Educating Kids about Chimps is all Fun and Games

October 9, 2019/Project Chimps

Project Chimps volunteer Betty Thurman never dreamed that she would find herself educating kids about chimps at a wildlife sanctuary. But when she and her husband, Dr. Jim Thurman, found themselves with spare time after retiring, they realized it was the perfect opportunity to engage in something they were passionate about.

Jim and Betty Thurman standing next to a tall board game with a brightly colored spinning wheel — *Jim and Betty Thurman created a series of fun and educational chimpanzee-themed games for visiting children.*

Betty grew up on a farm and has always loved animals. Like many chimpanzees lovers, she had seen many Jane Goodall documentaries and has an appreciation for her conservation work.

Once she completed her volunteer orientation in May, she jumped in feet first and became completely immersed in the Project Chimps mission. In just five months, she accumulated more than 150 volunteer hours.

Jumping in Feet First

Betty volunteers at the sanctuary almost every week, often spending her time in the kitchen preparing meals and enrichment while watching chimpanzees like Noel play on the climbing structures outside the kitchen window.

Former research chimpanzee Noel reclining on a wooden climbing structure outdoors — *Project Chimps volunteers see chimps like Noel foraging and relaxing outside the sanctuary’s kitchen window*.

Soon, Betty joined the sanctuary’s Event Committee, where she saw an opportunity to develop new educational games for young visitors during Project Chimps events such as Discovery Days, Chimp or Treat, and school field trips.

It’s All Fun and Games

Betty’s goal was not only to make games that were fun and engaging for young sanctuary visitors, but ones that would also help children learn more about the remarkable species with which she had fallen in love.

“If we are going to be successful in taking care of the chimps and other animals, we have to make a connection with the children, because they are the future,” said Betty.

A young boy stands in front of a game displaying chimpanzee faces — *A young boy tries his hand at the Match-a-Chimp board, which challenges kids to match the faces of eight different chimpanzees.*

With this mission in mind, Betty went to the drawing board. She drew from her experience working at her son’s school carnival and started formulating ideas for new interactive games. Once the plans were finalized, she recruited Jim to assist with design and construction.

Many of their mornings consisted of coffee and brainstorming on how to make the games better and better. They made the perfect team for the job.

As a retired oral surgeon, Jim has an affinity for tinkering and problem-solving. Betty would sketch out her ideas of what the game should look like and how it should be played, and Jim would make it come to life. He spent nearly 100 hours constructing their vision.

“There would be no games if it weren’t for Jim because I could have ideas all day long, but I couldn’t make them happen,” said Betty.

Rolling Out the New Games

After many hours of revisions and construction, Betty and Jim had completed five new games, which were unveiled at Project Chimps fall 2019 Discovery Days.

The games included Match-a-Chimp, featuring beautiful portraits of Project Chimps residents; Chimp Trivia, with a spinning prize wheel; Raisin Board challenges, to mimic chimp enrichment; a giant 4’x4’ puzzle, featuring a photo of Kareem’s group; and Chimp-Tac-Toe, with true or false questions about chimpanzee traits.

Two young boys places pieces of a large jigsaw puzzle on the grass as part of a Project Chimps program educating kids about chimps — *Visiting children piece together a giant chimpanzee puzzle during Project Chimps Discovery Days.*

Inspiring Future Generations

The games were a huge success at their Discovery Days debut, attracting players of all ages. Not only did they provide ample amusement, but the new games also served their educational purpose. Some young visitors were even able to recall and use the information they learned from the games to answer questions asked during the sanctuary tour later that day.

Betty and Jim’s goal for the games was educating kids about chimps in order to foster and nurture the next generation’s appreciation of endangered chimpanzees.

“If I can help just a few of these little ones feel the same connection to these chimpanzees that I have developed, then I feel secure there will be a future for these chimps. There’s got to be somebody to come behind us to care for them,” said Betty.

Betty Thurman educating kids about chimps as a young boy and toddler girl spin the wheel of a large standing board game — Betty Thurman, left, leads a Chimp Trivia game with two young sanctuary guests.

Project Chimps is always seeking new volunteers. Just register online. You can also sponsor a chimp like Betty’s favorite, Jermaine, with whom she shares a birthday on November 25th. If you’d like to bring a school class or youth group to visit Project Chimps, explore our educational programs.

There are still nearly 150 chimpanzees in the lab who are waiting to come to sanctuary…waiting for a chance to explore the outdoors, to forage with friends, to stretch their limbs and climb around. You can help make this possible by making a donation to Project Chimps, sponsoring one of our amazing chimpanzees, or purchasing an item from our Amazon Wish List.

Photos by Joan Miller and Crystal Alba.