Collapse & Camping Skills?

Why I Talk About Operational Capabilities of Our Communities

Imagine a world where the grating buzz of civilization has quieted, where the conveniences we once took for granted—clean running water at the turn of a handle, shelves stocked with food at every corner, the comforting glow of streetlights guiding our way home—have faded into memory. In this world, the fabric of society has frayed under the weight of its own unsustainable practices, leaving communities to navigate the remnants of a system that can no longer support the basic needs of its populace. As essential infrastructure crumbles, the void it leaves behind becomes a breeding ground for uncertainty and danger.

In the absence of the societal order we've grown accustomed to, securing the necessities of life becomes a daily challenge. Imagine venturing out to tend to your garden, now a vital source of sustenance, with the constant vigilance that someone might lay claim to your hard-earned produce. Water sources become fiercely guarded treasures, as purity and access can no longer be taken for granted. The roads and paths we traverse in search of trade of resources and information, once safe and mundane, are now pathways rife with unpredictability, where encounters with those driven to desperation or opportunism could turn perilous.

This scenario is not spun from the threads of dystopian fiction but are indeed a reality in places around the world already, and these conditions are poised to become more widespread under the business-as-usual governance our societies face. It underscores the pressing need for skills and knowledge that our ancestors wielded with adeptness—skills that empower us to reclaim autonomy over our lives, ensure our security, and foster communities resilient enough to withstand the storms of change. As we look to the future, it becomes increasingly clear that embracing eco-consciousness and learning the art of survival in harmony with the natural world isn't just an option but a necessity for navigating the uncertain terrain ahead.

But We Are Doomed Anyways

Even for the people who don’t believe humans will make it very long after a collapse, remember life doesn’t suddenly end in a singularity. These processes can often take time to unravel. No crystal balls tell us the extent and duration of societal collapse. We must assume that like places we are witnessing around the world, the turbulent times extend beyond a few years.

I Don’t Believe in This Doom Stuff

And even if you don’t believe in all these collapse predictions at all, if you care about the ecology, there are several reasons to take up camping as a lifestyle. Camping skills offer a profound alignment with eco-conscious living and the preparedness required for potential societal shifts. At their core, these skills—ranging from building shelters and sourcing water to foraging for food and minimizing one's ecological footprint—emphasize a harmonious existence with nature. They teach us to respect the limits of our natural environment, use resources sparingly, and understand the ecosystems we inhabit. This deepened connection with the Earth fosters a lifestyle that prioritizes sustainability, encouraging actions that protect and preserve our planet for future generations.

Either way, anyone reading this likely understands not only the need for, but the likelihood of many potential societal shifts, whether due to environmental challenges, economic changes, or other disruptions. Camping skills equip individuals with the practical knowledge and self-sufficiency needed to navigate these tumultuous times. They provide a foundation for resilience, enabling people to meet their basic needs through direct interaction with the natural world, even when conventional systems of support may falter whether by choice or inevitability. By embodying principles of eco-conscious living and preparedness, camping skills not only prepare us for a range of future scenarios but also promote a way of life that is in tune with the Earth's cycles and mindful of our impact on the planet.

Understanding Our Unsustainable Civilization

Across the globe, we are witnessing the depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation, and the exacerbating effects of climate change, all of which signal a distressing trajectory toward societal breakdown. The relentless extraction of fossil fuels, deforestation, overfishing, and the pollution of our air and water sources are not mere indicators of environmental distress; they are harbingers of a larger, systemic failure that threatens the very foundations of societal stability.

Unsustainable practices undermine the ecological balance critical to supporting life, leading to a cascade of consequences that can precipitate collapse. Soil erosion and reduced agricultural yield, for example, challenge our ability to feed a growing population, while the loss of biodiversity compromises ecosystem resilience, making our natural systems more susceptible to collapse under stress. Furthermore, the unequal distribution of resources exacerbates social inequalities, fostering tensions and conflicts that can erode the social fabric.

The potential for collapse is not just an ecological or economic issue—it is profoundly social. As resources become scarcer and competition for them intensifies, communities may find themselves in conflict, governance structures may become strained or fail, and social cohesion can unravel. The history of human civilization is punctuated with examples of societies that have collapsed under the weight of their unsustainable practices, leaving behind cautionary tales of the importance of living within our ecological means.

Recognizing the signs of impending collapse compels us to rethink our relationship with the natural world and our way of life. It calls for a radical shift toward sustainability and basic resiliency, not just in terms of environmental health, but in every aspect of our societal structures—economically, socially, and politically.

Turning To Deep Adaptation and Resilience

Should we be fighting ecological degradation and climate change? Yes, no question. These skills come in handy in that task, though that is a topic for another post. Either way, we cannot simply ignore the reality that those with power have nearly no interest in truly addressing these issues at the moment, and there’s no reason to believe that will change, imo. So we better be prepared for the inevitable as well.

Across the globe, stories abound of communities and individuals who have embraced sustainable living practices, carving out niches of independence and resilience:

• Transition Towns: This grassroots movement sees communities worldwide adopting more sustainable practices. Central to their ethos is skill-sharing, including camping and survival skills, to enhance community resilience and reduce ecological footprints.

• Eco-villages: These intentional communities are designed around principles of sustainable living, where members often engage in practices such as natural building, permaculture, and water harvesting. Such skills, reminiscent of advanced camping abilities, are central to their self-reliant and resilient lifestyle.

The Role of Camping Skills in Building Resilience

In the context of societal collapse, where the potential for hostility and conflict increases, the importance of certain camping skills—specifically those related to operating discreetly and safely in a potentially hostile environment—becomes even more critical. These skills extend beyond basic survival to include strategies for concealing one's presence, navigating without drawing attention, and ensuring safety without compromising one's position or resources. Incorporating these elements into our understanding of resilience and self-reliance adds a nuanced layer of preparedness for facing the challenges of an uncertain future.

• Stealth Camping and Concealment: The ability to set up a shelter that blends with the environment can be invaluable in scenarios where drawing attention could mean risking one's safety. Stealth camping skills involve choosing locations that are not only safe and sustainable but also inconspicuous, using natural cover, and minimizing light and noise pollution to avoid detection.

• Silent Communication and Navigation: In environments where the presence of hostile groups or individuals poses a risk, the ability to communicate silently within a community or group becomes a vital skill. Similarly, navigating without the use of electronic devices that could be tracked or detected requires a return to traditional methods such as map reading, using natural landmarks, and understanding the movement of celestial bodies.

• Resource Protection and Ethical Foraging: In a context where resources are scarce, protecting one’s food, water, and supplies is crucial. Skills in camouflaging storage sites or dispersing supplies to avoid losing everything in a single discovery are critical. Equally, ethical foraging—taking only what is needed without depleting local resources—ensures sustainability and reduces the likelihood of conflict over resources.

Stories of Adaptation in Hostile Environments

• Urban Stealth Campers: There are contemporary examples of individuals in urban environments who, due to economic or social pressures, have adopted stealth camping practices. By remaining undetected in the heart of cities, they navigate the margins of society, illustrating adaptability and resilience.

• Wilderness Experts in Conflict Zones: In conflict zones around the world, wilderness experts have taught survival skills to civilians, including how to find food and water, move undetected, and create shelters that hide their presence from hostile forces. These skills have proven essential for survival in the most extreme conditions.

• Historical Resistance Movements: Historical examples, such as resistance fighters in World War II, utilized skills in stealth and survival to operate behind enemy lines, showcasing the effectiveness of these strategies in hostile environments.

  • The Zapatistas in Chiapas, Mexico

The incorporation of camping skills tailored to operating in hostile environments into our broader understanding of resilience not only prepares individuals and communities for the realities of societal collapse but also empowers them to navigate these challenges with confidence and discretion. These skills foster a sense of agency and security in an unpredictable world, highlighting the profound connection between survival, sustainability, and the art of remaining unseen.

There are many more concepts we could unpack here. We could delve much deeper into the need for us to reconnect with nature and how camping is a great way to do that. We could dive down into the depths of human psychology, and how modern existence robs us of the direct interaction with providing ourselves with our own human necessities like food, water, shelter and security—and how camping is a great way to begin to reclaim that process for ourselves. That process supplies us with the deep sense of fulfillment all humans have evolved to need. Little in the modern world provides that same requirement. If any of that interests you, please let me know and I can write more in the future.

Meanwhile, the Collapse Curriculum is designed to provide a structure for learning and teaching these skills in your families and communities. I hope you will begin this process in your life and join me in making this a social movement… a revolution in how humans relate to our world. Thanks for reading.