Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsi Low. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chelsi, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest and most rewarding risks I’ve taken was starting an outdoor hospitality business. The biggest risk ultimately was to my personal finances. I’ve always loved outdoor adventures, hospitality, and real estate investment, and in 2019 I decided I wanted to open a campground—something different, something inspired by wilderness experiences that didn’t feel like a parking lot. Outdoor hospitality seemed like the perfect combination of my interests. I’ve always been both a dreamer and a doer, and I believe that if you don’t try something, you’ll never know what could have happened.

Things turned out as I had envisioned, and I’m incredibly grateful I chose to take the journey. It wasn’t without stressful situations and plenty of lessons learned, but it was worth every bit of it. Now, six years later, I still love what I do. My husband, Chris, has joined me as a business partner, and together we’re working on an expansion in another state. More to come soon!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am from Minnesota, a state known for its incredible outdoor recreation opportunities and world‑renowned healthcare. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and as a young person I was drawn to business, investing, the arts, and biology. Throughout my teens and early twenties, I held a variety of jobs and ran several small businesses, experiences that ultimately led me to pursue a career in nursing.

Nearly 20 years later, I’m still in healthcare—now as a Nurse Informaticist in Clinical Informatics. I manage a portfolio of projects, oversee a training program, and lead a team of professionals who design, implement, and support information systems that bridge clinical practice and technology. My work in Clinical Informatics has given me invaluable business, leadership, and operational experience. I love solving problems and bringing new ideas and technological advancements to life.

Outside of healthcare, I’ve always stayed busy with side hustles, volunteering, and creative projects centered around outdoor recreation, visual arts, and music. Over time, these interests grew into a persistent desire to start an outdoor hospitality business. That vision became Aefintyr in 2019, located in the beautiful Whitewater River Driftless Area of Southeastern Minnesota.

Aefintyr is a wilderness‑inspired campground specializing in hike‑in rustic glamping, treehouse cabins, and outfitting. Our tagline, “Nature is our favorite amenity,” reflects what sets us apart. We offer accommodations immersed in nature, designed to help guests slow down, unplug, and fully experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world. Our spaces are intentionally uncrowded and kept as close to their natural state as possible. We focus on comfort and simplicity, hoping each stay fosters respect and appreciation for the environment. We want guests to enjoy an authentic camping experience—without the hassle of planning, packing, or owning gear. We make a nature getaway easy.

Our Core Values:

Nature has innate value in the human experience.

Respect and care for our natural environment.

Nature and camping are for everyone.

Reduce waste and reuse whenever possible.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I participated in a program called CO.STARTERS a few years back when I was figuring out how to move forward with the concept for the hike-in rustic glamping. It was provided by the Collider Foundation in Rochester, MN a local organization dedicated to removing barriers for entrepreneurs. The program helps participants test their business ideas, map out a path forward, and take meaningful first steps toward launching. The content and tools from this program are practical and applicable across industries. The program was in person and used a cohort model. It was a great place to make friends, network and get valuable feedback. Being surrounded by people who are actively pursuing their dreams was revitalizing for me and was what I needed to fast track the launch of another service line for my business that was just getting started at the time.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Treat people with respect, get to know them, what gets them excited and motivated and understand how they prefer to work and communicate. Involve team members in decisions that impact them, be transparent and keep them informed. Empower people to do their work and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy. Hold team members accountable and be fair and consistent when applying rules and expectations. Lead by example and serve your team. Don’t make any rules or expectations you will not follow yourself!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aefintyroutdoors.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aefintyr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088475505001
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsi-low/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aefintyr

Image Credits

Chelsi Low