Evie Flowers Loomis Chaffee GESC

My Global & Environmental Identity

My name is Evie Flowers, and I am a senior at Loomis Chaffee. Raised in Simsbury, Connecticut, I have always been surrounded by the changing season and the beauty of nature. Something simple like my backyard ignited my curiosity for the environment and became a constant reminder of the world outside. I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up in an environment where hiking, swimming in reservoirs, and spending time outdoors are a part of daily life. I embrace the opportunities to be outside, whether it's exploring hiking trails, enjoying time with friends, or even studying beneath the oak trees in my backyard. Being in nature not only revives me but also benefits my mental health, providing me with calmness and inspiration. I have a passion for how the environment positively impacts our health and overall happiness. I enjoy learning about the benefits of spending time outdoors, not only for myself but for others as well. As someone who cares about my community, I truly care about looking out for those around me. Helping people is essential to who I am, and I believe that giving back is a crucial part of strengthening and expanding the community. At Loomis, I continue to strive to create a comfortable space for everyone, while leaving a legacy of environmental change. I want to inspire my peers to appreciate the outdoors and recognize our responsibility. I am all in on taking action here at Loomis and want to encourage others around me to do the same.

Global & Environmental Resume

GESC-designated Courses

World History
Advanced Seminar: History of the Present
Ceramics 1
CL Environmental Science
CL Guided Research Projects in Environ-mental Sustainability

Elective Courses

CL English IV: Magical Realism (I'm a big fan of the importance of perspective and plot twists and wanted to explore using creative writing in this genre. I chose to take magical realism as a way to develop my writing, read new books, and deepen my understanding of the craft, pushing myself to expand what I already know.)
French V: Modern Writers (I wanted to explore French history and connect it to french historic writers, and I thought the best way to do this was through studying modern authors.)
French V: Cinema (My love for the French language is infinite, and I want to push myself to learn more about true French culture. I believe there’s no better way to do that than through French cinema.)
CL English IV: Literature and the Environment (I chose this course because my passion for the environment and I try to apply that wherever possible.)

GESC Experiential Education

SYA France '24 Spring Semester

During my semester abroad in France, I was able to immerse myself in a new culture and engage with new languages and traditions. I explored French culture, met amazing new people, and tried new foods, French slang, and even family traditions like Friday night Uno. I learned so much from my French host family and peers, and it truly opened my eyes to the many new opportunities around me and the power of saying yes. I found that saying yes is the best way to learn about a new culture but also to discover new things in general. I am forever grateful for the lessons and experiences I gained during the trip and can't wait to travel more and have many more journeys like it.

Extra Passions and Hobbies

Postivity Project Club
Community Engagement Sophomore Spring
Darwin Club
Feild Hockey
Yoga

Learning Artifacts

GESC Coursework

This is a photo of the first page of my proposal for creating a green space in the library, which I created for my CL Guided Environmental Research Project course. The mission of this project is designed to benefit the community by providing a space that promotes well being and learning. It not only enhances the study environment but also helps educate people about the importance of nature and its impact on mental health.

GESC Seminars

Seminar 2

For my makeup for seminar 2 I researched Indian migrants coming to CT. This research assignment really helped me understand how global issues connect to my local community. For example, I learned a lot about how migration, especially from India, has shaped Connecticut’s culture and economy. I didn’t realize how strong the Indian migrant community was here, and how many traditions and customs they’ve brought with them. It also made me see how local and global issues are more connected than I thought. My research made me more empathetic, especially when I learned about the challenges migrants face and how their contributions are often overlooked. It made me want to help more and make sure that migrants feel welcome. This experience ties into what I’ve learned in the Alvord Center Engaged Citizenship Matrix, like engaging in civil discourse and empowering action through research. As a Global and Environmental Scholar, this research sparked my interest in learning more about how global trends affect local communities and how I can make those connections stronger.

Seminar 4

AnaAlicia and Nourish My Soul educated me about food insecurity and sustainable food in my community. She talked about the importance of local, healthy food and supporting ALICE families—those who are employed but still struggle financially. I had no idea how common ALICE families were, and learning about them helped me understand the real challenges many people face. It was especially eye-opening to realize that Nourish My Soul operates just one town over from where I live, yet I had never heard of it before. One key takeaway from the event was the importance of having control over what you eat. A TED Talk I watched in preparation emphasized that if you have the ability to choose your food, you should be intentional about picking sustainable and healthy options. This inspired me to be more mindful of where my food comes from and to recycle more on campus. I also want to pay more attention to the faculty garden, which isn’t being used right now but in the future for sure. Nourish My Soul’s impact as a nonprofit resonated with me, especially when the owner shared that she isn’t working for money but for her community. Eating as a GESC group and enjoying food made from Loomis resources showed me how easy sustainable eating can be. In the future, I want to shop more locally and consider the environmental impact of what I eat.

Seminar 5

For Seminar 5, I attended the open Schultz discussion on environmental policy, and I was genuinely impressed. The students leading the conversation were incredibly well-informed and thoughtful in their debates. I found the discussion to be really informative, especially on topics I wasn’t as familiar with — like the Paris Agreement. It was interesting to hear different perspectives and how students tied the issues back to their own lives. One student from China even compared environmental policy in the U.S. to his experience in China, which added a valuable global perspective. Toward the end, there was some tension in the room, but it was handled respectfully and with maturity. Overall, I was really inspired by how passionate and educated the group was, and it made me reflect more deeply on how environmental policy affects us all.

GESC Electives

My fellow GERP classmates and I went on a field trip to the Windsor Thrift Shop. This shop employs people with disabilities, houses many Loomis artifacts, and is located in a nearby Loomis Chaffee building. It was great to shop here because it supports sustainable fashion and our community. It was such a fun experience!

GESC Experiential Education

This is me and my best friend, whom I met in France, sharing a special moment at the Eiffel Tower. Watching it sparkle was unforgettable, making me feel deeply connected to Paris and my global travels. It reminded me of the amazing friendships and connections I made abroad, and how each experience shaped me.

This is a photo of two of my host brothers during one of our hikes, which became a special bonding activity for us. We loved getting outside and exploring together, using the time to chat in French and learn more about each other. Hiking allowed me not only to connect with them but also to experience more of the beautiful landscapes of France firsthand.

This photo is of my host mom, my two host sisters, and me celebrating Easter, or Pâques as they call it in France, at the grandparents' house in the south of France. This weekend holds a special place in my heart because it was when I truly felt immersed and like part of the family. As we all shared the Pâques dinner together, I could feel how much my French had improved—I understood the little mannerisms, and I felt that they saw me as another one of their kids. This was the moment I knew I’d found a second family in France.

This is a photo of a room in the Palais Garnier. While studying abroad, I had the chance to experience new aspects of French culture, and I especially loved visiting museums and attending the opera. The richness of a place like the Palais Garnier gave me a deeper appreciation for French art and history.

Capstone Project

S’mores by the Fire: Building Mental Health and Community for Upperclassmen Outdoors

Project rationale

This project was important to me because throughout the year, I’ve been learning a lot about mental health and its deep connection to the environment. My environmental courses opened my eyes to how spending time outside can truly support emotional well-being. Once I understood that connection, I felt motivated to share it with my peers. I wanted to create something that encouraged people to step outside, take a breath, and feel the benefits for themselves.

Target Audience

Upperclassmen were the main group who engaged with my project, and I was excited to have over 50 people attend the event. Juniors and seniors came together around the fire pit to relax, enjoy s’mores, and connect with each other outside of their usual routines. My project helped create a moment of calm and community during a busy time this spring. We even had 3 people come with their guitars to play music! It gave students a chance to experience the mental health benefits of nature in a fun, while connecting with their freinds.

Project Process

To complete my project, I worked closely with my partners, Anna and Catie, as we each designed our own nature-focused events to support student mental health. I focused on planning a s’more night by the fire pit, which required promotion, coordination, and thoughtful planning. I researched primary sources, including the book A Natural High, and learned about the strong connection between time outdoors and improved emotional well-being. One challenge was making sure the event had real educational value, not just social appeal. To address this, I created posters with research-based facts about nature and mental health to display around the fire pit. I also had to do a lot of outreach — talking to students, emailing dorm heads, and getting permission to send class-wide emails.

Visual Interests

Here is a happy group of upperclassmen gathered around the fire pit, enjoying s’mores and each other’s company after I introduced the purpose and goals of my project.

Here is a poster I had hung up at the event featuring one of my favorite quotes. I chose it to show how even 2 hours can have a huge benifit.

Here is a photo of the class email I sent out, which helped bring a wide range of people to the event. It wasn’t just one specific group — there was a great mix of guys and girls, athletes to academic “weapons,” day students and boarders all coming together.

Project Reflection

I feel incredibly proud of my final product and the positive impact it had. After the fire pit and s’mores night, I interviewed attendees and received so much encouraging feedback. Many people said they felt more connected to nature and their peers and even asked for events like this to happen again. It was meaningful to know that I created something that brought people joy and encouraged mental wellness. This project directly connects to the Alvord Center Matrix by helping me explore my own environmental identity and encouraging others to do the same. Through research, reflection, and action, I was able to raise awareness about the mental health benefits of being outdoors. It helped me grow as an environmental scholar by investigating how science and mental health intersect and by applying that knowledge in a real, community-focused way. I hope future students can use this event model to promote wellness and outdoor engagement on campus and beyond.

GESC Reflection

Looking back at my original statement of intent, I can really see how much I’ve grown over this GESC journey. When I first applied, I knew I cared about helping others and being part of the community—but I didn’t realize how deeply connected that could be to the environment and mental health. This year, through my environmental science class, I learned so much that opened my eyes—like how being in nature can actually help people feel better, think more clearly, and build stronger relationships. That really stuck with me. My capstone project, the s'mores and fire pit night, brought those ideas to life. I wanted to create something fun and meaningful for my peers—something that made people slow down, connect, and feel good outside. Over 50 people came, and I had so many people tell me afterward that they felt more relaxed, more connected, and wanted more events like it. That felt huge. I’ve learned how to turn an idea into action, how to promote something I care about, and how to lead something real. I feel proud, not just of the event, but of the growth it shows in me—from someone who wanted to help, to someone who’s really starting to know how.