When: October 23, 2025 @ 3:30 pm
Let’s learn about fascinating fungi!
There’s more to fungi than meets the eye! These mysterious critters aren’t plants or animals, they are their own special group. Attend this free Kidzone program at the Hudson Library (554 Main St, Highlands, NC 28741) to learn all about mushrooms, and have a chance to investigate some real specimens up close!
This event will occur from 3:30pm-5:00pm on Thursday, October 23rd. During the first half of the event, Outreach Director Skye will guide beginner mycologists (mushrooms scientists!) through a slideshow presentation where we will discover what a fungus is, the purpose of a mushroom, what fungi eat, and how these creatures benefit the world around them. After the talk, attendees will be invited to explore and ask questions about real mushroom specimens!
Please note: all mushrooms are safe to touch and handle, and no deadly poisonous specimens will be available at the exploration table, but as a precaution parents are requested to to keep an eye on their young children as they explore the mushrooms. Thank you!
This program is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. This event is geared towards children 5-12 years old, but we welcome attendees of all ages! Email Skye ([email protected]) with any questions.
MEET YOUR TEACHER
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Director, Skye Cahoon inspires people to connect with their local landscape and value the conservation efforts that protect it. As a kid, she could often be found climbing trees, hunting for salamanders, or chasing fish at the swimming hole. Her passion for nature grew with her, and in 2020 she earned her Zoology B.S. from the University of Maine. Integrating her experience in wildlife research with her excitement about the natural world, Skye now strives to make science fun and accessible. She leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and enjoys continuing to learn about the diverse and fascinating creatures that call the Southern Appalachians home.
