About EPM

Mushroom clubs are made up of people from all walks of life who share a common interest in the study of mushrooms, each with their own areas of interest and expertise. When members share their knowledge, the club is enriched. If you are new to mushroom hunting, joining a mushroom club will give you the opportunity to learn about the numerous fungal species found during the annual cycle and how to identify them properly and safely. If you are an experienced “shroomer,” new to our area, we welcome your knowledge and companionship.

EPM is a club for people who are interested in the observation, identification, and collection of wild mushrooms and other fungi for culinary, photographic, dyeing, or taxonomic purposes or for just increasing their enjoyment and appreciation of these unique organisms. Any and all are welcome, no matter what your level of experience.

Activities

The club typically sponsors one or two forays a month from April through November/December in diverse geographic locations. We foray primarily on public lands and emphasize safe consumption and sound conservation practices. Most foray locations are within an hour to an hour and a half drive from the Lancaster area. The spring forays in April and May are limited to club members only. Most other forays and events are open to the public.

During the winter months of January, February, and March, indoor meetings are held and include presentations and/or demonstrations by renowned speakers and club members. In the summer, we hold a tasting party where members share their favorite mushroom dishes.

Each summer, Eastern Penn Mushroomers sponsors the annual 2 ½ day Helen Miknis Memorial Foray at sites in the Michaux State Forest. Meals and overnight accommodations (for which separate fees are charged) are available on a first-come first-served basis to those who register in advance.

Membership in EPM includes the quarterly newsletter, The Keystone Cap, which provides the current foray schedule, fungi-related articles and news.

Eastern Penn Mushroomers is affiliated with the North American Mycological Association (NAMA). Members of our club can join NAMA for a discounted fee.

History

Eastern Penn Mushroomers club formed in the spring of 1994. Walks in Lancaster Central Park sponsored by the Lancaster County Parks commission helped generate a list of people interested in nature and especially wild mushrooms. After a program of mushroom slides borrowed from the North American Mycological Association, a group met and agreed that a club where one could find compatible friends interested in hiking, nature, and the study of mushrooms and other fungi was needed in eastern Pennsylvania. The Lancaster County Park Commission offered us a lecture room and help with publicity in their bulletins as well as in the local papers. We’ve grown greatly since then and have members in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and other states.