Sweet Briar invites high school girls to second Explore Environmental Science Weekend

A participant in Sweet Briar’s first Explore Environmental Science Weekend measures a tree on the College’s campus in fall 2016.


After a successful inaugural event last fall, Sweet Briar College will host its second Explore Environmental Science Weekend for High School Girls on April 7 and 8.

Students will collect, analyze and share data from the forests and streams of Sweet Briar’s 3,250-acre campus as they investigate an environmental challenge. Participants also will learn about field methods and geospatial technologies to address their research questions.

Registration deadline is March 24.

“Just like in the fall, we’ll do lots of hands-on activities to introduce students to environmental science,” said Melanie Stine, a visiting assistant professor of environmental science. “The weekend will give them a pretty authentic glimpse into the field, and they’ll experience firsthand what it’s like to work as an environmental scientist.”

The Explore Environmental Science Weekend was created to foster the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed in all programs in the liberal arts and sciences, Stine says.

An optional campus tour will kick off activities at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by dinner and a program introduction. Students will spend all day Saturday working in the field as a group. The program will conclude on Saturday evening with dinner for students and their parents. The dinner will include career information and advice from speakers working in the environmental field.

Space is limited to 16 participants. Meals, snacks, overnight accommodations and supplies are included in the $35 tuition for the weekend. For more information and to register, please visit the program’s website or contact Stine at mstine@sbc.edu or (434) 381-6509.