Lead Instructor
Lauren Ré
Lauren Ré is a Mycologist & Nature Educator pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Her research focuses on the taxonomy of the fungal family Hygrophoraceae, known as Waxy Caps. She holds a B.S from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she studied ecology and cryptogamic organisms including fungi, lichens, slime molds and bryophytes. She is passionate about community science and fostering greater awareness and understanding of fungal diversity.
Assistant Instructor
Owen Zecca
Owen Zecca is a fungal biologist, cultivator, student, forager, and enthusiast. He is currently in a Master’s program at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. He has conducted fungal biodiversity research in Jamaica for the past seven years in addition to running a mushroom farm and spawn laboratory. He is interested in regenerative food systems, biodiversity preservation, and applying fungal technologies for a more sustainable future.