2026 Mushroom Workshops
& Guided Foraging Tours

In this presentation, Dylan Goldfine-Middleton explores past, present, and future relationships between fungi, people, and the environment in the Mount Shasta area. Additionally, Dylan will also present a basic overview of fungal biology and ecology, practical mushroom foraging information, and contemporary and historical ethnomycological perspectives from East Asia and other locales. The talk is geared towards a general audience, with no prerequisite knowledge necessary - mushroom enthusiasts and curious minds are encouraged to attend.

Born and raised in Southern and Central California respectively, Dylan first came to McCloud on a week-long mushroom foray in the spring of 2010, and he has continued to seek out and study the diverse fungi of our area every year since.​ Dylan graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2019 with a dual bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Chinese Language, and subsequently completed his master’s degree in East Asian Studies at Stanford University in 2023, submitting for his graduate thesis a detailed historical commentary and complete annotated translation of the world’s earliest edible mushroom manual, Chen Renyu’s Junpu (1245). Learn more about Dylan here.

Melody Revnak is an award-winning Northern California fine art photographer with over 30 years of experience. Her work has been collected and sold throughout the world, reflecting a deep connection to nature, light, and place. She teaches photography workshops through Turtle Bay Exploration Park and Professional Photographers of America (PPA), focusing on composition, light, and creative storytelling in nature photography.

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This workshop focuses on the art of photographing mushrooms, teaching participants how to create compelling images through composition, light, perspective, depth of field, and visual storytelling. Designed for all skill levels, the session welcomes smartphone, mirrorless, and DSLR users and emphasizes seeing small details with intention. Participants will learn practical techniques to simplify backgrounds, control focus, and highlight texture and form. If feasible, the workshop will conclude with a hands-on practice portion to reinforce the concepts covered.

Andrew Claassen is a mycologist, forest ecologist, and naturalist, based in Shasta County, California. He has a background in Forest Sciences from Cal Poly Humboldt and continues his studies at Shasta College. Claassen is dedicated to the study and documentation of fungi in Northern California. He is involved with several mycological and environmental organizations, including serving as a collection specialist and citizen consultant mycologist for the North American Fungal Diversity Survey, Mycota Lab, and Shasta Spore. He is the 1st Vice President of the Mount Shasta Mycological Society and presents at mycological societies and leads collection forays for DNA sequencing. Claassen actively shares his observations and research on various platforms such as Instagram, iNaturalist, and TikTok, using the handle @530myco. His work includes studying the mycoflora of the region and promoting public engagement with fungi through education and outreach.

We will be exploring the hyphal threads of community, culture and cuisine through the lens of foods that nourish our bodies and souls. In this workshop I invite you to come on a journey with me, hear my story of how I came to understand and interact with these fungal beings. Taste some comfort foods that are near to my heart and that highlight local ingredients and put wild mushrooms in the spotlight. Experience firsthand the process of one of those dishes so you can replicate it at home and enjoy cooking mushrooms for years to come.

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Elle Matthews lives near Willow Creek in Northern California with her son, partner and animals. She is a a community health worker, prioritizing food sovereignty by organizing events like the local seed and plant exchange and running the food pantry. In her spare time she farms, forages and makes products from their forages and garden. She sells these products through her mushroom and wild food company MushLove as well as leading forays and events focused on mushrooms and other wild foods.

Andrew Claassen is a mycologist, forest ecologist, and naturalist, based in Shasta County, California. He has a background in Forest Sciences from Cal Poly Humboldt and continues his studies at Shasta College. Claassen is dedicated to the study and documentation of fungi in Northern California. He is involved with several mycological and environmental organizations, including serving as a collection specialist and citizen consultant mycologist for the North American Fungal Diversity Survey, Mycota Lab, and Shasta Spore. He is the 1st Vice President of the Mount Shasta Mycological Society and presents at mycological societies and leads collection forays for DNA sequencing. Claassen actively shares his observations and research on various platforms such as Instagram, iNaturalist, and TikTok, using the handle @530myco. His work includes studying the mycoflora of the region and promoting public engagement with fungi through education and outreach.

Come participate in a discussion about the indicator signs (plant expressions, topography, etc.) to guide you in your search for the morel mushroom and other local wild edible mushrooms. Let’s share in the voice of the intelligence of nature. Enjoy 2026 mushroom season, may you fill the bellies of your hungry baskets!

Joseph Sparrow, founder of the Mt. Shasta Bird Report on YouTube, has been an off-grid homesteader for 17 years outside of McCloud. Currently producing pro-tip content from a back to nature locals perspective that takes mushroom picking way more serious than just a seasonal hobby (check it out—Mt. Shasta Bird Report on YouTube).