We don’t talk about prepping with people who we don’t know to be preppers unless it is in relation to a specific scenario (generally some of the natural disasters that could occur in our area). For example, when winter approaches almost everyone (with half a brain anyhow haha) talks regularly about basic preparedness.
We do talk about gardening, canning, wilderness skills (with hiking/camping minded folks), raising chickens, buying bulk foods (we have a large family so no one bats an eye when I talk about buying 50-pound bags of rice and oats) or whatever related topic might come up. After a few of these conversations, we can usually tell if the person/persons are preparedness minded or just someone who shares an interest.
With other non-family preppers, we don’t talk about our preps and they are close-lipped about their own which seems prudent. We share information and try to help each other acquire skills, but that is about it.
With family members who are preppers we are more open and so are they. Those are the people who will almost certainly load up their preps and come stay with us (more defensible and sustainable location) if a big SHTF event were ever to happen. Some are more prepared than others, each has their own priorities and concentrations. While I don’t think we’ll ever be a super organized tactical sort of group we have supplies and we have strength in numbers.
Definitely look for classes on First Aid/CPR, canning, gardening skills, concealed carry classes (if they have them in your area), homesteading skills, outdoor survival skills (a forest preserve in your area might offer this class) and anything you can think of that will help. It was through one of those classes that we found an amazing older couple that have been mentors for us.
Now I guess we are starting to mentor others a bit and that’s really exciting. But we aren’t mentoring people to be preppers, we are sharing specific skills with friends and family. We don’t open up and disclose everything about us. We do have people over for bonfires and dinner and such. That’s just hospitality, but we don’t give a tour of the pantry!