The 2026 Korf Foray – Registration Information

Continuing a tradition which began in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina in the summer of 2023, the Richard P. Korf Memorial North American Ascomycete Foray (aka “The Korf Foray”) will be returning to the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center, located at Purchase Knob in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for a third, week-long foray from July 27th through August 4th, 2026.

As in 2025, this year’s event will resemble a biodiversity expedition. The emphasis will be on focused but unstructured field and lab components, as opposed to scheduled lectures or other curated programming. Participants are strongly encouraged to provide their own microscope(s) and any accompanying micro- and/or macro-photography equipment, in order to meaningfully contribute to our inventorying efforts. Collections will be made to herbarium-grade standards, databased in accordance with National Parks Service guidelines (MCMS), and tissue sampled on-site for future DNA sequencing. Vouchers will be accessioned by the Korf Foray’s ongoing institutional partner, the University of Tennessee Herbarium (TENN), with accompanying observations added to the Foray’s ongoing iNaturalist project. Allowances may be made for temporarily housing collections in participants’ home or personal fungaria, so long as certain requirements are met in advance, as stipulated in our National Parks Service collection permit.

The cost of attendance, per participant, is $685 for all eight days (arriving by noon on July 27th; departing the morning of August 4th). Registration includes meals, lodging, 24-hr access to the AHSLC grounds and facilities, and the collection privileges afforded by our NPS permit. Transportation to and from neighboring major airports may also be arranged in advance at no additional charge. Those wishing to participate for fewer than the full eight days are encouraged to contact korfforay@gmail.com to arrange for a reduced registration rate. Meals will be provided by an on-site caterer (prepared breakfast and dinner, sack lunch). Lodging at the AHSLC is extremely limited (approx. ten beds). Alternate lodging options include camping on the station’s tent platforms (weather permitting), as well as off-site lodging, which is available within 30 minutes of the station. Should the need arise, a discounted rate will be privately arranged with our “commuter” and “camper ” participants. Any off-site accommodations must be arranged independently, as well as daily transportation to and from the station/field. Participants wishing to elect for off-site lodging are encouraged to do so as early as possible, as these properties are likely to be booked well in advance.

As in previous years, scholarships will be available to students of ascomycetology for whom travel and registration costs represent an undue financial burden. Interested parties may apply by submitting a cover letter to korfforay@gmail.com containing the applicant’s name, age, pronouns, institutional affiliation (if any), area of taxonomic interest or expertise, background in mycology, and the goals they hope to achieve in attending the Korf Foray. General registration inquiries may be made to the same email address.

We look forward to hearing from you, and to mycologizing together in the temperate rain forest later this year.