Talk: A Walk Down Mushroom Lane: An Exploration of Fungal Diversity, Conservation, & Community Science

Description

Discover the Fascinating World of Local Mushrooms! Join us for an engaging talk on the mushrooms of our region and the vital role fungi play in local ecosystems. Learn about the importance of fungal ecology and how documenting species diversity can support scientific understanding and conservation efforts. Part of the presentation will focus on how to use platforms like iNaturalist to record your finds and contribute valuable data. You’ll also learn what makes a high-quality upload, including tips on taking clear, useful photos and noting the right information to support identification. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned naturalist, this presentation will give you the tools to become a more effective contributor to community science. About Angelica: The word “amateur” often has many different connotations, taking the definition of “amateur” from the Latin verb “amare,” which means “to love,” or referring to someone who “does something for the love of it.” Angelica Bayless (any pronouns) considers themself to be an amateur mycologist. Their passion for fungi began in 2021 when they started cultivating common edible mushrooms and foraging around their hometown of Montrose, CO. They quickly fell in love with the process of learning cultivation and how to ID local mushrooms. The following year they attended the Telluride Mushroom Festival in Telluride, CO. That event was one of the most influential moments of their life; it showed them that there were many people from across the world who shared a passion for fungi and that it was possible to work as a mycologist. In fall of 2023, Angelica began attending The Evergreen State College, in Olympia, WA, to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Mycology. During their second year at Evergreen, they began working on a solo undergraduate project to catalog all the fungi observed and recorded on the Evergreen State College campus from April of 1975 to April of 2025. The project goal is to utilize the species list to create a comprehensive guide to all of the most commonly found fungi on campus. They are currently going into their third year at Evergreen, hoping to continue working on their field guide project and to learn even more about the fungal kingdom. David Rogers, who organizes the Olympic Peninsula Fungi Festival, will introduce Angelica and talk a bit about what’s coming up at this year’s event. There will be a booth as well to learn more! https://www.olypenfungifest.com/