The first block of tickets to the 2021 Cain Foray have all been sold in the first 4 hours. The MST thanks our members for the unprecedented demand this year. Please watch this page and your email for the second block of tickets to go on sale in mid-August.
Friday September 17th to Sunday September 19th
Lumina Resort Muskoka
Please join us at this year's Cain Foray, our annual weekend of mushrooming in the wilderness!
The Cain is a weekend of finding, learning, friendship and fun. Rain or shine, the camaraderie is always enjoyable. Our resident group of mycologists and special guests will offer you fascinating insights into the intriguing world of mushrooms.
This year's Cain Foray is from September 17th - 19th at the Lumina Resort in Muskoka.
The Cain Foray weekend includes:
BBQ reception on Friday evening
Keynote speaker or workshop
Guided forays on Saturday and on Sunday morning
Informative talks on mushrooms
Beach bonfire on Saturday evening
A fantastic mushroom cookup and pot-luck lunch on Sunday
Dinner on Friday, all meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday
2 nights resort-style accommodation, and use of the resort's amenities
Experts are on hand all weekend to discuss and identify your mushroom finds!
With the news from the Ontario government that all outdoor activities with non-household members are forbidden, at least until May 20th, the MST must regrettably cancel the spring foray season at this time. We understand your frustration and feel it as well. The board had some new things planned for the club, but we have yet to be able to implement them.
The board has also decided to postpone the Annual General Meeting normally held in April, since our last AGM wasn't very long ago. Some members have been asking about whether the Cain Foray will be held this year. We can't know yet if it will be possible, but we're watching gathering and border restrictions and if we can possibly hold the Cain, we will.
In lieu of the spring foray season, the board has again decided to extend memberships by 6 months. Your membership extension has already been applied. Your new expiry date is reflected in your membership profile, and in the Member Details section which you'll see on the left side of most pages on our website when signed in. If you received a notice in February, March or April that your membership had expired, don't worry – we've still applied the extension, and your membership is active again. If you have any questions about your membership or the extension, please don't hesitate to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. any time.
While we can't offer forays or in-person workshops, we do have some resources for you to use as self study. Have a look at the list of Self-Study Resources below – just make sure you're logged in to the MST website to access the members-only areas.
Looking to safely foray and explore your backyard or nearest park solo or with your household?
The MST's Field Species Checklist has been newly revised for 2021 by MST Education Chair Pat Burchell and former Mycelium Editor Tony Wright, in order to bring it up to date with current taxonomy. This is a great resource to refer to for your learning.
Join us August 12-15 at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA Camp in Granby, CO for the NAMA Annual Foray. After skipping 2020 due to the pandemic, we are on course to share a safe, socially-distanced gathering.
At 8,740 feet elevation, Snow Mountain Ranch offers a clear view to the mountains where we will be hunting mushrooms. There is access to hiking trails around the Snow Mountain Ranch campus.
Snow Mountain Ranch has no elevators, but does have 56 first-floor ADA-compliant rooms in its main lodge, which is a short stroll from dining facilities and meeting rooms. The lodges have hotel-type rooms with 2 queen beds. There is on-site camping, as well as campgrounds in the area.
NAMA is working closely with the Colorado Mycological Society and the Pikes Peak Mycological Society in planning the foray locations, and choosing a great roster of speakers. Check back for more information.
The Canadian Fungal Research Network (CanFunNet) and the Great Lakes Mycology Meetings are hosting a joint online conference, May 26-28 2021, to showcase the diversity and excellence of Canadian mycological research.
The Canadian Fungal Research Network (CanFunNet) was established in 2019 to promote fungal research in Canada by facilitating dialogue among scientists working across diverse sub-disciplines and institutions. The first CanFunNet conference was held virtually in July 2020, with an audience of 310 participants from 89 institutions across Canada, and 63 presenters representing all career stages (see program here)
The Great Lakes Mycology Meetings, an annual conference of graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and other mycological researchers from Ontario and the surrounding region, were established in 1981 by Brent and Michele Heath and David Malloch. They provide an excellent forum for students to give their first conference talk and a great opportunity for researchers young and old to hear new work across the breadth of mycology.
