable, educational, and social—perfect for anyone who simply wants an excuse to learn about edible wild foods and spend time with like-minded people.
The location will vary each time and may even be somewhere I’ve never visited before. Think of it as an open invitation to come explore together.
This isn’t a traditional foraging class or guided hunt. We won’t scout the location ahead of time, we’ll stick to the trails, and we may visit locations where foraging isn’t allowed—so there are no expectations, nothing to bring besides your curiosity, and nothing to take but pictures.
We’ll simply walk slowly and observe what’s growing, hoping to find edible mushrooms, plants, berries, or nuts along the way. Trees will be identified and we’ll stop for any other surprises nature reveals to us along the way. I certainly don’t know everything – these walks are about learning together and sharing observations.
Trail conditions will vary and may include grass, dirt, rocks, mud, or pavement, and could be flat or hilly. Participants should be comfortable being outside and walking and/or standing for up to 1.5 hours. Some walks will be accessible, but please reach out if you have questions about terrain.
(If you have a location suggestion for a future walk, please let me know!)
Parking fee may apply.

Summertime Mushroom Hunting
2026-07-25 09:00 - 12:30 | TBD, but within 1 hour west or northwest of Mpls
Learn all about foraging for edible summertime mushrooms! This beginner-friendly class is perfect for those new to foraging or anyone looking to learn a few new mushrooms while hanging 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 as we search for edible wild mushrooms and identify 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, black trumpets, and more! While we will focus our hunt on mushrooms, we may also point out edible plants or berries we see.
Community and Sharing: Bring home any mushrooms 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
9:00-10:00 – Educational Presentation
10:00-10:30 – Break & Gear Shopping
10:30-12:00 – Foraging Adventure
12:00-12:30 – 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 or parking pass may be required.
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.

Intermediate Mushroom Hunting with Guest Expert Noah Siegel
2026-08-09 13:00 - 17:00 | within an hour of minneapolis
Are you ready to take your mushrooming skills to the next level? This intermediate class is designed for mushroom hunters who already know the basics and are eager to deepen their knowledge in the field.
We’re thrilled to feature guest expert Noah Siegel, one of the leading figures in U.S. field mycology. With over three decades of experience in identification, taxonomy, and photography, Noah’s expertise is unmatched. Noah is a renowned field guide author, award‑winning photographer, and highly sought‑after speaker who has dedicated his career to expanding public understanding of the fungal world. Most recently, he spent three months in Tanzania researching primate mycophagy!
The day begins with a presentation from Noah, offering insights that will help you sharpen your identification skills and enhance your field observation techniques.
After the presentation, we’ll head out for a guided mushroom hunt. Both Chick of the Woods and Noah will assist with identification throughout the foray, with Noah providing additional support on more advanced or challenging finds. We’ll conclude the day by gathering to review and discuss in more detail the mushrooms collected during the hunt. Feel free to bring any unidentified mushrooms (or pictures) you’ve collected that you need help identifying.
Participants are welcome to keep what they find, but please note that this class is not focused on harvesting edible species. Our emphasis is on learning about a wide diversity of fungi—including non‑edible species—and building a broader understanding of what we encounter in the field.

Summertime Mushroom Hunt
2026-08-22 09:30 - 13:00 | within one hour west of Minneapolis
Explore a beautiful forest while learning a useful, fun, and lifelong skill of foraging for your own food. Chick of the Woods will help you gain confidence foraging for common, edible mushrooms. We may also discuss berries, plants, or trees we see along the way. Before we head out foraging, we will discuss foraging basics, safety, identifications, and answer any questions. (If you already know the basics, feel free to skip this part)
Then we will wander into the woods searching for, discussing, and picking edible mushrooms that we find. After the hunt we will review what’s in your basket and discuss ways to cook your finds. Take home what we find. No experience necessary.
Approximate itinerary:
9:30-10:30 – Educational Foraging Discussion
10:30-11:00 – Break and Gear-Up
11:00-12:30 – Foraging
12:30-1:00 – Review and Questions
1:00 till ?? Optional and on your own – Pack a lunch and stay as long as you like socializing with your new nature friends!
I will have some foraging gear available for purchase, including bags, knives, books, and other products we love. You will have a chance to purchase these during the break or after class.
Disclaimers:
*Mushroom and plant growth is subject to various environmental factors, and their presence during our foraging adventures cannot be guaranteed.
*We will be walking off-trail and on uneven terrain.
*The location may require a parking fee or day pass.
*The event in geared towards adults, but if you think your child would enjoy it, they are welcome at the same rate as adults.
*The exact location and more details will be shared with you the day prior to the event, or sooner.
Refund and Cancellation Policy:
*No refunds. If you cancel at least 72 hours prior to the event, credit will be given towards a future event. No credit will be given for cancellations within 72 hours of the event.
*This is a rain or shine event, but if conditions are severe, the hunt will be cancelled and credit will be given to use at a future event.
*Class may be cancelled if minimum attendance is not met. Refunds will be given in this scenario.

CHICKS ONLY!! Mushroom Hunt and Wild Mushroom Lunch
2026-08-23 11:00 - 16:00 | 1 hour east of Minneapolis in Wisconsin
The most anticipated event of the year – The Chicks Only Mushroom Hunt and Lunch!
Bring your mom, grandma, daughter, sister, auntie, niece, girlfriend, yourself, or anyone that identifies as a “Chick” to this “Chicks Only” day! Even though no dudes are allowed, we will be searching for “fun-guys.” We might even find an Old Man of the Woods.
Besides learning about mushrooms, we will have tons of fun and meet new friends. We can also discuss tree identification, plants, and berries we come across while we are in the woods. The most delicious, fresh picnic lunch with wild mushrooms will provided and prepared by the fabulous Chef Jodi.
Jodi preparing lunch at the Chicks Only hunt in 2023
Approximate Itinerary:
11:00-12:00 Educational Bit
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-1:30 Break and Gear Up
1:30-3:00 Mushroom Hunt
3:00-4:00 or 4:30 Review Mushrooms and Social Hour
2023 Chicks Only Lunch – Mushroom Sushi
*Exact location of the hunt will be emailed to attendees by 4pm one day prior to the hunt, but will be located an hour east of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
*This is a rain or shine event, but if conditions are severe, the hunt will be cancelled and credit can be used towards a future event.
*The location may require a parking fee.
*If you have any food restrictions, please email us to see if we can accommodate before signing up.
*Please bring your own beverages.
*We will be walking off-trail on uneven terrain.
*We are never guaranteed to find mushrooms, but I guarantee you will learn how to find them.

Wild & Wonderful: A Fall Foraging Retreat
2026-09-22 09:00 - 16:30 | Ainsley Sutton Lodge Retreat Center, 1680 373rd Avenue Northeast, Stanchfield, MN, United States
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Join Maria Wesserle of Four Season Foraging and Jaime Rockney of Chick of the Woods for a day of foraging fun! Learn all about edible fall goodies in the woods! The morning will be focused on all things plants! Maria will teach us about plants, berries, and nuts that are in season followed by a walk in the woods finding, identifying, harvesting, and even tasting some forest delicacies like white pine infused switchel.
A home-style lunch will follow and will be included with your ticket.
The afternoon will be mushroom-centric with a presentation by Chick of the Woods on common edible fall mushrooms, a tasting of wild mushroom jerky and pickled mushrooms, followed by a walk in the woods searching for, talking about, and picking the mushrooms we find.

APPROXIMATE ITINERARY
9-9:15am Registration
9:15-10:15am – Plant Talk
10:30-10:45am – Break
10:30-12:15pm – Plant Walk
12:15-1:15pm – Lunch (included with ticket)
1:30-2:30pm – Mushroom Talk
2:30-2:45pm – Break
2:45-4:15pm – Mushroom Walk
4:15-4:30pm – Wrap Up and Review

The mushroom presentation may cover mushroom like hen of the woods, shrimp of the woods, honey mushrooms, resinous polypore, velvet foot, elm oysters, as well as potential look-alikes and poisonous mushrooms. But we may encounter and discuss other species in the woods! The plant presentation will discuss hackberry, crab apple, stinging nettle, wild grapes, black nightshade, and white pine. There will be many other plants to learn about in the surrounding landscape.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Maria Wesserle has been gathering wild edibles since 2004 and loves sharing this skill with others. She has spent over 15 years organizing and teaching foraging programs in the Upper Midwest. Through her business Four Season Foraging, she offers sliding scale foraging workshops, creating spaces where people can learn to interact with urban and rural environments in meaningful and sustainable ways. She is a certified wild mushroom harvester in the state of Minnesota and holds certificates for Level III Trailing and Professional Track & Sign from CyberTracker North America.
Jaime Rockney, also known as Chick of the Woods, loves nothing more than sharing her passion of the forest and fungi with others. In doing so, she hopes they will gain appreciation for the fascinating world within the forest. She has been obsessed with foraging since 2008 and started Chick of the Woods Foraging, LLC in 2019. She is a member of the Minnesota Mycological Society, Wisconsin Mycological Society, the North American Mycological Association, and has three certifications for identification of and selling mushrooms.

REGISTRATION
Register by August 22nd. If you are reading this after August 22nd, please contact us to see if space is still available. Class will be canceled if minimum registration is not met.
Class will happen rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, the class will be held completely indoors.

Cost is $160.
Suggested age 14 and up. You must be 18 to register. People age 17 and under are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult; that adult should register on their behalf. Minors pay the same price as adults.

2026 Holiday Forest Fair
2026-12-12
The 5th Annual Holiday Forest Fair, hosted by Chick of the Woods, will take place on Saturday, December 12, 2025. More details regarding the event can be found on the Holiday Forest Fair webpage, Instagram page, or Facebook Event.
Please RSVP below for free tickets and to be updated on the event.
