An Outdoorsy Company Retreat in Lake George, New York
I’m so grateful to work for a company that values team bonding and growth. Since Youth Marketing Connection has two offices – one in Boston and one in D.C. – we rarely get to interact as a full team outside of conference calls. Once a year, the group gets together for a week-long retreat where we get to hangout and get to know each other better. I wrote a review of last year’s trip to St. Simon’s Island already. This year, we headed to Upstate New York to a beautiful lodge near the Adirondacks and Lake George. Read on for a closer look at this outdoorsy team retreat!
First, let’s talk about where we stayed. The Brampton, a year-round lodge in Warrensburg, has 20+ beds, 6 bedrooms, and 5 bathrooms – the perfect size for our group of 17 people. The grounds included a main lodge where the majority of beds and all bathrooms were housed, a converted van, an airstream trailer, a camper, a tiny house, and a barn space with games. The Brampton is super secluded (as in, it takes 30 minutes to drive to Lake George Village and any other real civilization), so we immediately felt relaxed upon arrival. What we weren’t expecting was the major lack of service/Wi-Fi (we are a group of Millennials after all), but it ended up being nice to disconnect. Check out photos of The Brampton below.
The dining room. 
The kitchen. 
A view of the main living room. 
The fire pit and gaming barn. 
The loft where I slept during the week.
During the first full day of the retreat, the team went on a hike on Crane Mountain. Let me just say, none of us were prepared for what we would experience. We were unfortunately mislead (by a local no less) that this was a “moderate” hike with “a small rock scramble.” After just 30 minutes in, we were laughing at just how wrong those statements were. The entire hike is climbing up rocks, for a total of almost 1,500 vertical feet. Everyone (except me, thank goodness) was in sneakers which led to a lot of sliding. It was also raining/sleeting/hailing during our trip, which practically all of the reviews we read later recommended avoiding. While the lake was beautiful and the summit breathtaking, the climb to get there was one of the most physically challenging things I’ve ever done. We left exhausted and sore, but proud that no one on the team broke an ankle!
One of my favorite parts of our retreats is just getting to hang out as a team. These trips always bring everyone closer together, strengthening our personal relationships so that our professional ones can flourish too. From making dinner at the house and assembling 1,000-piece puzzles, to eating s’mores and doing face masks (by our fave new client, Sephora Collection), these are just some of the highlights from the week. I’m so glad to be part of this amazing group!
Following the strenuous Crane Mountain adventure, the majority of our team was not feeling up for much more hiking like that. Instead, a group of us decided to go for a scenic nature walk in the Pack Demonstration Forest. This beautiful .75 mile loop featured a man-made trail with educational posted placards about the forest and wildlife. My aching legs were grateful for an easy stroll through the woods in lieu of more climbing!
After our nature walk, we decided to stop by Nettle Meadow Farm and Artisan Cheese, a must-see if you’re in the Adirondacks. The Sanctuary Farm is home to over 100 animals who are in the home-stretch of their life and are well taken care of by owners Lorraine Lambiase (who we had the pleasure of meeting) and Sheila Flanagan. From goats and donkeys to horses and sheep, all of the animals were so sweet and friendly. They came right up to us when we visited their various living spaces and posed for some of my favorite photos of the trip (see below). The farm is also a cheese company, producing several varieties of goat cheeses, including their award-winning and incredibly delicious triple crème, Kunik. We left with several containers and enjoyed a delectable cheese and crackers course before dinner that night.
For our last night in the area, we drove over to Lake George Village to explore before dinner. The lake is incredibly beautiful and, after a light rain, the low-hanging clouds made it even more picturesque. We found ourselves at the Lake George Beach Club, a fun waterfront bar with live music and a sprawling deck. The clean, grey lighting was perfect for team photos!
A quick drive led us to dinner at Beyond the Sea, a quaint upscale restaurant with excellent service and delicious dishes. I especially liked the decor, including a lit tree sprouting up in the center of the room. I ordered the 12 oz. NY Strip Steak with herb butter, rustic mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables. It was amazing. The team had rave reviews for the scallops, ahi tuna, filet mignon, salmon, and chicken moderna – so really there’s not a bad plate on the menu. Would highly recommend this place!
And that completes the trip! It was truly a joy to relax and unwind with the best coworkers a girl could ask for. Huge thanks to YMC for continuing to take me on incredible adventures!
