Spring is here! I’ve never experienced a more beautiful spring than at Swarthmore – there are gorgeous flowers blooming everywhere! Spring | Scott Arboretum Unfortunately, finals season is also right around the corner. But when April ushers in warm weather, Swatties want to come out of the libraries and other academic buildings to spend a few hours studying outside. 

While there are challenges – damp grass soaks through your pants, the wind blows away any loose papers, the sun creates a vicious glare on your computer screen, or the ants decide to make your snack their lunch – the benefits are worth the risks. I am a big proponent of soaking up a little extra Vitamin D, and Swat spring is so beautiful, you wouldn’t want to risk missing it! If you take a waterproof blanket (or find a chair or bench), avoid loose papers, orient yourself based on the sun’s angle, and keep food contained, you’re sure to have a pleasant time studying outside.

Here (in no particular order) are some places that I’ve found to be lovely spots to study (or just hang out with friends!) on a sunny Swat day:

The Amphitheater

Situated in between Parrish Hall and Crum Woods, the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater is best known for being the location of First and Last Collection, a sentimental Swarthmore tradition of reflection during orientation week and again days before graduation. But in the four years in between, students have many occasions to visit the amphitheater – we sometimes watch performances on the “stage”, have class discussions outside on nice days, or just relax beneath the huge white oaks and tulip trees. The amphitheater provides dappled shade, a nice flat, grassy areas on which to sit and stone “steps” to lean against. Another benefit is that it’s close to the center of campus, but far enough off the beaten path for peaceful studying. 

 The Koi Pond

This hidden gem is located in the center of the Scott Entrance Garden surrounding the Wister Center (which serves as the headquarters of the Scott Arboretum). I think the bench beside the Koi Pond is the most peaceful spot I’ve found on campus. The breeze carries the sweet scent of flowers, and it’s so quiet here that I can hear it rustling the leaves.

The Cherry Border

The cherry border provides us with the quintessential picture of Swarthmore in the spring. Swatties love to work on the benches beneath the trees or on a picnic blanket in the middle of the grassy lawn. Its beauty really speaks for itself.

Parrish Beach

Parrish Beach is perhaps THE place to hang out and do a little studying outside—although it is right in the middle of campus, so it might be hard to concentrate when friends keep walking by. I wasn’t able to find a definitive answer as to when/why the lawn in front of Parrish Hall received its nickname of “Parrish Beach” (if you know, feel free to comment below)!  My best guess is that it’s because the expansive, south facing lawn is such a great place for “sunbathing.” On sunny, warm days, there are always Swatties lounging on their picnic blankets, with a few lucky enough to snag an adirondack chair. The view is especially stunning when the daffodils are in full bloom along Magill Walk, the wide path that runs down to the Dining Center and the Train Station.

The Pollinator Garden

Tucked away between Cornell Library and Martin, the Pollinator Garden is a hidden gem that definitely gives The Secret Garden vibes when the flowers are blooming. The place is literally buzzing in summer and early fall with bees and butterflies. Unfortunately, it is currently blocked off due to the construction. I took this picture before construction began on neighboring Martin Hall (the old biology building that is currently being renovated into the new home of the Computer Science and Film and Media Studies departments). The project will be completed in 2025, so I look forward to returning before I graduate.

The Magnolia Grove Behind Mertz 

When I came back from Spring break and got out of the car in the Ben West parking lot, I was blown away by the beauty of the spring blossoms behind Mertz Hall. There are so many magnolia trees, with their large, sculptural pink and white blooms, and underfoot, a carpet of tiny, blue “glory of the snow” flowers. A picture doesn’t do it justice; you need to see it for yourself! Some “tree furniture” (not pictured), creatively repurposed from large trees that needed to be cut down for a campus construction project, provides a fun, unique place to sit and chat or study. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed a peek at some of the special places where I like to study outside at Swarthmore. This just begins to scratch the surface—there are so many beautiful places on campus, especially in the spring!