This mushroom guide for kids is a free printable spotting sheet for forest hikes, originally created for Ranger Rick’s GreenHour. It’s geared toward kids ages 7 and up, and it gives families an easy way to notice the strange, beautiful fungi popping up along the trail. Important safety note for grown-ups: this is a look-only guide. Kids should never touch, pick, or taste any wild mushroom. Some lookalikes are dangerous, so this printable is for spotting and observing only.
- Best in fall, when fungi are most active
- Bring a small notebook to sketch finds (no picking, just looking)
- Always wash hands after a forest walk, even if no mushrooms were touched
