Brown Ledge Camp FAQs

We are happy to answer your questions by phone or by e-mail (1-800-246-1958; 802-862-2442; BLC@brownledge.org). Below you will see some of the most common questions we are asked throughout the year. Hopefully the answers will respond to some of your questions.

1. What sessions does Brown Ledge offer and what is the tuition? Do you offer discounts?

Brown Ledge Camp offers one 8 week and two 4 week sessions, for girls ages 10-17, with 2013 dates as follows:

• Full season: June 20th to August 14th
• First half: June 20th to July 17th
• Second half: July 18th to August 14th

NOTE: See paragraph below on tuition discounts.

2013 Tuition is $5100 for half season (4 weeks) and $7200 for full season (8 weeks). This tuition is "all-inclusive" meaning that it covers all activities, including horseback riding, water skiing, etc., laundry, pick-up at the Burlington International Airport, etc. Funding for the camp store is addition. We suggest $60 per 4 weeks, but leave funding to parents' discretion.

Tuition Discounts - When 2 or more sisters enroll, 8 week sisters will receive an additional $300 discount, and 4 week sisters an additional $150 discount, regardless of time of enrollment.

2. How many girls attend Brown Ledge and what are their ages?

180 girls from 10 to 18 years of age attend, with approximately 90 attending for 8 weeks and 90 for each of the 4 week sessions.

3. Are Brown Ledgers predominately from a particular city or state?

No. While the majority of campers hail from the northeastern part of the United States, usually more than 25 states and a dozen countries are represented.

4. Who are the directors of Brown Ledge?

Bill and Kathy Neilsen have been the full-time, year-round directors of Brown Ledge since 1983. During their college years, both were counselors at Brown Ledge. In addition, Kathy was a Brown Ledge camper and junior counselor. If you have questions for Bill & Kathy, feel free to call them at 1-800-246-1958, or email them at blcREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@brownledge.org.

5. What is the staff to camper ratio, and what ages are the staff?

Brown Ledge employs approximately 80 staff, of which about 65 are considered counselors, creating a staff to camper ratio of better than 1 to 3. Staff range in age from 19 to 65+, with an average of about 26 years of age. A good number have been at Brown Ledge for an extended time providing much continuity and experience. As with campers, staff represent a variety of backgrounds, personalities and skills.

6. Where is Brown Ledge located?

Brown Ledge is located on Lake Champlain in the town of Colchester, just north of Burlington, Vermont’s largest city. The state’s finest hospital, the University of Vermont, and an abundance of restaurants and shops are within a fifteen minute drive of camp.

7. How easy is travel to Brown Ledge?

Brown Ledge is easily accessible by air or automobile. The Burlington International Airport is about 10 miles from camp and is served daily by numerous flights by USAirways, Continental, Delta, and Jet Blue. Direct flights are available to New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington and Chicago. We will gladly meet any flight into, or out of, Burlington. In addition, our proximity to Interstate 89 permits easy access by automobile.

8. How long has Brown Ledge been in operation and is it accredited?

Brown Ledge has been in continuous operation for 87 years and is accredited by the American Camp Association.

9. Do most new campers come to BLC with a friend?

No, while some new campers do come with a friend, most do not. The design of our activities allows campers to attend any activity they wish with whom they wish. Once at the activity they meet a variety of campers. Because of this, new and old campers quickly and easily meet and make friends with a variety of Brown Ledgers.

10. What is the atmosphere or feel of Brown Ledge?

Brown Ledge has a friendly, relaxed, welcoming, yet active atmosphere in which campers feel comfortable in being themselves, trying new things, and are not afraid to try again if they fail at something. Campers are granted much trust and quickly feel ownership in Brown Ledge. All of this perpetuates a tradition of accepting others for who they are and creating a true community spirit.

11. Why do campers choose BLC and why do they return in successive summers?

Most campers initially choose BLC because of a particular activity or set of activities, the quality of instruction, and/or the general program design which allows girls to choose which activities they will attend, when they will attend, and with whom they will attend. Campers choose to return year-after-year for these same reasons coupled with the strong friendships they develop, feeling ownership in the camp community, and having a lasting sense of accomplishment from their achievements.