Our volunteers are amazing. Over the last two months, they’ve turned out every weekend and often during the week to help work on the hill despite the rain, wind, and sometimes frigid temperatures. Thanks to them, we’ve finished putting the posts in and have begun preparing the posts for the electric wire.
Currently, we are working on fastening the black plastic insulators to each post. They are fairly easy to install, but there are over 6,000 of them! Doug took materials home to finish making all of the brackets for the tops of the posts – our volunteers are even doing homework.
Sarah managed to photograph a rare moment when Anna was not working last weekend. Anna installed hundreds of insulators and got our irrigation system for the bamboo up and running.
The welders are almost finished with the gates and tunnels, and this weekend, volunteer Ken will begin digging the foundations for them. Below you can see the steel plates that will be embedded in the concrete to support the gate posts. This 8′ tall by 22′ wide section of fence will sit at the corner of the enclosure closest to the driveway. It will allow us to access the enclosure with a vehicle and, because the lower section will not be electrified, it will be the main place where caregivers can interact with the chimps when they are out on the hill.
Volunteers have also been helping with quality control to ensure that all playground equipment meets Missy’s standards.
Congratulations and thanks to your wonderful volunteers—well done! It will be a fabulous experience for the 7 to explore, play and chase around.
I have to say that normally I’m pretty stoic about most things………….. but Young’s Hill is the exception. Every time I see the Hill or see a blog post I just get very emotional. I can’t thank the numerous volunteers from all walks of life who have spent hours on this project enough. I love driving up the driveway each time I volunteer to see the progress and know we are getting closer to the CE7 being able to have the freedom they so derserve.
thank you thank you thank you to all the wonderful humans that have given their time and energy to help the 7 chimpsters … we here who are stuck in our computers and not able to participate in the actual building of this amazing space will have you to thank again and again on the first and every other day thereafter that burrrrito and his girls go over the threshold and out into the magnificent space you (the volunteers) have helped create for them …
It is looking amazing! A big thank you to all involved who are constructing this amazing enclosure !!! and to all the supporters who also had a part in making this happen !!!
looking fantastic ! well done everyone love and thanks for all your hard work ! i so wish we weren’t a plane flight away !
A big thanks to all!! You guys are the best!!!!
I must add my thanks to all the volunteers who are there to help realize the dream of Young’s Hill with hands on. I so wish I could be there to be a part of it. I also get emotional when I see the progress of the hill. There will be many tears of happiness shed when the supporters watch the chimps go to the hill the first time.
Wow, how blessed is everyone at CSNW!
Great work everyone. We’re cheering you on from England.
I just cannot wait until the 7 get to go out the open door into their new area.
It’s an honor to be able to help, and I appreciate being allowed the opportunity to do so! It’s beautiful up there on that hill, and s p a c i o u s !! But – LOL – how will we build a greenhouse around 2 acres?!