Hi, everyone! Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a volunteer here at CSNW? More specifically- have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a level III volunteer who interacts and serves the chimps? Worry no more- today is the first in a series of Guest Blog Writers! We have some amazing Level III Volunteers who have volunteered (because they’re awesome) to write a post or two about their experiences here, so be on the lookout for them over the coming months.
First up to bat, we have Dusty- a level three volunteer in training! She has volunteered with us for about six years!! So, without further ado, check out Dusty’s blog below!
The New Kid in Town, by Volunteer Caregiver Dusty
As a volunteer, it’s a lengthy training process to learn how to serve the chimpanzees their meals. There are books to read, videos to watch, observations to be made, steps to take, lessons to learn. This intimate activity must be done with the utmost thought and care, after all I am entering their private home. Imagine someone new coming into your home to serve you
breakfast. Who would get the first apple? Maybe you like your smoothie before your chow. Maybe your sibling likes the pears you are served better and takes yours away. This experience is exciting and humbling and I’m constantly reminded by the sixteen – I’m the new kid in town – which transports me back to 1976 when The Eagles released “The New Kid in Town” song as part of the Hotel California album. If you’ve never heard this song (where have you been?) or to refresh your memory, take a listen to the song at the same time you read about my training experience below.
The New Kid in Town
There’s hoots in the hall, it sounds so familiar
Initiation time, all the chimps are watching you
Smoothies and plums, how do I serve them
Even though they know me they treat me like I’m someone new
Dusty come lately,
The new kid in town,
Better serve the food right,
or they won’t come ’round.
I look in Terry’s eyes, his Bronx cheers began to play
Gordo sprays me with water, here we go again
Rayne runs to hide, Lucky looks the other way
It’s those precious hearts I want to mend
Dusty come lately,
The new kid in town,
Better serve the food right,
or they won’t come ’round.
There’s so many things Jamie should have showed me
Serve her pears first, serve Neggie slowly, slowly
Jody got extra oranges, holy moly!
There’s hoots in the hall, it’s there to remind you
Doesn’t really matter which side of the caging you’re on
You’re walking away, they’re plotting behind you
Initiation will continue ’til somebody new comes along.
Dusty come lately,
There’s a new kid in town,
Better serve the food right,
or they won’t come ’round.
Just another new kid in town
Everybody’s gawking
There’s a new kid in town, I don’t want her apples
There’s a new kid in town, I don’t want her bananas
There’s a new kid in town
There’s a new kid in town
Everybody’s hooting
There’s a new kid…
Serving Jamie at breakfast:
Still in training, so Chad is close by!
Bonus Photo: Honey B being goofy while caregivers cleaned her front rooms.
Thank you for shariing your story about all you do for the chimps. i’m sure they love you as much as you love them. Great song parody of a great Eagles song. Thanks.
Fabulous! Thank you, Dusty. Surely you’ll have completed your initiation with us with that blog.
What’s a Level III volunteer? I don’t think I knew about different levels.
For the chimps’ well-being and for safety/security reasons, volunteers have to work a certain number of shifts, including some weekends, over a period of months before they can level up. First level is no contact with chimps–you could be doing laundry, braiding enrichment projects, filling raisin boards, peeling veggies (but not Missy’s carrots! Just Jamie’s!:laughing:) Level 3, as Dusty is doing here, involves contact with our chimpy friends.
What a wonderful experience you are having, thanks for letting us be a part of it.
The blog from Dusty was quite delightful and totally clever. Thank you for this fun post.
Dusty, congratulations on becoming a level !!!….I have read the requirements posted on this board…This is not an honorarium as you know….you learn every bit of the operations so you can be of great help to the Chimps…..Thank you for your service……:heart_eyes:
That song was everything, Dusty! Very funny!
I love how Jamie and (?) Foxie? Annie? are lining up for breakfast, but Bubba is in the portrait studio, because….Chad!:heart_eyes: Chad, you know you have become important to Mr B when your presence brings him more joy than food does!
Thank you, Dusty, for both your volunteering and — mercifully — providing far more elucidating lyrics to a threadbare melody.
Oh, Dusty, thank you so much for your 6 years of commitment to the chimps and their best lives! And for the Eagles reference; it’s perfect. What dedication all of you have to these special beings and their welfare, loving them despite the moments of challenge, always being there for them, remembering who likes their carrots peeled and who doesn’t care!! Really?? Oh my!! Your dedication is a gift for the world, especially the Cle Elum chimps’ worlds.
Hi, there,Dusty
Thank you for sharing that delightful blog with us! My gosh, volunteering is much harder than it sounds but you’ll do a great job and will be very much appreciated.(If I lived near CSNW I would love to be a volunteer, but Sydney, Australia is a bit too far away!!). I’m with you all in spirit. Best wishes, Susan.
Congratulations Dusty! Thank you so much for what you do. What an amazing group you have to work with there!
Love the Eagles parody. so well done:)
Hello Dusty! Wonderful meeting you and seeing you in action. I am familiar with the The Eagles song “The New Kid in Town” so I sung along as I read your brilliant lyrics. That was magnificent! I see you are a woman of many talents. Well done.
Thank you for all your time spent learning, observing, serving, appreciating and caring for the chimps. Do you ever pich yourself to be sure you are really part of this wonderful family and not dreaming?! What an experience.
I had to chuckle over the photo of Chad close by because look who is close by to Chad. It’s Burrito of course! So sweet.
Sometimes I do reflect about how lucky I am to be able to be part of their lives! Thank you for all the wonderful support.
I love the song!!!! Great job and thank you for all the deducation!!!