Students gathered on Oct. 1 to learn about and hunt for mushrooms and fungi.
Over 20 enthusiastic students gathered in Elon’s Historic Neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct.1, for a unique adventure—a mushroom hunt led by Associate Professor of Biology and fungi expert, Antonio Izzo. The event, organized by Historic Neighborhood Faculty Director Claudine Moreau and Faculty in Residence Kevin Otos, kicked off with an engaging mini-lesson on the fascinating world of fungi.
Armed with new knowledge, students set off to explore the campus grounds in front of the Carlton building, scouring the area for different types of mushrooms. After a short search, they reconvened to display their finds. Izzo organized the collection by appearance and color, explaining the important ecological roles mushrooms play in their habitats.
To keep the adventure going, Izzo encouraged students to widen their search perimeter and use the iNaturalist app to document their finds. The second round of mushroom discoveries popped with a vibrant array of colors — thanks to the recent rainfall that boosted the fungal growth on campus.
It was a fun and educational experience, leaving students with a deeper appreciation for the hidden world of fungi thriving around them. Historic Neighborhood plans to make this event an annual fall tradition.