Spring Brachiate registration is $550 per student and includes all on-site activities, transportation, and some meals.

Spring Brachiate participants are responsible for paying for travel to and from the sanctuary and for food not otherwise listed above. Registration fees are due one (1) month before the start of your trip.

Project Chimps is a non-profit organization. The registration fee helps offset the costs associated with coordinating our alternative break trips and ensures that we can provide quality programs while also providing quality care for the chimpanzees.

The registration fee and travel associated with your volunteer trip is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Crowd Funding

Do you have friends and family that want to support your volunteer efforts? We can help you set up a crowd-sourced fundraising portal to help off-set the Spring Brachiate fees. It’s easy to do and takes just 5-10 minutes to set up. We will walk you through the steps! Request this option by email.

Never worked with chimpanzees or at an animal sanctuary before? We welcome you! Volunteer vacations do not require any prior experience, just a good attitude and a willingness to get a little dirty!

Tools, training, and supervision are all provided by Project Chimps. And while you’ll see chimpanzees in their outdoor habitat during your visit, there is no direct contact with the chimps for their safety and yours.

Guest Requirements

• Participants must be 18+ and actively enrolled in a college, university, or similar educational program.
• All participants must be able to show proof of a current tetanus, covid, and flu vaccinations, and provide proof of a negative TB test within 12 months before their service week. Individuals who cannot provide proof of these medical requirements may still participate in the service week but will not be permitted in certain locations and/or activities due to the zoonotic risk for the chimpanzees.
• Most activities will be outdoors and require moderate levels of physical activity. Please let us know if you or anyone in your group requires special accommodations.

Lodging and Transportation Options

There are a number of lodging and transportation options available.

• Fly into Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, located approximately two hours south of the sanctuary. Project Chimps will provide transportation to and from the sanctuary from this airport.
• Spend the week living with a Project Chimps volunteer. Host families will provide free lodging and transportation to and from Project Chimps. We will match you with a host family after your deposit is made, some host families can accommodate several students and you will be able to indicate if you have friends you wish to lodge with in the same home.
• For those who would prefer to stay in a hotel, we recommend the Comfort Inn in nearby Blue Ridge, GA. We will coordinate transportation from the airport and to Project Chimps from this hotel.
• Other lodging options are available, such as camping and cabin rentals, but students will be required to arrange their own daily transportation (note that Uber and Lyft are not currently available in this market).

Registration

There are three ways you can register for Volunteer Vacations:

1. Online: Select your preferred week and follow the link to register today.
2. Mail: Download the application form and mail with a check made payable to Project Chimps, PO Box 2140, Blue Ridge, GA 30513.
3. Phone: Call (706) 374-3675 to register by phone.

Get Ready!

Now that you’ve signed up for a Volunteer Vacation, view our Trip Resources  information to plan your trip, get answers to common questions, and get ready for fun!