Join us for a wildly fun and educational reptile adventure with JG’s Reptile Road Show! This live, interactive experience brings kids face-to-face with some of nature’s coolest creatures.

From snakes and turtles to lizards of all sizes, this hands-on show introduces children and families to the fascinating world of reptiles. Expert handlers will guide the audience through a safe, engaging, and educational journey filled with fun facts and up-close encounters.

The show emphasizes the role reptiles play in maintaining environmental balance and encourages curiosity about wildlife. Guests of all ages will leave with a greater appreciation for these misunderstood creatures.

Jim has been passionate about nature since childhood. While others look up at trees or birds, Jim keeps his eyes on the forest floor—studying tracks, scat, and small animals to understand their world. (Yes, he can read poop!)

He attended The Mountain School in Vermont, where he lived and worked on a rural organic farm and studied forestry, self-sufficiency, and survival. As part of his education, he once spent nearly a week alone in the wilderness, surviving with nothing but a tarp, a few bagels, and nature’s offerings.

Jim has worked at Brookfield and Milwaukee Zoos managing large marine exhibits and caring for stingrays, sharks, and horseshoe crabs. He also maintained the massive aquariums at Cabela’s in Hoffman Estates.

With a degree in Recreation Administration and a minor in Biology from Eastern Illinois University, Jim combines science with entertainment—offering a unique, hands-on learning experience for kids and adults alike.

A true self-taught reptile expert, Bill has spent over 20 years caring for and handling reptiles of all shapes and sizes. He has even bred black throat monitors and ball pythons.

Before joining JG’s Reptile Road Show, Bill worked as assistant manager at a pet store in Des Plaines, where he cared for more than 100 species of reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, and more. His deep knowledge, love for animals, and calm handling skills make him a crowd favorite at every show.

Together, Jim and Bill bring science, smiles, and slithery surprises to this one-of-a-kind Friday Fun Day!