Staff: L.I.T.s

Our Leader in Training course is a very extensive course designed to give participants knowledge on a variety of topics such as animals, animals in captivity, animal care, program design and implementation, working with children, safety and first aid, and group dynamics. The goal of our Leader In Training course is to give junior volunteers experience in the recreational camp field, and to develop them to become beneficial and dedicated employees for camp programs including “The Reptile Store Summer Camp”.

To register for our LIT Summer Camp Session, go to our Registration page.

Register for the next LIT Camp

L.I.T. Testimonials

Hi, I’m Nina! Last summer I took part in the LIT program at the Reptile Store Summer Camp, and had a great time! My dad signed me up so that I could get all my volunteer hours, and at first I was a little hesitant of going since I didn’t know anyone, or much about animals. Looking back though, going to this Camp was one of the best decisions I ever made! I made new friends, got to learn and see so many cool animals from tigers to alligators to tarantulas, and took away skills that will and have helped me in all areas of life. I loved all the behind the scene things we got to do at a variety of zoos, which you most definitely would not get the chance to do anywhere else. Camp is like one big happy family, and if you’re thinking of going, GO!
- Nina

Hey, I’m Colin and two summers ago I did the LIT program! At first, when I heard about this program I thought that I would rather spend my summer just hanging out with friends, but i convinced my cousin to come along with me and it was probably one of the best decisions i have ever made. The camp taught me a ton of things I didn’t know – and I had already thought before the camp that i knew a lot! Everybody at the camp was loads of fun and everyday we did something different! We learned loads of new stuff and did things i had never done before, like swimming with alligators, feeding anacondas and burmese pythons and by the end of the summer I had learned so much that Steve hired me to be a program leader! So if you are thinking about becoming an LIT or going to the camp at all, stop thinking and do it! You will be glad you did! You meet a lot of new people and get to do things you will not get to do anywhere else!”
- Colin

Hey everyone, I’m Kendra! I’m a counselor at the Reptile Store Summer Camp! Before I became a counselor at the camp, I did the L.I.T. program. It’s a great program and I learned a lot of useful information at the camp that I have used this past year. At camp, you get to meet a lot of awesome people while doing the program and also get to do a lot of awesome things. Over all it was a great experience for me! I hope you have the same great experience as I did and I hope to see you all this summer at the Reptile Store Summer Camp!
- Kendra

Yo what’s up? My name is Taylor Myers and I’ve been doing The Reptile Summer Camp for 5 years going on 6!! I am an L.I.T and my time every summer is always a blast, I always seem to brighten up people’s day with my comedy material which I come up on the spot. The place’s Steve takes us are amazing, and the activities are also pretty awesome; holding different types of animals such as Snakes, Arachnids, and when we went out we got to hold like Tiger Cubs… how many summer camp’s can say would let you do that mhmmm? The staff is also great, I’ve made many friends from it and I feel I’m going to be keeping in touch for a long time to come. The place’s Steve take’s us too are great, I have learned a lot from him, I also have had a confidence boost since I was last there and it has helped me a lot in school and other place’s I don’t feel as shy as I used to before. If you were to go to any summer camp, I would recommend The Reptile Summer Camp… some of the other stuff you might get to do is cleaning out an animal’s cage at a zoo, or perhaps feed a hippo or giraffe at Safari Niagara. Well you will never experience it if you don’t try right? Also a little a bit about myself ; I’m 16 years old I attend Westdale Secondary School where I play Football for the junior team, I like to joke around a lot with friends I am also a Video Game Fanatic, and hope to get into Boxing in the near future.
Your friend, Taylor Myers

Hi, I’m Bailey! I was in the lit program at the Reptile Store Summer Camp for two summers and it was AWESOME! I was able to do so many things I never could have done unless I went to camp! I got to get in a tank with two alligators, hold many types of baby big cats, play tug of war with a lion and so much more! Camp was definitely one of the best things I’ve done , I even completed all of my volunteer hours for school and Steve featherstone the camp director also has helped me by writing me a recomendation letter to go with my resumes while job hunting. I have actually been hired on from the lit program and this will be my second year as staff . Overall this program is awsome !
- Bailey

Hey, my name’s Alysha and I’ve been involved with camp since the first year. When I first heard about the L.I.T program I could not wait because I loved camp the first year, and I wanted to go back again. It was an excellent opportunity to learn about tons of super cool animals, the environment, and especially working with kids. Steve did an amazing job teaching about working with kids in a summer camp setting, and he gave us an insight to the mind of a child. He made sure that the kids were the first priority, and that the main thing was that they were having fun. This L.I.T. program was extremely valuable because Steve gives a lot of valuable experience and it helped me get hired with The City Of Hamilton as a Play-lot Leader (“Supie”). The L.I.T program is a lot of fun, and i’ve had a lot of experiences most people will never get to have. Without Steve and the L.I.T. program I would not be where I am today, and I highly recommend the L.I.T. program.
- Alysha