Volunteering

Be a Volunteer Primate Keeper!

Have you thought of volunteering with animals,
especially monkeys or apes?

Would You Like To Be A GCC Volunteer?

Listen to incredible vocalizations as you feed and care for nearly 40 gibbons, including new infants. Watch their daring acrobatics and learn about their natural family structure and behavior. We house several different species, all endangered. We have volunteer positions open beginning now.
Please see application information below.

Would You Like To Be A Primate Volunteer?

Volunteer work is essential at the Center. If you can contribute your time and energy to assist in feeding, data collection, and maintenance at GCC your efforts will be sincerely appreciated. You will gain experience caring for primates, and you'll contribute to the preservation of an endangered species. Read about a former volunteer's experiences as a primate keeper at GCC.

Information for Volunteers

Organization name: Gibbon Conservation Center (GCC)
Address: P.O. Box 800249, Santa Clarita, CA 91380 USA     Phone: 661-296-2737        Fax: 661-296-1237
Email: gibboncenter@earthlink.net         Website: www.gibboncenter.org
Volunteer Coordinator: email: gibboncenter@earthlink.net. You can also fax applications (but NOT driver's license, passport or insurance copies) to 661-296-1237, or mail to PO Box 800249, Santa Clarita, CA 91380

Location: Saugus, California. The Center is about 1 hour north of Los Angeles International Airport, off Highway 5. It is 9 miles east of Six Flags Magic Mountain Amusement Park. The nearest grocery store is 3 miles away in the town of Santa Clarita, which can be reached from a bus stop half a mile from the Center. Dial-A-Ride (door to door service) is also available for $2 with 24 hours notice. There are, among other stores, a shopping mall, three large movie theaters, and several international restaurants within 7 miles of the Center. Since the Center is in a canyon, there is no television reception. However, we have over 200 movies on video available. Even though the Center is rather isolated, it is an ideal location for someone who wants to "get away from it all", and who enjoys such solitary pursuits as hiking, bicycling, reading, writing, bird watching and stargazing.

Costs for Participants: The volunteer is responsible for all travel, food (an average of $100 per week), vaccinations and medical tests. That includes transportation to and from the Gibbon Center. We will send you information about a shuttle van that goes to and from LAX and Burbank airports. There is also a train, and taxis. Volunteers should stay in a hotel close to the airport (at the volunteer's expense) if their flight gets in after 6 pm, because the gibbons and staff go to bed early. You are also responsible for transportation for any additional trips, such as going home for a holiday.
    In order to ensure that the Gibbon Conservation Center remains fully staffed at all times, individuals wanting to secure a volunteer position are required to send us a $200 deposit at least 3 months prior to their expected start date at the GCC. The deposit is fully refundable on the last day they are scheduled to volunteer at the Center, as long as they serve the full number of scheduled days in good standing. If the volunteer leaves the position early, for ANY reason, their deposit will not be refunded. Once the deposit is paid, it will not be refunded if the volunteer decides not to work at the GCC, unless 3 months notice is given.
    Resident volunteers: we strongly prefer that you use a telephone calling card, and send us a copy. If you'll not be using one, a $200 deposit in advance is required for telephone usage. The unused amount will be returned to you at your request within 2 months following your departure. International volunteers must send a copy of a calling card that they will use PLUS $200 deposit. For your peace of mind, please black out the numbers on the calling card copy before sending it to us. You may elect to use your cell phone, but be advised that reception is spotty.
    Copies of the volunteer’s driver’s license or other photo ID, and proof of health insurance that will be valid in Los Angeles County, California, are required.  These documents cannot be faxed; you should attach copies to an email or mail them by post.
    Housing: Housing is provided at no charge for resident volunteers—one of 2 trailers (possibly shared with another volunteer) 10 yards from the house. Trailers do not have restrooms. Laundry facilities, bedding, dishes and towels, and access to the kitchen and bathroom are provided. If the volunteer prefers, they can stay in a hotel at their own expense. There are several within 7-10 miles from the Gibbon Center.

Dates: Year round, 30 day minimum (for residents) but we prefer that you stay longer, no maximum. For day (commuting, local) volunteers, we require a commitment of at least 2 days per month. There is generally a shortage of volunteers from September through April.

How to Apply: Request volunteer application (or print out and send completed), send resume and 2 letters of recommendation.

photo by R. Agha

Two volunteer primate keepers feeding gibbons
at GCC

Work Done by Volunteers: There are 3 types of volunteer positions (for both residents and non-residents):

1. Primate Keeper prepares gibbon food, feeds captive gibbons, changes water, cleans kitchen and bathroom, cleans enclosures. For resident volunteers, this requires a full day of work (from about 7 am to 5 pm), 7 days per week. May also (depending on skills, needs of the Center, number of volunteers, and personal preference) do behavioral observations, medicate gibbons, do library research, word processing on Macintosh computer, filing, fund raising and maintenance of grounds and enclosures. This position is physically strenuous and requires good physical condition. (If you aren’t in good shape when you come here, you will be when you leave!)

2. Center Assistant may (depending on skills, needs of the Center and personal preference) do maintenance of grounds and enclosures, behavioral observations, cleaning of food preparation area, library research, fund raising and word processing. Center Assistants must keep a minimum distance of 6 feet from all enclosures.

3. Clerical Assistant may (depending on skills, needs of the Center and personal preference) do word processing, fund raising, library research and behavioral observations.

Special Skills or Requirements for Volunteers: Volunteers must be self-motivated and have a love for animals. You must be able to work alone, since the Director may work at least 4 days a week elsewhere, and there may be no other volunteers for periods of several days. Word processing ability (Macintosh Microsoft Word), library research skills, maintenance skills, and the ability to get along with a variety of people, are preferred volunteer attributes.
    All volunteers must be at least 18 years old and resident volunteers must be at least 20 years old. Our weather conditions can be extreme—reaching 105 degrees F. in summer, and in winter, down to 35 degrees F at night with chance of rain.
    No smoking is allowed at GCC. Please bring unscented toiletry articles and do not use perfumes, or scented deodorant or aftershave. You will need to be cautious when wearing hats, hair accessories, jewelry, glasses, or very loose clothing when near gibbon enclosures, because the gibbons might grab them. Long hair should be tied back to prevent it from getting pulled. If you wear glasses or contacts, you must bring an extra pair. Face jewelry/piercings, earrings, and necklaces must be removed before working near the gibbons. (This rule is essential to prevent the gibbons from ingesting jewelry, and to prevent a painful injury to the volunteer. If you feel you must wear face jewelry here, we need advance notice with a description of it before you arrive, and you will need to bring your own non-disposable face shield and wear it while feeding the gibbons.)
    No one who has a compromised immune system can assist with food prep or feeding the gibbons. They could jeopardize the gibbons’ health or their own.
    No one is permitted to touch the gibbons, or to allow them to grab you. Because two of our many goals are breeding and study, we want the gibbons to be bonded with their gibbon cagemate, not with people.
    Since the GCC is in a rural portion of Los Angeles County, we can only receive dial-up internet access. Only one person at
a time can use the internet, and large files cannot be downloaded.

1. Primate Keepers must have all of the following medical tests and vaccinations completed before entering the facility:

We request that you read the following before your arrival, which should be available at a college library:

· Ellefson, J. O. 1974. A Natural History of the White-handed Gibbon in the Malaya Peninsula. In, Natural History, Social Behavior, Reproduction, Vocalizations, Prehension. Gibbon and Siamang, vol. 3. D. M. Rumbaugh, ed., 1-136.

· Baldwin, L., & Teleki, G. 1976. Patterns of Gibbon Behavior on Hall’s Island, Bermuda, In, Suspensory Behavior, Locomotion, and Other Behaviors of Captive Gibbons. Gibbon and Siamang, vol. 4. D. M. Rumbaugh, ed., 1-105.

2. Center Assistants must have the following: tetanus vaccine (within the last 5 years), tuberculosis test within the last year (or physician’s certification that you had a chest x-ray negative for tuberculosis), Rubeola ("regular") measles vaccination (or physician’s certification that you had measles).

3. Clerical Assistants must have had a tetanus vaccine within the last 5 years.

Rewards: In addition to learning about primate behavior, you will have the opportunity to develop observational skills on nearly 40 behaviorally uninhibited primates. You will have the opportunity to work with and study one of the largest and rarest groups of gibbons in the world, including the Javan gibbon (there may be less than 2000 remaining in the wild and no other in captivity in the U.S.) and the pileated gibbon (we are one of only 3 institutions that houses this species in North America.) Resident volunteers who have completed at least one month’s stay may come again for less than the one month minimum. Volunteers will be sent the newsletter for one year free and can get reduced rates on gifts.

Commentary: The Gibbon Conservation Center (GCC), founded in 1976, is a non-profit organization and the only facility in the world devoted exclusively to the study, preservation and propagation of gibbons, and to education of the public about them. Since gibbons are monogamous primates, GCC houses them in naturally occurring small family groups to enable the species to reproduce successfully in captivity. We house the second largest group of gibbons outside their countries of origin, including 6 of the 15 extant species. The comfort and well-being of these primates is our primary concern. They are housed in spacious outdoor enclosures, ranging from 30 to 40 feet in length and from 12 to 20 feet in height. All staff members and workers, including Director, Alan Mootnick, are volunteers. GCC educates through lecture tours directed at elementary through college students (especially Anthropology and Biology students.) GCC has the largest gibbon library in the world, containing over 1700 scientific and popular gibbon articles, including 50 dissertations. GCC also functions as a consultant to zoos, museums, government agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and rehabilitation centers in Thailand on the care, maintenance and taxonomic identification of gibbons. GCC is a CDC registered quarantine facility.

Under the direction of the appropriate supervisor(s), the successful candidate would perform the following duties and responsibilities:

· Perform daily health observations and communicate with the Attending Veterinarian (AV) and Director on a regular basis regarding health status of the gibbons

· Assist (under direction of the Director, AV, and in conjunction with the Facility Supervisor) in training and supervising staff and volunteers on zoonotic diseases, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), personal hygiene, daily care of gibbons, essentials of daily maintenance of a nonhuman primate (NHP) facility, etc.

· Assist (in conjunction with the Director, AV, and IACUC) in keeping all standards current with accepted guidelines and procedures utilized at NHP facilities

· Assist with daily care of the gibbons (i.e. Preparation of food, serving food to the gibbons, cleaning of primate enclosures, assist with primates in CDC quarantine)

Minimum Requirements: Associate’s degree in veterinary technology or closely related specialty (or equivalent: 3 years practical experience and required post-secondary education) with a minimum of 5 years of full-time work experience as a veterinary technician for primates (i.e. at a NHP facility, zoo, or primate sanctuary); Alternatively: Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology or closely related specialty with a minimum of 3 years of full-time work experience as a veterinary technician for primates (i.e at a NHP primate facility, zoo, or primate sanctuary); Ability to perform health observations and evaluation of NHPs; Ability to administer medications and treatments (oral, SQ and IM injections); Knowledge of emergency care response and skills to assist in providing emergency and critical care on a primate patient in crisis; Ability to maintain medical records (including ISIS); Ability to handle sedated and non-sedated NHPs; Skills to work independently under general supervision and ability to perform duties as instructed by the AV and Director; Knowledge of zoonotic diseases and standard PPE utilized when working with nonhuman primates; Good working knowledge of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations; Excellent oral and written communication skills; Ability to train and supervise staff and volunteers in above-mentioned areas; Ability to interact well with a diverse group of people.

Preferred: Licensed Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) or eligible to sit for CA state board exam; Alternatively, AALAS Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) certification; Willingness to become CA state licensed RVT or LAT certified within 6 months of start date; Previous experience with grant writing or willingness to attend continuing education to attain grant writing skills

Please send a resume and either 3 letters of recommendation or contact information for 3 references:

Telephone: 805-208-6366, Fax: 805-493-2123, Web Site: www.gibboncenter.org

INTERNSHIPS

A limited number of internships are available at the Gibbon Conservation Center throughout the year for a minimum period of one month.

We are looking for hard-working, honest and reliable volunteers to serve as interns. No experience is necessary. Free housing is provided only to those interns who accept all the following responsibilities: behavioral observation, data recording (on Macintosh), care and feeding of gibbons and general maintenance. This requires a minimum of about 40 hours per week.

Personal rewards include the gratification of contributing to the well-being of gibbons and learning more about these highly endangered apes. Successful interns will be given preference for conducting their master’s or doctoral field studies at GCC.

To apply, send a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae or resume and names of 2 references (preferably with email addresses). For further information, please write to Alan Mootnick at the address below or fax to 661-296-1237. Or mail to GCC Volunteer Coordinator at Gibbon Conservation Center, PO Box 800249, Santa Clarita, CA 91380 USA. We must receive your payment before your arrival to consider you an intern.

For more information on volunteering or interning, contact
Volunteer Coordinator: email: gibboncenter@earthlink.net. You can also fax applications (but not copies of driver's licenses, passports or health insurance) to 661-296-1237, or mail to:
Gibbon Conservation Center
PO Box 800249
Santa Clarita, CA 91380 USA

Thank You!