Presentation: 2024 Project Recap

Presentation: Demystifying Medicinal Mushrooms

Workshop: Mushroom Photography

Workshop: Bucket Cultivation

Workshop: Block Printing

Workshop: Mushroom Dye

Workshop: Cultivation 101

Workshop: UV Night Walk

Special Walk: Fungal Farming Ants

Presentation: Exploring the World of Chytrids

Presentation: Fungal Imposters: The Oomycetes

Virginia Joint Foray 2025 September 12-14

Blue Ridge Mycological Society

Join 4 regional mushroom clubs for a rustic camping foray in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains to enjoy the last finds of summer.

Cave Mountain Lake Campground

Join us for the third annual Virginia Joint Foray, September 12–14!This year, we’re thrilled to welcome a fourth club into the fold: the West Virginia Mushroom Club will be joining forces with the New River Valley Mushroom Club (NRVMC), Blue Ridge Mycological Society (BRMS), and Central Appalachian Mycological Society (CAMS) for an unforgettable weekend of fungi, friendship, fun and SCIENCE!Attendees can stay at our reserved Group Camp at Cave Mountain Lake by selecting the "Group Camper" ticket for $60, or choose their own lodging and select the "General Admission" ticket for $45. Private campsites can be booked through the Cave Mountain Lake reservation platform (linked below), and hotel accommodations are available nearby in Natural Bridge and Glasgow.We’ll kick things off Friday evening with a potluck at the lake pavilion—bring a favorite dish to share! After dinner, we’ll dive into two inspiring presentations: Adam Boring will return with a recap of last year’s documentation project, and preview how we’ll be leveling up our collecting and data protocols to better support citizen science. Then, Nina will guide us through Demystifying Medicinal Mushrooms—you won’t want to miss it.Saturday begins with a quick pre-foray gathering at 8AM. Forays depart at 9:00 and return by noon, followed by a lunchtime lay-out of the day’s fungal finds. From 1–4PM, workshops will run in multiple tracks—there are more this year than ever, so sign up for as many as you like, but keep an eye on the schedule to avoid overlap!In the early evening we’ll settle in for an engaging table talk before dinner. For those who’d like to partake, we’re offering a royal feast catered by a local fine-dining Italian restaurant—think pizza (veg and non-veg), wings, spaghetti, and salad. Add a $10 dinner ticket during registration to join. Afterward, we will take a dive, or a swim rather, into the tiny and fascinating world of Chytrids! We thought it would be fitting to wrap up this events speaker lineup by appreaciating a world that we can not see. Denise Williams will guide us through this world and in doing so, you will see the forest ecosystems in a new way.After the talk, we’ll head out into the night for our annual UV walk led by the ever-glowing Pat Mitchell.Sunday morning, we’ll break camp and close the weekend with our beloved Mushroom Compost Ceremony. Together we’ll sing our mushrooms into their next life as we scatter our specimens over the cliff—and then, with those same baskets and bags once full of fungi, we’ll refill them with trash as we make our way through the forest and back to the parking lot.https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233397

<h3>Tickets:</h3><h3></h3><h3>General Admission $45: This pass is for anyone who would like to arrange their own accommodations, whether reserving your own private campsite at Cave Mountain Lake, renting a hotel room or traveling from home each day. Please note that if you are not staying at Cave Mountain Lake, you will need to pay a day use fee of $8/vehicle. This must be in cash and filled out at the front gate each day. Details on other accommodations will be linked below.</h3><h3>Group Camp Pass $60: Its a General Admission PLUS a campspot! What could be better? For this event we have reserved the Group Camp (Photos above). This area is limited to only 20 people, so it may fill quickly. There is ample parking across the street and multiple fire rings and picnic tables. Bathrooms and showers are a five-minute walk. This will be a fun communal space, but it may not provide the privacy/quiet of an individual campsite.</h3><h3>Saturday Night Dinner: In the early evening we’ll settle in for an engaging table talk before dinner. For those who’d like to partake, we’re offering a royal feast catered by a local fine-dining Italian restaurant—think pizza (veg and non-veg), wings, spaghetti, and salad. Add a $10 dinner ticket during registration to join. </h3><h3>Kid's Pass: Children 12 and under are free but they MUST HAVE A TICKET. We have limited space due to the pavilion capacity. Because of planning purposes, we must know how many to expect.</h3><h3></h3><h3>Volunteers:</h3><h3>In order to pull off such a great event at such a low cost, we need your help! We are asking for all able-bodied attendees to sign up for one or more volunteer shifts. The volunteer signup sheet will be emailed to attendees at a later date. Thank you for helping make this happen!</h3>

<h3>Presentations</h3>

Joint Foray 2024 Project Recap With Adam Boring:To kick off the event we will be treated to Adam Boring as he guides us through the success of last year.

Demystifying Medicinal Mushrooms with Nina:Join Nina on a dive into the world of medicinal mushrooms!

Fungal Imposters: The Oomycetes With Brett Smith:We will cover the basic biology and evolutionary history of these fascinating fungi-like organisms before diving straight into their purpose in ecosystems, their unique life cycles, and even the methods some species use to infect their hosts! I’ll be viewing these topics through the lens of environmentalism in accordance with my career track. This talk is accessible to all.

<h3>Exploring the World of Chytrids with Denise Williams:</h3>Chytridiomycota are often dismissed as obscure, pond-dwelling fungi—but in recent decades, they’ve emerged as major players in one of the most devastating wildlife pandemics on record. This talk will explore the biology and diversity of chytrids, with a focus on their pathogenic members such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans, which have driven dramatic declines in amphibian populations worldwide. We’ll examine how these fungi infect their hosts, spread through ecosystems, and evade detection, as well as what their rise tells us about fungal evolution, emerging diseases, and conservation challenges in a changing world. Along the way, we’ll also touch on lesser-known chytrids and how field mycologists can begin to recognize and study this often-overlooked group.Denise Williams has taught biology at Caldwell Community College for over 20 years and has a passion for helping others connect with the natural world. For the past eight years, she’s focused on nature photography—capturing insects, wildflowers, fungi, and even the night sky. She enjoys guiding beginners in discovering beauty through the lens and looks forward to sharing practical tips for photographing fungi in the field.

<h3>Workshops</h3>Make sure to select your workshops at registrationEach workshop ranges in price to cover cost of materials.

<h3>Mushroom Photography with Denise Williams:</h3>Sat: 1230pm-2pmWhether you're documenting your fungal finds for iNaturalist or aiming to create gallery-worthy images, this workshop will help you improve your mushroom photography in the field. We'll cover techniques for composing clear, detailed photos that aid in species identification, as well as methods for capturing fungi in a more artistic and expressive way. Topics will include working with natural and artificial light, managing focus and depth of field, choosing angles and backgrounds, focus stacking, and making the most of whatever camera you have—DSLR, mirrorless, or smartphone. No prior photography experience required!Denise Williams has taught biology at Caldwell Community College for over 20 years and has a passion for helping others connect with the natural world. For the past eight years, she’s focused on nature photography—capturing insects, wildflowers, fungi, and even the night sky. She enjoys guiding beginners in discovering beauty through the lens and looks forward to sharing practical tips for photographing fungi in the field.

<h3>Bucket Cultivation with Harry Puffenberger:</h3><h3>Sat: 1pm-4pm</h3>Harry, BRMS club VP,exudes enthusiasm for all things mycology. Cultivation is a fascinating way to connect with fungi as you can watch them develop through all the reproductive stages. In addition, if successful, you will get the special treat of being able to consume your very own home grown mushrooms. This is a low tech method that is relatively easy to build and replicate at home.To cover the cost of buckets and materials this workshop will be an additional $15 and limited to 15 people. Make sure to purchase this additional ticket item

Block Printing With Karen Milnes:Sat: 1pm-230pmJoin Karen Milnes for a little primer in printing on fabric as we make some mushroom themed printed textiles! No prior experience necessary. All materials provided, if you want to bring your own item to print on, bear in mind that not all fabrics are suitable for printing. In general, low pile cotton weaves and knit t-shirt type fabrics work well.Karen Milnes is a mother, forager, gardener &amp; artist living in Monterey, VA. She studied biology and printmaking at the University of Virginia, and biological subjects often show up in her work. Basketweaving, a practice that is the perfect marriage of natural materials, design, and utility, is another one of her favorite art forms. Karen owns and operates Cabin Critter Designs and more work can be seen on Instagram &amp; Facebook @CabinCritter or on www.CabinCritter.com

<h3>Mushroom Dye Workshop with Mahi:</h3>Sat: 230pm-4pmJoin Mahi as we explore the world of dyeing fabric with mushrooms. We will be using Phaeolus schweinitzii, the "dyers polypore" to dye fibers. We'll discuss the steps and processes and how to find your own dye mushrooms to experiment with at home.Mahi is a novice at natural dyeing but has become enamored with fibers and color and how they interact. He has been a member of the BRMS for the last two years and is excited to share his enthusiasm about the dyers polypore and the colors they create.

<h3>Mushroom Cultivation 101 with Brandon Sharp:</h3>Sat: 230pm-4pmThis class gives attendees a look behind the curtain of indoor mushroom farming, from petri dish to fruiting block — all through physical demos and storytellingAt Hill City Mushrooms, Brandon Sharp is the driving force behind every step of the operation. Starting as an avid forager, Brandon's curiosity led him to discover that mushrooms could be cloned. After successfully cloning his first find and diving into the process, he was hooked. Now 5 years later, he cultivates over 25 varieties of gourmet mushrooms with the same hands-on passion and dedication that sparked his journey, ensuring the highest quality and freshness for every customer. Explore the craft behind every harvest and experience the magic of locally grown fungi.

<h3>UV Nightwalk with Pat Mitchell:</h3>Sat: 830pm-930pmPat Mitchell, like many of us, is a self-taught amateur mycologist. As Pat journeyed into the diverse and fascinating realm of fungi, he eventually found his way into the mysterious world of the ultra violet spectrum. Once there Pat was enamored with this otherwise invisible world and now takes joy in bringing others to see the wonders or the fluorescent forest. As the sun goes down on Saturday night, join Pat on a night walk where you will learn about the UV spectrum and witness the forest glow in colors you didn't know it could. We will find bugs, plants, fungi and maybe even animals that take on a completely new color when exposed to the UV flashlights. There will be some lights available to the group to share amongst themselves. You must bring your own regular flashlight to see in the dark when not viewing fluorescent specimens.

<h3>Fungal Farming Ant Walk with Levi Mitchell:</h3>Sat: 9am-12pmVery strenuous hike!Did you know that leaf cutter ants are not just a tropical phenomenon? Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, the Northern Fungal Farming Ant, gathers food, not for itself but for its fungus gardens. Join Levi as he shares about this ants' peculiar habits and guides you to a known location near our foray.As with mushrooms, sometimes we do not see what we set out to find. In the event that all the fungal farmers have hung their tiny ant hats up for the season, Levi will show the folks on this walk some other interesting ants found in this area. Maybe ants like the Slave Making Ants, Army Ants or even Dracula Ants!Levi is 15 years old and has been pursuing myrmecology for the majority of his life. His passion has brought him to observe many rare and interesting ants and, in some cases, new state records.

<h2>Food:</h2><h3>Friday night will be a potluck, so plan to bring a yummy item to share.</h3> <h3>Saturday, you will have the option to buy a meal ticket for Pizza, Wings, spaghetti and salad. If you want to opt out, just don't add that ticket to your cart and you can bring whatever you like!</h3> <h3>Alcohol:</h3><h3>Alcohol will be prohibited in all day use areas. This includes trails, beachfront, picnic areas and parking lots. Campsites should be fine. If you plan to drink please be prepared to only partake within your campsite area. We plan and hope for this to be a child friendly event. Please keep that in mind as you imbibe. :)</h3> <h2>Dogs:</h2><h3>Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash and their waste is picked up. They are not allowed on the beach area which has clearly marked signage.</h3> <h2>Cell Service:</h2><h3>This is a mountainous are with limited cell coverage. Please plan to be out of signal while here. This means you may have to print directions before traveling.</h3> <h2>More information about Cave Mountain Lake and its campground reservations can be found here:</h2><h3><a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73641" title="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73641" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cave Mountain Lake Info/Camping Reservations</a></h3><h3>If you want to get a campsite close to our group site area, choose one of the lower number sites (1-5)</h3>

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