Wild Mushroom Foraging For Beginners: Class + Forest Walk 2026

Shaggy Jack’s Wild Mushroom Foraging For Beginners classes have returned for our 9th year!

This wildly popular immersive mushroom workshop is ideal for beginners who wish to break through the fear factor and learn how to start identifying & harvesting wild mushrooms.

The class includes:

1. Live Classroom Presentation - 3.5 - 4 Hours

• basics of fungi biology
• forest habitat & mushroom ecology
• how to safely identify mushrooms
• common edible & medicinal mushrooms of Coastal BC
• processing, preserving & cooking tips for each mushroom
• mushroom harvesting methods & sustainability

2. Forest Foraging Walk - 2.5 - 3 Hours

In the second part, Shaggy Jack takes students on a forest foraging walk to a productive mushroom habitat where they get to apply their newfound identification skills in the field with guidance from an expert. Students get to take home a variety of edible mushrooms to try out.

Dates & Locations

Live classes start in the venue locations below. Doors open at 9:00 am. Classes start at 9:30 sharp & the day concludes around 4:00 - 4:30 pm. Sometimes classes may go overtime, so please budget your time with this in mind. 

Forest walks begin at 1:30 pm following the classroom session. Forest walk locations will vary, and students will need to supply their own transportation from the classroom to the Forest Walk location, usually a 5-15 minute drive from the classroom. 

Schedule
September 26-27 weekend - TBA
Saturday October 3 - @ Foraged: A Wild Mushroom Retreat @ Stay Wilder Eco-Resort
Saturday October 10 - @ Gibsons Public Market 
Sunday October 18 - @ Up The Creek Backpacker's Lodge
October 24-25 weekend - TBA
Saturday October 31 - @ Gibsons Public Market
Saturday November 7 - @ MushrooMania! Festival @ Gibsons Public Market
November weekend dates - TBA

Locations
Gibsons Public Market - Coastal Room (top floor) - 473 Gower Point Road, Gibsons
Stay Wilder - Coast Gravity Park, Dusty Road, Sechelt
Up The Creek Backpacker's Lodge - 1261 Roberts Creek Rd, Roberts Creek

Book a Mushroom Foraging Experience with Shaggy Jack in Fall 2026 & receive 10% off your stay at Up The Creek Backpacker's Lodge. 

Please read our Terms & Conditions prior to registering for the event. Participants will be required to sign a Liability Waiver before all Forest Walks. 

GRAD Discount - If you've taken this class before, or have joined Shaggy Jack on a previous Forest Walk, you are eligible for a 15% discount - use discount code BEGINNERGRAD at checkout. Note: Students using the Grad Discount may be required to verify previous participation. Please email us if you need to check your eligibility. 

GROUP Discount - Register with (a) friend(s) or (a) family member(s) to receive a 15% discount for everybody in your group. Use discount code BEGINNERGROUP.