SHS Students Revisit Childhood with Trip to Avilon Zoo

Senior high school students were transported back to their childhoods as they explored Avilon Zoo last January 26 as part of their science classes. The three-hour guided educational tour aimed to deepen their understanding of biology, conservation, and ecological systems beyond the traditional classroom learning setup.

As part of the Biology class for Zion STEM and Earth and Life Science class for Olive ABM, GAS, and HUMSS, the students delved into the world of wildlife, exploring the physical features, habitats, behavior, and conservation efforts of diverse native, imported, and endemic species. 

Throughout the tour, attendees also actively engaged in interactive sessions such as feeding giraffes and hippos, as well as taking photos with snakes, birds, and orangutans. 

For many students, the trip provided a transformative learning experience, igniting their enthusiasm for science and wildlife.

“I’ve loved animals ever since I was little, and going to Avilon Zoo made me feel so excited. Seeing different kinds of animals and learning more about them inspired my passion for science and wildlife,” enthusiastically remarked Andrea Abella of Zion STEM. “Interacting with them [the animals] was so much fun, and it made me realize that different animals are unique in their own ways.”

“I’m not actually someone who has a very strong love or passion for science and wildlife, but being able to enjoy and learn about both familiar and more exotic animals has made me appreciate God’s creation from a new perspective. It’s also a really refreshing experience as we get to learn about the lesson through more than just the usual classroom lecture with slides,” reflected Olive ABM student Amanda Dana Chiong. 

Beyond learning objectives, the zoo visit also fostered camaraderie among the students as they created memories, collaborated on group activities, and shared their observations in completion of their subject requirements. 

Vaughn Cawaon of Olive HUMSS commented, “The Avilon [Zoo] trip was an amazing experience. Not only did I learn about the majority of each [of the] animal(s) there, but I had fun because my friends were with me throughout the entire trip. The bits that I enjoyed the most were taking pictures of each animal and joking around with my friends.”

“It was nice to be able to get out of the classroom and learn about different animals by seeing them in person while spending time with my friends and classmates at the same time,” Zion STEM student Hans Dominic Gamboa expressed. 

Located in Rodriguez, Rizal, Avilon Zoo is currently the largest Philippine zoological institution in collection size, holding more than 3,000 animal specimens.