“It is wonderful to watch the seasons and cycles of what happens over time in the Meadows, and that reminds me nature is beautiful, nature is powerful, and we need to protect it.”

Marley Matlack says she always has had a passion for being outside, for hiking, camping, exploring. With that came the realization that the world around us is precious and the “realization that we can make a difference” in preserving the environment.

Her mother always encouraged the kids to get outside, attend summer camps, take advantage of opportunities offered. As a high school student in Pittsburgh, Pa., Marley did a semester abroad in France and participated in the Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki, which combines academics with hands-on environmental learning. Marley says the Maine Coast Semester program, which Loomis Chaffee now offers, “transformed my way of thinking as a learner and influenced me in my teaching and what I want to do in life.”

Marley is in her 16th year at Loomis Chaffee, starting as a teacher of environmental science courses. She is in her eighth year as the Christopher H. Lutz Director of the Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies. She has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Wesleyan University, a master’s in social work from the University of Connecticut, a master’s in international education from the School of International Training, and a certificate in place-based education from Antioch University.

Marley and her husband, Andrew Matlack, the dean of faculty and a math teacher, and their two children spent the 2022–23 school year on sabbatical in southern Spain. Marley and Andrew worked at a school that was in its first year. Marley assisted the head of school, and Andrew taught math. “We are very fortunate Loomis has a sabbatical program,” Marley says. “It was fun, getting in on the ground floor and helping as much as we could. It also is wonderful to be immersed in another culture. And personally, it’s always nice to step out of your world. We also took advantage of the location, traveled all over Europe and North Africa as well.”

Marly spent a month in northern Spain this summer, much of it in an intensive language study. “I love Spain, the food, the people, the language,” she says.

Immersing oneself in local culture is nothing new to Marley. Each year the Alvord Center has multiple International Education Program (IEP) journeys, stays of a week or more in various countries. She has developed 66 IEPs for Loomis Chaffee in 38 locations with 640 student travelers and 60 different faculty leaders.

“We call them programs,” Marley says, “because they are educational experiences. We are looking to go off the beaten path and interact as much as we can with the local community or local organizations. What I’ve heard from students is that these are transformative experiences and a wonderful way for them to take a deeper dive into their learning or explore new topics. It’s also wonderful for them to get that opportunity to travel with their peers as well as faculty. Just like the bonding that happens in a dorm, bonding happens on those trips. It is a special environment and an amazing opportunity for students and teachers alike to develop as world travelers and global citizens.”

Marley’s mother would be proud when she hears her daughter talk about aspects of the Alvord Center programming, some of which happens outside the four walls of a traditional classroom. Top of mind for Marley: “What are ways to get students outside and challenge teachers as well to think differently?”

In addition to the IEP opportunities, there is a robust maple sugaring operation on campus as well an apiary that produces honey. There is a classroom kitchen. Students can serve as e-proctors, promoting environmental awareness and leading campus‑wide initiatives. Students also can pursue a Global & Environmental Studies Certificate (GESC) and participate in a Guided Environmental Research Project. Teachers can take advantage of outdoor classroom kits.

The Alvord Center is located in the Katharine Brush Library, its large windows facing the Meadows. “It is wonderful to watch the seasons and cycles of what happens over time in the Meadows, and that reminds me nature is beautiful, nature is powerful, and we need to protect it,” Marley says.

And talk about it. “It worries me that we as a society are not worrying about our impact and the consequences of our impact on the environment ... so when I think about that, I think about young people and how we can develop awareness in them and educate them in ways they can take action and make a difference,” Marley says. “I am hopeful that we can still make a difference in where we are heading in terms of climate change. It is awareness and making sure people just aren’t trying to shut it out because it is too overwhelming to think about.”

If Marley needs to shut down for a bit, it might be in Vermont with the family, and, yes, the activities will center on being outdoors — hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, taking advantage of the season. And when her thoughts drift, she might be thinking about where to go next. She has visited 51 countries though she says she would like to concentrate more on national parks in the United States.

 “I have a lot of wanderlust,” she says, “so I’m always looking for that next adventure. It’s hard to satiate that for me. I love to cook as well, and that is a nice thing in terms of all my travel, trying to bring back what I’ve experienced. It’s another cool way to drown out the noise and the stress and have those adventures in our household.”

Those adventures might be a nod to Spain (making tortilla, a Spanish omelet), Italy (homemade pasta) or Poland (homemade pierogis). The world in her kitchen.