SOMA mushroom forays are field trips to collect wild mushrooms with knowledgeable fungi folk. Forays provide a great opportunity to get out in the woods in a friendly atmosphere to learn the ins and outs of identifying and collecting mushrooms. Our forays are always open to the public, and we welcome all ages, experience levels, and interests. Check out the events calendar for the next foray.
2021/2022 Season Updates
COVID-19 update: All participants over age 12 must be vaccinated, please.
This year we are getting back to "normal", with pot-luck lunches for the Salt Point forays at Woodside Day Use area. Start time is 10am (be there at 9:45 is better!). Day-Use fee is $8.00 per vehicle, deposit cash/check in envelope at park. We will utilize a sign-up process for forays just to keep our group size reasonalbe (usually 60 participants) due to parking limits.
Forays are free for SOMA members and their families, or $20 for non-members. Sign-up using event links on the calendar page.
2021 foray dates: Sept 18 (if it rains by then), Oct 23, Nov 20, Dec 18
2022 foray dates: Feb 19, Mar 19, Apr 23, May 21 (if its still raining)
Additional forays will be scheduled at other locations (TBD) such as Sonoma and Bohemia Preserve.
SOMA CAMP 2022 will be January 14-17, and includes forays to Salt Point, Point Reyes, Bohemia Preserve, and Westminster Woods. Camp registration opens October 15, 2021, and usually fills up by November, so sign up early!
Foraging and Identifying
Specimen table after a foray at Salt Point State Park.
Typical foray schedule:
- 10am Start: We sort ourselves into groups led by foray leaders who know the trails. After about two hours of foraging we gather back with our fungal finds and showcase them on the specimen table, where we have a Mushroom Identification Session.
- 12:30pm Lunch:SOMA provides a hot main mushroom dish for everyone, cooked onsite by club chefs, and the meal is made even better by all the dishes each forayer brings to the table! The potluck lunch is another fun part of the day with the gathering and sharing of food and foray stories.
- 1:00pm ID Session: An ID session/class comes right after the pot luck, we gather around the specimin table to discuss the fungal finds!
Please Note:
SOMA has a group event permit from the State Park Service. State Parks have the following requirements:
- There is a day use fee of $8/vehicle (Yet another reason to carpool!)
- Sign ups are unique to each foray and are on the Events Calendar.
- Alcohol is not allowed during SOMA forays
- Dogs are not allowed on State Park trails (OK on leash in Day Use area).
- Clean up after yourself. Please don't leave mushrooms or any trash on tables or trails.
To find out when the next foray will be, check out the Calendar of upcoming events.
Nine things to bring on a Foray
- Collecting basket or paper bag with handles
- Wax bags or small paper bags to separate species species (plastic and mushrooms do not mix well)
- A 10x hand lens or small magnifying glass (or phone with good camera)
- Water bottle and a snack
- A notebook, pen, and a small Mushroom field guide can be useful
- Small digging tool or knife to pick the mushrooms (including their bases)
- A whistle and compass (on your smart phones!) is handy to locate your fellow foragers if you get off trail or turned around
- Hat and/or rain gear, sturdy hiking footwear, daypack
- GPS tracking app on your smart phone. Recommend you download before arriving (very limited coverage in parks).
- A potluck dish for 8-10 people, utensils*, and a good appetite
*Please bring your own plates, flatware, and glassware.
We do not leave any of our trash behind--especially in the fire pit.
Contact information
For more specific info about the forays, feel free to contact the foray leader: Patrick Hamilton
