Dino Buddies began with a childhood spark. Founder Tiffany Johnson, now 27, started volunteering at local farms at age twelve, discovering early a lifelong passion for animals, education, and community. That passion led her through The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute and ultimately to a Zoology degree from the University of Cincinnati. During those years, she worked at Gorman Heritage Farm and later at the Cincinnati Zoo, gaining experience with red pandas, kangaroos, reptiles, and a wide range of ambassador species. Tiffany also served on Cincinnati Public Schools’ Agricultural Education Advisory Board, supporting teachers across multiple Montessori programs and the Zoo Academy.
From this foundation, Dino Buddies was born. Now in its fifth year, the company has grown into one of Cincinnati’s most dynamic wildlife education programs, proudly led by an all-female leadership team: Stephanie Heidorn (Director of Animal Science), Kassandra Whittington (Director of Education & Research), Lindsay Porter (Director of Communications), and Laura Christian (Program Coordinator).
Dino Buddies offers high-quality live reptile encountersand dinosaur programs that bring science to life in fun, imaginative, and approachable ways. Children and families meet real animals, learn natural history through hands-on experiences, and engage with lifelike dinosaur puppets that make paleontology exciting and accessible.
The team partners with major institutions—including Bogarts, Kenwood Theater, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, TQL Logistics, and Cincinnati Public Schools. They also reach youth across the city through Ziegler Park’s Summer Camp, Cincinnati Recreation Commission camps, YMCA programs, and community PRIDE events.
Dino Buddies maintains the highest standards of natural-history-based animal care for their 50+ ambassadors and serves as the Conservation Team for Gorman Heritage Farm, conducting herpetological surveys and offering a hands-on environmental educator internship for summer counselors.
In just five years, Dino Buddies has earned two major honors: Cincinnati Family Magazine’s Best Party Entertainer (2022) and Best Outreach Program (2025).
Dino Buddies continues to inspire curiosity, promote conservation, and show children—especially those who rarely see themselves represented in science—that they belong in the world of wildlife.
