I'm 24, and the week before last, I went on a weekday field trip. To the zoo. I'm completely serious. Let me explain.
Last Thursday morning I found myself driving upstate to attend a college fair at a high school in my recruitment territory. This was no ordinary high school because, believe it or not, this school has a zoo. Some of you may be thinking, "Hell, Caitlin. My high school felt like a zoo, every day."
Well... then... I'm sorry. (I'm not dismissing your feelings. Mine did too).
But this particular school boasts a six-acre, real, actual zoo where students can care for animals, give tours, and even curate exhibits. Here are some pictures from my tour:
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Baby owlets.
She was a tricky one to get a picture of, so instead here is a terrifying illustration of the Red Panda. Clealy, this was my favorite info marker and animal. Yes, it is endangered. It also looks like a cross between a baby bear, a raccoon, and a fox, and its behavior is very similar to that of a cat. This sketch would make a great tattoo, I think. Not on me, of course. But on someone.
Emu. Terrifying in real life.
Unfortunately, I did not get to take any animals home with me. They also did not let me pet any... But they have some really impressive students who explained something called 'enrichment,' which is where a new toy is placed in the animal's exhibit on a regular basis to keep things interesting. Because their habitats are smaller than the area they would roam in the wild, these objects function to occupy the animal and maintain their clever, animal-y problem-solving skills. One very insightful student said that her time spent volunteering at the zoo was her enrichment each week. Loved that.
My favorite Capital Region water.
And an impromptu photo shoot, complete with overly-enthusiastic wind:
Whew! Awesome daycation (work-cation?). Whatever. Keep talking me out of that red panda tat you guys, and I'll keep showing you Upstate NY.
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