Children enrolled in Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Special Education programs from throughout the area were treated to a morning at the Sacramento Zoo on April 29. More than 350 students, family members, teachers and school staff visited animal exhibits and enjoyed lunch on the lawn.
Fifteen SCOE sites and additional special education programs at school district sites sent students to the annual zoo field trip. Among the chaperones were peer mentors from SCOE's Elinor L. Hickey Jr./Sr. High School and Leo A. Palmiter Jr./Sr. High School campuses, as well as from district schools. Peer mentors helped by pushing wheelchairs, escorting students and assisting with serving lunch. Several SCOE students had the chance to try out their new MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) equipment on the zoo's wide pathways, which greatly enhanced their zoo experience. Four school sites within the SCOE Special Education Programs have been designated as Model Sites for the MOVE International Program and Curriculum for students with significant physical disabilities.
"The annual zoo field trip is a highlight of the program year for our students," said SCOE Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robin Pierson. "The accessible environment of the Sacramento Zoo and its helpful staff and volunteers combine to make this a fun and meaningful learning experience for our students and their families."
Arrangements for the special visit were coordinated by the SCOE Special Education Department and the Sacramento Zoo.