WHO WE ARE

          The School of Self-reliance arose from Christopher and Dolores Nyerges’ dream to live and to teach practical skills to mostly urban folks who’ve lost touch with our most basic roots.  The School was founded by Christopher and Dolores, now (since Dolores’ passing in 2008) carried on by Christopher and peripatetic faculty of uniquely-skilled individuals. 

            Christopher Nyerges, since 1974, has taken thousands of children and adults on WILD FOOD OUTINGS, SURVIVAL SKILLS OUTINGS, and other field trips and programs.

            He has worked with such groups as Sierra Club, Tree People, Southwest Museum, Boy Scouts of America, Elder Hostel, home schools, public and private schools, churches, libraries, etc.

            Nyerges has authored many books, including Self-Sufficient Home: How to Go Green and Save Money, How to Survive Anywhere, Enter the Forest, and Guide to Wild Foods. He was a 2016 editor of American Survival Guide, the editor of Wilderness Way magazine for 7 years, and has authored several thousand newspaper and magazine articles in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly, Whole Life Times, Countryside, Mother Earth News, Acres USA, American  Survival Guide,  and others.

The classes and workshops of the School of Self-reliance have been featured on all Los Angeles-area television stations, including KCET’s “Life and  Times” and “Visiting with Huell Howser.”  For two years, Nyerges appeared on Fox TV’s “X show,” where he demonstrated survival skills on the streets of Los Angeles.

[Note: See our Special in the Store as a tribute to the late Huell Howser]

MISSION STATEMENT

            WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?  We believe it builds inherent strength into every community (and country) when the individuals are strong and self-reliant. 

            We have found that most people are more in touch with their true inner strength when they learn practical skills (wilderness and urban) that enhance their day to day life. 

              We are not isolationists and are not looking for a secret cave to run away and hide. 

            We welcome adults and children, and we welcome people of all races and religions to our programs.   

            We’ve heard rumors of “The End of the World” for decades, and yes, a comet could crash into the earth any day, rendering our normal way of life rather messy!  Yet, we’re more concerned about the problems and crises here and now, and how each one of us, in our own way, can be a part of the solution.