New Zoo Review, Too...

Yesterday, we were volunteered for chaperone duty for our daughter and son-in-law's sixth grade classes' trip to the zoo. A different zoo this time, The World Wildlife Zoo, and a definitely different experience: 70 kids and enough chaperones that we each had 4 kids. The premise wasn't just "let's go to the zoo;" the kids were given maps and questions... pick a route and try to find the answers to 40 questions. Extra credit for seeing any animal shows or feedings. The chaperones could give "guidance", but our main job was to make sure there was no mayhem - no kids climbing into the lion pens or swinging on lines with the monkeys. To say it was like "herding cats" doesn't really do the situation justice. But, we all had fun... and no one got hurt or eaten by an animal!

It started when we left school in the morning on a school bus. My group of boys were tasked with carrying coolers full of lunches to the bus, so we boarded first... which meant we were at the back of the bus. Nice ride. Yes, I'm kidding. Peaceful and quiet. Yep, kidding again. The sound level was akin to a heavy metal concert... if you were sitting in the bass drum. Only kidding a little. Before we disembarked the bus at the zoo, there was the "you are representing the school" discussion... the kids really were well behaved. No, I'm not kidding.

This was not a leisurely stroll through the zoo - we had three hours to trek all around the zoo, answer as many questions as possible, and time things so the kids could get the extra credit offered for being in the right place at the right time. Battle plans have been less intense.

My young charges...


Zebra close up...


One of the questions was: what color is a giraffe's tongue? I thought it would be best learned if they fed the giraffes. They were a bit hesitant at first, but when they saw that the giraffe didn't eat the first kid, they all wanted a turn...


Turn your back for a second, and... where'd they go? Oh, there they are - IN the aquarium...


And then, lunch...

An intimate little setting for the 80+ bunch of us, on the zoo grounds.

Then it was time to board the buses again. You would have thought the trek through the zoo would have worn them out a bit... you would be wrong. They had some class work to do when we got back to the school, and then an event they had been anticipating for quite some time: throwing water balloons at the teachers.

Before you think the school is out of control, this was a "reward" that the kids got for blowing away the rest of the other grades in a food drive. Steph, Dan, and Carolyn, the 6th grade teaching team at their school, wanted to come up with something that everyone could participate in. Genius!

They asked me to help with some guidelines - I didn't think it should be a "stoning", but felt that the teachers should have a sporting chance. I drew a box in chalk that the teachers couldn't step out of; the kids had to stand behind a line about 20' away; one-by-one the kids could step up to the line and throw a water balloon; the teachers were allowed to dodge... within the small box.

Dan went first - he donned an umpire's mask and prepared for the barrage...


Carolyn handed out "the ammo"...


Dan was pretty masterful at dodging, with only one direct hit. Then it was Steph's turn...


Incoming! By this point, some of the kids figured out that they could spray the targets by hitting the wall high behind them. Joan and I both took a turn while Steph was the target...


Then, Carolyn's turn...


The kids were loving this! It was a calorie-free reward with participation by all. When it was over, there were a half dozen water balloons left. Steph started tossing them backwards over her head - screams and laughter. I love to see the way these teachers interact with the kids.

I was flat wore out by the time Joan and I left the school. But, there was more to do... Steph's birthday is in 10 days. We all knew this is the reason we are here, but Dan and Joan wanted to plan a surprise party. Every Friday night, Steph and Dan go out for supper with another teacher and her husband. We planned a surprise party at that restaurant, invited a bunch more of their social circle, and then kept it a secret!

Steph was only mildly appalled because "I look so scruffy after a day at the zoo and being hit with water balloons!" She was very touched by by all the work and the folks who were there.



They have a great group of friends. And now Steph knows what it's like to have a "birthday season."