Environmental Studies Concentration:
Trevor Launches A Breakthrough
Interdisciplinary Course of Study
by Michael Danenberg, Assistant Head of School for Teaching & Learning
Trevor's newest teaching assistant, Amelia McQuade '23, walks into our Lower
School building on 88th Street and enthusiastically greets the 3rd graders in Clodagh
McCloskey's classroom. Today, they will visit the Hudson River, where they will observe
wildlife and conduct water quality testing.
The students are excited about their
field trip, and Amelia sees herself in
them, recalling her own experiences
at the Hudson River.
Amelia is a uniquely experienced
senior who graduated in June. She
completed her Bridge Project by
working in the Lower School with
Ms. McCloskey, who was her 3rd-
grade teacher! While a young student
at Trevor, Amelia began to develop
a passion for the natural world
that was, in part, nurtured by Ms.
McCloskey. (Clodagh herself is a Class
of 1997 alum who first learned about
the environment when she was a
student at The Day School.)
Amelia vividly recalls taking the same
field trip to the Hudson River when
she was a student in Ms. McCloskey's
class and feeling a connection to
nature there. On this day, Amelia sees
the same light bulbs going off for the
current 3rd graders. She's impressed
by their knowledge, excitement, and
concern about the environment. The
– Feature Article –
Danah Plair '23 sketches in her notebook on the East 95th Street roof
54 / TREVOR MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022–2023
