Mushrooms in the Margins: 2026 High Park Bioblitz
About this Event
Mushrooms in the Margins: 2026 High Park Bioblitz
Come join us for a fun-filled day exploring the fascinating world of fungi in High Park! This event is for QT2S+ BIPOC naturalists aged 18-30 who are interested in gaining field skills in local fungi/flora identification, photo-documentation, and safe handling procedures for biological sample collection/ fungi inventories, while building community. An overview of mushroom anatomy, common misconceptions and key fungi ID tips will be provided (indoors) before a guided, unhurried 3km round-trip nature walk.
You can expect to get up close and personal with fungi, bugs and other ground-dwelling beings before we break for lunch and an informal discussion about the role that community science programs
can play in building urban climate resilience in the GTA.
All registered participants will be provided:
- Lunch, trail snacks and refreshments
- TTC fare reimbursement
- All bio-sampling field supplies & PPE needed for the day
- 1 free macro hand lens
- Waterproof notebooks and stationery
- Locally sourced, natural insect repellent
- DNA testing for fungi samples collected (3 per participant)
Participants are encouraged to bring reusable water
bottles, closed-toed
shoes, hats, sunscreen and a charged phone for uploading field observations to iNaturalist.
Participants from last year's Mushrooms in the Margins: CWF Great Canadian Bioblitz event (High Park, 2025).
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Group & project introductions
Info: Introductions, opening ceremony & land acknowledgement to start the workshop off in a good way.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Presentation: Anatomy, misconceptions & ID tips
Info: An overview of mushroom anatomy, common misconceptions about fungi and key identification tips. Break to pack trail snacks and sign waiver forms.
🕑: 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM
Nature walk - 4km loop
Info: Walking tour of High Park's fungal hotspots: fungi/flora identification, photo-documentation and sample collection period. As part of this workshop, participants are encouraged to upload any observations made during the collection period to iNaturalist's "LGBTQ+ Naturalists" project, where they can receive identification support and learn more from other taxonomy specialists.
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Lunch & informal discussion
Info: Lunch and an informal discussion on the group's findings, learnings and/or reflections from the field day. Event organisers will gather all field samples collected and submit these for DNA testing after the event. Participants may opt-in to be contacted for DNA sample results, sharing feedback/testimonials on the workshop, and/or to receive communications for future events.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00
