MST Myco Camp 2024, Sept. 6-8, Grafton

The Mycological Society of Toronto's Myco Camp is a fun, relaxed, back-to-basics camping weekend. Learn with others and sharpen your mushroom ID skills before the fall season! Myco Camp 2024 will be held at Plast Ukrainian Scout camp in Grafton, Ontario. Plast Camp has an excellent 100 acre forest, fantastic for mushrooming!

About Myco Camp

Myco Camp is an overnight mushroom camp for grownups, no tent required!

Myco Camp is intended to be a low-impact, budget-friendly complement to the Cain Foray. Myco Camp participants will work together in collaborative fashion to identify and record species found during the weekend. All the mushrooms are within walking distance - no driving to forays!

This weekend will be run as a co-operative experience. All participants will help with setup, meals, and cleanup throughout the event. Accommodations are in shared bunk rooms, and washroom facilities are shared.

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Who can Attend Myco Camp?

Myco Camp is an intermediate-level event which requires some knowledge about mycology and how to begin identifying species. When collecting species you will be using your own field guide books to identify what you have found. This is a hands-on event and sharing knowledge will be a great help. 

Additionally, you must be:

• At least 13 years old (anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
• Willing to share accommodations or bring your own tent
• Willing to share washroom facilities
• Willing to participate in set up and clean up throughout the weekend

If you have no experience identifying mushrooms you will have difficulty at this event for the following reasons:

• Experienced members are very busy identifying mushrooms found and aren't able to teach beginners at the same time
• You will need to bring your own equipment and guidebooks, which beginners usually don't have yet
• Beginners don't yet know which species are common and will already have been brought back to the sorting tables, which means a lot of extra effort and a lot of mushrooms going in the trash that should have been left in the forest

For these reasons, participation at Myco Camp is limited to members who are eligible to attend Introduction to Field Identification walks and Intermediate Field Identification forays.

You can see which level you have reached on the Your Walk and Foray Options page. More information on MST Walk and Foray levels is available on our help page. If you aren't yet eligible and think you should be, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know what experience you have.

Myco Camp Prices

The price is $165 per person.

The price is the same for all participants, whether they stay in shared bunk rooms or bring their own tent.

Full payment is due at time of booking.

What's Included?

• Two nights accommodations in a shared bunk/dorm room (men-only, women-only, or mixed-gender room)
• Shared washroom facilities (men-only and women-only - ask about special arrangements if needed)
• Access to Plast Camp's forest throughout the weekend
• Friday night barbecue
• Saturday and Sunday continental-style breakfast (hot and cold cereal, toast and pastries with tea, coffee and juice)
• Saturday and Sunday lunch (make your own sandwiches, pre-made salads, cheese, and veggies)
• Saturday dinner (barbecue)
• Drinkable filtered water, tea and coffee
• Shared electrical outlets in bunk rooms
• Access to shared fridge in kitchen
• Bonfire on Friday and/or Saturday evenings
• Pickup from Via Rail Cobourg station for some trains - subject to limitations, must be pre-arranged before booking (email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

What's Not Included?

• Your own private room
• Blankets, sleeping bag, linen, pillows
• Towels
• Toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.)
• Reusable water bottles
• Private washrooms
• Running water in rooms
• Reliable wi-fi
• Snacks
• Alcohol or additional beverages
• Transportation other than pre-arranged Cobourg train station pickups

Registration Deadline

Registrations will be accepted until September 2nd, 2024 at 8:00pm, if tickets and accommodations are still available.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation fees will be charged as follows (deposit included):

To request a cancellation or to make a change please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you don't receive a confirmation within 48 hours, please follow up to be sure your message was received.

Accommodations and Facilities

Myco Camp is being held at a Scout camp. All beds at the camp are equipped with a plastic-covered mattress that has no pillows and no blankets! You must provide your own blankets, pillows, sleeping bag, teddy bear, or whatever else you require for sleeping.

There are no locks on bunkroom doors, and no secure storage is provided. The MST accepts no liability for loss or theft during the event.

There is power in all rooms so you can charge your phones, camera batteries and anything else. Bring a power bar or an extension cord!

Washrooms are not attached to lodges - you will need to go to a separate building for appropriate washrooms.

Bunk rooms have 12 beds each. Since the number of participants is limited, there will be roughly 4 people per room. Sleeping arrangements are not pre-assigned - participants will be expected to group themselves into appropriate rooms.

Room choices:

• Women-only
• Men-only
• Mixed-gender

Bringing a tent? Choose one of the above options anyway, so we can accommodate you in case of massive rains or equipment failure.

Washrooms:

There are two main washroom buildings on the site: one for men and one for women. Each bathroom has a shared sink area, 3 separated toilets, and 3 showers with privacy curtains.

There are no towels provided, and only hand soap and toilet paper provided.

If you need special sleeping or washroom arrangements for any reason, please contact Sheryl our Volunteer Coordinator directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dining room:

Meals will be in the common dining room.

What Do I Need to Bring?

Some things are essential to bring, or your participation will be limited or uncomfortable:

• Sleeping bag/blankets and sheets, pillow
• Mushroom basket
• A field guide; the MST recommends Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada by Timothy Baroni
• Towel for shower
• Toiletries (soap, shampoo)
• Flashlight, head torch or phone light
• Refillable water bottle
• Chargers and cables for phones, cameras and other devices
• Sense of adventure!

Also strongly recommended:

• A whistle for each person
• Loupe or hand magnifying glass
• Sharp knife
• Insect repellent for ticks and mosquitoes
• Paper bags or waxed paper
• Clothing appropriate for the weather
• Hat and sunscreen
• Footwear appropriate for the woods: hiking boots or shoes, not sandals
• Sandals or flip-flops for shower area so your shoes don't get wet
• Earplugs
• Power bar/extension cord
• Waterproof footwear and rain-wear

Myco Camp and the Cain Foray Compared

Not sure if you'd enjoy Myco Camp or the Cain Foray more? Here are the main differences:

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I have my own room? Can a couple or friend group have their own room?
  

  No. This is a shared-room event. There will be approximately 4 people to a room. Accommodations are not pre-assigned. Participants can choose from womens-only, mens-only or mixed-gender bunk rooms. If you need special arrangements, please contact Sheryl our Volunteer Coordinator directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Can I attend Myco Camp for one day only?

  No. The MST is not able to offer a single-day or partial ticket price.

• Can I bring my dog?

  No. Unfortunately pets are not permitted at this event.

• Can I bring my own tent?

  Yes. Please choose a room option anyway, so we can accommodate you in case of massive rains or equipment failure. Tent pegs, flies and replacement poles will not be available, so bring everything you need.

• How big are the beds? Will I fit?

  All beds are standard-sized plasticized single mattresses. If you need something bigger, please bring a tent or make alternate arrangements.

• What if I need special arrangements for sleeping or washrooms?

  If you need special arrangements, please contact Sheryl our Volunteer Coordinator directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Will I be able to change rooms?

  Yes. Room sharing arrangements are up to the participants. Anyone can change rooms any time for any reason.

• Will I have to clean washrooms?

  No. Camp staff will maintain the washrooms. Participants are expected to help clean other camp facilities.

• Can I bring my kids?

  Myco Camp doesn't include children's programming. The event is a busy environment and the MST has a very limited number of volunteers. For those reasons, and in order to ensure a smooth event for all participants and volunteers, participation is limited ages 13 and up. All minors are the responsibility of their parent or guardian adult at all times.

• Are there meal options for those with special dietary requirements (eg. vegetarian, food allergies)?

  Yes. Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before the deadline of 8pm September 2nd and let us know what you need.

• I have a question that isn't answered here

  Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Registration