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Spend your spring break swinging into action at Project Chimps. This five-day Spring Brachiate program puts college volunteers to work caring for rescued chimpanzees while learning hands-on animal care and conservation skills in north Georgia.
Spend your spring break swinging into action at Project Chimps. This five-day Spring Brachiate program puts college volunteers to work caring for rescued chimpanzees while learning hands-on animal care and conservation skills in north Georgia.
Book with Project Chimps
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Project Chimps · Morganton, Georgia
On a cool spring morning at Project Chimps in Morganton, Georgia, a group of college students gathers at 2031 Lowery Rd to swap textbooks for work gloves and trade late-night study sessions for hands-on animal care. The five-day Spring Brachiate program blends purposeful labor with close observation of chimpanzee social life, offering a rare chance to support rescued research chimps as they practice arboreal skills and rebuild trust. Volunteers help prepare meals, design and build enrichment items, harvest from the sanctuary garden, and maintain outdoor enclosures under guided supervision. Each day runs roughly 8:30 AM to 4 PM with vegan lunches provided, plus a one-hour Chimp Chat led by expert staff that explains individual histories, behavior cues, and safe handling etiquette.
The sanctuary occupies rolling, forested land east of the Blue Ridge foothills; oak and mixed hardwoods frame outdoor habitats and climbing structures where chimps brachiate — swinging arm to arm — across ropes and platforms. That living laboratory of primate behavior is the site’s defining feature: the animals are former research subjects given a second chance in a rehabilitative setting. Spring Brachiate groups are intentionally small (4–6 students) to preserve calm routines for the animals and to maximize hands-on learning. Before arrival volunteers complete online training and must present documentation of tetanus, COVID, and flu vaccinations plus a negative TB test within the prior year.
Logistics are straightforward: fly into Atlanta and take arranged shuttle service, stay with volunteer host families or local hotels in Blue Ridge, and enjoy a free day to explore regional trails, waterfalls, and mountain overlooks. The experience balances service and renewal — expect physical tasks that require bending, lifting, and working outdoors in variable weather, but also steady moments of watching chimp play, grooming, and tentative exploration.
Spring Brachiate is unique in this region because it centers direct conservation work rather than passive observation; volunteers leave with practical skills, a volunteer bandana and backpack, and a clearer sense of how sanctuaries operate. For students seeking a meaningful spring break, it’s an education that mixes elbow grease with empathy. Whether you’re interested in animal behavior, conservation careers, or simply doing something tangible on a week off, Project Chimps offers a memorable way to spend five days in the mountains of north Georgia while supporting long-term care for rescued chimpanzees.
Participants receive a keepsake volunteer bandana and backpack, and the sanctuary provides tools, safety equipment, and onsite training. Two required online courses prepare volunteers before arrival, and staff-supervised tasks ensure chimp safety and human health. With careful biosecurity protocols and clear expectations, Spring Brachiate is both a practical field school and a restorative break — hands-on service that teaches responsibility and leaves a benefit for the animals.
moderate.
Five days (weekdays), daily 8:30 AM–4 PM.
Moderate fitness; tasks include lifting, bending, and sustained time outdoors so basic strength and stamina are helpful
Participants must be 18+ and actively enrolled in a college or university program; individuals not enrolled in college are encouraged to book a Chimpcation experience instead.
Volunteers must provide proof of current tetanus, COVID, and flu vaccinations and a negative TB test within 12 months; limited participation is possible but may restrict access to certain areas.
Host families provide free lodging and transportation to the sanctuary for many volunteers; hotel options in Blue Ridge are also recommended if preferred.
Most activities are outdoors and moderately physical—expect meal prep, light construction, enrichment building, gardening, and enclosure upkeep.
No—online training and onsite instruction are provided; staff supervise tasks to ensure safety for volunteers and chimpanzees.
Direct contact policies are strict due to zoonotic risk; interaction is observational and enrichment-based under staff guidance, not physical handling.
Project Chimps operates as a sanctuary caring for chimpanzees retired from research, providing rehabilitation and lifelong homes in north Georgia.
Strict biosecurity, required vaccinations, and supervised volunteer tasks minimize disease risk and ensure the sanctuary’s long-term welfare goals are met.
Project Chimps in Troutdale, Virginia operates a sanctuary and education site where visitors meet and observe rescued chimpanzees. The organization offers a range of guided experiences designed for families, schools, homeschool groups, scouts, and supporters. Tour options include short youth group tours, curriculum-based and homeschool programs aligned with STEM learning, scout badge workshops, and longer service projects for scout troops. Supporter tours and private visits provide opportunities to watch chimpanzees roam, play, and rest in outdoor habitats. Discovery Days bring families to the Blue Ridge Mountains for guided hikes, a visit to the Discovery Zone, and a picnic by the koi pond. The Banana Bus Tour adds door-to-door transport and a snack at The Nest for a convenient group outing. School field trips and curriculum-based tours emphasize inquiry-based lessons that meet educational standards and take place during prime morning viewing hours. Homeschool programs offer three to four hour visits with tailored STEM activities and flexible customization for teachers and students. Scout programs include two hour badge workshops and four to seven hour service projects that combine tours, hands-on activities, and habitat or garden work. Every visit supports the ongoing care of the chimpanzees through small donations and participation. Booking options include private supporter tours, supporter tours with a lunch launch, and group-focused experiences that accommodate educational goals. Visitors can expect guided walking tours through outdoor habitats and multiple program lengths to fit schedules. Advance reservations are recommended to secure preferred dates and times for school groups, scouts, families, supporters, and community attendees.
Book with Project Chimps