Shaggy Jack + Stay Wilder Present
Oct 2-4, 2026 | Sunshine Coast, BC
A weekend-long, immersive educational retreat into the world of wild mushroom foraging, led by Shaggy Jack, who has been teaching people about mushrooms on the Sunshine Coast since 2018.
In the heart of the rainforest, on the traditional territories of the shíshálh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations, you’ll learn all things fungi — how to identify and forage the best edible wild mushrooms of Coastal BC — before sitting down to a chef-prepared feast featuring what you harvested that day.
At night, you’ll wind down in the cedar barrel sauna with new mushroom-loving friends, then fall asleep to the stars in your cozy geodesic dome at Stay Wilder, a solar-powered eco-resort tucked deep in the coastal rainforest.
Led by local mushroom expert, Shaggy Jack, and hosted at Stay Wilder, a solar-powered eco-resort tucked deep in the coastal rainforest of the Sunshine Coast, BC, Foraged is a 2-night wild mushroom foraging course & immersion!
You’ll learn:
Then you’ll put your knowledge into action with a multi-hour foraging hike with Shaggy Jack where you will identify and harvest mushrooms. Afterwards, chef Ken Hookham prepares a wild mushroom-themed dinner featuring the mushrooms you harvested!
At night, unwind in the cedar barrel sauna and watch the stars as you drift to sleep in your cozy dome. The next day, you’ll have a slow morning and brunch with your new fungi-loving friends, before another guided foraging hike!
Friday, October 2
Guests arrive and settle into their domes, then join Shaggy Jack for a welcome gathering with light snacks and drinks. Dinner is served on-site, where guests can meet the group, followed by a sauna session and optional stargazing and fire (if weather permits).
Saturday, October 3
The day opens with on-site breakfast, followed by Shaggy Jack’s in-classroom foraging course — fungi biology, habitat, identification, and harvesting basics. After a packed lunch, the group heads into the forest for a guided foraging walk, applying what they learned and bringing mushrooms back with them. Free time to rest, explore or sauna follows, then dinner by chef Ken Hookham, built from the day’s harvest. The evening closes with fireside stargazing.
Sunday, October 4
A later start to the morning with the option to sleep in, explore, sip a slow coffee or sauna, then enjoy brunch prepared on-site. After pack-up and checkout, there’s an off-site foraging walk with Shaggy Jack before a final farewell.
Meet your Guide
Jody “Shaggy Jack” Franklin is of Otipemisiwak Métis heritage and grew up learning to forage, fish and hunt. He started harvesting mushrooms in 1978 at age 5 when he picked morels in Saskatchewan with his family, starting his lifelong fascination with mushrooms.
When he moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2012, he became a full-time forager. In 2018, he decided to share his mushroom knowledge and harvesting skills with others, designing & creating the wildly popular Shaggy Jack’s Wild Mushroom Foraging For Beginners class.
Jody lives in Gibsons with his wife Andrea and son Orca. Since 2023, Jody & Andrea have been operating Shaggy Jack’s Food Market in Gibsons Public Market, a grocery store with a focus on local food.
Meet your HOST
Stay Wilder is an eco-glamping resort designed to reconnect you to your inner wild. Intentionally designed with local amenities, a regenerative approach, and a constant question “how can we make this better for people and the planet?” It’s a place that will restore your connection to the magic of the forest and your own place in the natural world.
It’s a place that will make you feel as good as the photos you will inevitably share.
Fun facts that will make you love it more:
Oh… and there’s a sauna & 160 acres of rainforest.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Two night stay in a private or double occupancy Stay Wilder eco-dome.
An in-depth course taught by Shaggy Jack teaching you:
2 multi-hour forest foraging hikes with Shaggy Jack focused on mushroom identification and harvesting.
All meals included (2 breakfasts, 2 dinners and a picnic lunch), featuring a gourmet wild mushroom feast prepared by chef Ken Hookham, with mushrooms you harvested.
Unlimited use of wood-fired sauna, stargazing audio and forest spaces at Stay Wider.
A like-minded group of mushroom loving people.
October 2-4, 2026
Arrive Friday afternoon. Depart after lunch on Sunday.
Single occupancy: $1,999 + tax
Double occupancy: $1,599/person + tax
Only six domes are available for single (you!) or double occupancy (you + a loved one)
We consider giving back a great privilege. We will be planting trees as a token of thanks for your stay. This means your stay makes a direct local impact. We support local businesses, including indigenous businesses whenever possible. Each stay conserves 4800 litres of water uses the power of sunshine.
This retreat is for mushroom lovers, nature newbies, and the forest curious. If you love connecting with nature, learning new skills, nourishing food, forest ecology, or being surrounded by mother nature—you’ll feel right at home. No need to be an experienced forager—just bring your curiosity, questions, and excitement to learn!
No. We’ll start with all the beginner basics. Jody loves to share his knowledge and guidance as a seasoned forager. If you’ve foraged before or never given it a try, you’re in the right place.
You do not! Bring your hiking gear and some rainproof options just in case. Your smartphone or camera may come in handy, and you might like to bring a journal to capture notes. You’ll spend plenty of time in the forest on our walks so bring what you need to be comfortable on a foraging walk.
This is a small, intimate gathering—just six domes, and therefore 12 guests max. The education and foraging component will be in a slightly larger group (no more than 20) as we are opening the retreat to locals as well. We want to keep it our time together meaningful, fun, restful, and rooted in nature connection.
Our domes are cozy, stylish, and thoughtfully designed for a deeply restful, inspiring stay. Each one has an organic queen mattress and bedding, locally-made kimonos, locally-crafted reclaimed wood furniture, a private hot shower, a private toilet, Nespresso machine, kettle, and a power station for charging all of your devices.
You can stay in your dome by yourself (single occupancy), or bring a friend or loved one (double occupancy).
No. To encourage disconnection from devices and reconnection to the world, there is no wifi at Stay Wilder, though there is cell reception.
Absolutely. Lots of guests come alone—and many leave with new friendships. Stay Wilder is an inclusive, welcoming, non-intimidating space. If you’re craving solo reconnection, this is a perfect way to make that happen.
We’re located on BC’s Sunshine Coast, roughly 2.5 hours from Vancouver, and 15 mins from the nearest town, Sechelt, BC.
Uh…incredible. Think chef-prepared, seasonal, nourishing meals made with love. We prioritize local ingredients and happily accommodate dietary needs (just let us know in advance).
We’ll don our rain gear and enjoy the magic of the coastal rainforest. All activities are designed to be educational and fun, rain or shine—and we’ll have cozy indoor options for gathering as needed.
Due to the intimate nature of this retreat and limited spots, all bookings are non-refundable. However, if you can’t make it, you’re welcome to transfer your spot to someone else. (Please reach out if that happens—we’ll do our best to help.)
We’d love to answer them. Just email us at stay@staywilder.eco and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
Grab your Spot:
Instructions below
Grab your Spot:
Instructions below
$200 OFF per person >>> First 3 Bookings PROMO!
