What does our schedule look like for Activity Staff?
All Activity Staff are placed with a specific department and work there throughout the summer. Each of our activities are open Monday through Saturday, and campers may attend any activity they want, whenever they want, and for however long they want. When a camper shows up, department counselors are there to help them get set up, teach them new skills, or otherwise offer support. In general, activities require no scheduling or sign-ups; the only exceptions are theater rehearsals and riding lessons. Activity staff must attend all meals and community-wide events such as Theater and Ledger.
What’s unique about this structure?
By forgoing a traditional schedule in favor of our Freedom of Choice Plan, we’ve found that our campers are truly interested in what they’re learning. Giving our campers ownership and autonomy over their own learning experience allows our staff to work with girls who are interested, engaged, and excited to learn. Our job as Counselors is to meet each camper where she is — offering instruction based on her own pace of learning and skill level. To provide direction and motivation, we have developed three levels of competency in each activity (basic, intermediate & vanguard) which campers may work toward. Some campers enjoy the structure these competencies provide; others prefer to work outside them. Either way, we as counselors are there to support all campers as they determine their own goals and challenges.
What does our schedule look like for Support Staff?
Support Staff must attend all meals and community-wide events such as Theater and Ledger. Working hours for support staff depend on the area of camp in which you work. A more detailed schedule will be provided during our interview process.
Morning Routine
Afternoon Routine
Evening Routine
The activity schedule on Saturdays runs precisely as it does on the weekdays (Mon-Fri) with the exception of theatre at 8:30pm. We are very proud of our Theatre Arts program. Each week, the theatre buzzes with activity as sets are built, costumes and props prepared, and a wide variety of one-act plays rehearsed. On Saturday evening, the entire Brown Ledge community gathers for the opportunity to watch the fruits of these labors. Throughout the summer, the theatre puts on an impressive set of performances: Along with the weekly one-acts, a larger 3 act play or a full-length musical are also performed at the end of each session.
The daily schedule runs a bit different on Sundays. All departments are closed in the morning. Campers and staff are free to do as they please. Some wish to sleep in until lunch or spend time in their bunk reading books; others hang out with friends in the Grove or down on the vista; still others take advantage of a movie screening in the Clubhouse.
9:00am Breakfast – Served buffet style in the dining hall. Optional for both campers and staff* to attend.
12:30pm – Lunch – As a tradition, we wear all white to this meal on Sundays (khaki shorts/pants are acceptable).
1:30pm – Chapel – Each week, a group of campers or counselors choose a theme and read something out loud to the audience. Often, they share reflections on their time at camp. Optional to attend.
2:30pm – 5:00 pm – Waterfront Opens – The waterfront is open to campers, but only for leisure. The activity departments do not conduct basic testing.
6:00pm – Cook-out-Dinner – Down at the field, staff fire up the grill and prepare a cook-out meal for all of camp.*
Counselors that are not helping out with the cook-out are free to choose between staying at camp for dinner or leaving/making their own plans.
8:00pm – Ledger – Ledger can be described as a variety show where campers and counselors can sign up to perform on our theatre stage. All of camp will gather together for Ledger on Sunday night.
*All senior staff are assigned to help out with either Sunday dinner or Sunday breakfast one Sunday per summer. A duty roaster will be posted in the counselor bathrooms.
“Being a counselor at Brown Ledge gave me the opportunity to become the leader I always knew I had the potential to be. It’s an unbelievable pleasure to have the chance to work with passionate, hard working, and dedicated young women in an environment that encourages independence, responsibility, and community. Brown Ledge is a place where I developed strong managerial skills which allowed me to ultimately succeed as a teacher and mentor. I learned about how dynamic of a learning community Brown Ledge is, the camp truly develops future leaders who engage critically, act globally, and perform ethically. I took great pride in the fact that I helped many campers achieve great accomplishments that they all should be proud of. There’s a reason why people just can’t get enough of Brown Ledge!”
– Taylor Muench
Swimming, 2018
