Voluntary work

  Greece

• Athens: 
Athinai (Athens)

Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: From May to October every year

Description: Volunteers work at one of the three turtle nesting areas, located in Zakynthos, Peloponnesus, and Crete, or at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Athens. In Zakynthos, where the first national marine park for sea turtles in the Mediterranean was established in 1999, volunteers assist in protecting the nesting beaches. In Peloponnesus, volunteers protect nests from foxes and other mammals, help with sand dune restoration and the maintenance of nature trails, and assist in the newly established Nature Information Centres. On the island of Crete, volunteers help manage nesting areas. Volunteers stay free, in campsites that are restricted to ARCHELON volunteers, with very basic outdoor sanitary and cooking facilities that feature cold-water showers, gas stoves, and refrigerators. Volunteers must provide their own camping gear, including a tent and a sleeping bag, as well as their own food to cook.

Qualifications: Applicants must be over 18 years of age, able to communicate in English and carry a health insurance policy. Applicants with driving license would be preferred. The advised participation period is 6 weeks (minimum participation 28 days). Long term participation is highly appreciated.

Cost in US$: 250

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: 1a. NEST MANAGEMENT AND HABITAT PROTECTION The nesting season commences at the end of May and lasts until August. The hatchlings emerge at the end of July through to the end of October. During this period, the work of ARCHELON aims at the protection of nesting females, nests and hatchlings and involves: - Morning Survey conducted daily at dawn, to assess the previous night's turtle activities. It may be long and tedious, physically demanding and extend well into the heat of the day. - Nest Protection against human activities and predation, achieved wherever necessary through screening. Meanwhile nests laid in unsafe areas are relocated to safer areas. - During Night Survey, performed by a select number of highly trained volunteers, data is collected on nesting females. - Excavation of a sample of nests is carried out in order to determine hatching success. 1b. PUBLIC AWARENESS An intensive Public Awareness Programme is carried out at all nesting sites since most are under pressure from tourism. Volunteers must be prepared to interact long hours with tourists, through participation in: - Information Stations that operate at key points of the nesting sites. Slide Shows on sea turtle biology and conservation conducted on a regular basis in hotels and other facilities. - Beach Patrols, carried out during the day, and Safeguarding of the beaches at night in order to minimise the impact of tourism on the nesting activity and inform beach users. 1c. MAINTENANCE AND DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES These supportive activities are of great importance and play a key role in effective project operation. Campsites, information stations and hatcheries are erected and dismantled by volunteers. Basic maintenance of equipment is also volunteer based and includes activities such as painting and carpentry etc. Artistic skills including drawing and photography are also utilised if possible. Finally, each individual shares responsibilities on mutual well being related to communal life and overall proper operation of campsites.

Age Range: 18-99

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 4-5

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Written Application

Archelon, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece's Mission Statement: ARCHELON helps to protect Greece three major turtle nesting areas, which cover about 60 miles of shoreline. They accomplish this mission by protecting more than 2,500 nests from human and animal threats, tagging turtles for monitoring purposes, treating injured and sick turtles (more than 50 per year, on average), teaching more than 18,000 students in environmental education programs, and maintaining a public education campaign that reaches tens of thousands of visitors. Volunteers assist with nest management and habitat protection by conducting morning and night surveys via beach patrols and excavations, and they also provide protection to turtles and their nests. Volunteers can also help with the public awareness campaign by staffing information stations and presenting slide shows. There are also opportunities to assist with the daily treatment of injured sea turtles.

Year Founded: 1983