On Feb. 25, CVHS students embarked on a field trip to the Houston Zoo, trading their typical classroom environment for up-close experiences with wildlife. Justin Leahy, the student council president, reinstated the trip, which had not been repeated since the school closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The field trip aimed to enhance students’ understanding of biology, conservation and animal behavior.
“I wanted to bring back this trip. I heard many good things through my teachers about it, that inspired me to create a fun day for everyone, ” Leahy said.
Since it had been years since the event was held, student council had to work closely with CVHS administration to figure out the proper planning. Bringing back the field trip had some logistical hurdles, but overall the planning went smoothly between the student council and admin.
“We had to talk to Mr. Garner about finding a date, and it can be really hard to reach out to people, especially when coordinating with teachers. But honestly, there were few real challenges,” Leahy said.
Funding was a major concern as leveraging CVHS’ status as a Title I school, allowed administrators to secure free tickets for students.
“That’s the reason we were able to plan the zoo field trip so easily,” Leahy said. “Carnegie is a Title I school, and there are certain Tuesdays throughout the year when Title I schools can request free tickets for their entire student body.”
After the planning was over, students were set free on their day of exploration. Upon arrival, groups visited exhibits ranging from the African Forest, where they observed energetic chimpanzees, to the Amphibian House with its slithering reptiles.
“There were so many intimate moments where people saw a really cool animal. Specifically, some saw a gorilla that was just meditating and I saw some people feeding the giraffes,” Leahy added.
However, lasting memories were also made in unexpected ways. Along with animal activities, students recounted the bizarre ways others interacted with the zoo environment. For many, these experiences served as a chance to gain a needed break from the academic responsibilities at CVHS.
“Someone dropped his keys and was searching in the water for an hour,” Leahy recalled. “And then someone else dropped their phone or wallet—I don’t even remember which. Honestly, it’s probably bad that these are memorable moments, but I remember them because everyone was having fun,” Leahy laughed.
As the day came to a close, Leahy reflected on many students’ newfound appreciation for wildlife and conservation. With this year’s success, he hopes that the zoo field trip will become a lasting tradition.
“I’ve already talked to the people who are planning to run for student council next year about continuing it,” he said. “I even talked to my little sister [who is currently on STUCO] about it—she’s probably going to run in a year or two.”
Reflecting on the experience, Leahy emphasized the importance of persistence.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try again,” Leahy said. “Last year, I spent so much time planning a Brazos Bend field trip, only for it to implode at the last second. This was honestly better, and I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”
The field trip itself served as a meaningful reminder that sometimes education can extend beyond the classroom. There are other lessons we can look for— sometimes in the depths of the wild.
