Guided Mushroom Hike at Lula Lake

About the hike: Join mycologist and parataxonomist Alisha Millican as she leads you on a guided mushroom hike through Lula Lake's beautiful Core Preserve property. Participants will learn the basics of mushroom identification and anatomy, foraging safety, different types of myco-habitats, and some of the critical roles that fungi play in both forest ecosystems and everyday life.

About the guide: Alisha Millican is a mycologist and parataxonomist with a focus on education, citizen science, and conservation. She strives to inspire curiosity about fungi while encouraging responsible stewardship of our natural environments. Alisha served two terms as President of the Alabama Mushroom Society and continues to lead as Chair of its Collection Committee. She is a Trustee at Large on the Executive Board of the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), where she also contributes to the Vouchering and Nominating Committees. She coordinates the Southeast Rare Fungi Challenge with the Fungal Diversity Survey (FunDiS) and serves as the Assistant Curator of Fungi at the University of West Alabama Herbarium. Alisha is the founder and co-leader of the East Tennessee Mushroom Club.

*Important Information:

Date: Friday, June 5th

Meeting Time: Please arrive no later than 10:50 am ET at Lula Lake Land Trust (5000 Lula Lake Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA 30750). The gate will open at 10:15 am ET and will close promptly at 10:50 am and entry will not be allowed after this time. The hike will leave from the meadow promptly at 11:00 am and it takes 5-10 minutes to drive to there, so please arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to park and get ready.

Bring: A small basket or paper bag, pocket knife, sturdy hiking shoes or boots, appropriate clothing for the weather, and plenty of water in a water bottle. 10X hand lens will also be helpful.

Registration: Registration is required. This is a free event, but please consider making a donation at checkout using the "add on" option. Donations go directly back to maintaining the trails owned by Lula Lake Land Trust, a conservation-focused non-profit organization working hard to protect over 4,000 acres of land on Lookout Mountain, GA. Thank you for your support!

Cancellations: If you are registered for this event and cannot make it, please let us know ASAP by contacting: daniel@lulalake.org or by calling (706)-820-0520. This is a very popular event and there are others who would love to take your spot if you can't attend.

Allergies: If you are allergic to bee stings or anything else in nature, please carry your own EpiPen as we do not have one on site.

Dogs: To help everyone stay focused while we explore tiny fungi in close-knit groups, we kindly ask that you leave your furry friends at home for this event.

Exiting the property: This event will take place on private property and all participants must exit the property after the foray has ended.