GULF STATES WINTER FORAY
DECEMBER 2 - 4, 2011
Percy Quin State Park, McComb MS
FINAL DATE FOR THE FOOD COUNT AND ROOM RELEASE IS NOVEMBER 16. WE MUST RECEIVE YOUR REGISTRATION FORM BY THAT DATE, OR CALL OR EMAIL PATRICIA LEWIS TO HOLD YOUR SPOT.
Come join us for our return to this rustic park near the Louisiana state line. The Park, one of the original parks constructed by the CCC in the 1930?s, has 1700 acres of rolling hills, a lake, golf course, nature trails, and other outdoor activities. Camping and RV parking is available. It is located approx. 75 miles north of New Orleans. We are able to collect in the Park, and we plan to use the nature trails. There is also a National Forest nearby, for those who prefer to go there. There has been more rain in the area than in Texas and Louisiana, and we hope for good collecting.
Directions: Off I-55, take the Fernwood exit 13, go west on Fernwood, go right at stop sign on Hwy 48, and a very short distance to Park on left.
Our mycologists for this foray will be our own Resident Mycologists: Jay Justice, David Lewis, and Juan Luis Mata. We plan a round-table discussion of fungi on Saturday evening, following a presentation by Jay Justice on "Southernfied Mushrooms". This is the presentation he gave at NAMA 2011, held in August in Clarion, PA.
Cost of the Foray, $242 single/ $320 double, will include lodging, Saturday lunch and catered dinner, and socials both nights. All rooms/cabins have full kitchen facilities, so bring your own breakfast supplies. There are no microwaves, but you may bring your own if needed.
On entering the Park, follow the signs to the Park Office. Enter the building and proceed past the main desk to the double doors on the right past the game room. This is known as the Dining Room. We will be there to meet and greet you after 2PM.
We will be lodged at Percy Quin State Park. We will provide a rooming list to the Park before the foray. All lodging questions should be directed to Patricia Lewis, NOT to the Park. Room keys will be available at the Park Office until 5PM, and at the Ranger Station at the main park entrance from 5PM until 9PM. After 9PM, see Patricia Lewis in the Dining Room for your key. Check-in time is 3PM and check-out time is 11AM, for all rooms.
We have reserved 5 rooms at the Motel/Lodge, 9 cabins and 4 chalet rooms. All have 2 beds, except 1 motel/lodge room. All beds are queen sized. There is a 2-story Motel /Lodge, all cabins stand alone, and a chalet is basically a duplex. See the description of the lodging on the registration form to make your selection.
On Friday night, we have tables reserved from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at Mr. Whiskers Family Catfish, 5196 Hwy 48 West, McComb, just 1 ½ miles north of the Park on Hwy 48. They have meals starting at $5, with fried, baked, and boiled selections, as well as an AYCE option. Ask to be seated with the Mushroom group. We will begin our social after dinner around 8:30PM in the Dining Room, with mushroom slides, and discussion of field trips and Saturday activities.
On Saturday, we will provide lunch items in the Dining Room from 11:30AM to 1:00PM. As we will foray in the Park, you will be able to return during those hours to have your lunch. Saturday dinner will be catered in the Dining Room beginning at 6:30PM. After dinner, we will have presentations and discussions, followed by a social.
Sunday morning at 9AM we will have the "walk around the tables", a discussion of the fungi found, by the mycologists. Check out time is 11:00AM.
