Deep Dive: Marine Biology Students Visit Sondra’s City Zoo

Education went "under the surface" earlier this week as local Marine Biology students took a deep dive into aquatic management during a hands-on field trip to Sondra’s City Zoo.

The visit served as a practical extension of the classroom curriculum, where students are tasked with the complex responsibility of creating and maintaining both functional freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.

While at the zoo, students moved beyond textbooks to engage with professional-grade aquatic care. The hands-on session covered technical setup with expert insights into high-end tank configurations; maintenance protocols where students learn best practices for sustaining delicate aquatic life; and ecosystem balance which focused on helping the students understand the specific chemical and biological requirements for diverse marine environments.

Curating Classroom Life

The highlight of the trip for many was the opportunity to hand-select the organisms that will inhabit their classroom tanks. By choosing their own freshwater and saltwater specimens, students gained a personal stake in the health and success of their school-based ecosystems.

"Today’s field trip was a blast!" said student Avoca High School student Bella Tyner. "We learned a ton about our tanks, how their ecosystems work, and what we’re able to do to improve our tank’s conditions. Thank you so much for this learning opportunity!"

This hands-on experience ensures that the next generation of marine scientists isn't just learning about biology—they are actively sustaining it.