Event Recap: Take-a-Date at the Zoo

Gabriel Andino, currently a junior at Baylor, planned the Take-a-Date at Cameron Park Zoo that occurred on March 27th, 2021. As the VP of Socials, Gabriel had to find COVID-friendly events to host. This was the first ever event at the zoo, and it was a success!

With many restrictions in place, AED lacked in-person events. However, Gabriel was able to think of an event that would comply with COVID-19 restrictions, although it was “extremely difficult to get this off the ground”. He was able to contact the Cameron Park Zoo, which is only about a ten minute drive from campus. This contact started in January, and the zoo staff “were extremely easy to work with and we were able to pick a date available”. Overall, the process of booking the zoo was not too difficult.

The most fun Gabriel had was “seeing SO many AED members at the zoo together just hanging out and having a good time”! AED members were able to bring a friend or a date, and Gabriel “had a ton of fun saying hi to everyone and seeing their smiles”. With Baylor slowly going back to “normal”, AED hopes to meet with its members in-person to foster community. Look forward to upcoming events next semester just like these!

Raylee Warren, a current junior in AED pictured above, took her roommates Surabi and Carmen. Her most fun experience at this event was “finding a little snake who loved to look at [her] through the glass”. Raylee was surprised to find out “how big the tortoises are”! The cutest animal she saw at the Cameron Park Zoo was “the little meerkat” that “got on top of his rock to perch and watch [them]”. If there was another Take-a-Date next semester, she would go again. Raylee mentioned how “it was so great getting to walk around the zoo with [her] friends and also to get closer to some of the members [she] didn’t know that well”.

Click below to see a short gallery of AED members at the social event!