AP Environmental Science students gathered in front of UHS at 7:15 a.m. on Oct. 22 for their annual field trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park led by Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher Ms. Jennifer Bartlau and a few other volunteer chaperones. Since the beginning of the school year, the class has focused on studying biodiversity and population ecology. The trip introduced students to numerous threatened and endangered species worldwide, deepening their understanding of the natural world to wrap up the unit.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is home to more than 3,000 animals and invites guests to explore a wide range of wildlife. Covering 1,800 acres, the park offers plentiful exhibits. Students were given nearly five hours to explore the park independently with their friends, yet many could not visit all the exhibits in the given time. 

“There was a lot to see,” junior Jaedyn Muraoka said. “I didn’t get to see every animal, but four hours was enough because I was exhausted after a whole day of walking.” 

The students were assigned a lab assignment to complete at the park. The assignment required them to observe an animal for at least 15 minutes and take notes of its behaviors and adaptations. 

“Observing, listening, and becoming more aware of other living things is critical,” Ms. Bartlau said. “It encourages students to engage with their surroundings with greater respect and awareness.” 

Many of the students who did go on the field trip made surprising observations during the assignment. 

“I noticed that [Western] gorillas act a lot like humans,” senior Kevin Choi said. “I even saw them hugging one another at one point.” 

One of the students’ favorite parts of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park was the free ride on the Africa Tram, which takes guests on some savanna habitats with their safari tour vehicles. Most of the students enjoyed the ride and the views of the animals in the open areas. Some students even brought their cameras with them to capture the moment. 

“I got some great photos of the giraffes with my digital camera on the tram,” senior Kimberly Tsai said.

Although most of the class consists of busy juniors and seniors, the upperclassmen found the field trip a nice break from their busy school life. With college application deadlines approaching, the seniors especially appreciated the opportunity to relax and enjoy the day off-campus with their friends.

“I was worried about college applications since the deadline is so close, but I’m glad I went on this field trip,” senior Sarea Leung said. “It gave me some time to take my mind off of the stressful things.” 

Many students found the field trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park a valuable experience that helped them deeply appreciate biodiversity and reconnect with nature.