Posts by Holly Chadwick
Interview with Children’s Book Author Brittany Petish
A new children’s book for Project Chimps is coming out, this time featuring Leo! I had the pleasure of interviewing author Brittany about the serendipitous events that lead to writing each of her children’s books including this one. We are pleased Brittany discovered Project Chimps and wanted to write about Leo’s unique story. She interviewed his caregivers to illustrate and write Leo and the Soft Place to Land.
Read MoreRosemary and Lindsey get a visit from a former Caregiver now at the Oakland Zoo
June 10, 2025, Kelly McDonald from Oakland Zoo in California visited Project Chimps and went on a tour with Holly Lickteig, Manager of Husbandry. Kelly has been working with chimps since about 1981 and has experience working at both Yerkes National Primate Research Center (now the Emory National Primate Research Center) and the Oakland Zoo. The…
Read MoreScout Arrow Completes Project for Chimpanzee Remembrance Garden
This past summer, I met Arrow Swearingen, a dedicated Scout working on her Gold Award at the Project Chimps Remembrance Garden. The Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouting, recognizing girls who complete a project that makes a lasting positive impact on their community. Arrow created an arbor, benches and informative signs for…
Read MoreHonoring a Legacy of Compassion and Discovery
On a quiet evening in early October, the forested grounds of Project Chimps glowed with candlelight as staff, volunteers, and community members gathered to honor the life of Dr. Jane Goodall.
Read MoreAn Enriching Scout Project for All
On April 12, 2025, Duncan Lawrence’s Eagle Scout project came to fruition at the enrichment building at Project Chimps. 17-year-old Duncan is with Troop 101 of Blairsville, Georgia, and was the brains behind creating a display of enrichment items. The Scouts mounted this display on the enrichment building between the garage doors. It included examples…
Read MoreCelebrate BUTTERCUP’s 19th birthday!
Buttercup has found a unique way to engage in playtime with blankets. Instead of engaging in a traditional tug-of-war, Buttercup and her twin Charisse have invented a new game by weaving blankets through the mesh along the villa ceilings, creating makeshift swings.
Read MoreDiligently Hiking the Chimp Trails
I had lived on a boat for a year. I was tired of the nomad life and was in search of a change of pace. Looking for scenery that would compete with my native Pacific Northwest, I landed in the North Georgia Mountains at the end of 2021. I landed just outside of Blue Ridge, Georgia. The North Georgia Mountains is home to great hiking, including the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail. It is also known for Brasstown Bald and white-water rafting on the Ocoee River where the Olympics were held in 1996. Hiking, fishing, hunting, and outdoor adventure sports are the thing here.
In search of work, I came across an ad for Project Chimps, just down the road from me. There, I discovered an amazing training ground for more hard-core hiking on the Chimp Trails. Here is my account, over the timespan of a year, of exploring the trails at Project Chimps in preparation for doing more hikes this area is known for!
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