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Mushrooms of North America and Canada Online Identification CourseThis course provides you with online lectures, video presentations and lots of resources about how to identify US and Canadian mushrooms. $14.99 |
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As this site has been created by a licensed pharmacist, safety is our primary concern. Secondarily to this, we aim to share our enthusiasm for mycology using the following resources:
- Gorgeous online lectures - created by our in-house specialist mycologist. Including our renowned "Top 6 USA edible mushrooms" lecture.
- Training videos - this course contains an array of training videos that walk you through the most important points to know.
- Online ebook - including our own "short and sweet" reference document about how to identify the most common mushrooms with ease.
- Wide subject range - 100's of fungi species are covered in this course with detailed pictures and videos about going on the hunt.
- Foray maps - want some insider knowledge about where to find the best mushrooms? Look no further. We have maps galore about how to find the best mushrooms.
- Specialist foray questions - we have been answering questions from student mushroom hunters for decades, we give you a list of all the most common questions and best answers.
- Forums - our hugely popular subscriber forums.
- Competitions with prizes - enter our monthly question prize draw of $200.
- Innovative question system - questions that are graded automatically with detailed feedback.
- Track your progress - our system allows you to view your previous tests and compare grades with mushroomers.
- Additional resources - useful weblinks, tips and recommended reading - guiding you to the best resources!
Course Reviews
The forum community alone is worth it
Best mushroom course I've taken online. The "Top 6 USA edible mushrooms" lecture is incredibly detailed - I've watched it three times. The forums are super active and people actually respond to ID questions within hours. Won $50 in last month's competition which was a nice bonus! The foray maps for Pacific Northwest are spot-on.
Pharmacist background shows in the safety emphasis
You can tell this was created by someone with medical training. The safety protocols are thorough without being preachy. Covered over 100 species which is way more than I expected for $15. The automated grading system gives you instant feedback on what you got wrong, which helped me learn faster. Already found my first chicken of the woods thanks to this course.
Great value but video quality varies
Solid course overall. Some of the training videos look like they were filmed on a phone (which is fine for field work honestly), but a few of the lecture slides could use higher resolution images. The content itself is excellent though - very comprehensive coverage of North American species. The progress tracking feature is really motivating. Would be 5 stars if all videos were HD quality.
Decades of Q&A is a goldmine
The compiled Q&A section from decades of teaching is honestly the most valuable part for me. Every weird question I had was already answered. The monthly $200 competition is a nice touch - keeps you engaged with the material. I've recommended this to my entire hiking group. The additional resources section pointed me to some great field guides I wouldn't have found otherwise.
Perfect for Canadian foragers too
Was worried this would be too US-focused but the Canadian coverage is excellent. BC coastal species are well represented. The compare-your-grades feature is unexpectedly addictive - I'm currently ranked 23rd overall which motivates me to keep studying. Forums have a good mix of Americans and Canadians sharing regional tips. Best $15 I've spent on foraging education.
Comprehensive but overwhelming at first
There's A LOT of content here - almost too much if you're a complete beginner. I'd recommend starting with just the Top 6 lecture and the ebook before diving into the full species catalog. Once I got oriented it was fantastic. The detailed feedback on quiz questions really helps you understand your mistakes. Wish there was a "beginner track" vs "advanced track" to help navigate all the resources.