Mission Statement
Empowering people to live their best life forward by learning self-reliance skills.
Building a self-reliant community one class at a time
Our Story
As a young child, Christopher would hike and camp in the Angeles National Forest north of his childhood home. He began to study edible wild plants at an early age, partly in order to reduce the weight of his backpack. He was also interested in the life styles and ethnobotany of the Native Americans, and so began his life-long study of botany and survival. After high school, he lived on his grandfather’s farm in Ohio, and learned about the flora of the Eastern U.S. By 1974, he was asked to lead Wild Food Outings, through the non-profit WTI, and he has conducted those field trips ever since.
He has worked with numerous organizations, schools, churches, and Scouting groups. He and his late wife Dolores started the School of Self-Reliance to continue their educational and publishing efforts.
Christopher has always been driven by the desire to live a more self-reliant life-style, even in the city, and to share those lessons with those who wish to live likewise.
Today, the school has evolved into teaching several dozen different classes and class-series, working with many highly-qualified teachers, reaching people of all ages and all walks of life.
Philosophy
We believe that our society is being severely challenged today, and that our inherent strength comes from the individuals who make the effort to be strong and self-reliant.
Many of the skills that we teach are very basic, and would have been common knowledge a century ago. Besides learning the skills and lifestyles of self-reliance, we encourage people to become an active and positive part of their societies. We are not isolationists, but believe in working within the guidelines of existing society.
We welcome adults, children, and families, from all races, religions, and walks of life. We espouse no religion, no political party, no radical philosophy. We ask that each of you who comes to our classes respect each other, and that you make your very best effort to learn and apply the lessons we teach.
Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
Christopher Nyerges, since 1974, has taken thousands of children, adults, and educators, from all walks of life and all ages, on Wild Food Outings, Survival Skills outings, and other field trips and programs.
Learn more
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:
HELEN NYERGES
Helen W. Nyerges, a life-long naturalist and crafts specialist, has worked as a professional environmental educator since 1998 and provided services as an arts and crafts specialist in both the private and the public sector since 1983. She enjoys serving people of all ages and heritage.
DISTINGUISED GUEST PRESENTER:
DR. JAMES ADAMS
Dr. Adams is a Pharmacologist who teaches at USC. For 17 years, he studied traditional Chumash healing with Cecelia Garcia, and together they authored “Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West.”
OUR ITINERANT AD HOC PERIPATETIC STAFF
RICHARD ADAMS
Richard Adams served in the U.S. Army, and has completed many of the Tom Brown Jr. courses, as well as courses with Jim Lowery of Earth Skills. He is a Sierra Club O2 Leader. Adams is skilled in mountain First Aid Training, and has expertise in many of the Native American skills. He is also a skilled photographer. He can be contacted via email: rick2848@verizon.net
PASCAL BAUDAR
Pascal is a wild food instructor, master food preserver, and food safety adviser. His passion is to study the culinary uses of local wild plants, produce unique ingredients (beers, spice blends, wine, various preserves, etc.) and create a cuisine based on the true flavors of Southern California. He also works with some of the top chefs and restaurants in Los Angeles as a wild food consultant. He can be reached at www.urbanoutdoorskills.com or www.wildfoodlab.com.
ANGELO CERVERA
Angelo has served for 16 years in the Navy, 4 active years and 12 in reserve. He served as a combat engineer in Iraq. He was a forest ranger for four years, and also worked on a County tree crew. He has been involved in boxing and martial arts lifelong; he teaches martial arts regularly in Eagle Rock. As an assistant-instructor, he shares his love of the outdoors, knives, and self-reliance skills. According to Angelo, “Self-reliance is not just a state of mind, it is a way of life. And, self-reliance is not only a way of life, it is a state of mind.” He can be reached for consultation, or to arrange martial arts classes, at ace.cervera@gmail.com.
KEITH FARRAR
GARY GONZALES
Gary was introduced to the outdoors at a young age by his father who taught him fishing, hunting, trapping and general outdoors skills. As an adult, he has honed his skills by taking ethnobotany and survival skills classes in the Puerto Rican rain forest, Alaska, Caribbean, and Europe. He has been a student/assistant for over 30 years with the School of Self-Reliance. At Urban and Wilderness Survival School, Gary teaches wild food identification, trapping, dead falls, fire-making, and general outdoor survival skills. His schedule of classes can be seen at www.urbanwildernesssurvivalschool.org.
ALAN HALCON
Alan Halcon is one of the founding partners of Dirttime.com and the chief instructor for outdoorselfreliance.com, where he teaches bushcraft skills and Wilderness Living skills-trapping, knife handling, first aid, firemaking, knot craft, camp cooking, wild plants and more. He was a writer for “Wilderness Way” magazine (now defunct) as well as is the author of the informative booklet “The Handdrill”. Contact Alan at: www.outdoorselfreliance.com.
NHAN-ESTEBAN KHUONG
Nhan is a Traditional Medicine practitioner, Bladesmith, Martial Arts and Self Defense trainer, and Primitive and Wilderness Skills instructor. A UCLA alumni, Nhan graduated as a pre-medical student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pyschobiology and went on to study Traditional Chinese Medicine and run a private medical practice. He now focuses his time on promoting awareness, freethought, and self reliance through teaching ancient skills, nature connection, and healing arts with his wife, Victoria, through the EarthSky People project. Nhan can be reached at: www.EarthSkyPeople.org
ROB REMEDI
Robert Remedi is a naturalist, outdoor guide, wilderness skills instructor, and facilitator with over 30 years experience in the “outdoor education” field, teaching both children and adults. His favorite courses involve teaching nature connection and awareness, tracking, wilderness skills, and team-building, to guide and inspire others who want to learn about nature directly and personally. Rob can be reached at 805-499-2924, or robremedi@hotmail.com.
JAMES ROBERTSON
Robertson enjoys teaching the ancient Aboriginal Skills which help us develop a deep meaningful connection with our natural environment, ourselves and others. This “connection” has been missing for too long for many of us, and is one of the root causes of many mental/emotional/physical ills in our societies today. “It’s all about relationships and communication!” says James. He can be reached via e-mail: j3rbrts@gmail.com or phone: 310-395-0943, or website: www.aboriginalskills.com.
JAMES RUTHER: “CARVER OF SPOONS” (and other mundane artifacts)
James grew up in the eastern sierra, hunting, fishing, and camping. He moved to the Los Angeles area in high school and wondered why there was so little to do here outdoor-wise. He spends a lot time in the field for his job at Edison as a Land Surveyor, a Road and Right-of-Way Supervisor, and electrical line licensing agent, often going into remote locations. James came to the School of Self-Reliance for a fire class five years ago and has taken many classes since. He shares his expertise in the field of knives and cutlery, and various bushcraft skills.