The chimpanzees' needs come first and everyone who is involved in the program participates in fulfilling these needs. Laboratory management is a valuable skill to have in this field and plenty of opportunities to learn are offered here. Specifically these activities include cleaning enclosures, food preparation, daily enrichment, and observing the chimpanzees from the berm, an outer walkway, when they are in their outside enclosure. Each apprentice has approximately 15 hours a week during which he or she is scheduled to be present at CHCI and help in these care activities. The rest of your time at CHCI will be spent participating in research projects.
Apprentices are part of one or more research teams.
Apprentices are responsible for the majority of data collection, data entry, and literature review. The beginning stages of the 10 week program involve intensive training in chimpanzee care and husbandry and in research methods for the projects. After several weeks each apprentice becomes more autonomous and is responsible for his or her own progress in the research project, much like a graduate student. Regular meetings are scheduled with team leaders to monitor progress on the project. Examples of research programs in past summers are the chimpanzees' reaction to visitors, chimpanzee imaginary play, comparison of children and chimpanzee art work, topic maintenance in chimpanzee-human signed conversations, and post conflict interactions between the chimpanzees.