2012 Staff: Staff Bios

Steve Featherstone (Fer-de-lance), Senior Program Leader
Steve Featherstone, aka “Savannah Steve”, graduated Mohawk College’s Recreation and Leisure Services Program in June 2000, and Sir Sanford Fleming’s Parks and Recreation Program in June 2002. He has worked for numerous camps in the Hamilton area since high school including S.T.A.R. of Hamilton Wentworth, Camp Kidaca, City of Hamilton Summer Camp, March Break Camps, and most recently, Hatts Off Specialized Services. During his time of study at these courses, and work at these camps, he developed the skills needed to run a program of this caliber. Steve is always looking for the best possible experience for each and every child. The program is designed to be a week filled with valuable animal experiences and understandings. It is his goal that the children will develop a life-long respect for all living creatures through this program. A longer bio can be found on the “Meet The Director” page.

Katie Howie (Baracuda), Acting Director
It’s great to be back this year as acting director! I just finished a year at Mohawk College, and am now ready and excited for summer to start! In my absence from camp, I’ve spent time working at a CAZA aquarium as an educator, and spent as much time hiking and exploring the Rocky Mountains and the western landscape (bears are bigger than I thought!). This past January, I had the pleasure of partaking in Team Tortuga, saving sea turtles from the brink of extinction in Costa Rica. Closer to home, I have recently become part of the turtle watch program. In the future, I plan to attend the Marine Institute, and further ocean conservation. This summer I am very excited to see all the campers have fun, and surprise themselves by learning about our natural world!

Kaelyn Kassner (Llama), Program Leader
Hola, I’m Kaelyn or Llama and this will be my second year as a program leader here at camp, so in the summer I’ll be there to help you learn about animals and have an awesome time! I started at camp as a wee camper for a couple of years, and then I moved on to become an LIT. LIT camp was so much fun, almost every LIT camp I got to hold a baby animal… cougars, lions, tigers, you name it. I loved camp so much, that I became a Program Leader, which is amazing. I love animals, especially reptiles and being at the camp has given me some incredible experiences with them. I remember the first time I got the baby American Alligator out of his tank by myself, and when I got bit by a Crested Gecko, it nearly took my finger off. Just kidding. One incredible camp memory I’ll never forget is our trip to Costa Rica. Right when I stepped off the plane, I was in love. It got even better when I hand fed a wild Spiny-Tailed Iguana a banana, or when I got to see wild crocodiles 10 ft. away from me, or when we got to watch the whole process of real-life sea turtles laying their eggs. I could go on forever. I love spending my summer at camp, helping the kids learn and having so much fun with them, and all the unforgettable memories and
experiences that make the camp the best place to be. I hope to see all of you there!

Torie Evans (Sloth), Program Leader
Hey, my name is Torie! I am a program leader for the second year, so I have the chance to teach all the kids about the animals we have here at the store and of course at zoos as well. Like I said this is my second year as a program leader but is actually my fourth year at camp, I started as a LIT. Growing up I always loved animals, but never knew too much about them! When I was little I remember attending birthday parties at the store that’s when I first started learning about animals. My first year as an LIT, I didn’t really know what to expect. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I had ever made, everyone at camp was super friendly I learned a lot and had so much fun! I remember having the so many amazing chances to interact with different animals. So of course I had to go back for another year! After that year I became staff. Being a part of camp actually made my love for animals even bigger, so I’m actually planning to go to school to become a vet tech! Of course animals aren’t the only cool part about camp you also have a chance to meet new people! Most of the LITS and staff were actually part of Team Tortuga this year, which was an amazing chance to travel to Costa Rica! We did tons of stuff like see sea turtles lay their eggs up on the beach and learn about them, visit reptile zoos there, visit La Fortuna waterfall and tons more! I’m really excited to be part of camp once again, it only gets better and better each year! So if you want to interact with cool animals, play tons of games and do other awesome stuff this is the camp for you!

Colin Newbigging (Armadillo), Senior Program Leader
Hey everyone im Colin or Armadillo as im know at camp, I have been involved in the reptile store summer camp AKA the worlds greatest camp for anyone who loves animals big or small for one year as an LIT and 3 years as staff this will be my fourth. I have always been that crazy guy jumping into lakes and ponds and coming back up holding a turtle or frog leaving everyone else wondering “what just happened there?” or catching snakes and bugs on a hike or day at a farm. if your kids are anything like i was and still am then this camp is the place for them.I had never been involved in a camp before this one and to be honest never really thought they were the thing for me but i decided to try it out and it was not at all what i thought it would be( a bunch of dorky people and bossy counselors forcing me to do stuff i didnt want to do) it was the complete opposite a bunch of really cool people and counselors asking what i wanted to do.And now hopefully i am that cool counselor helping your kids do what they love. The reptile store has also helped me do another one of my favorite things in life which is travel and help animals, this January myself and a group of around 35 other people All involved with the camp went to Costa Rica to help save endangered sea turtles from poachers, it was a life changing experience and something i hope to do every year with camp. Coming to this camp opens up a lot of opportunities and will have your child exploding with new information ( its actually insane how much stuff the campers learn speaking from my first year and how much i learned) and every week is filled with all kinds of adventure and fun that anyone even if your not too into animals will have a totally gnarly time here and will never forget it!

Patrick Mallet (Starfish), Animal Manager
I’ve always loved reptiles and started collecting them when I was young, starting off with my very first ball python when I was 12. My first involvement with the Reptile Store started with a school co-op in grade 11. Soon after that, my one ball python turned into a huge collection of reptiles! I’ve learned so much over the past couple years and I feel so lucky to be involved in such a great camp! Since I started volunteering at the Reptile Store I’m lucky to say I have had the chance to work with a number of different reptiles. Not many get a thrill out of handling huge reticulated pythons or massive American alligators, but I couldn’t think of anything more exciting than working with these amazing reptiles. Last year was my first summer with the camp starting out as an LIT. It was one of the most exciting, rewarding, fun and overall best summers of my life! Being able to work with reptiles and teach kids their proper care is such an amazing job. This year will be my first summer working for the camp and as the Animal Care Manager my main goal is to educate the campers and teach them the proper care for their favourite reptiles. The LIT program really taught me a lot and gave me the experience needed to properly share my knowledge with animals with the kids. This year’s summer camp is just around the corner so I’ll see all you campers soon! So prepare yourselves for the wildest summer camp experience of a life time! I have a feeling this summer is going to be the best one so far!

Taylor Bergeron (Toad), First Year Program Leader
Hey there everyone. This will be my 4th year at The Reptile Store Summer Camp and my 1st summer as a staff member. This summer I will be taking on the job of program leader. I have done some pretty gnarly adventures with the camp these past 4 years as a L.I.T. from camping at Arrowhead Park to sleeping under the stars in a zoo to spending Canada day on parliament hill to even zip lining over the rainforest in Costa Rica. My job is to make sure that all campers get the most out of their stay at camp and to ensure that all programs run smoothly. The Reptile Store Summer Camp instilled a love for animals and the ecosystem in me when I first came here. I love camp because of the wonderful people that come here each year and the welcoming atmosphere. My years at camp have taught me important lessons and have given me memories and friends that will last a lifetime. There is always new and exciting people and activities. The Reptile Store Summer Camp also made me more environmentally aware. Being there really shows you what there is to lose and how important it is to try and protect it. Wow, I am so stoked for this summer; it’s going to be amazing! Away from camp, in my “school year” I attend Saltfleet High school and I am involved in tons of school activities. This year has been incredible and I can’t wait for my first summer as a staff member.