We had such a good time at KCA’s Spring Fling! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and reunite you with your slithery friends. We saw many new faces and incredible acts of courage too, and I’m so grateful for everyone who came with such open hearts. With so many of you visiting, I was especially thankful for Sara and Alisha’s help! I never imagined my snakes would be so popular, but it makes me very happy!

Every outing is memorable & unique but it’s always a special privilege to serve in my local Kentville community. You’ll get to see my pets grow over the years and I can’t wait to see what adventures the future has in store for YOU! Thank you KCA for another memorable Spring Fling!

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This outing was a very special privilege because Horton is my dear volunteer Sarah’s high school! Eyebrows certainly rose when her peers were informed that they had a professional snake-handler in their midst! Sarah’s disarming & compassionate demeanour has helped so many overcome their anxieties. She may be quiet, especially compared to me, but she is, in fact, an utterly brilliant young ecologist who can answer many of your questions about snakes and many other critters as well! She LOVES connecting people with natural world, but has a particular passion for the “unlovable.” Over the past year, Sarah has been such a blessing to myself, the team and to so many others, and I’m so grateful for all her help! I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her!

Thank you to all the staff & students for your warm welcome and I hope we get to visit again soon! If you missed your chance to play with the snakes at Horton, please come visit us on June 2 for Apple Blossom Snakes at the Louis Millet Community Complex!

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As someone who struggles with chronic anxiety, I know that the first rule of anxiety-club is that you don’t talk about anxiety-club. We tend to feed off each other, reinforcing each other’s fears, so we only discussed the topic briefly before transitioning to the practical exercise. At its core, “anxiety” is simply “distrust,” so I can’t cure anxiety. I can, however, provide a safe, affirming environment where you’re free to stretch yourself as far as you’d like, without fear or judgement… and we saw some AMAZING acts of courage on this outing! As I face some of my most anxious moments, it’s YOUR courage that inspires me to push through it!

One young lady was particularly inspiring. She worked so hard to hold a snake, shivering with nerves… but she pushed through it and held Wilson, one of my largest ball pythons. As if that wasn’t courageous enough, as I was taking Wilson away from her, Marsha asked if she could hold him again for a photo… AND SHE DID! My hope is that the empowering experience of confronting and overcoming anxiety is a feeling they’ll chase in all aspects of their lives, because the only thing holding us back is fear.

I’ve come to understand that our weaknesses are part of us, but they do not define us. To the contrary, they are stepping-stones to finding our strengths! I’m still finding my own way through fear but your courage has been an enormous source of strength for me. HUGE thanks to the staff and student at CK for a fantastic day focused on all aspects of wellness & self-care! We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share these amazing experiences with you!

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We saw so much courage throughout out visit, from kids & adults alike! Everyone was so kind and gentle with my pets and my babies were very well behaved… except the corn snakes! If they weren’t trying to squeeze into the chairs, they were disrespecting boundaries. This was my first time visiting a school solo but staff were so helpful and gracious, with that inspiring, can-do attitude I see in so many small communities, and their assistance had a visible impact on the children’s comfort-level. Many teachers even took huge strides confronting their personal fears!

I’m so grateful to all staff & students for being so amazing with my pets. Thank you SO much for inviting us and I hope we get to visit again in the future!

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Huge thanks to Emma, Sarah & Alexia for all their help, and I’m so thankful for all their support! My hope is that, by teaching people to love one of nature’s most reviled creatures, the entire natural world will become accessible & fascinating! Judging from the response, I think succeeded!

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Not many photos because my photographer (aka: my beloved wife) was working but, as you can see, the star of the show was my dear friend, Dinah-Mite Pythons‘ adult boa, Zephyr! Kate-Lynn went so above & beyond… she actually took time-off so that she could bring Zeph for a visit, so HUGE thanks to our Katie! Emma & Kate-Lynn, both, did an amazing job at helping people connect with these misunderstood critters, I couldn’t be more proud of them.

Snakes live shy, stealthy lives so we rarely give them a second-thought. Their mysterious lives and weird shape are enough to cause apprehension, but the handful of potentially fatal species makes ALL snakes suspect and terrifying to many. However, the vast majority of snakes are completely harmless to humans, including all of our native Nova Scotia snakes along with my ambassadors, all common pet-species. I don’t have any special “snake-whispering” powers… they’re just incredibly misunderstood and it’s been such a privilege to be able to show you what they’re REALLY like. They may be packaged strangely, but they’re just little animals… with their own unique behaviours and individual personalities.

Thank you SO much for inviting us back and I hope we’ll have many more opportunities to visit in the future! |

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We had an AMAZING time at Northeast Kings Education Centre (NKEC)! Thanks to everyone who came out and was so kind & gentle with my pets! I saw a LOT of courage yesterday and saw so many fall in love with their favourites. Your courage is so inspiring and it brings me so much joy to see your affection for my babies.

The corn snakes were up to their usual shenanigans, of course, with Coral even getting stuck in one young lady’s ponytail. When they were done getting tickled by the corns & kings, they enjoyed the comforting embrace of the pythons and boas. I was especially proud of two of my newest ambassadors, Gus and Sarah, both corn snakes, who were so patient with everyone and took everything in stride.

Thanks so much NKEC staff & students, particularly librarian, Lori Noseworthy, for inviting us to visit! HUGE thanks to my volunteer, Emma, for coming to help! I hope I get the opportunity to reunite you all with your new slithery besties again in the future!

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Thanks so much to Horton for hosting this wonderful opportunity and to librarian, Lori Noseworthy, for inviting us! Most importantly THANK YOU to every single one of you who was so kind and gentle with my pets. Your courage is an inspiration and seeing your affection for my babies was the best Christmas present ever!

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I’m so thankful to all the schools who have invited me to visit, and I hope I get to visit many more in the new school-year! By learning to love one of nature’s most reviled creatures, they learn to appreciate the entire natural world, and those are the kids who will change the world!

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