When I started my first adventure camp in 2010, my father was so furious that he did not speak to me for over two years,” recounts 36–year–old Jeevan Dangwal at his Camp Sunkiya at Sunkiya village, Ramgarh block, Nainital district, Uttarakhand. Dangwal’s father, Kishan Singh, was angry because to pursue his dream — which hisfather thought is not viable – Jeevan encashed all his bank policies and applied for the loan. Dangwal, a 10th fail, has never been afraid of taking risks. Sitting at a tent surrounded by an orchard of plum and peach at his camp Sunkiya, he tells that he never tried to complete the education as it is of not much help in doing what he wants to achieve in life.
I Always Wanted to Open an Adventure Camp: Jeevan Dangwal
Introduction: A Risk Taker and Dreamer
Jeevan Dangwal, a 36-year-old entrepreneur from Sunkiya village in Uttarakhand, began his journey with a lot of resistance and skepticism from his family. When he decided to start his first adventure camp in 2010, his father, Kishan Singh, was furious. To pursue his dream, Jeevan encashed his bank policies and applied for a loan, a step that did not sit well with his father, who saw it as an impractical move. The strained relationship lasted over two years.
Early Life: Lessons Beyond Classrooms
Dangwal, who failed his 10th grade, has never let formal education define him. Sitting amidst an orchard at Camp Sunkiya, he reflects that conventional education wasn’t essential for what he wanted to achieve. Coming from a primarily agricultural family with a 2-acre farm producing apples, peaches, plums, pears, apricots, and other crops, Jeevan found his calling beyond the fields.
Inspiration and Grit: Building Experience
Jeevan often visited his elder brother, Harish Singh, who worked as a cook near an adventure camp called Camp Purple in Mukteshwar. Inspired by his surroundings, he took up a job at the camp, working there for a decade. During this time, he attended basic and advanced courses at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi and participated in various workshops on wildlife and tourism.
The Early Entrepreneur: School Outreach and Initial Struggles
At just 16, Dangwal had a bold idea: he approached schools to send their students for adventure camps. He managed to convince Poorvanchal Academy in Almora and several other schools to trust his fledgling venture, a feat he proudly recounts given the difficulty of securing school clients.
In 2010, Dangwal opened his first camp, Vanvaas, in the dense forests of Dhanachuli. He took a loan to purchase three tents, costing around ₹70,000 each. However, the initial response was not promising, forcing Jeevan to work at another camp while his brother continued at a nearby hotel.
A Fortuitous Encounter: Meeting Pankaj Wadhwa
One of Vanvaas’s guests, Pankaj Wadhwa, was trying to promote entrepreneurship in Uttarakhand and was impressed by Jeevan’s journey of surviving with almost no resources. In 2016, when Wadhwa established Udhyam to foster rural entrepreneurship in Kumaon, he reached out to Dangwal to help spread the word and screen potential entrepreneurs. This partnership was cemented during their first meeting in Sunkiya.
The Birth of Camp Sunkiya: A Fresh Start
While promoting Udhyam’s first cohort, local authorities raised concerns about the safety of guests at the Vanvaas camp, given its location in dense forests. Forced to relocate, Jeevan took another loan through Udhyam and started Camp Sunkiya in 2017. Here, he introduced activities like mountain terrain cycling, hiking, rappelling, jumaring, bouldering, and archery. Additionally, he began organizing stargazing sessions and leadership programs in collaboration with professionals from Delhi.
Support and Mentorship: Udhyam’s Role
Dangwal credits Udhyam not just for financial support but for mentorship as well. Wadhwa and the team encouraged him to upgrade skills and expand his business. However, limited resources often posed challenges. Despite this, Udhyam’s support extended to marketing efforts, often sending guests to the camp.
Future Plans: Expanding and Diversifying
Looking forward, Jeevan aims to improve Camp Sunkiya’s occupancy rate and lay thatch roofs to make it operational year-round, thereby extending the life of the tents. He also envisions creating a chain of community homestays in Sunkiya and hopes to focus on forest conservation and wildlife in the future.
A Growing Success: Community Impact and Personal Fulfillment
During peak seasons, Camp Sunkiya employs up to 15 people, creating local employment. Over the past two years, the camp has hosted over 800 guests, including students, corporate professionals, and families, allowing Jeevan to repay his loans ahead of schedule. Now, with his family’s support and his children enjoying adventure sports, Dangwal’s journey seems to have come full circle.
Conclusion: A Journey of Persistence and Passion
Jeevan Dangwal’s story is one of perseverance, risks, and unyielding dedication to his dream. From working at a camp to becoming an entrepreneur promoting adventure tourism and rural entrepreneurship, his journey inspires others to follow their passion, no matter the challenges.
Comments
annabrown
Good Blog!
cmsmasters
Thanks.