Mushroom Classes
Learn about mushrooms - and have fun!
Wild Mushroom Identification Classes
Three seasonal classes. Real identification skills.
This is a structured classroom series designed to teach you how to confidently identify wild mushrooms throughout the season.
Across three separate classes — spaced through spring, summer, and fall — we focus on the species that are actively fruiting during that window.
Each session covers four or more key mushrooms in depth, along with their common look-alikes and the traits that separate a correct identification from a mistake.
These are not overview talks. They are focused identification courses.
You’ll learn how to evaluate cap structure, gills vs pores, spore color, habitat patterns, growth habits, and seasonal timing — and how those factors work together in real-world identification.
By the end of the series, you’ll understand not just individual species, but how to think through a mushroom
About Your Instructor
Mike Kempenich has spent more than two decades studying, teaching, and working with wild mushrooms across the Upper Midwest.
He has taught mushroom identification at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin and has led thousands of students through both classroom instruction and guided field education.
Beyond teaching, Mike founded Gentleman Forager, building the brand through commercial mushroom cultivation, wild harvesting, and restaurant supply. He later founded Forest to Fork — America’s first wild food grocery store, known for its 20-foot glass mushroom growing tower — before selling the business in 2021.
His work has been featured in outlets including MarketWatch, the Star Tribune, PBS Wisconsin, and MPR News.
Mike’s approach is grounded in biology, practical field experience, and clear communication — not folklore or guesswork.
Try our Online Mushroom Classes
Master Minnesota’s must-know summer mushrooms—fast and safely.
You get a downloadable slide deck packed with field photos and ID cheats—perfect to reopen on your phone right in the woods. Study at home, refresh on the trail, and forage with confidence all summer long.