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This is Alyssa's third year as lifeguard for Safari Day Camp. Prior to joining our staff in 2008, Alyssa worked for two summers at American Heritage summer camp as a lifeguard and swim instructor. She lives in Wellington with her parents, brother, and two miniature schnauzers, but was born in Bethesda, MD. Alyssa likes to stay active in her time off with swimming, tennis, going to the beach, art, and photography. Her favorite animals at Lion Country Safari are the monkeys. Alyssa says Italy is the best place she has visited because she "loves the people and the art." She can also speak Spanish.
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This is Andi's fourth year as camp counselor at Lion Country Safari. Originally from Mineola, NY, Andi currently lives in Loxahatchee with her husband, son and a collection of pets including a dog, two cats and a corn snake. In her spare time, she likes to go snorkeling, boating, and to the movies. She is also lifeguard certified. During the school year, Andi works as an attendance clerk at Binks Forest Elementary School. The tortoises are her favorite animals at Lion Country Safari.
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Anneth is in her third year with Safari Day Camp. Born in Tampa, Anneth is a native Floridian. She and her husband Dennis live in Wellington. They have 4 children and 10 grandchildren. Anneth studied at Missouri Southern and has been a preschool teacher "on and off for 30 years." In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, crafts, reading, decorating, baking, and shopping. Her favorite place to visit is the beach "because it is quiet and relaxing." Anneth's favorite animals here are the lions, rhinos, and giraffe. However, petting a rhino for the first time and going behind-the-scene at the lion house were her most memorable moments and she will "tell anyone who will listen."
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A former Safari Day Camper, Elizabeth joins Safari Day Camp for her first year as a camp counselor. She was born in Sunrise, FL but now lives in Loxahatchee with her parents (Joann and Tim) and brother (Todd). She also has several pets including four dogs, two cats, thirteen birds, two iguanas, two bearded dragons, and four tortoises. She is studying Pre-med at Florida Atlantic University and enjoys lacrosse, soccer and skateboarding during her time off. In her previous jobs she was a vet tech for six years and a salesperson for two years. Her favorite animal at Lion Country Safari is the giraffe.
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This is Emily's second year as a camp counselor at Lion Country Safari, but she is a former Safari Day Camper. In her past jobs, she has worked as a sales associate, bookkeeper, and secretary. She was born in Daytona Beach, FL and studies Computer Science at the University of Florida. She has a dog named Shereeta. One of her favorite places to visit is Key West because she lived there but she also enjoys London and Paris because of the architecture. Emily's hobbies include reading, writing, and playing the guitar. Her favorite animals at Lion Country Safari are the snakes!
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Frank has been a camper and CIT with Safari Day Camp but is a camp counselor for his first year. Originally born in West Palm Beach, he now lives in Wellington with his parents (Frank and Jeannette) and brother (Anthony). His favorite place to visit is Lion Country Safari because “the summer camp is the best!” When not studying Political Science at the University of Central Florida, he likes fishing, playing guitar, and going on walks.
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This is Gavin's first year as a lifeguard with Safari Day Camp but he was a former Safari Day Camper and CIT, and even worked with the Entertainment team at Lion Country Safari before. Born in Mt. Vernon, Washington, Gavin moved to Loxahatchee in 2001 with his family and now has four horses, two cats, and two dogs. In his spare time he enjoys lacrosse and spending time with his friends. His favorite place to visit is Colorado because of the snow and the fact that he likes to ski. The giraffe is his favorite animal at Lion Country Safari.
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Born in Mt. Vernon, Washington, Gerek moved to Loxahatchee, Florida in 2001. He has been a CIT with Safari Day Camp before and this is his first year as a camp counselor. When he is not at USF studying Mechanical Engineering, he stays with his parents (Gerard and Charlene) and three siblings (Gavin, Chad, and Chirsten). He enjoys spending time with his many pets including four horses, two cats, and two dogs as well as wind surfing, lacrosse, and video games. Previously he has worked as a busboy for a local restaurant. His favorite place to visit is Sea World because “the ocean is one of the most interesting things in life.” Gerek’s favorite animals at Lion Country Safari are the reptiles.
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Jess started working for the Wildlife team at Lion Country Safari in December 2008 and joins our Safari Day Camp for her first year on the Education team. She currently lives in West Palm Beach with her fiancé (Tyler) and three-year-old son (Liam). Her pets include two dogs (Bean and Dusty) and a musk turtle (Memphis). In her spare time, Jess likes to read and write stories, watch movies, sculpt, and travel the world. Before working at Lion Country Safari, Jess had previous experience as an animal care and control officer, chiropractic assistant, overnight technician for an equine clinic, and zookeeper at the Palm Beach Zoo. Her favorite animals here are the rhinos and Cole, the goat.
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Born and raised in Florida, Maggie had been a camper and a Counselor in Training (CIT) for four years with Safari Day Camp and this year will be her fourth as a camp counselor, a total of ten years. She is attending Valencia Community College and studying Hospitality Management with plans to secure a position in the tourism industry. Her hobbies include baton twirling, filming videos, photography and spending time with her niece. Maggie's favorite place that she visited is Alaska and says, "It is the most amazing thing to see a glacier, let alone walk on one." The giraffes are her favorite animals at Lion Country Safari. Her most memorable moment was making a baby polar bear for the lion enrichment.
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Nicole joins the Safari Day Camp team for her second year as a camp counselor. In her previous job, she worked as a sales associate for Picasso's Playhouse. She was born in Miami but now lives in Wellington with her parents, three brothers, dog, and cat. When she isn't at Lion Country Safari she likes to read, design clothes, play tennis, and go to the beach. Nicole is majoring in Business at Florida State University during the school year. Her favorite place to visit is Jamaica because the water and landscape is gorgeous. The giraffe are Nicole's favorite animals at Lion Country Safari. She also speaks Spanish.
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At Lion Country Safari since 1998, Rhonda was an instructor at PBCC for 11 years, at a private school for 6 years, and at Penn State for a year prior to joining the LCS Education team. She earned her B.A. in English at USF and studied Comparative Literature in graduate school at Penn State. She has had a lifelong love of animals and says that Lion Country Safari is "a wonderful place for everyone to learn to appreciate wildlife and wild places." She says the best part about working here is "every day is a new adventure." Her most memorable moments have been "meeting several of my former students visiting Lion Country with their spouses and children. Some have even had their children here in our summer camp!"
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In his 13th year with Safari Day Camp (3 as a camper, 4 as a CIT and 6 as a counselor), Sean is studying Zoology at PBSC and also works at Publix, Lighthouse Elementary School SACC, and Abercrombie & Fitch. A Florida native, Sean lives in Palm Beach Gardens with his parents (Duane and Janice). They have one dog, four cats, two chickens, a tokay gecko, and a red-tailed boa. His favorite Lion Country Safari animal is Elizabeth the Burmese python. His most memorable moment at camp was when he got lost in the woods. He says, "I'm hoping that I have a trouble-free summer this year."
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In his seventh year with Lion Country Safari's Education Department, Sean received his AS from Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, and his BS in Zoology at the State University of New York - Oswego. He is also lifeguard certified. Sean lives in Royal Palm Beach with his miniature schnauzer. His favorite animals here are the sarus cranes because they are so stately. Before joining our education staff, Sean worked as an animal keeper at the Palm Beach Zoo. Sean says that his most memorable moment was "helping take pictures of special (celebrity) guests for the marketing department."
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Stephanie joins Safari Day Camp for her first year. She has lived in Florida her entire life. Originally from Ft. Lauderdale, she now resides in Royal Palm Beach. She is studying Child Education at FAU and enjoys playing tennis, working out at the gym, and time spent at the beach. She lives with her boyfriend (Samuel) and pets: a lovebird (Peeps), two cats (Curtis and Minnie) and fish. Before joining Lion Country Safari, she has worked as a pre-school teacher, nanny, tutor, and a substitute teacher. Her favorite place to visit is Colorado because of the mountains. Stephanie can’t pick just one favorite animal because she “loves them all!”
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A former camper at Lion Country Safari, Tyler joins us in the education department for his third year working with Safari Day Camp. Originally from Marietta, OH, he currently lives in West Palm Beach with his fiancé (Jess). He has one dog named Dusty and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking. Before joining the education department at Lion Country Safari, he worked for Palm Beach County and the state of Florida in both the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection. His favorite place to visit is Busch Gardens since it doesn't feel like a traditional zoo. Tyler's favorite animal at Lion Country Safari is Willow, the macaw.