2025 Summer Fun with Fungi

Summer Mushroom Workshop with Jay Justice

🍄🌳 A Fungal Adventure Awaits!

Calling all mushroom enthusiasts, nature lovers, and the fungi-curious! Ever wondered which mushrooms in Arkansas are delicious, which are dangerous, and how to tell the difference? Join ONSC and The Pack Rat Outdoor Center for a one-day immersive mushroom workshop led by Field Mycologist Jay Justice!

Whether you're a seasoned forager or just fungi-curious, this workshop will deepen your appreciation for the weird and wonderful world of mushrooms! Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the best in the field—sign up today! 🍄

Choose Your Adventure!

📍 Saturday, June 7th – ONSC Lake Fayetteville - 599 E Lakeview Dr, Springdale, AR

📍 Sunday, June 8th – ONSC Kessler Mountain Outdoor Classroom and Nature Center - 1725 Smoke House Trail, Fayetteville, AR

What to Bring

👟 Wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes

👖Wear long pants and above the ankle socks

🧢 Bring water, sun protection, and weather-appropriate clothing

🥪 Bring a sack lunch

Optional: If you would like to bring fresh fungi/mushrooms you have collected for Jay to help identify, you may bring up to 5 samples per person.

Schedule

🖊️ 9:45 - 10:00 AM – Check-in

🔬 10:00 AM - 12:15 PM – Fascinating Fungi Presentation – Learn to identify edible and poisonous mushrooms, including golden Chanterelles, Boletes, "milky" Lactarius species, and the infamous Amanitas lurking in Arkansas’ forests!

🍽️ 12:15 - 1:00 PM – Lunch Break – Bring a sack lunch or step out for a bite

🌿 1:00 - 3:30 PM –  Guided Foray & Mushroom Hunt – Hit the trails and gather specimens from the wild!

🔎 3:30 - 5:00 PM – Hands-On ID Session – Bring your finds back for discussion and expert identification

Ticket Information

• Adult tickets (18 & up) - $25

• Teen tickets (12-17) = $15

• Children 12 and under = Free

  • All participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

• Two-Day Discount! $45 for adults, $25 for teens

  
  

  All proceeds go to support research, community science, and education at Ozark Natural Science Center.

Directions and Parking Information

 🚗Directions to Lake Fayetteville Campus: Ozark Natural Science Center at Lake Fayetteville, 599 E Lakeview Dr, Springdale. Carpooling is appreciated - our parking lot is small. Another option is to park at North Shore Disc Golf parking lot and walk approximately 10 minutes: https://tinyurl.com/North-Shore-Parking

🚙Kessler Mountain Campus: The Kessler Mountain Nature Center and Outdoor Classroom is located in the former Ozark Mountain Smokehouse building at 1725 Smoke House Trail, Fayetteville, AR.  The entrance to the parking lot is at the intersection of Hwy 62/MLK Jr. Blvd. and S. Rupple Rd/Smoke House Trail. There is a stoplight at the intersection.

About Ozark Natural Science Center 

ONSC offers a unique, immersion-based approach to learning about nature and the natural sciences. Students visit us for authentic science learning experiences that are correlated with national and state science learning standards and provide in-depth education in biology, ecology, geology, social studies, and nature art – all while students have fun hiking and experiencing nature. Camp activities include  hikes, team-building, games, art, and small-group activities.

About Jay Justice

For over four decades, Jay Justice has been a towering figure in the world of fungi. His fascination with mushrooms began during graduate school, sparking a lifelong passion that led him to co-found the Arkansas Mycological Society in 1982 and become a key member of the North American Mycological Association (NAMA).

A recognized expert in Southeastern mushrooms, Jay has led countless forays, authored scientific papers, and co-wrote Amanitas in North America (2020). In 2011, he received NAMA’s prestigious Gary Lincoff Award for his outstanding contributions to amateur mycology.

With a knack for making mushroom science fun and accessible, Jay is an engaging speaker, seasoned field guide, and a true fungi guru. Don’t miss the chance to learn from him at this year’s Summer Mushroom Workshop! 🍄

Ticket Refund Policy

• Refunds up to 1 week before the event: Tickets are refundable minus any applicable fees (processing, administrative, etc.) until 7 days before the event.

• Refunds within 1 week of the event: For refund requests made less than 7 days prior to the event, a 50% refund will be given.

• No refunds within 24 hours of the event: Refund requests made within 24 hours of the event are not permitted, except in exceptional circumstances and only with approval from ONSC administration.

*Please note that all refund requests must be submitted in writing to jill.bowman@onsc.us. Refunds will be processed within 7-10 business days.

Questions? Please email Education and Community Program Manager, Liz Hill at liz.hill@onsc.us.