The invention provides a tripod assembly comprising a plurality of legs, a central support member, and a central post. Each of the legs is pivotably coupled to the central support member. The central support member surrounds the central post. A plurality of columns is disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement in a telescopic fashion along an axis of the plurality of columns between a fully-extended position and a collapsed position. The columns are received in the central post when the columns are in the collapsed position. A first end of a connecting rod is coupled to one of the columns. A bracket assembly is coupled to a second end of the connecting rod and is configured to receive a rung of a ladder therein. A bracket member is coupled to an uppermost column and includes a channel configured to receive a second rung of the ladder therein.