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Wild foods are ubiquitous motivational tools for teaching botany, environmental education, cultural foodways, and survival. Edible wild plants are wild plants endowed with one or more parts that can be used for food if gathered at the appropriate stage of growth and properly prepared. The components of this definition are discussed with implications for safety. Educators must always take care not only to make a proper identification, but also make sure that only the "proper parts" are collected, at the "appropriate stages of growth," and "properly prepared." Three reasons that wild foods make a personal motivational connection with learners is that: (1) they stimulate a perspective shift from ignoring the natural world to realizing and appreciating the wonders of nature; (2) they represent a release from dependence and instill confidence that the student could fall back on wild foods if necessary; and (3) they provide romance and adventure, providing food in potential survival situations. Edible wild plants can act as experiential motivators in other areas: botany, Native American culture, environmental education, and survival training. Three major obstacles to using wild foods in experiential education programs are a lack of truly knowledgeable educators, possible liability associated with wild foods, and a concern for harming a fragile environment. Strategies are offered for overcoming these obstacles. (Author/SV)