Recently 11th and 12th grade Talihina GEAR UP students toured the Hochatown Animal Rescue and Petting Zoo. During their visit, students were led through buildings that included interaction with the animals and the animal habitats. Workers Kailah McIntosh and Courtney Wilson spoke to students about the various animals’ natural habitats and conservation efforts being used to preserve the species. Students held and fed different animals found at the rescue center that included deer, ball pythons, goats, foxes, opossums, skunks, pigs, birds, camels, donkeys, groundhogs, a kangaroo, and cows. The tour ended with lunch at Grateful Head Pizza Oven in Broken Bow, OK.
The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. Eastern received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant in 2017, and will serve more than 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.
