Friends of Fungi Spring Weekend Retreat
June 13-15, 2025 at Menla Resort, Phoenicia, NY
Catskill Fungi is proud to announce our 12th Friends of Fungi spring retreat at beautiful Menla Resort & Spa in Phoenicia, NY.
June 13-15, 2025
What:
Guided Mushroom Foraging Walk in the Forest
Indoor Oyster Mushroom & Outdoor “Garden Giant” Cultivation
Kombucha Fermentation & Tasting
Medicinal Mushroom Workshops
Meditation & Integration
When:
Friday evening, June 14th through Sunday morning, June 16th.
Where:
Menla Resort & Spa, 375 Pantherkill Rd, Phoenicia, NY 12464
Nestled in a valley of Panther Mountain in the heart of the Catskills, Menla is a place of tranquility and exceptional beauty.
Cost:
$558 - $1110 – Varies according to your choice of accommodations.
Commuters are welcome! Choose this option when you sign up.
SIGN UP HERE.
What to expect:
Fun, hands-on activities! We will learn low tech methods to cultivate gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, identify and harvest wild mushrooms, and make mushroom medicines. Scroll down to watch our video!
“We had a wonderful time! We learned a lot and came away with a new appreciation of fungi.”
– Chrissy
Participants will create/inoculate and take home:
• Indoor Oyster mushroom grow kit
• Outdoor Wine-cap Mushroom Starter
• Chaga tincture
• Foraging hand lens and Mushroom journal
• Deeper connection with fungi, nature, self, and friends
“I didn’t know what to expect when I signed up for Friends of Fungi at Menla. To this day, it tops my list as one of best experiences of the year. I met the most down to earth people and learned so much about the amazing world of fungi. John is a gifted instructor and brings so much positive energy and fun to all the activities. I plan on going again next year and the year after that and the year after that.”
– Linda
From the largest living organism on the planet to the creation of soil, fungi play an essential role in sustaining life on earth. They have been recycling and helping to heal the planet for millennia. Humans are learning to pair with fungi to improve our lives with the food and medicines this extraordinary “kin-dom” has to offer.
“Thank you for an amazing fungi education and adventure. I feel like you imparted all of us with a deeper understanding and appreciation for mushrooms, and a desire to dig deeper and continue to learn.”
– Dan
Come explore the interesting and ancient relationship fungi have with our world and our culture. Learn about fungi and mushrooms in history and as we currently know them. Discussions will include: biology and ecology of fungi, mushrooms as food and medicine, how fungal allies can create resilience in our agriculture and communities, gardening with mushrooms, and mushrooms to heal the planet.
Catskill Fungi professional guides, presenters, and private-walk leaders:
Erwin Karl (with Charlie), Aubrey Carter, special guest & psilocybin expert Delta Hunter, Gabriela D’Elia, John Michelotti
Schedule:
Friday, June 13:
3 - 6 pm Check-in
6 - 7 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Evening Program Intro and Welcome Circle
Evening Presentation: Mushrooms 101 – Biology and Ecology of Fungi - John
Saturday, June 14:
8 - 9am: Breakfast
9:30am: Characteristics to Identify Mushrooms
10am: Pick up Bag Lunch for picnic in the forest
10am - 1:30pm: Extended Mushroom Identification Walk: Finding Food and Medicine
1:30pm - 2:30pm Break
2:30 - 4pm: Afternoon Program 1 - Indoor Inoculation: Oysters on Sawdust. Grow your own oyster kit
Outdoor Inoculation: Wine-cap in Wood chips & Slurry
4 - 4:30pm: - Break
4:30 - 6pm: - Afternoon Program 2 - Kombucha, fermentation, & growing beneficial :
Medicinal Mushrooms: Health for the Body, Mind, and Planet
Chaga Tincture making workshop
6 - 7pm: Dinner
7:30-9pm: - Evening Program - Foraged Mushroom Collection Review
Special Guest: Delta Hunter - Meditation Circle & Heart Integration
9pm: Optional: open discussion at fire pit. Music Jam (bring instruments)
Sunday, June 15:
8 - 9am: Breakfast
9:30 - 11:30am: Morning Program – Mushroom Walk
Mushroom Cooking Class & Tasting
Closing Circle12:30 - 1:30pm: Lunch and Departure
*Please note: this schedule is subject to change.
“Thanks so much for a GREAT experience at Menla. I had a blast and learned so very much and am inspired to do more . . . my education has begun. Thanks again!”
– Eve
“Attending the Friends of Fungi retreat at Menla changed my life.”
– Veronica