2012 SOMA Campers: please take a minute fill out this year's quick evaluation to let us know how we did! 2012 Camp Evaluation
What is SOMA Camp?
SOMA Camp is an annual gathering of mushroom enthusiasts sponsored by the Sonoma County Mycological Association. This three-day weekend is held in January, and is packed with activities, lectures, and workshops focused on learning about wild mushrooms.
The camp, a benefit for the SOMA Scholarship fund, is packed with mushroom forays, specimen tables, slide shows, and top-notch speakers.
Nestled in acres of oak, madrone, tan oak, redwood, and Doug-fir near Occidental, California, we will move breezily from class to woods to dining feasts, enjoying it all. There is so much to take in!
Activities
Mushroom forays, gourmet mushroom cuisine, classes and workshops on mushroom identification, cooking, dyeing, paper-making, medicine making, photography, cultivation, and more. Classes and workshops include
- cooking
- mushroom cultivation
- mushroom dyeing and polypore paper-making
- medicine making
- photography
Speakers
We always have great keynote speakers -- our speaker for 2012 was Andrew Weil, M.D.
Great Food
And, of course, there will be excellent wild mushroom cuisine. Check out the menu our Mycochef (Patrick Hamilton) created for last year's Sunday feast, and just try not to salivate:
2012 Camp Menu (656 KB)
Location and Accommodations

The CYO Camp lodge. Photo © Darvin DeShazer.

Bunk beds in the CYO Camp cabins. Photo © Darvin DeShazer.
Lodging is in shared, heated, upscale cabins with hardwood floors, designer bunks and personal cubbyholes. There are six bunks per cabin, although all beds are usually not filled. The cabins are bright, clean, and airy. The shared restrooms and showers are, in most cases, a short walk from the cabins. Elders are lodged close to the restroom facilities. Vehicles may be parked near the cabins. Off-site lodging options are also available nearby.
More Info
For more general camp info, email the SOMA Camp Director
