Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gretchen Swank, Owner of Camp Gretchen Wilderness Survival School, located in Boalsburg, PA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I own and operate a Wilderness Survival School. I specialize in teaching women and children valuable, empowering skills such as fire craft, building shelter, filtering water, and signaling for rescue should they find themselves lost in the wilderness.

Tell us about yourself

Prior to opening Camp Gretchen Wilderness Survival School, I spent twenty years working as a Pennsylvania State Trooper in a Criminal Investigation Unit, primarily doing child abuse investigations. I loved working with the children and being in a position to help, but the Secondary Trauma of doing such work took its toll over the years, and I found peace and balance spending my off time in nature. I was raised with the outdoors as a refuge- a safe place where I spent most of my time growing up. Nature has the ability to heal, and wilderness survival skills are empowering. I have seen the transformative power of wilderness knowledge and the self-confidence that accompanies these skills when a person walks into a wilderness that has the potential to swallow them whole. Yet, that person walks in awe of the beauty and peace around them because they know they carry everything they need to not only survive but thrive in their minds and on their backs. When those persons happen to be a woman or child who survived a traumatic, abusive life experience, these skills are "life-saving" on multiple levels.

Seeing my students connect deeply with the environment and digging in to get themselves through the anxieties and self-doubts they may encounter during their class experience is awe-inspiring. I love watching personal growth, especially when that growth opens up new paths and experiences for their lives.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is walking away from a group of students, knowing I gave them a holistic experience connecting with nature, themselves, and each other in ways they never expected in a Wilderness Survival Class. This may be subtle, or it may be very dramatic. I have had a couple of students completely change their way of life after spending a weekend in the woods learning skills and reconnecting to something deeper within themselves, and that is priceless.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is finding the balance between the creative, hands-on aspect of what I do and the "business" side of things with numbers and paperwork. Since I work alone, I do it all. I create classes, teach the classes I create, do the advertising, order the supplies, and decide what investments are best for my business goals. Since my work involves "the wilderness," I also am the one blazing trails, creating campsites, maintaining the land in the most preservatory way, etc. I also have a lot of preparation before classes, and I have to make sure everyone is squared away with their paperwork to meet my insurance requirements. It is a huge commitment, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming, but I take help when offered, and it is very rewarding work.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Start where you are at. We all begin somewhere. I know you have a grand vision; we all do but plant your feet where you are today and treasure every step forward toward that grand vision.
  2. Believe in yourself. Know you are worthy of success, and you have a lot to offer. We often block our own success with our own self-doubt.
  3. Know and use your resources. There are many avenues to advertise and reach your audience for little money. Don't spend money when you don't have to. Save what you can for unexpected needs that arise and remind yourself that you are where you are, and you will get where you want to be if you value every step.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Women are under-represented in male-dominated industries, and we need to shine a light on the women out there doing the work in society. The media typically show men doing, such as Wilderness Survival. Taking women out into nature and showing them that they too possess the strength and tenacity to do the skills and feel confident in the wilderness will attract more women into male-dominated fields.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.campgretchen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CampGretchenWilderness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camp_gretchen_wilderness/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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