Volunteer Testimonials! Volunteer with Primates Incorporated!

Former Volunteer, Maddie

I started volunteering at Primates Incorporated because I was very interested and excited about such a unique opportunity. I had never really interacted with primates before and saw volunteering as not only a way to broaden my horizons, but also as a way to give back to a living being who is so much like ourselves. I volunteered for about 2 years before leaving Wisconsin to attend veterinary school in Minnesota. My favorite parts were either creating enrichment items for the monkeys or creating their nutritious meals. I also loved being able to watch the monkeys in their outdoor habitats and seeing how much they enjoyed the pools and being outside. I miss the monkeys (and staff!) very much and I certainly carry all of the lessons and experience I gained at PI with me in my daily work as a veterinarian.

Former Volunteer, Sophia

I volunteered with Primates Incorporated for about a year until a change in my work schedule unfortunately meant I had to leave. For me, learning each of the monkeys’ personalities was one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering at PI. They all have favorite foods, toys, and activities, and I still think about some of their quirks and silly antics! It’s amazing to discover what unique individuals they all are and it is really a privilege to get to know them through volunteering. While the monkeys can be wary of new people at first, it was gratifying to notice as they became more comfortable with me week by week. I appreciated how knowledgeable the staff are about primates and how much I learned about the husbandry and behavior of the monkeys. PI provides the monkeys with such a caring, peaceful environment in which to live out their lives and being able to contribute to the monkeys’ retirement through volunteering is so fulfilling!

Volunteers, Nicole and Pete

I’ve been volunteering with Primates Incorporated since May of 2019. I absolutely love the time I spend at Primates Inc. I talked about it so much that in 2023 my hubby started joining me on volunteer days, taking care of projects around the property, he loves it as much as I do. I love being able to give back to these monkeys who gave so much before their retirement. It makes me happy knowing that they will spend the rest of their lives being pampered and loved by everyone at Primates Incorporated, but most importantly just getting to be monkeys. Every task, whether it be cleaning up after the monkeys, preparing meals, preparing enrichment, or working on the property is fun and an absolute pleasure to do. It never feels like work because I know how important it is for the monkeys to live their best lives in retirement. My favorite part of volunteering is being in the presence of the monkeys. I love watching them eat and play, I feel so lucky just to be around them. They are all so smart and each has their own personality, it’s impossible not to fall in love with them! 

Volunteer, Nick

I have been volunteering at Primates Incorporated for six years and it has been a very rewarding experience. I wanted to start volunteering to help support these primates who had to give so much of themselves to advance medicine or were raised in situations out of their natural environment, this is still my drive to help these primates today. I personally enjoy making up produce meals and enrichment for the primates as well as watching them savor their snacks or discover hidden treats. Being able to watch them play with water, explore their outdoor enclosures, or experience anything new or different from their previously sheltered situations is a special treat as well. Watching the sanctuary grow and support more primates has been a rewarding experience for me, and it could be for anyone wanting to make a unique and exciting impact.

Former Volunteer, Jacob

I volunteered for nine months while living in the education center. I volunteered because primates are our closest living relatives, not pets or experimental tools existing for a scientist’s interest. Those subjected to this fate deserve to live with other monkeys in superb conditions. It was amazing to see this idea become reality at Primates Incorporated and I cherished each moment spent with the monkeys, especially blowing bubbles with Jojo, painting with caretaker Amber and Batman, and scratching Fargo with a backscratcher. I left to continue pursuing my education and hope to continue in primatology as a career.