Are you ready to learn in the wild this summer?

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy promotes stewardship of Rocky Mountain National Park and similar lands through education and philanthropy. One method of educating individuals is through its field institute program. These classes are field-based, feature hands-on learning and cover a wide range of topics, including foraging, birds, cultural history, wildflowers, photography and more.

The conservancy has started offering these classes on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park near Grand Lake. Previously, these classes were only offered on the east side near Estes Park.

Last year, the Sky-Hi News team took two classes and here are their experiences.

Edible and medicinal plants course

On July 30, 2024, reporter Emily Gutierrez took the class on edible and medicinal plants found in the Colorado mountains. This class was taught by Leanne Benton who is a retired Rocky Mountain National Park ranger.

Upon arriving to the Grand Lake Center at 8 a.m., there was a bus awaiting participants. Before heading out to the destination, everyone introduced themselves and stated why they took the class.

A majority of the participants for this course were women with some health ailment.

Benton shared that she had very intense tendonitis in her shoulder that she described as pain worse than childbirth. She has a special connection to a plant called arnica, which she said changed her life. Arnica is a plant that grows in the Rocky Mountains and is used topically for a variety of conditions including bruises, muscle aches, joint pain and more.

The instructor led the group through a small hike in the Arapaho National Forest bordering the park. Picking plants is not allowed in Rocky Mountain National Park, but is permitted under certain conditions on national forest system lands.

Non-commercial and harvests in small amounts on forest service land usually fall under “incidental use” and does not require a permit. On Bureau of Land Management land, small amounts of mushrooms, seeds, flowers and berries may be collected for personal use in most areas. However, always make sure to study what regulations exist when planning on harvesting and foraging.

Participants learned about plants commonly found on High Country trails, how to ethically harvest, the medical uses of native plants, and how to identify edible and toxic plants.

Wild mushrooms and fungi course

Former Sky-Hi News editor Tara Alatorre took the wild mushrooms and fungi of Rocky Mountain National Park field course that was led by mycologist Jon Sommer on July 29, 2024. The course started in a classroom setting and participants learned about the basics of fungi ecology. Sommer shared his expertise about how to identify different mushrooms, and showed everyone different common species that can be found in the Rockies.

After the instructional introduction, attendees loaded up and headed to the national park to forage for mushrooms under Sommer’s guidance. It is against regulations to forage or remove fungi from the park, but Sommer had a special permit to do so.

Within the first minute of walking on the Colorado River Trail the group found its first mushroom. Sommer helped participants identify it, explaining how the shape, color, gills, smell and structure can be used to properly identify the species.

Eventually the group spread out to find more fungi species to identify. Then, Sommer sauteed some of the edible species for participants to taste under a big fir tree.

All participants came out of the course with a newfound appreciation for the amazing role fungi plays in ecosystems.

Anyone who wants to forage for mushrooms on public lands needs to check with local wildlife managers about rules and regulations, and should research sustainable harvest methods. In addition, some mushroom species can be poisonous and potentially deadly. Anyone foraging should know how to properly identify the edible species of mushroom they are looking for, including using a field guide.

2025 field courses

The conservancy has two courses on the Rocky Mountain National Park’s west side for summer 2025. Course participants will meet at the Grand Lake Center and travel together to locations inside the park.

The Illustrated Journal: Painting and Drawing Your Life

Immerse yourself in the art of illustrated journaling during this two-day workshop from June 25-26. Each paint and drawing session lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and participants can take inspiration from the surrounding Kawuneeche Valley.

Introduction to Mushrooms

This class introduces attendees to the world of fungi. There will be a two-hour lecture about fungi, followed by a guided field tour to observe mushrooms in their natural habitats. The session is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and attendees should be prepared to walk one to two miles over the course of the program.

The next class on the east side of the park is Mindfulness and Birding on June 4. For a full list of courses, including those on the east side, visit RMConservancy.org/Learn-With-Us.