Phoenix Zoo Field Trip

So Madyson comes home with a flyer from school inviting the children and parents to go on a field trip to the zoo. Not a during the school day type of field trip. An overnight stay inside the zoo. Mike wasn't too interested until Madyson's best friend, Madison's dad said he was going and kind of begged Mike to go too.

We showed up at the zoo on a Friday evening and went into a big room. The kids were all sorts of excited. We were given the rules and then the fun began. The first event was a night hike through the zoo. It probably would have been fun if you could see any animals. We did get to see a couple of animals that didn't mind flashlights being shown on them.

Here is how the tour went. On your left is Monkey Island. During the day you can see the monkeys swing from the trees and listen to them talking to each other (they talked for 15 minutes about something we couldn't even see).

We went back to the room and some of the keepers brought out some animals for the kids to see. That was fun because you actually got to see the animals. We went on another night hike and got to have a evening snack. The second night hike was just as entertaining as the first one. We weren't allowed to take pictures because it might scare the animals.

Then we were in bed by 11:00.

In the morning we were provided breakfast and then went on another hike. At least this one was during the day. However, it was also during the time the animals are locked up in their pens eating breakfast. We got to see some animals that had already eaten, but the tigers and lions were not out and that really bummed out the kids.

When you are at the place the keepers prepare the food for the animals, never volunteer when the guy says "I need five kids and one parent to volunteer." Of course, Maddy was at his feet and instantly raised her hand. None of the parents volunteered because we knew what he was about to do. However, Madyson told the guy to pick me. And he did.

He made us sample some of the food pellets they feed the monkeys and other animals. Madyson took a bite of a monkey pellet and instantly threw up in front of everyone. None of the kids actually took a bite. They just licked it. Me? Yeah, I took a big bite. It was the grossest thing I've ever done. The taste was tolerable, but it was how dry the food was that made me gag. But I at least swallowed it.

Overall, I would not recommend the zoo overnight, but it was fun spending the time with Madyson and she had a blast because her friends were there. Fortunately, I was not the only dad from our ward there. There were five of us there and we kept each other company during the boring tours.