The Sweet Outdoors

One of the most unique and treasured characteristics about Sweet Briar are the scenic Virginia fields, forests and rolling hills that surround its historic campus. Experiencing all that the land has to offer and teach us is an intrinsic part of Sweet Briar. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that many alumnae have fond memories of the College’s outdoor program and all the adventures it provided both on and off campus. (Did you just say SWEBOP in your head? Because we did.)

In 1979, the president of the College, Harold B. Whiteman, Jr., received a $5,000 grant from Procter & Gamble to be used for a “new and innovative” program. Just like that, the outdoor program was born. With the help of Lori Adam, the program's first director, SWEBOP was introduced to campus life.

Today, Mikel Mayo-Pitts is at the helm of the outdoor program. Not long after he arrived in early 2020, Mikel suddenly found himself having to navigate ways to keep the excitement and participation growing even through the pandemic. Fortunately, that wasn’t too difficult with a campus that has so many accessible and diverse outdoor spaces.

Mikel is pretty familiar with the countryside near Sweet Briar. His family moved to rural Fluvanna County, southeast of Charlottesville, just before he went into middle school. His new home exposed him to the countryside more than he had ever been before. His family always had a great appreciation for the outdoors, and they found themselves spending even more time hiking and camping. These experiences led Mikel to search for a college degree program that would teach him the important aspects of outdoor knowledge needed for backpacking, hiking, basic safety and more. After graduating from Radford University with a degree in outdoor recreation, he worked for their outdoor program where he honed the skills he needed to lead people on outdoor excursions.

Before Mikel arrived at Sweet Briar, the beloved program was being run

by interested students and a small group of student-staff. They kept the program thriving, and they did it with dedication. “We were all really close, and it was a lot of extra work,” says Weatherly Ryder ’22. “We couldn’t always go on the trips we wanted, so we did the best we could. We often went to Rise Up climbing in Lynchburg and utilized our beautiful campus. We worked together to make sure we still had something to offer the students.”

Mikel has been thrilled to work directly with these excited, passionate students and help to make the outdoor program inclusive of people with any level of interest or experience. “My favorite thing so far has definitely been working with the student leaders, growing the student staff, and training and working with them,” says Mikel. The program allows students to experience the outdoors in many different ways and at various levels. “There are a vast number of things that make Sweet Briar and the outdoor program unique, but I think the biggest one is the inclusivity,” says Renee Taylor ’24. “There is something here on campus for everyone, whether it’s clubs, athletics or the outdoor program.”

“A very prominent part of my childhood was spent with a wilderness training program in Vermont called Coyote’s Path,” says Sita Moses ’23. “This is where my love for the outdoors developed beyond being just a kid in the woods. I was ecstatic to find that Sweet Briar had its own outdoor pro-

Jackie Vari ’22 on a camping trip hosted by SWEBOP

Mikel Mayo-Pitts, director of the outdoor program

Devon Felton ’21, Sita Moses ’23, Izabella (Bella) McCloskey ’23, and Renee Taylor ’24 on a hiking trip gram, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. I completed the application process to become an apprentice and, in turn, a leader in time for the start of my sophomore year.”

“There’s a bit of a running joke that I am the sunrise hike person,” says Sita. “Though initially not the most enticing thing, getting up to welcome the sun is my favorite trip we lead. Usually, we start these journeys off a little groggy and sleepy—perhaps even resentful of our past selves who signed up—but to watch the first rays of sunlight turn the world to gold before our eyes with a warm cup in hand (we bring a stove and pot for hot drinks) is incredible. On the return, everyone's a little warmer, awake and there is still the whole day ahead!”

The staff plays an important role in helping plan and orchestrate activities and encouraging students to participate. They also learn the basics of outdoors training, backpacking and camping so that they can be helpful influencers and teachers to those that participate in any of the activities or excursions.

THE OUTING CABIN

Sweet Briar has no shortage of outdoor spaces. With 2,840 acres of land and 18 miles of trails on campus, there are a wealth of opportunities when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors. In particular, the 83-year-old Outing Cabin has provided students with many memories and opportunities for recreation and celebration over the years.

During the 1935-1936 academic year, the College’s athletic association decided to build the cabin. With the blessing of President Meta Glass, students selected a site on Paul’s Mountain the following year. Students lent a helping hand to the superintendent of the Sweet Briar Farm, J. Edwin Dinwiddie, the local tradesman who cut, hewed and cured the logs which were harvested on-site. The students used the lacrosse field to lay out the logs and boards for the walls and windows, and the Outing Cabin was ready for a retreat from academic life in May 1938.

In addition to the historic preservation assessment happening on Sweet Briar’s main campus [read more on page 6], the College has also assessed the maintenance and stabilization requirements for the Outing Cabin and the Boathouse. Based on those assessments, work will take place this summer.

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A trip to the Outing Cabin, fall 1953

“My favorite memory so far has been the staff training trip to Bozoo, W.Va. We went over the basics of backpacking and camping and had an introduction to climbing, ropes systems and anchor systems,” says Mikel.

Despite the pandemic, the outdoor program has been able to provide many opportunities for students to escape for a little bit. They had a full list of trips planned, but Mikel and the students knew they were going to be limited to campus, so they kept trips at a beginner level for students who might not be used to certain types of outdoor activities or excursions. Their adventures have consisted of hikes with hot chocolate, canoeing and kayaking on the lake, and tree climbing, which was added this spring.

Mikel had no problem finding things to do thanks to Sweet Briar’s distinctive characteristics. “I always love paddle boarding on our lakes,” says Weatherly. “I like night hikes as well. Seeing the stars on a clear night is super special,” she remarks.

Mikel says, “Our program is an incredible opportunity for building leadership skills. For anyone joining in on the activities, it's a community to connect people and nature. It’s a nice escape.”

“The Sweet Briar Outdoor Program is brought to life by the students who are in it,” says Sita. “Mikel has been an excellent leader for all of us and aids us in pursuing our own interests and ideas while connecting them back to what we can do for students at Sweet Briar. Because of this, I think our program is constantly evolving and bettering itself, and in doing so, it defies stagnancy.”

Mikel plans to grow the program by adding a variety of trips and opportunities for student involvement. “I want to build a cohesive program around the students who are currently involved and want to take trips, plus include new students, as well,” he says.

He also hopes to one day bring back an annual week-long expedition, giving outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to do something out of their comfort zone. At one time, Sweet Briar’s outdoor program provided the opportunity for students to attend Outdoor Women Leadership training. Students would take extended trips filled with in-depth outdoor camping opportunities. “I am hoping to resume the practice of expedition-length training for student leaders. In the past, they have primarily been backpacking trips somewhere in the surrounding states,” says Mikel. “That is probably how it will be when I first start it back up, as well, however, I want to work towards yearly expeditions to other parts of the country that are a bit less familiar,” he says.

“This program has helped me become a leader that I never thought I’d be,” says Weatherly. “Putting students in leadership positions through the outdoors and the amazing nature around us is one of the best things I’ve experienced here at Sweet Briar. I’ve found my voice and spot on campus through the outdoor program.”

Sweet Briar Fund Goal: $8,270,000

Left to Raise: $1,641,896

Pledges to Convert: $1,672,942

Total Raised: $4,955,352

As of Mar. 23, 2021

Why Does Alumnae Participation Matter?

Each year, the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development assesses alumnae giving to Sweet Briar. While this metric may not be something that alumnae use daily, our participation rate is critical to planning our fundraising efforts each year. Here are seven other reasons why participation is important: 1. Our participation rate is used to determine our ranking in publications like U.S. News and World Report. A higher participation rate can mean a higher ranking and higher rankings are one way potential students evaluate colleges. 2. Foundations use the alumnae participation rate as one measure to compare the Sweet

Briar to other colleges that they view as successful. They use the participation rate when considering Sweet Briar for potential grants. 3. Participation means more diversity in our donor base, allowing the College to withstand changes when donors’ capacity or interests shift. 4. Participation is one of the signs of health of the College, just like enrollment, the endowment and graduation rate. 5. Participation is a sign of love and respect for the College. If alumnae don’t love and respect the place, why should anyone else? 6. Participation needs to be perpetual. Some amount given every year by as many alumnae as possible provides a reliable income stream that steadily funds the operations of the

College. 7. Participation engenders a sense of ownership and belonging, and is something that sets that group apart.

In short, there is no greater demonstration of confidence in and loyalty to your alma mater than making a gift to support Sweet Briar’s greatest needs.

When we evaluate alumnae giving to Sweet Briar, we want to see two key indicators of success: consistent and significant gifts to the College. Consistency is important because it helps build a foundation of support that we can rely on from year to year. When we say significant, we mean significant to our donors— the best gift that you can make to Sweet Briar each year. When we saved our college in 2015, we did so by committing to support Sweet Briar each and every year, not just in our anniversary Reunion years.

So each year, when you receive a letter from Sweet Briar or a class leader asking you to support your alma mater, don’t wait to respond with a gift. Sweet Briar still needs you!

30% Participation Goal

Alumnae Participation in the Sweet Briar Fund

32.5%

30%

25%

20%

15% 24.9% 23.8%

21.5% 24.5%

17.6%

10%

5%

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 YTD

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Your Gift to Sweet Briar Fosters Resilience and Excellence

In a year like no other, Sweet Briar’s promise to our students—and to our legacy of women’s leadership—remains steadfast. Our alumnae and friends make this possible through financial contributions to Sweet Briar, for which we are exceedingly grateful.

Sweet Briar has always been a place where young women arrive ready to test themselves, find their strengths and explore their world. This fiscal year, our deposits are tracking well ahead of where they stood at this time last year. Our growing student body is the ultimate evidence that a Sweet Briar education continues to have value and relevance for today’s young women.

In President Meredith Woo’s Convocation address to our students last fall, which was held on the Dell to create a setting safe from COVID, she charged them to advocate for their own rights and for the rights of everyone who is marginalized. She did so because a college like Sweet Briar, where women can realize their full potential in an atmosphere free from discrimination, is just as necessary now as it was a century ago.

We have done the hard work of reinventing the Sweet Briar experience for a new generation, while remaining true to the College’s enduring character. We invite you to become our partner in these efforts before the end of this fiscal year on June 30, 2021. With your gift to the Sweet Briar Fund, we can navigate the enormous challenges of our time and deliver our promise to our students.

Giving to Sweet Briar

Your support will underwrite our most vital priorities: • A Robust Response to COVID-19.

With the health and safety of our campus community in mind, we have devised a comprehensive plan to ensure healthy living and learning. Even better, we have proven over the last eight months that this plan is working; we have experienced only a few cases of COVID among our student body and have been able to keep our students safe while they recovered. Your gift will help offset our response to the pandemic, including a single room for every student; a new health clinic; updated instructional spaces, campus dining and health services; personal protective equipment; and symptom checking, testing and contact tracing. • Scholarships. Each year, Sweet

Briar offers scholarships totaling nearly $4 million. Our assessment, however, is that more students will need more help as families cope with the financial fallout of COVID-19, which we are all learning may linger longer than originally anticipated. You can help us answer this need, while fueling enrollment growth and furthering a tradition of academic distinction through attracting bright students to Sweet

Briar. • Faculty Support. Dedicated and talented faculty make an indelible impression that ignites curiosity and inspires students to learn and lead. By investing in faculty scholarship, research and development, you invest in the lives and careers of each Sweet Briar student. One of the many hallmarks of a Sweet

Briar education is the devotion of our faculty to fostering our students’ academic growth. • Stewardship of our Natural and

Built Environment. Sweet Briar’s renewal is evident from the view of Monument Hill and freshly-manicured trails to our thriving vineyards, 20-hive apiary, bustling 26,000-square-foot greenhouse and renovations at our riding center. We have also completed an assessment for the rehabilitation of our 21-building National Register

Historic District. With the Commonwealth of Virginia’s current restrictions on gatherings, the use of our outdoor spaces has increased exponentially. Your gift will ensure an inviting and supportive campus where excellence thrives both now and in the future. As a campus, we are again facing down unforeseen circumstances. While there is good news with the arrival of COVID vaccines, the impact of the pandemic will likely continue for several months, if not years. As you know, Sweet Briar College has a distinctive ability to be resilient—perhaps more than any other college in this country. It is a capacity honed over our nearly 120-year history and anchored in our promise to one another and to the young women we serve. Your gift to the Sweet Briar Fund in this fiscal year will allow us to continue to be flexible as circumstances change quickly—so that there is nothing that we cannot do.

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Sweet!Entrepreneurial Artists –

Sweet Briar alumnae across the decades have long had a bent for entrepreneurship, creating their own businesses, particularly in areas of artistic endeavor. To support these efforts, the Alumnae Alliance is assembling a searchable catalogue of alumnae-owned-and-operated small businesses and alumnae artists and artisans, extending the ability of all alumnae to “shop sweet.” This special guide should be available in time for the next holiday season.

Throughout 2021, look for social media posts soliciting inclusion in the catalogue. In the meantime, we thought we’d give you a sneak peek!

Meet Amy Campbell Lamphere ‘80, who started Storyline Collection with her business partner Sunil Ramchandani. Sunil and Amy believe that a woman’s wardrobe should be built around well-constructed, perfectly imagined essential pieces. Check them out at storylinecollection.com.

If you’re looking to add color to your life with some artwork, check out Egg Art, the studio of Emma Zak ’20. You can support a fellow Vixen by purchasing Emma’s paintings, drawings, prints and notecards. To see Emma’s work, visit zak205.wixsite.com/egg-art.

Of course, that’s just the beginning of the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by so many Sweet Briar alumnae. We look forward to making it easier for you to support Sweet Briar businesses. Stay tuned to the Alumnae Alliance social media pages for more!

@sweetbriaralumnae @sbcalumnae