Mrs. Calig’s piece states that, “In 2020, to understand upper school students’ most pressing concerns during the pandemic, the school conducted a survey that revealed that students felt particularly anxious about the environment and climate change. Head of School Ann V. Klotz and other school leaders saw an opportunity to help by using the school’s 150-acre Butler Campus—including forested areas, ponds, wetlands, and agricultural areas—as the site of a new interdisciplinary semester program.”

EJ launched in 2023 with 11 students and is led by Angela Yeager. The next EJ semester will be offered in spring 2025 and will incorporate student feedback, including more lab experiences, interdisciplinary lessons, and community partnerships for student-apprenticeship experiences.