Ohio Box Turtle Conservation Project

Dino Buddies is proud to partner with Gorman Heritage Farm and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) through the ROBOTS Initiative (Repatriating Ohio's Box Turtles) to help conserve one of Ohio's most iconic native reptiles.

Each year, thousands of box turtles are removed from the wild due to habitat loss, illegal collection, and other human impacts. Through this partnership, rescued Ohio-native box turtles will receive rehabilitation, disease screening, temporary care, and scientific monitoring before being released into protected habitat at Gorman Heritage Farm.

This project is about more than releasing turtles. It creates opportunities for community members, interns, and volunteers to participate in real conservation through wildlife surveys, Night Survey Hikes, and educational programming. Participants help collect valuable data while learning about Ohio's native wildlife and the importance of protecting healthy ecosystems.

Your support helps fund turtle care, tracking equipment, habitat preparation, scientific monitoring, and conservation education—giving rescued box turtles a second chance while inspiring the next generation of conservationists.

Together, we're helping protect Ohio's wildlife—one box turtle at a time.

Investing in Our Team

At Dino Buddies, we believe exceptional educational experiences begin with exceptional educators. That’s why we invest in opportunities for our team to continue learning, build new skills, and gain experience with animals far beyond those featured in our own programs.

Through our relationship with Midwest Friends of Wildlife (https://www.midwestfowl.org/), our educators travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to participate in venomous snake handling training. As a board member of the organization, Dino Buddies founder Tiffany Johnson is proud to connect our team with specialized training that strengthens their understanding of reptile behavior, safety, and conservation.

Our partnership with Midwest Falconry (https://midwestfalconry.org/) has introduced our team to the world of birds of prey. Staff members have had the opportunity to fly falcons alongside experienced falconers, expand their knowledge of raptors, and prepare for future collaborative educational programs.

Through our connections at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (https://cincinnatizoo.org/), our educators also received an exclusive behind-the-scenes learning experience that broadened their understanding of animal care, wildlife conservation, and careers involving animals.

Our team has continued developing its dinosaur knowledge through educational experiences at the Cincinnati Museum Center (https://www.cincymuseum.org/), including a private tour designed to help us learn as much as possible about dinosaurs and paleontology. In 2026, Dino Buddies also had the opportunity to participate in an Earth Day program at the Museum Center.

We provide these experiences because our educators should never stop learning. Every training session, tour, and hands-on opportunity helps us send knowledgeable, confident, and well-rounded educators into the community.

Our goal is not only to teach children about dinosaurs and reptiles. We want them to discover the entire animal world while meeting passionate educators they can learn from, connect with, and look up to.

Animal Enrichment in Action

At Dino Buddies, we believe the best animal ambassadors are animals that feel safe, comfortable, and able to express their natural behaviors. That's why we continually study the natural history of each species in our care and use that knowledge to shape how we design our educational programs.

Our Director of Animal Science, Stephanie Heidorn, has led the development of portable enrichment structures that allow our snakes to behave more naturally while participating in outreach programs.

One of our favorite innovations is the Boa Tree. We've cared for boa constrictors since Dino Buddies was founded in 2020, and over the years we've learned that, while they make incredible educational ambassadors, they don't particularly enjoy prolonged handling. In the wild, boas are semi-arboreal snakes that often seek elevated perches where they feel secure and can observe their surroundings.

Standing six feet tall, the Boa Tree allows our boas to climb, perch, and feel safe while remaining visible for our audiences. Instead of being passed from person to person, they can choose where they want to rest, creating a far less stressful experience for the animal while giving guests a unique opportunity to observe natural snake behavior.

Stephanie also designed our Table Climber, a portable enrichment structure for our younger, more active, and arboreal snakes. Rather than simply resting on a table, these curious animals can explore, climb, and investigate their surroundings throughout the program. It not only keeps the snakes mentally engaged but also creates wonderful teaching moments as we discuss climbing adaptations, habitat use, and the incredible diversity of snake behaviors.

Animal welfare and education go hand in hand. By designing enrichment that reflects each species' natural history, we create experiences that are better for our animals and more meaningful for the people who meet them.

🐢 Habitat Upgrades for Our Animal Ambassadors

Crested Gecko Habitat Upgrades
Our crested geckos are living their best lives thanks to a major habitat upgrade led by our Director of Animal Excellence, Stephanie Heidorn.

All 10 geckos now enjoy beautifully redesigned enclosures featuring automated misting systems, UVB lighting, basking zones, and a naturalistic layout with live plants for enrichment and humidity control. These upgrades provide not only more space but a slice of the geckos’ native environment—encouraging natural behaviors like climbing, hiding, and hunting.

Big thanks to Stephanie for seeing this project through from start to finish!

The latest update for 2025 is that Cersei our Burmese Python got a massive upgrade! Watch the video below.

Thinking about getting a pet reptile? 🦎 Join our Responsible Reptile Ownership class to learn the basics and meet some of our scaly friends up close!

🌿 Herpetological Survey at Gorman Heritage Farm

At Dino Buddies, conservation doesn’t just happen in the classroom—it begins in the field, with muddy boots and curious minds. Our ongoing herpetological survey at Gorman Heritage Farm is led by our Director of Outdoor Education and Research, Kassandra Whittington, and focuses on documenting Ohio’s native reptiles and amphibians—snakes, frogs, turtles, and salamanders—all vital indicators of a healthy ecosystem.

But this project is about more than data. In partnership with Gorman, we’ve created an internship program for their summer camp counselors, offering young educators the chance to gain real-world experience in wildlife surveying and hands-on research. Together, we’re helping them build the confidence and skills to become thoughtful stewards of the natural world.

We may not have all the answers today—but we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty finding them. Because every creature recorded, every footprint noticed, brings us one step closer to understanding—and protecting—the wild spaces we call home.

Interested in reptiles and amphibians? 🐍🦎

Join our Wildlife Learning Labs for hands-on experiences, up-close encounters, and fun activities that bring the world of herps to life for all ages!

🌿 Conservation in Action: Partnering with Midwest Friends of Wildlife

At Dino Buddies, we believe the best educators are lifelong learners. That's why we're proud to support Midwest Friends of Wildlife, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to making wildlife education, professional training, and conservation accessible to everyone.

Our founder, Tiffany, has completed professional training through Midwest Friends of Wildlife and is honored to serve on the organization's Board of Directors. Through this partnership, Dino Buddies is investing in the future of wildlife education by expanding our team's field experience and conservation expertise.

Looking ahead, our goal is to send members of the Dino Buddies team to Kalamazoo, where they'll participate in hands-on training with wildlife professionals, develop advanced wildlife survey techniques, and gain experience working alongside species not currently represented in our collection—including native venomous snakes. These opportunities strengthen our educators, deepen our understanding of wildlife, and ultimately enhance every program we bring to our community.

Midwest Friends of Wildlife is more than a training organization—they're building a community where people from all backgrounds can discover a place in wildlife conservation. Through affordable workshops, professional skills training, and educational experiences, they help break down barriers that have traditionally limited access to the conservation field while supporting the recovery of endangered wildlife and the habitats they depend on.

By partnering with Midwest Friends of Wildlife, Dino Buddies is working towards a future where wildlife conservation is more inclusive, more accessible, and driven by education. Every new skill we learn, every partnership we build, and every conservation experience we participate in helps us create richer, more meaningful educational programs for the thousands of guests we serve each year.

Because protecting wildlife begins with understanding it—and that journey never stops..

We’re Honored to Be Recognized 💚

Dino Buddies is proud to share that we have been named Cincinnati Family Magazine’s Face of Wildlife Outreach & Education 🦎📚 in their January and July edition.

This recognition reflects the heart of what we do every day: providing hands-on wildlife education that is rooted in respect for animals, grounded in science, and designed to help children feel curious, confident, and connected to the natural world 🌱✨. It also honors the trust families, schools, libraries, and community partners place in us to deliver programs where animal care always comes first.

From live wildlife encounters 🐍 to creative dinosaur puppet programs 🦖, Dino Buddies exists to make learning approachable, engaging, and meaningful. Being recognized by Cincinnati Family Magazine affirms the importance of education that is both fun and responsible—and the power of community-based conservation work.

We are deeply grateful to our partners, supporters, and the thousands of children and families who learn alongside us 🤍. This recognition belongs to all of you.