TOM BROWN III, class 4: ANIMAL TRACKS --POSTPONED
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
CLASS SERIES POSTPONED — WATCH SCHEDULE FOR UPDATES
Link for the group of 4 classes for $300.00 (A $100.00 savings): https://trackolytes.as.me/Wisdom-of-Wilderness

Links for each separate class at $100.00 each
•Feb. 12, Wilderness safety https://trackolytes.as.me/Wilderness-1
•Feb. 19, Awareness: the most important skill in life https://trackolytes.as.me/Awareness1
•Feb. 26, Edible plans and ethical foraging: https://trackolytes.as.me/edible-ethical
•March 5, Animal tracks and sign: https://trackolytes.as.me/Tracks-sign

Tom Brown III, often known as T3, is a lifelong wilderness educator, nature photographer, and storyteller dedicated to carrying forward the ancestral skills and philosophies taught to him by his father, Tom Brown Jr. Tom or “T3” has been teaching for 26 years, And has a lifetime of practical experience in wilderness living, tracking, survival, and nature connection, And stewardship. Tom’s work focuses on helping people rediscover confidence, awareness, and a meaningful relationship with the natural world. His teaching blends practical skills, deep observation, and personal insight, making complex knowledge approachable and relevant for modern life.
During this collaboration with the School of Self-Reliance, Tom will be offering four foundational classes designed to build confidence, awareness, and self sufficiency in natural settings.
Wilderness Safety, Taking the Fear Out of Wild Places [on-line class on February 12]
This class focuses on mindset, preparation, and core survival priorities. Students will learn how to stay calm, make good decisions, and use a small set of essential items to dramatically increase their chances of success in emergency situations.
Awareness: The most important life skill. [on-line class on February 19]
Focused on moving quietly and efficiently through the landscape, this class explores posture, balance, awareness, and energy use. These skills improve tracking ability, personal safety, and overall connection to the environment.
Wild Edible Plants and Ethical Foraging [on-line class February 26]
This class teaches how to identify common wild edible plants while emphasizing safety, sustainability, and respect for the land. Students will learn how to forage responsibly and deepen their awareness of seasonal abundance.
Animal Tracks and Sign [on-line class March 5]
An introduction to reading the stories animals leave behind. Students will learn how to identify common tracks and signs, understand animal behavior, and sharpen observation skills that translate far beyond the trail.

Together, these classes offer a well rounded introduction to ancestral skills that foster self-reliance, awareness, and a deeper sense of belonging in the natural world.

Whether you are an absolute novice or seasoned outdoors person, I can guarantee you will learn many valuable techniques to apply every time we enter the wilderness!
SIGN UP HERE:
https://trackolytes.as.me/meet-T3

THE FUNGUS AMONG US! A Mycological Adventure
2026-03-13 19:00 - 21:00
A MYCOLOGICAL ADVENTURE –
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 7P, ON-LINE

Join us for a look at the fascinating world of mycology, with pointers that both beginner and experts will find useful.
What is a mushroom, after all?
Learn how mycologists have classified the many types, and learn some tips for cultivation and cooking.

Remember, mycology is a Science and you could spend your whole life studying the various intricacies of this field.

In this session, you will get an overview of the field, and you will see some of the very most common mushrooms of the West. (Most, actually, are pretty cosmopolitan).

ON-LINE. Link is sent a week before the class
$45

MEDICINAL PLANTS WORKSHOP with Dr. James Adams
2026-03-14 10:00 - 13:30
MEDICINAL PLANTS WORKSHOP WITH DR. JAMES ADAMS & Enrique Villasenor and Michelle Wong
part of our ETHNO-BOTANY SERIES
Part of our certification program.
In this field session, Dr. James Adams will focus upon the uses of traditional native plants, used for MEDICINE. Dr. James Adams, author of “Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West,” will share his two decades of training in the subject of traditional healing herbs, and he will demonstrate how certain pain-relieving linaments are made.
Students will be shown how to make their own natural medicines.
We’ll discuss some of the ideal literature about healing with herbs, and some of the herbs you can grow in your own yard.
A truly eye-opening, life-changing class!
BRING: folding chair, glass jar (like a pickle jar), container of 70% isopropyl alcohol, a tub (to soak your feet), an avocado seed.

In the Arroyo Seco. Exact location given upon registration.
You’ll actually learn to FORAGE for your own WILD MEDICINES. An Excellent Survival Skill.

SEASONAL SPRING FORAGING -- wild foods and useful plants by the Season
2026-03-21 10:00 - 14:00
Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m.
SPRING FORAGING, part of our ETHNO-BOTANY SERIES
Spring is the time of peak leaf production, when the native and non-native plants are sprouting up everywhere. It’s typically still a bit cooler, and everything is greening up. We’ll discuss what’s available now, and learn which are useful for food, and learn how to collect them sustainably. In some cases, you’ll be learning how to recognize sprouts which you can come back later for harvesting.
The young new growth of prickly pear cactus occurs now, so this is the best time to collect it. (However, you can harvest prickly pears year round). Some barks are best collected now, such as willow. Some fruits occur early, and we’ll see those. Some non-natives, like mustard, flower early, and can be readily collected and used for food or medicine. Learn how some of these can also be dried and stored for later use.
Join us and learn what edible salad plants may be growing right in your backyard, your local neighborhood, and in the wild area this spring. Learn the plants which can be foraged and made into nutritious food with simple recipes. You’ll get to see the images and learn about the diverse uses.
We’ll also share with you a way to look at the environment to see what the future will bring in terms of foraging. We offer this Seasonal Foraging walk four times a year, so that you can learn how to “read” the environment. A great Survival Skill!
Upper Arroyo, we will send registrants the exact meeting location. Bring along water.

WILD FOOD AND USEFUL PLANTS BY THE SEASON
This series of workshops, one per season, allows you to see nature through the seasons, from a forager’s perspective. The essence of this class is to develop seasonal knowledge and observational skills: How to look, where to look, what to look for. Plus, we will also focus on responsible and sustainable gathering methods, including collection of seeds and cuttings so you can grow plants in your own backyard.
This workshop occurs one per season, so you can learn to see nature through the seasons, from a forager’s perspective. The essence of this class is to develop seasonal knowledge and observational skills: How to look, where to look, what to look for. Plus, we will also focus on responsible and sustainable gathering methods, including collection of seeds and cuttings so you can grow plants in your own backyard.
You’ll learn how to identify and collect foods, medicines, soaps, fire-materials, and other useful parts of plants. You’ll learn to think like foragers of the past, who had to have an intimate knowledge of the seasons, and foresight for the future. (For example, sometimes you do NO foraging in an area if the plant or seed is not abundant.)
Join us each quarter for an insightful walk into a wild area, with a focus on interpreting what’s available that season. Each session will include demonstrations, hands-on practice, and sampling of the seasonal foods, such as salad, soup, biscuit, or tea. Each session includes a list of what is normally available in that season.
SPRING FORAGING
Spring is the time of peak leaf production, when the native and non-native plants are sprouting up everywhere. It’s typically still a bit cooler, and everything is greening up. This means we’ll discuss what’s available now, and learn which are useful for food, and learn how to collect them sustainably. In some cases, you’ll be learning how to recognize sprouts which you can come back later for harvesting.
The young new growth of prickly pear cactus occurs now, so this is the best time to collect it. (However, you can harvest prickly pears year round). Some barks are best collected now, such as willow. Some fruits occur early, and we’ll see those. Some non-natives, like mustard, flower early, and can be readily collected and used for food or medicine. Learn how some of these can also be dried and stored for later use.
Join us and learn what edible salad plants may be growing right in your backyard, your local neighborhood, and in the wild area this spring. Learn the plants which can be foraged and made into nutritious food with simple recipes. You’ll get to see the images and learn about the diverse uses.
We’ll also share with you a way to look at the environment to see what the future will bring in terms of foraging. We offer this Seasonal Foraging walk four times a year, so that you can learn how to “read” the environment. A great Survival Skill!

FIBRE-CRAFT 101 (including introduction to basketry)
2026-03-28 10:00 - 14:00
Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. FIBRE-CRAFT 101:
The Art of Turning Plant Fibres into Bags, Baskets, Nets, String, Sandals.
We’ve had some requests for a BASKETRY Workshop. This class will include Basketry basics, though this class will not be only basketry.
The art of working fibre is nearly a lost art. You’ll learn to recognize some of the common plants which yield a useful fibre, and learn how to work them into strings, and baskets, and nets, and sandals, and more. In the old days of the Southwest, the lives of the people were literally tied together with fibre: for shelter, for clothing (hats, belts, shoes), fishing nets, bags, weaponry, fire-making, brushes, looms for fabric.
In the past, most people had a more intimate connection to plant fibres. There are so many practical applications, though today someone makes everything we use. So it’s become a lost art.
You will learn how to process a few plant fibres and how to make them into a usable product!

Actual networking!

We will do a short walk (if time) and learn about some of the plants that are useful for weaving, and making cordage.
You will then learn by making some of the useful products.
Along the way, you’ll also see many of the other useful and edible plants of the area.
NOTE: PLEASE RSVP SINCE WE NEED TO PLAN TO BRING SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES!
$65 (Seniors and students $45)
