Outdoor skills

Planning a little end of summer camping trip? The School of Self-Reliance is offering a series of classes on outdoor living. Time to brush up on your survival skills.

School of Self-Reliance has been conducting local classes in wild foods and self-reliance since 1974 (in cooperation with various other non-profits, such as WTI Inc., Boy Scouts, etc.). Classes are designed for hands-on experiences, teaching skills that our ancestors took for granted. The goal is to engender individual self-reliance, so we all can live better with less, “living lightly on the earth.” Classes led by Christopher Nyerges, author of “How to Survive Anywhere,” “Guide to Wild Foods,” “Self-Sufficient Home,” and other books.
For more details and reservations, visit the website or call 626 791-3217.

Saturday, August 31, 10 a.m.
WILD FOOD WALK, Location tba

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.

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.

Friday, September 13, 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, 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.

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. 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. You must obtain a Forest Adventure Pass.