Adventures Through the Lens: The Summit Scholarship through the Storyteller’s Perspective
As you probably know by now, the Summit Scholarship Foundation is about more than just summiting peaks—it’s about capturing moments of courage and connection that ripple far beyond the mountains themselves. That’s why we created the Adventure Lens Grant, a program that empowers emerging filmmakers to join our expedition teams and tell the stories of our scholarship recipients from the inside. When participants watch these films, they don’t just see women climbing mountains; they see themselves reflected in those rope teams and realize that dreams of high-altitude expeditions are more attainable than they thought.
Part of what makes the program so special is the caliber of mentorship it provides. We’re fortunate to have Savannah Cummins—renowned photographer, filmmaker, and athlete—guiding our grant recipients. Savannah’s eye for storytelling, honed on expeditions around the world and in publications like National Geographic, has inspired countless women to pick up a camera and step outside their comfort zone. Having her involved means Adventure Lens Grant recipients don’t just learn how to shoot in tough mountain conditions; they also see firsthand what it looks like to build a career around adventure storytelling. Her presence signals that our Foundation isn’t just handing out grants; we’re building a community of creators who lift each other up.
L-R: Alli, Britt & Nana
Our inaugural Adventure Lens Grant brought filmmaker Brittain “Britt” Noel into the fold. Britt had grown up with a camera in hand and a passion for the outdoors, but like many of our applicants, she wasn’t sure how to bridge the gap between her ambitions and the seemingly closed world of high-altitude climbing. When she saw the grant pop up on Instagram just days before the deadline, she decided to take a chance on herself. The result? A deeply personal, beautifully shot film called Vamos A La Playa, which follows Summit Scholarship recipients Alli and Nana on an expedition through Peru’s Cordillera Blanca. The film captures the raw mix of humor, nerves, altitude headaches, inside jokes and tearful triumphs that define these journeys. It also shows how much team spirit and mentorship matter, echoing Britt’s favorite takeaway: “It’s the people that make the summit.”
We sat down with Britt to talk about her journey from childhood photography projects to high-altitude filmmaking, and why she believes this grant—and the community around it—can be a game-changer for storytellers. Here’s our conversation in Britt’s own words:
You were introduced to both the outdoors and photography at a very young age and later circled back to filmmaking after a long hiatus. Could you briefly share how those early experiences shaped your storytelling style and your decision to pursue adventure filmmaking?
Britt: I think starting young and then being away for a long time gave me an early foundation of what being aligned feels like. And maybe more importantly, what doesn’t! I tried different things but I’ve never loved anything the way I love the outdoors and love shooting. Filming when I was young also taught me how to keep a sense of play in my work. I’m definitely not the most technical person on set. There are some rules I lean on more than others, but at the end of the day, none of that matters if the story isn’t there. The feeling a piece conveys always comes first for me.
What drew you to the Adventure Lens Grant, and how did you approach the application process?
Britt: I’d been dreaming about high-altitude summits for years but had no idea how to actually access that world. It often feels like you either need to know the right people or have a lot of money for guiding, training, and certs. I’d pictured myself on glaciers and summit ridges but it always felt out of reach. This grant felt like a real doorway.
And I’ve followed Savannah’s work for years, her path has made my own goals feel totally possible. The idea of having her as a mentor felt absolutely insane.
I found out about the Adventure Lens Grant three days before applications closed (saw it on Sav’s IG story) and I was immediately all in. I submitted my application on the final day, which felt very on brand. I don't know that I had any real strategy for the application process beyond trying to be honest and sound as much like myself as possible.
In Vamos A La Playa you follow Summit Scholarship recipients Ali and Nana on a high‑altitude expedition in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca. What story were you trying to tell through their journey, and how did you balance filming with staying present in a challenging mountaineering environment?
Britt: Both Alli and Nana interact with the world in the kindest and most supportive way, yet are also completely filled with grit. There are countless inspiring stories to tell about them. But I felt like our story to tell together would be about the things you don’t see and can’t prepare for. It felt like the most accurate depiction of a first time expedition + that it might help upcoming grant recipients. I wanted to show the emotional weight of a trip like this and how much team morale matters. How the people next to you can make or break the experience. Shea sums it up perfectly in the film when she says, “It’s the people that make the summit.”
“Sometimes you film it. Sometimes you’re in it. You do your best and try to make the right call in the moment.”
As for balance… I don’t know that I ever found it! Sunny and Sav both emphasized: experience first, filming second. But as a filmmaker that’s hard to follow. Every meaningful moment feels like one you should capture. Any time I put the camera down to just be present, I worried I was letting a crucial piece of the story slip by.
That being said, I think that tension is all a part of the process. There might be a great formula for this and I haven’t discovered it yet, or it might just be how it goes. Sometimes you film it. Sometimes you’re in it. You do your best and try to make the right call in the moment.
The Adventure Lens Grant places filmmakers in glaciated, high‑altitude settings. What were the most unexpected challenges you encountered while shooting in this environment, and how did the mentorship from Savannah Cummins help you prepare for and adapt to those challenges?
Britt: Sometimes there are BIG emotions on an expedition and I don’t know if I was fully ready for that. It was also kind of hard to prepare for the psychological stress of trying to learn how to be a part of a high altitude expedition and how to document it at the same time.
Savannah was the biggest tool in my toolbox when it came to this trip. We spent hours on the phone where she would answer all of my questions, coach me through scenarios, and helped to level my expectations. She reminded me that even if I came home with no usable footage, that was okay. This trip was about learning, not making my first award-winning mountain film. And I really needed that, the pressure of this trip felt immense. Being selected for this felt like some big culmination of everything I’d worked towards and it felt like if I botched it it meant that I wasn’t supposed to be here. In reality, I would never hold someone else to that standard (crazy how much harder we are on ourselves, right). So I really held on to her advice during the trip. Reminding myself that filming, learning, and functioning at altitude for the first time is really hard and that helped me stay grounded. That support kept a fair amount of stress at bay, which ultimately made both the experience and the work better.
How has participating in the grant—both the expedition and the support it provided—contributed to your professional growth and future projects?
Britt: The expedition and the support alongside it has been life changing, that’s not an exaggeration! When people believe in you and your work, it opens up your world. It gives you permission to believe in yourself more than you did before. I’m looking at working on projects I never would’ve considered before and planning for summits that felt out of the question prior to being in the Cordillera Blanca.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to someone considering applying for the Adventure Lens Grant?
Britt: You truly have nothing to lose by believing in yourself and trusting that you’re worthy of this kind of support.
Also… do lots of cold training!
Why Storytelling Matters—And How You Can Join
The Adventure Lens Grant is just one piece of our mission to make the outdoors more inclusive, but Britt’s story highlights why it matters so much. She admits there were moments of doubt—wondering how she’d juggle filming and high-altitude travel, questioning whether she could capture everything without losing herself in the experience. Yet she also describes the sense of belonging that came from having Savannah Cummins as a mentor and from traveling alongside two scholarship recipients whose determination and humor kept morale high when the going got tough. Those relationships are the heart of both the film and the Summit Scholarship Foundation.
If you watch Vamos A La Playa (and you should!), you’ll see not just stunning glacier shots and sweeping mountain vistas, but the way a small group of strangers becomes a team. You’ll see the tears and laughter, the quiet moments around basecamp, and the shared grit that turns a dream into a reality. And if you see yourself in Britt, Ali, or Nana, we hope you’ll take that as a sign: you could be next. Whether your passion is filmmaking, mountaineering, or another adventure path entirely, there’s room here for you.
Ready to take the next step?
Watch and share the film: Check out “Vamos A La Playa – Summit Scholarship x Cordillera Blanca (2025)” on YouTube. Let the story move you; then share it with a friend who could use a dose of inspiration.
Apply for the Adventure Lens Grant: Do you have a story to tell? Are you a budding filmmaker who wants to capture what happens when women pursue big dreams together? Keep an eye on our website for Adventure Lens Grant opportunities and don’t let self-doubt stop you.
Support the Summit Scholarship Foundation: Not ready to apply? Consider donating or spreading the word about our programs. Every contribution helps us provide gear, training, travel stipends and opportunities for women to step into the mountains—and to tell their stories, too.
We started the Summit Scholarship Foundation to break down barriers and build a more inclusive outdoor community. Thanks to filmmakers like Britt and all of our grant recipients, we can also share what that looks like—up close and personal. We hope you’ll join us, no matter if that’s on the trail, behind the camera, or by cheering on other women in the mountains.
