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Matthew Korhonen - Assistant Curator It's funny how things work out. I remember New Year's Eve 2000, telling all my friends at this huge party how cool it would be to volunteer with this reptile guy who was keeping some reptiles in his basement. Five months later I began working for Little Ray and haven't looked back since. I have been passionate about reptiles since I was a twinkle in my parents eyes (My mom used to tell me that she found a garter snake in my pocket when I was three.........after it had gone through the wash). I have had pet reptiles my whole life and now keep and breed various types of snakes and lizards. My favorite reptile is hard to say and I think it changes every time I read about something new. I went to school in the winter of 2002 in Lindsay Ontario and began studying fish and wildlife, but maintained my addiction for outreach by working for Little Ray's on some weekends, and running a small company of my own teaching about reptiles in schools in Lindsay. Upon graduating I came flying back to Little Ray's to run the summer camp. Now I am the education director of the zoo and keep myself busy by managing our travelling display to other towns (most fun in the world), and taking my summer vacation by running the zoo's summer camp. At the zoo I am the one who looks like Little Ray (though younger and way more energetic) and have been accused of being his brother on more than one occasion (in fact my mother once kissed him thinking it was me). Away from the zoo I enjoy racing mountain bikes, cottaging, playing guitar (still learning), strength training and anything that involves getting sweaty or dirty. As you can see it is difficult to fit years of experiences and memories into a few short paragraphs, but let me end by saying that I have the best job in the world, and haven't worked a day since the summer of 2000. It's funny how things work out. "Phat Matt" Korhonez |
