SCHOOL OF SELF-RELIANCE
2013 SCHEDULE
Always RSVP at least one week ahead of time --
via email, or call the office at (626) 791-3217or mobile (323) 605-7283
>>>Location details at bottom of page<<<
Please come to all outings with a canteen of WATER,
a KNIFE (simple folder is OK),
and a BOWL (since we make a wild food salad at nearly every outing).
Also, we bring our books, DVDs, fire-starters, and other tools from our Store
to each outing. Let us know if there are products you'd like us to bring.
SPECIALS THROUGH END OF MARCH
Sign up in advance for any 3 classes, but pay in advance for only TWO!
Also see Store for Current Specials...
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Learn how to collect natural fibres and make twine, rope, brushes, sandals, netting, & baskets. A wonderful skill! Location 3, Switzers Camp in the Angeles National Forest.
2013
Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.
SURVIVAL SKILLS INTENSIVE, $51. We’ll be in the Angeles Forest in the Upper Arroyo, a mix of riparian, chaparral, and higher-elevation plants. We’ll learn about slings, snares, wild plants, weaving, primitive fire, etc. Location 1. This is Armed Forces Day. All active military are FREE today.
Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.
WILD FOOD OUTING. $20. This is a unique chaparral environment alongside the golf course, where the trail leads us to a riparian environment. We’ll see a variety of plants, including exotics, chaparral natives, and riparian. Location 6, Pasadena. Meet at the SW corner of Washington and West. See Thomas Guide pg. 565, E1.
Monday, May 27, Memorial Day
For details on today’s event in Highland Park, go to www.wtinc.info.
Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m.
FIRE WORKSHOP. $25. Fire is a fundamental skill that everyone should master. We’ll practice the bow drill, hand drill, plow, pump drill, batteries, flint and steel, reflectors, etc. There will also be a short walk where you can collect some fire components, and we’ll collect a wild salad. Pasadena, Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
June 8-9 weekend.
There will be an EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXPO this weekend in Bakersfield at the Kern County Fairground. Christopher Nyerges of the School Of Self-reliance will be a speaker and exhibitor. Please join us. The web site for the Expo is www.prepare2endure.com. Check the site for admission fee, and schedule. Directions from the Interstate 5, from the Los Angeles/ San Diego area: Go north on the 5, take Hwy 99 into Bakersfield to the Ming Avenue exit; go east 1 1/2 miles to South P Street.
Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.
BOW-MAKING CLASS, $34. Learn the basics of how to make a regular self-bow (one piece of wood), from start to (hopefully) finish. Bring a small axe and a knife. You’ll learn how to select wood, how to tiller, etc. If we have the time, we will collect wild food and make a salad. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
Sunday, June 16, Father’s Day
For details on today’s event in Highland Park, go to www.wtinc.info.
Friday, June 21, 7 p.m. Five-week Survival Skills Class, Pasadena City College. $59.
Call (626) 585-7608 for information and registration. Class topics include uses of wild plants, ways to make Fire (without matches), water (finding, storing, purifying), shelter in emergencies, tools and weapons, etc. Taught by Christopher Nyerges.
Saturday, June 22, 10 a.m.
DESERT SURVIVAL SKILLS, $34.We'll focus on desert survival skills, such as dealing with the heat, plant ID, fire-making, finding water with transpiration bag and solar still, shelter, and more. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
Wednesday, June 26, Noon
MINI-FIRE WORKSHOP, $20. In this afternoon workshop, you’ll learn how to make fire with the bow and drill, hand drill, flint and steel, and magnesium. Then, we’ll go on a walk and collect a few wild foods for a pre-dinner wild salad snack. Pasadena’s Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m.
WILD FOOD OUTING + Make a Solar Oven!, $25. We’ll begin by showing how to make a low-cost but effective solar oven (for use at home, not on the trail). We’ll then walk about and learn about wild foods, hopefully collecting enough to make a salad and maybe soup. You’ll see some fire-making skills too. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
Thursday, July 4, Independence Day
For details on today’s event in Highland Park, go to www.wtinc.info
Saturday, July 6, 10 a.m.
PREPARED-NESS SEMINAR & Wild Food Walk. $25. Are you ready for the possibility of the next earthquake, the next blackout, the next stock market crash? Or are you simply a pragmatist who wants to be ready for anything? You’ll learn about how to produce and store food, store water, alternatives to electricity, things to store, toilet alternatives, and more. A very “real” discussion about what you need to know, with lots of room for questions. Then we’ll go on a wild food walk and collect salad. Hahamongna Watershed Park. Location 2.
Wednesday, July 10, Noon.
PREPARED-NESS SEMINAR & Wild Food Walk. $20. Are you ready for the possibility of the next earthquake, the next blackout, the next stock market crash? Or are you simply a pragmatist who wants to be ready for anything? You’ll learn about how to produce and store food, store water, alternatives to electricity, things to store, toilet alternatives, and more. A very “real” discussion about what you need to know, with lots of room for questions. Then we’ll go on a wild food walk and collect salad. Hahamongna Watershed Park. Location 2.
Saturday, July 13, 10 a.m.
SURVIVAL SKILLS INTENSIVE, $51. We’ll be in the Hahamongna Watershed Park in the Upper Arroyo, a mix of riparian, chaparral, and introduced plants. We’ll learn all the basics, including simple weaponry, wild plants, weaving, primitive fire, shelter, etc. Location 2.
Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m.
WILD FOOD OUTING and KNIFE/TOOL Lesson, $20. We’ll begin with a discussion of primitive knives (and related tools) and how to make them, and how to choose a good camp knife. Then we’ll explore the park in search of wild food, and make a salad. Location 2, Hahamongna Watershed Park; entrance at Foothill and Oak Grove Dr. in Pasadena. Meet at southern end of the upper area. [pg. 535, E5].
Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m.
ORIENTEERING CLASS. $25. Learn how to use a map and compass. We’ll cover the basics of orienteering, which includes how to read and use a map, how to use a compass, and other “natural” ways to plot directions. We’ll go on a short plant walk, and possibly do some primitive fire-making. Hahamongna Watershed Park. Location 2. Bring a compass.
Saturday, Aug. 3, 9:30 a.m.
PREPARED-NESS SEMINAR & Wild Food Walk. $20. Are you ready for the possibility of the next earthquake, the next blackout, the next stock market crash? Or are you simply a pragmatist who wants to be ready for anything? You’ll learn about how to produce and store food, store water, alternatives to electricity, things to store, toilet alternatives, and more. A very “real” discussion about what you need to know, with lots of room for questions. Then we’ll go on a plant walk and learn about edible and medicinal native plants. Switzers Camp, Location 3. You must obtain a Forest Adventure Pass.
Saturday, Aug. 10, 9:30 a.m.
WEAVING and WILD FOOD Workshop, $20. We’ll walk in this mountain stream-side environment and learn how to make twine, brushes, and baskets using local materials. We’ll also see what sorts of wild foods can be eaten at this higher elevation. Switzers Camp, Location 3. You must obtain a Forest Adventure Pass.
Saturday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m.
ACORN PROCESSING and WILD FOOD Class. $20. Ever wonder how the Native Americans turned bitter acorns into tasty foods? We will process acorns from start to finish. We’ll crack the acorns, boil them, grind them, and cook something. We’ll try a few variations. We’ll also explore and find some of the common wild foods for salad and soup. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m.
DESERT SURVIVAL SKILLS, $34. We'll focus on desert survival skills, such as dealing with the heat, plant ID, fire-making, finding water with transpiration bag and solar still, shelter, and more. In Location 9, Orcas Park, in the Big Tujunga Wash, northeast of Hansen Dam, in Lake View Terrace. From the 210, exit Osborne and go east to Orcas Ave. and enter the park. We’ll meet in the southern-most parking area. [pg. 503, A2].
Saturday, August 31, 10 a.m.
GOURD WORKSHOP. $25. Here’s another ancient skill that you’ll enjoy learning. Each person will work on turning an ornamental gourd into a bowl for eating, or perhaps a canteen. We’ll bring tools, but if you have a good knife, hacksaw, fine files, bring them! If time, we’ll also collect wild foods and have a great salad in the bowls we just made. Location 2, Hahamongna Watershed Park; entrance at Foothill and Oak Grove Dr. in Pasadena. Meet at southern end of the upper area. [pg. 535, E5]. Be SURE to RSVP for this one so we bring enough gourds!
Saturday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m.
BOW-MAKING CLASS, $34. Learn the basics of how to make a regular self-bow (one piece of wood), from start to (hopefully) finish. Bring a small axe and a knife. You’ll learn how to select wood, how to tiller, etc. If we have the time, we will collect wild food and make a salad. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
Wednesday, Sept. 11, Noon
MINI-WEAPONRY WORKSHOP, $20.
In this afternoon class, you’ll learn about simple snares, deadfalls, triggers, the quail trap, and then we’ll go on a short walk to look at suitable woods for traps, and collect a wild food salad. Hahamongna Watershed Park. Location 2.
Saturday, September 14, 10 a.m.
WILD FOOD & SHELTER WORKSHOP, $25. We’ll make at least two shelters in the forested area in this park, and learn about various emergency shelters that you can carry in your pack. Plus, learn what to do in your own backyard in the case of an earthquake. We will also explore for some wild foods that we’ll sample in a salad. . In Location 9, Orcas Park, in the Big Tujunga Wash, northeast of Hansen Dam, in Lake View Terrace. From the 210, exit Osborne and go east to Orcas Ave. and enter the park. We’ll meet in the southern-most parking area. [pg. 503, A2].
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.
SURVIVAL SKILLS INTENSIVE, $51. We’ll be at Switzers Camp in the Angeles National Forest, and we’ll learn about uses of wild plants for food, primitive fire-making, water purification, shelter, slings and snares, and maybe weaving. Switzers Camp, Location 3. You must obtain a Forest Adventure Pass.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.
WEAVING and WILD FOOD Workshop, $20. We’ll walk in this mountain stream-side environment and learn how to make twine, brushes, and baskets using local materials. We’ll also see what sorts of wild foods can be eaten at this higher elevation. Switzers Camp, Location 3. You must obtain a Forest Adventure Pass.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.
WEAPONRY WORKSHOP, $34. We’ll focus on how to make simple weapons, both primitive and modern, both active and passive, including snares and snare variations, various deadfalls and trigger mechanisms, nets, slings, atlatls and more. Bring your knife. Pasadena’s Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.
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Locations
Location 1
Upper Arroyo. West end of Altadena Drive, Alt. 3 blocks west of Lincoln [pg. 535, F4].
Location 2
Hahamongna Watershed Park; entrance at Foothill and Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena. Meet at south end of the upper area (across from La Canada High School), near the outdoor bathrooms. One way to get here is to travel on the 210 Freeway westbound, and exit on Foothill in La Canada. Turn right (east) and take Foothill about a half-mile to its end, which is the entrance of the park. Enter and drive south until you see the outdoor bathrooms (do not make the left hand turn which goes downhill). [pg. 535, E5].
Location 3
Switzer’s Camp, Angeles National Forest. From the 210 freeway in La Canada, drive up the Angeles Crest Highway 10 miles to Switzers. You will see the large sign on the Highway. Drive down the road and park in the parking lot. Meet near the bridge. NOTE: You will need a Forest Adventure Pass for this location. [pg. 505, H2]
Location 4
Angeles National Forest. From the Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill (or from the 210 freeway), drive 2 miles up the Angeles Crest Highway (above the large new houses) until you see the turnout on your right. You really need to look at your odometer for this one. [535, C1] .
Location 5
Millard Canyon, Altadena. Drive up to Loma Alta by going north on either Fair Oaks (from the east) or Lincoln Ave. (on the west). From Loma Alta in Altadena, go north on Chaney Trail all the way to the campground. [pg. 535, H2]
Location 6
Arroyo Seco, north of the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. Meet at the SW corner of Washington and West. Be sure to look at your map here, for more people seem to get lost finding this location than any other. The Rose Bowl is easy to find – and West is the north-south street on the west side of the Rose Bowl. You can simply drive north on West to the top of the T intersection, and park to your left in the dirt parking. Washington is the east-west street that dissects the golf course; so if you come from the east side of the golf course and the Rose Bowl, drive west on Washington until it ends in the T intersection, and then just drive forward into the dirt parking area. [pg. 565, E1].
Location 7
Cobb Estate, Extreme north end of Lake Ave., Altadena. Exit on Lake Avenue from the 210 freeway and head for the hills. [pg. 536, A3]
Location 8
Casting Ponds, Arroyo Seco. Entrance to "Lower Arroyo Park" is from Arroyo Blvd, just west of Norwood Drive. Where the 210 meets the 134 freeway in Pasadena, go south on the short extension to the 110. [If westbound on the 210, you take the 110 south; if eastbound on the 134, stay in the right lane and go south on the unfinished 210 south spur.] Go south on this short extension which ends at California Blvd. Turn right (west) on California, and travel to where it ends, at Arroyo Blvd. Turn right (north) on Arroyo Blvd. and look for the sign on your left for the Lower Arroyo Park. Drive down the road and park. [pg 565, F5].
Location 9
Orcas Park. NE of Hansen Dam, in Lake View Terrace. From the 210, exit Osborne and go east on Foothill to Orcas Ave., then go south into the park. We’ll meet in the southern-most parking area. [pg. 503, A2]
Reservations
There are several preferred ways to reserve a spot on an outing
Send us a note specifying for what date, and how many people, along with a check, to School of Self-reliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041. If you mail it "late," just call us and let us know it is in the mail.
Call or email us and let us take a credit card for payment for the outing. Call the office at 626-791-3217. Or email to christopher_nyerges@yahoo.com. If no one is there when you call, just leave your name and number and message and we’ll get back to you.
You can also make a payment via paypal to Christopher_nyerges@yahoo.com. On the paypal comment section, be sure to note what date and class you are paying for, along with how many you're paying for, if more than one. We will get an email letting us know you’ve paid.
We will not turn you away if you didn’t do any of the above. We can accept cash or check (or even credit card) at the outing, and give you a receipt, if desired.
ALSO, we are in constant need of Volunteers at our non-profit facility in Highland Park, doing things like raking, pruning, basic clean-up and gardening. If you want to do some volunteer work at that site in exchange for coming to outings, just talk to Christopher and arrange it.
DON’T FORGET: You can give a Gift Certificate to a friend or family member to attend a class. Just ask.