XHS Honors and AP Chemistry Classes Travel to Florida to Learn Beyond School Walls

Students from the Honors and Advanced Placement chemistry classes at Xenia High School recently visited Florida for an adventure-filled field trip that featured educational visits to locations featuring math, science, technology, rocketry and space flight technology.

“We want to illustrate to our students that science is as fun as it is necessary,” says Xenia High School Science Teacher and Chaperone Bill Richey.

Students spent their trip at the Walt Disney World Resort, Epcot, Sea World, Wekiwa Springs State Park, NASA/Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral National Seashore.

“Most the Disney programs take place in and behind the scenes of the world-famous theme park.” Richey says.

Students participated in the Disney “Yes” program at Cirque Du Soleil called Showbiz Magic, a two-hour program that looks at the art, creativity and innovation behind this modern-day circus. 

Trip highlights include:

• Trip to Wekiwa Springs State Park, which offered the largest natural springs in Florida.  Students hiked and canoed to observe Florida wildlife.
• Visits to Walt Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom.
• Kayaking and water quality testing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge/Indian River Lagoon.

The annual trip was paid for by students and by fundraisers organized by the students.

Craig Parsons and Josh Smith take their turn at a drum at Animal Kingdom.

Xenia Community Schools teacher Barbara Richey and her husband, XHS teacher Bill Richey kayak in the Indian River Lagoon.

The Xenia High School group poses in front of the Coronado Springs Resort before enjoying dinner at the Rain Forest Café and Circque du Soleil “La Nouba.”

Students await instructions from Brevard Zoo marine biologists at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.  Shown, left to right, are Amira Dewitt, Josh Hiney, Amanda Fl….., Patrick Grieve, Tyler Richey and  Bill Richey.

Students examine organisms caught at Indian River Lagoon while
conducting a water quality assessment.   XHS students participating
included, left to right, aria Macek, J.Chika Morah, Mike Mongin, Hannah Brownlee and Amira Dewitt.

Canaveral National Seashore was visited by, left to right, Nick Arnett, Alex Briggs, Josh Hiney, Kaitlyn Allison, Betsy Devoe, Chelsea Middleton and Megan Moorman.

A student examines a small jellyfish caught seining at Indian River Lagoon.