Kymberly Draeger

I am the forest pathologist for South-Central Alaska (Forest Service - Forest Health Protection - State, Private, and Tribal Forestry), and a mycologist at heart.  I am interested in all dead/dying trees as they decompose into soil, and I spend a lot of time in the microscope (the only way to look at pathogens and crust fungi).  I grew Oyster mushrooms for a M.S. and accessed fungal biodiversity microscopically and molecularly for a PhD from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. 

 
 

Aviva Kinoko

Aviva kinoko, born in Israel, is an eco-world traveler passionate about mushrooms working and volunteering in mushroom farms around the world. She is a phenomenal painter, artist and yoga-instructor. She teaches Hebrew as well as  speaks Spanish and is learning Arabic. She loves to cook and eat mushrooms and spends alot of her time in nature with her beloved dog Amadou! Her vivacious attitude towards life brings out the best in others around her. 

 
 
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Ken Hodges

Recently retired from the USFS- Cordova Ranger District, Ken has taken several mycology and fleshy fungi courses at Humboldt State University under the strict tutelage of Dr. David “Sergeant” Largent. His main fungal interests include identifying edible mushrooms and testing their culinary properties. Ken has lived in Cordova for 15+ years and spent most of that time "on the hunt" for anything that will cook up well or be preserved.

Erin Cooper

A Wildlife Biologist for the Forest Service, her work has ranged from shorebirds and waterfowl to mountain goats and moose with a focus on ecosystems of the Copper River Delta. She is an avid forager and local Artist and will be teaching the Mushroom Identification 101 Class

 

Christina Das

Christina Das is a Biological Science Technician with the U.S. Forest Service. Christina is passionate about all things wild food, with an affinity for mushrooms. In addition, she is especially interested in the mycelial findings from “The Mother Tree” project (Suzanne Simard). When not in the forest Christina enjoys traveling, making music, and all the wellness activities.