Camp America: Life at Brown Ledge Camp as tennis Counsellors
Years ago, Alejandro and I were lucky enough to spend multiple summers as tennis counsellors at Brown Ledge Camp, set in Vermont on Lake Champlain. We discovered the opportunity through Camp America, initially just looking for a way to teach tennis abroad for a summer, but it quickly became much more than that. That one application ended up shaping some of our most memorable years in coaching and personal growth.
Life at Brown Ledge Camp is unlike most traditional summer camps. Set on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont, it’s an all girls residential camp built around a freedom of choice philosophy, where campers design their own daily schedules across a wide range of departments. Even more special, this year marks the camp’s 100th anniversary.
Campers can choose from swimming and waterfront activities, waterskiing and wakeboarding, sailing and kayaking, riflery, archery, horse riding, theatre and stagecraft, arts & crafts, dance, and tennis. Each department has dedicated staff and structured progression, but the atmosphere stays supportive and fun. The tennis area includes five courts and runs throughout the day, giving players plenty of time to train, play matches, and grow their confidence on court as part of the wider camp experience.
Life as a tennis counsellor
Arriving as a tennis counsellor at Brown Ledge Camp was exciting, but also daunting. Alejandro travelled out alone, which wasn’t easy. Turning up to a camp where you don’t know anyone, in a new working environment, with responsibility from day one, pushes you straight out of your comfort zone. You don’t fully know what to expect, from the coaching standards to the daily schedule to the social side of camp life.
We were head of departments for a few summers, leading a team of five, and each department is supported by Junior Counsellors (JCs). These JCs are assigned a department as part of their programme, giving them the opportunity to assist, learn, and develop the traits of a tennis coach under supervision.
A counsellor’s summer spans 10 weeks: one week of setup before campers arrive, eight weeks working with campers, and one week post camp for closing down. The camp season is split into two sessions, with a halfway point to welcome new campers. Kids can attend the first session, the second, or both, and they come from all over the world, as do the counsellors, making for an incredibly diverse and dynamic community.
A typical day at Brown Ledge starts with reveille around 7:15 am, followed by breakfast at 7:45 am. After breakfast, there’s a quick turnaround to get ready for the day, and then it’s straight into activities. On-court tennis usually runs from 9 am until about 12 pm, with a break for lunch at 12:30 pm, where announcements are made for the whole camp. After lunch, there’s a rest hour at 1:30 pm before heading back to the courts or other departments at 2:30 pm, continuing until 5 pm. Because the courts are clay, they need to be rolled every morning to stay playable, and if it’s raining heavily, sessions move indoors to the clubhouse to work on theory and practice with Basics and Intermediate skills.
Weekends have a slightly different rhythm. Saturdays are open for optional activities, while Sundays are a full day off, featuring chapel in the early afternoon, where campers, JCs, and counsellors share stories. Sunday evenings include Ledger, a variety show in which counsellors can also participate, and a camp cookout, usually led by different counsellors, which has become a legendary summer tradition.
Beyond tennis, the camp is full of creativity and talent. The theatre productions are incredible, with the team working hard all week to perform, culminating in a show every Sunday and a grand end-of-summer musical. The stage and sets are built from scratch, showcasing the dedication and skill of everyone involved.
The camp follows a progressive structure for every department: Basic, Intermediate, and Vanguard. Each camper can work through basic, completing checklists for skills like forehand, backhand, and serve. Intermediate tasks are more in-depth, including participation in the tennis team, cross court rallies, and strategy. Vanguard is the ultimate award, where campers or JCs dedicate most of their time on court, planning sessions, running team training, tournaments, and going above and beyond. After each session, there’s an awards night where these achievements are celebrated.
After on court sessions, there’s free time to hang out by the docks or enjoy “counsellor hours,” where staff try activities like waterskiing and wakeboarding, a fun way to pick up new life skills along the way.
Camp life is filled with event days that make every summer memorable: dancing with campers, Iron athlete, Aquacade, and camper-counsellor tournaments across departments. The 4th of July (Independence Day) is a huge celebration, with everyone dressing up in their amazing outfits and joining in the fun. Counsellor have a chance to go on away days with campers to mount Mansfield, Valcour Island.
(Sailing overnight, Valcour Island, shot by Seb Zepeda)
Sleeping Arrangements
Beyond the camp grounds, everyone has their own cabins, separated for campers, JCs, and counsellors. Counsellors typically share with four or two others, while campers may have up to four or 6 bunkies. Female staff have counsellor time with campers each evening for an hour, while male staff don’t, though they are often assigned other evening duties (road duty or evening games)
Travelling After Camp
With the J1 visa, which allows you to work and travel in the US, you get a month after camp ends to explore anywhere in the country. We travelled to Boston, New York, Connecticut, Miami, you name it. Alongside fellow counsellors. It was an unforgettable experience and a perfect way to cap off an incredible summer. Highly recommend going to Sarasota races!
People You Meet
Brown Ledge is a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. We’ve met people from Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the UK, Scotland, Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Canada, and across the USA and more. Many of these friendships last long after camp. We still keep in touch today, and a few even visit us in London. The bonds you form are truly lifelong.
Brown Ledge community
Brown Ledge’s impact doesn’t end when summer does. It continues through a passionate community of alumni who help keep camp thriving. The Brown Ledge Foundation is a not for profit organisation established by former staff and alumni to perpetuate the camp’s programs, facilities, and unique philosophy for future generations. Through ongoing fundraising, donations, and volunteer efforts, the alumni network ensures that Brown Ledge remains a place where girls can grow, learn, and make lifelong friendships far into the future.
Every two years, Brown Ledge welcomes its extended family back for Alumni camp, a weekend where former campers, counsellors, and staff reconnect, relive summer traditions, and experience camp again, only this time as alumni. This year, Brown Ledge is celebrating its centennial year, and we’re excited to be joining in August to celebrate 100 years of community, laughter, and lasting memories.
Looking back, we’re honestly not sure what we’d be doing today without Brown Ledge. It played a huge part in shaping our journey, not just as tennis counsellors, but as people. The experiences, the responsibility, the community, and the friendships have stayed with us ever since. We met lifelong friends there and built memories that still come up in conversation years later. We’re incredibly grateful to Brown Ledge and the whole community around it. It’s a place that leaves a lasting mark on you in the best possible way.
If you have experience in tennis coaching or assisting and are interested in becoming a tennis counsellor at Brown Ledge, or in any other department and want to be part of this unforgettable summer. We’d love to hear from you! You can find more information and apply through the Brown Ledge website here: https://brownledge.org.
You can also learn more about the Brown Ledge Foundation and how the community supports camp here: https://brownledge.org/about-brown-ledge__trashed/brown-ledge-foundation-inc/ and find details about alumni camp here: https://brownledge.org/alumni-camp/.
Image shot by Lyda Blank