Volunteer at CHCI
Dar |
CHCI provides a number of volunteer opportunities for individuals who are
interested in learning about and working for this unique family of signing
chimpanzees.
CWU students and interested community members can volunteer
at CHCI as a docent. Docents keep our Chimposiums
running by presenting lectures, serving as guides during observations
of the chimpanzees, greeting guests, and working in our giftshop,
the Chimporium.
Each summer, CHCI hosts a team of apprentices for an intensive 10-week program.
Apprentices spend 15 hours a week at CHCI learning and practicing chimpanzee
husbandry: cleaning, meal preparation, preparation of enrichment, and
other tasks. Several more hours per week are spent working on various CHCI
research projects: observing, collecting and summarizing data, and so on. Apprentices
pay a fee for their participation at CHCI.
Interested CWU students can apply for internships at CHCI. All interns must
begin by enrolling in and completing PRIM 220,
"Introduction to Primate Lab Procedures," which is offered each fall. Upon
successful completion
of the course, a PRIM 220 student might be invited to return to CHCI as an
intern. Interns perform important chimpanzee husbandry tasks: cleaning, preparation
of enrichment,
preparing meals, etc. Motivated and responsible interns may be invited to continue
training as a chimpanzee
caregivers, interacting
with
and serving meals to the chimpanzees.
|
