Get to know BROOKLEDGE
Meet Your Host
Helen Christopher
Helen is a former elementary teacher turned hospitable host and wedding venue owner in Upstate New York. In 2021, she bought a former girls summer camp called Brookledge which offers guests 60 acres of cabins, glamping tents and event space. As the owner, she helps guests reconnect with nature and disconnect from their hectic lives. Helen has been featured in the Times Union, Ramble & Roam blog, and various podcasts. She is also a contributing author in the best-selling book Hospitable Hosts 2.
Our History
Celebrating the Past
You can feel the history when you step on the property—all those summers of laughter and joy. Brookledge’s history dates back to the 1800s when German families from New York City owned the property and built cabins as a vacation getaway. The buildings no longer stand, but you can find the remains of a beautiful stone fireplace at the Camp Chapel where we now hold wedding ceremonies. It still showcases a family crest in the masonry.
As time passed, Camp Brookledge was opened by Margaret Nobel. She made it into a thriving summer girls’ camp. The pond, lovingly nicknamed the “Ice Bucket” is where girls learned to swim. We still call it that now! The pavilion is where lunches and crafts were enjoyed. The lodge is where you would find the kitchen and a gathering spot on those rainy days. Girls, Inc. eventually bought Camp Brookledge and continued to offer summer camp for girls from urban communities. The buses that brought the girls were called Woodstock and Snoopy, which we’ve named our glamping tents after.
In 2009 Girls Inc. closed the doors and Camp Brookledge was purchased by Lori and Cindy. They enjoyed it for many years, but eventually, it was time to sell it. We fell in love with the property when we attended a wedding by the Ice Bucket. We purchased it in 2021 and have been restoring it to its original, but simple glory where we celebrate nature everyday. We look forward to welcoming you as guests and hope you love summer camp again.
Oh yeah...our mischievous little mascot
Have you met Fred?
So we have an unofficial mascot here at Brookledge - a fiesty little red squirrel who has decided on his own that Brookledge is home.
In the summer of 2021, we had a lovely family celebrating a reunion. As the family was enjoying their yummy food, a mischievous red squirrel decided he wanted to join as well. With his audacious spirit he squirreled right up the picnic table and perched himself on the bench. In a swift and stealthy move, he stole a piece of cupcake and ran off leaving the guests amused. As the day progressed, we noticed something peculiar, our cornhole bags were being chewed. We soon discovered that this little red squirrel was chewing the bags and stealing corn! We would see him and yell “No, Fred!” He would look at us and take something anyway.
We’ve grown to love this rascally little creature and his playful antics. Fred has even made his way into our logo! Guests love to see Fred go about his day. If you stay here, you may spot him trying to get your snacks or maybe just some of your attention. We hope you enjoy spotting Fred for as long as he decides to hang around.
