We are very pleased to announce that registration for the 2017 AMS Annual Foray will open on Saturday, July 15 at 5:00 p.m. Spaces are limited by Forest Service regulations, so please sign up promptly. 

UPDATE 7/19: Open enrollment has been suspended as we have reached the maximum number of participants for Saturday's foray. There are a few spaces left on Sunday, and you are welcome for camping and dining on either night. Please register yourself for the waiting list and we will add you manually. 

FORAY DATES: Friday evening, Aug 4 -- Saturday August 5 -- Sunday August 6, 2017

FORAY DESTINATION: This year, since the NAMA Regional Foray is being held in the White Mountains the weekend after the AMS foray, we will break with tradition by holding our annual foray in the Payson/Mogollon Rim area.

ALTERNATE DATE: In case of poor conditions throughout the state, the event will be held August 19-20 instead.

ALTERNATE DESTINATION: In case of poor conditions only in the Payson area, but good conditions elsewhere, the alternate destination will be either Flagstaff or the White Mountains.

GO/NO-GO DECISION DATE: Final determination of our destination and date will be made late in the day on Wednesday, August 2.

MEETING PLACE: Sharp Creek Campground, Highway 260, 23 miles East of Payson, AZ.

MEETING TIME FOR FORAYS:
9:00 AM Saturday, Aug 5. 
8:00 AM Sunday, Aug 6.

You can register for one or both forays, but please let us know as early as possible if you can't participate in either one, because we expect to have a waiting list of people who can come up for the day to take your place.

FORAY CAPTAIN: Chris May

LOCAL SCOUTS: TBA

FORAY MYCOLOGIST/GUEST SPEAKER: TBA

MYCOLOGY SKILL LEVEL: General/All

THEME: Education, Identification, Edibles

PHYSICAL FITNESS LEVEL: Gentle. You should be able to walk a mile or two on flat ground or shallow slopes at 7500 feet of altitude.

VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS: Any vehicle, but high clearance is recommended

MEETUP FORUM: TBA

ASSOCIATED EVENTS: 

On Friday evening, 8/4, those coming early to the campsite may participate in a potluck dinner if desired. BYOB. Bring your own meat or main dish for grilling, and then the following according to the first letter of your last name: 

• A-I: Dessert
• J-Q: Vegetable dish
• R-Z: Bread or other starch

On Saturday evening, 8/5, an optional barbecue dinner will be served by the Society. Price is $7 for adults and $4 for children. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and side dishes will be followed by S'Mores over the campfire. BYOB. Deadline for reserving and paying for dinner is by Tuesday, Aug. 1.

Bring a couple of bare metal coat hangers for roasting weenies and marshmallows over the campfire. If you have a gas or electric lantern, that would be helpful also.  

Before dinner on Saturday, Mike and Lisa Goodwin will be organizing some fun for the youngest mycophiles, such as a scavenger hunt and mushroom related drawings and coloring.

EXPECTED WEATHER: TBA

LODGING: There is room for up to 75 people to camp at the site on the nights of Friday, Aug. 4 and Saturday, Aug. 5. A nominal fee will be collected to help cover the cost of the campground rental. Check in is after 2 pm and check out before 1 pm.

Those who do not wish to camp may want to book a hotel room in the area. Rooms fill up quick in Rim Country during the summer, so don't delay.

OTHER INFO: 

A small, optional donation will be collected at the time of registration and will be passed along to Natural Restorations for forest restoration projects.