SAFARI STEVE

I met Jungle John, now known as Amazon John, in 1997 when he performed a birthday celebration for my oldest son. I ran into Silly Safaris several more times at my youngest son's daycare where Silly Safaris performed. We have been friends ever since. I have to tell you that Amazon John and his wife Emma play a mean game of Outburst. Alligator Aaron and his wife Meg love attending all the fancy events in town.

Alligator Aaron and Amazon John knew all about my love for animals and my work with children's camps, so in 2003 they asked if I would like to direct the Silly Safaris Summer Camp. I said yes, and had so much fun playing with the animals and teaching the camp kids that I decided to go full time. The animals said someone had to keep Alligator Aaron and Amazon John in line.

Much of my childhood was spent camping, fishing and exploring the great outdoors. I loved the forest and the animals that creeped, crawled, slithered, and ran in it. I dreamt of being a park ranger. Surprisingly, I met my beautiful wife of more than 15 years, Julie — in the middle of the woods.

Fun Facts

• My favorite animals to catch are snakes. I don't think that my mom liked finding them loose under the laundry, but oh well. My wife and I still take our sons to go looking for wild snakes every summer. She helps spot the snakes, we men-folk run to catch them. It's a shame that we have to run after an animal with no legs, but we're a little slow.
• I graduated from Xavier University and then spent more than 15 years in the business world and then a few years as a father and teacher. I got tired of "business" and now all I have to do is argue with a wallaby or a hungry kinkajou. Life is good!
• I love working with my skunk, Danger. My favorite Silly Safaris animal is the rat.
• I look forward to going into work everyday with my friends Alligator Aaron, Amazon John, and all of you. I hope to see you on a Silly Safaris real soon.