Krebs 7th grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Oklahoma City to tour the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. The tour began at the Rosser Conservation Education Center.
Education Instructor Tess Botkin presented the program “Animal SOS” to the GEAR UP students. She discussed threats to animals including habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, poaching, and over harvesting, as well as how individuals can assist with conservation. Botkin introduced the students to Mischief, an albino ferret; Java, a marine toad; and Chia, a chinchilla during the presentation.
Students ate lunch at the East Room where they were provided pizza and bottled water by Salt and Surrey Catering. Students then enjoyed a tour of the exhibits with Krebs Superintendent Patrick Turner and teacher Angela Irwin.
Krebs 7th grade student Shelly Marshall said, “My favorite part of the field trip was seeing a cheetah. I had never seen one before.” Shelly also enjoyed seeing Halloween decorations and the giraffe exhibit.
“I liked the pizza and petting the chinchilla,” said Brody Chapman. “I also liked the giraffe exhibit.”
“It was a great tour,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator Stephanie Dow. “The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden was an excellent location for students to have fun while learning about animals and how to care for them to prevent species from becoming endangered and extinct.”
The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. Participating schools take two field trips each academic year—one to tour a college or university and one that is cultural/educational in nature. In 2017, Eastern recently received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant and will serve over 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.
