Hello dear readers!
My name is Amanda. I’m the newest caregiver here at CSNW and I’m very excited to be starting this new chapter with the chimps, cattle, amazing staff, and you all!
I’m from many places, having moved a lot as a kid and carrying on the habit as an adult. Now that I landed this job in this beautiful place, I think I’ll try out settling down long-term.
“What got you into chimps?”, many people ask, to which I respond, “My mom”. When I was a little kid she was going to school for anthropology and was drawn towards the primatology courses and soon began to intern for the Jane Goodall Institute. Childcare being very expensive, I went with her most places including her lectures, professor’s office hours, and the JGI offices. It was especially fun when she brought me along to Zoo Atlanta where I was free to run around, visiting the gorillas and orangutans each time.
Most recently I lived in Bend, drawn there to work at Chimps Inc., now called Freedom for Great Apes. This being my first experience with chimps (I’ve worked with a number of different monkey species), I quickly became smitten with them. After my time at Chimps Inc. I stayed in Bend for a few years doing this and that including caregiving for adults (humans) with physical and intellectual disabilities, running my own housekeeping business, volunteering for ThinkWild, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation nonprofit, and earning a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership and management through Arizona State University online. After a while I decided I needed to jump back into the primate world so I decided to attend Oxford Brookes University’s primate conservation Master’s program, which was such an enlightening experience where I met some really wonderful people in my cohort who will remain lifelong friends.
After finishing that program I moved back to Bend without a real plan. I volunteered again for ThinkWild and their BeaverWorks project, gaining some field experience setting and monitoring wildlife cameras at beaver dam and den sites. Later on I got a summer job as a field assistant for an Oregon State University research project involving songbird and raptor surveys in the Steens Mountain Range. I was unenthusiastically searching for the next opportunity when a friend of mine sent me the listing for caregiver/veterinary assistant at CSNW and long story short, here I am!
So excited to learn and grow here! Now, please enjoy some of the pictures I’ve taken at CSNW so far!
Terry showing off his adorable buck teeth
Terry and Rayne admiring some boots Jaime received. Model credit: Grace
Jaime in an impeccably crafted nest holding a suede boot in her pelvic pocket.
Burrito playing tug-of-war with me
Jaime and Missy enjoying the benefits of one of the first snow storms of the season
Classic Betsy getting up close and personal
Welcome, Amanda! What experience you bring, and it sounds like lots of love and enthusiasm, as well!
Hi Maureen! Thank you for the words of welcome. I’m certainly glad to find myself at such a top tier sanctuary 😀
Hi Maureen! I’m certainly very happy to find myself at such a top tier sanctuary 😀
Welcome, Amanda! Hopefully you will be staying around for a long time. How can you look at those faces and ever want to leave?
Hi Cindee,
I’m happy to say that I do plan to stay for a long time!
Thank you, Amanda, and a belated welcome to the Sanctuary. I surmise that Betsy and Terry are ready for their close-ups. Nice to see that Burrito let you play some tug-o-war.
Welcome Amanda. Our residents and caregivers are lucky to have someone with your experience join the sanctuary. Enjoyed the great pics you shared too.
Hi Tobin,
Terry and Burrito have been real hams from day one and Betsy’s no wall flower!
Welcome, Amanda!
Which of the residents has been showing you the most love so far?
Hi Linda,
From day one, Terry started following me around everywhere he could and once I was trained enough to interact with them more, he was always a reliable source of shoe tickles and hand kisses.
D’aw! ?
Hello Amanda!!! So nice to finally hear your story. How did you find the time to accomplish so much in your lifetime to date?! Wow. Please thank your friend for me. I am happy you took their advice. Sounds like you have many talents to bring to the sanctuary, such as Skilled Tug-O-War Player. Lucky Burrito.
Thank you for the photos. Jamie in her perfect deep dish shades of blue nest, holding the blue suede boot, with 2 orange peels perfectly placed, is now being added to my all time Favorites of her.
Hope you settle down for a spell in Cle Elum.
Hi Kathleen! I think I just like to try out lots of different things for the fun of experiencing them. That and an inherited penchant for restlessness! But now I think it’s time to try out living a settled life, so I’ll be here a while. It’s too good of an opportunity not to take full advantage of! So glad you like the photo. Jamie is a master craftswoman.
Well hello Amanda and welcome aboard! I can see you have a wealth of “life experiences ” and hopefully you will be smitten into staying around this beloved sanctuary for some time to come. God, I would love to spend time at the sanctuary; it seems like the best place on Earth.Thank you for the photos up close of some of the residents.I loved the snow one with Missy and Jaime. Very seasonal. Best wishes and happy days.
Welcome Amanda! That next of Jamies is the best I have seen. Now, be honest, is that a caregiver built nest?
Hi Chris! I can attest to the fact that this is a 100% genuine Jamie nest. “Deep dish” as another commenter appropriately coined it.
Have a great time in the sanctuary, Amanda, and thank you for your work!
welcome!!! you have landed at a great facility with wonderful people and get to care for some of my very favorite chimp people from WWS!! nice to meet you! oh… those are some mighty fancy boots!!!