Have you ever wanted to know how to meet fellow preppers? Did you try to connect with other preparedness-minded folks but hesitated, afraid you might reveal too much too soon? You’re not alone. Many of us want to build a supportive, reliable network without announcing our preparedness plans to the world. But how do we find each other quietly and effectively? Stick around—because today, I’m sharing seven proven ways to subtly discover fellow preppers without blowing your cover.
Here’s a countdown of 7 effective ways to meet preparedness-minded folks (ranked from least dependable to most dependable):
7. Engage in Outdoor Activities
Camping and hiking groups naturally attract those interested in bushcraft and survival skills. Likewise, local gun stores and shooting ranges attract people interested in self-defense. Joining these activities introduces you to people with shared interests and provides casual environments where you can gradually learn about others without raising suspicion. Over repeated interactions, you’ll naturally recognize who has a deeper commitment to preparedness, enabling you to slowly build trust and potentially establish longer-term preparedness connections.
6. Visit Farmers’ Markets and Local Fairs
Many vendors have self-sufficient lifestyles, and casual conversations here can provide clues about others who value preparedness. Take a moment to ask vendors about their growing or crafting techniques—their responses can indicate their level of self-reliance and preparedness interest. Over time, these simple interactions can help you build a comfortable rapport and potentially identify like-minded individuals, as well as other resources.
5. Discuss DIY and Gardening Interests
Chats about home gardening, medicinal plants, or food preservation can subtly reveal others on the preparedness path. Sharing a quick gardening tip or a simple DIY success story can naturally lead to deeper conversations about self-sufficiency. As these discussions grow, you may find opportunities to exchange valuable knowledge or resources. Heck, you may even find someone who is willing to barter what they grow for what you grow.
4. Attend Local Workshops and Classes
Great for meeting people interested in gardening, food preservation, first aid, and survival skills. I recall Stop the Bleed courses I’ve hosted, where most attendees turned out to be preppers. Besides learning great prepping info, there was a lot of camaraderie and like-mindedness. Workshops and classes often feel comfortable and welcoming, quickly getting people comfortable with one another and making it easier to connect and build great relationships. You’ll leave not just with valuable skills, but potentially new friends and allies on your preparedness journey.
3. Community Volunteer Organizations
People involved with CERT programs, local emergency services, or groups like Habitat for Humanity often share our preparedness mindset. I’m currently getting my Ham radio certification through a local Ham club, which has introduced me to a bunch of what I’m gathering are preparedness-minded people. Participating in local organizations not only enhances your skills but also organically connects you with others who share a similar mindset.
2. Attend a Weekend Preparedness Retreat Camp
Events such as the Mountain Readiness Expo offer valuable knowledge and the chance to spend time surrounded by hundreds and sometimes thousands of enthusiastic, like-minded people. These retreats not only provide access to expert-led workshops and demonstrations but also give ample opportunities for informal interactions and networking. An added benefit is that they usually have a lot of vendor tables set up, so you can get the latest and greatest gear and resources while there.
1. Be Neighborly
While I need to work on this, being friendly and neighborly can foster organic and genuine relationships over time in a world where neighbors often remain strangers. Start small, and over time, as the opportunities present themselves, strike up loner-lasting, more frequent conversations. These relationships can become the foundation of a reliable, supportive preparedness network.
A Quick Word on Privacy and Risks
When it goes well, meeting fellow preppers can significantly boost your preparedness and prepping morale. However, it’s important to recognize and manage potential risks. Not everyone who appears interested in preparedness shares your exact values or intentions, and revealing too much information too soon can lead to privacy issues or even vulnerabilities in your preparedness.
Some key considerations include:
- Oversharing Personal Information: Avoid immediately discussing specifics about your supplies, home security, or other plans that should be kept quiet for now. Don’t start by falling for your newest-best preparedness friend and going into deep details about your preparedness. Start by maintaining general conversations and gauge trust gradually over time.
- Misjudging Intentions: I know you know, but not everyone understands that just because someone attends a prepping-related class or gardening workshop doesn’t mean they’re trustworthy. Just because they like the things you like doesn’t mean they’re great people. Just because they’re into preparedness and no one in your family is doesn’t make them Mr. & Mrs. Perfect Prepper. Take your time and trust your instincts—the world is full of people looking to take advantage of others. Pay attention to behavior, consistency, and sincerity before sharing deeper aspects of your life and preparedness.
- Community Perceptions: In some areas, openly discussing preparedness may lead people to believe you’re a crazy cook. You’re one of those people who hoards hand sanitizer. You’re suspect because you prepared for hard times. Because of that, it’s often best to remain neutral (play the Gray Man) in public settings, focusing on universally acceptable topics like the weather, the latest local news, etc.
By keeping these pitfalls in mind and proceeding with cautious intent, you’ll be better prepared to find your like-minded tribe of people without risking your safety and security. Remember, the goal is to build trust naturally and ensure that any connections you make are reliable and mutually supportive in times of need.
The Bottom Line on How to Meet Fellow Preppers
When expanding your prepper community, meeting in person, the old-fashioned way, tends to speed up creating a values-driven mutual assistance group. It’s definitely more reliable than navigating online encounters with bots, catfish, or even those dreaded Illuminati-placed lizard people.
While I wouldn’t completely rule out meeting people online, it’s definitely not the primary strategy in my PACE Plan for building dependable preparedness relationships. Face-to-face interactions offer clarity, honesty, and an instinctive ability to gauge trustworthiness, all crucial in forming genuinely supportive preparedness connections. Real-world meetings create stronger bonds and reduce the risk of misunderstandings or misrepresentations.
What has worked best, if any, for you? Is there anything that I missed? I’d love to hear your experiences or other ideas you’ve
Stay safe,
