OTSEGO – Otselic Valley elementary students got a close-up of elephant zoology on Wednesday without ever stepping foot outside the school building.

Second grade students at Otselic Valley took a “virtual field trip” to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation, an organization dedicated to the conservation, breeding and understanding of Asian elephants.

Thanks to the use of two-way cameras, audio feed, and a good Internet connection, students were able to video conference with elephant trainers at the Ringling Bros. Elephant Conservation Center in Florida, ask them questions, learn about elephant anatomy, and even catch a glimpse of the inside of an elephant’s mouth.

It was a high-tech learning experience that educators at OV say has the big benefits of a real field trip without the big cost. And when school budgets are tight, that’s a good thing, said OV social studies teacher Jenny Osowski.