Monday, February 20, Noon

PRESIDENTS DAY commemoration at WTI.  What are the principles of leadership that made great presidents? How should we emulate those principles in our private lives? Donation.  For details, go to www.wtinc.info, or call Prudence at 323 620-4720.

Wednesday, February 22, 3:30 p.m.

SHORT WILD FOOD WALK AND COOKING DEMO., $20. In this two hour class, we’ll go on a short wild food walk to collect a few greens, and then set up and demonstrate a few alternate stoves that you might have to use in the aftermath of an earthquake. Location 2, Hahamongna Watershed Park.

Saturday, February 25, 10 a.m.

SURVIVAL SKILLS INTENSIVE, $51.  Learn about water purification, making fire without matches, wild plant identification, and shelter-building. Switzer’s Camp, Angeles National Forest.  From Foothill Bl. in La Canada, travel north about 11 miles on the Angeles Crest Hwy. to Switzer’s camp entrance.  Park in the lower lot, near the bridge. [pg. 505, H2]. Location 3.

NOTE: You must purchase a Forest Adventure Pass or you will be ticketed.  Purchase at Sport Chalet, Forest Service offices, etc.

Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m.

WILD FOOD OUTING, $20. Bailey Park, Sierra Madre.  Learn about local native plants and some introduced exotics as we walk in Sierra Madre’s Bailey Canyon. Meet in the parking lot at Bailey Canyon Park. From the 210 Freeway in Arcadia, go north on Michillinda to Grand View in Sierra Madre. Turn right (east) on Grand View, then go left (north) on Lima St. one long block to Carter, where you turn left (west). You will see the park entrance on your right. Thomas Guide pg 566, J1.

Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m.

WEAPONRY WORKSHOP, $34. We’ll focus on how to make simple weapons, both primitive and modern, including snares, deadfalls and trigger mechanisms, nets, slings, atlatls and more. Bring your knife. Pasadena’s Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.

Wednesday, March 14, 3:30 p.m.

URBAN PREPAREDNESS CRASH COURSE, $20.

In this two hour outdoor seminar, we’ll discuss how to handle certain essentials in the event of an emergency.  How to store, and prepare food.  How to store and purify water.  Alternative toilets. Lights for the home.  Communication alternatives. Planning, and resources. This is all covered in Christopher’s “How To Survive Anywhere” and “Self-Sufficient Home” books, but this will still be a good opportunity to ask questions and meet like-minded people.  Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.

Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m.

SURVIVAL SKILLS INTENSIVE,  $51.  We’ll learn  about all of the important skills in this five-hour walkabout.  We’ll see medicinal and edible wild plants, practice fire skills, tracking skills, rock tools, snares and deadfalls, weaving with natural materials, and more. Meet at Location 4 on the Angeles Crest Highway.  From the 210 freeway, exit the Angeles Crest Highway and drive two miles into the forest (look at your odometer) until you see the turnout on your right. 

Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m.

ARROW-MAKING CLASS and Wild Food Outing.  $25. Making a good, functional arrow requires special attention to many details.  We’ll work some shafts, glue or tie on feathers, and secure ready-made points or points you make.  We’ll also have some modern arrow-making gear.  Bring a knife.  Then we’ll collect a wild food salad. Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.

Saturday, March 31, 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.

Friday, April 6, noon and Sunday, April 8.  Good Friday and Easter Sunday.WTI sponsors a Good Friday “Cross Bearing” and an Easter Sunday event to explore both the esoteric and practical lessons from this most holy time for Christianity. Call Prudence at 323 620-4720 or email for details, or check www.wtinc.info.

Saturday, April 7, 10 a.m.

SURVIVAL KIT and KNIFE DISCUSSION, with some wild foods served.  No charge.  Bring your own pack or kit, and knives, for show and tell.  We’ll also bring books, DVDs, knives, firestarters, for sale.  Pasadena’s Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.

Wednesday, April 11, 3:30 p.m.

SHORT WORKSHOP on food and water storage, and practice fire-making. $20.  In this two hour class, you’ll learn some basics about food and water storage.  We’ll also practice making fire with the bow and drill, the hand-drill, and flint and steel.  Location 2, Hahamongna Watershed Park.

Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m.

WILD FOOD OUTING, $20. We’ll explore the Cobb Estate with native chaparral plants as well as introduced fruit trees and ornamentals from the days when this was a private estate and convent. Meet at the Cobb Estate, at the extreme north  end of Lake Avenue in Altadena. [pg. 536, A3].  Simply exit the 210 Fwy at Lake, and drive north to the top.  Meet at the wrought iron gate at the entrance to the park.

Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m.

PREPAREDNESS SEMINAR & WILD FOOD WALK.  $25.   Are you ready for the possibility of the next earthquake, the next blackout, the next terrorist assault, the next stock market crash?  Are you concerned about the reputed “end of the world” in 2012?  Or are you simply a pragmatist who wants to be ready for anything?  We’ll begin by discussing ways to store food, alternatives to electricity, things to store, toilet alternatives, and more.  Then we’ll go on a wild food walk and collect a salad. Hahamongna Watershed Park. Location 2.

Friday, April 27, 7 p.m.

Five-week Survival Skills Class, Pasadena City College, begins Friday, Sept. 24. Call (626) 585-7608 for information and registration. Class topics include Wild Plants, Many ways to make Fire (without matches), Water (finding, storing, purifying), Shelter, Tools and Weapons, and answers to your questions.  Taught by Christopher Nyerges.

Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m.

DESERT SURVIVAL SKILLS.  $34 at 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]  We will work various desert skills, including shelters, plant ID, solar still, transpiration bag, etc. during this approx. 4 hour outing.

Saturday, May 5, 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.

Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m.

ORIENTEERING WORKSHOP.  $25.  Orienteering is the art of using a map and compass.  We'll cover the basics of orienteering, along with some simple exercises.  You’ll also learn some of the other ways to tell directions, such as the sun, moon, and other natural observations. Then we’ll go on a plant walk. Hahamongna Watershed Park. Location 2. Bring a compass if you have one (we have extras).

Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m.

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 gather some wild foods.   Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.

Saturday, May 26, 10 a.m.

WILD FOOD OUTING AND KNIFE LESSON.  $20.   We’ll gather for the first hour or so to discuss knives and edged tools, from primitive to modern, and learn about the many styles of knives available.  Bring your own for show and tell.   Then we’ll do an exploratory walk to find wild foods and have a salad.  Pasadena’s Hahamongna Watershed Park, Location 2.

Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m.

WEAVING WORKSHOP.  $25.  You’ll learn an ages-old skill of processing natural fibres, and then learn to make twine, rope, brushes, sandals, netting, & baskets. You’ll learn by doing. A wonderful skill with many applications.  We’ll also learn about common wild foods. Upper Arroyo Seco, Location 1.