ARCHELON The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
Focus: Conservation and Marine Biology.
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Project Description
Since 1983, the primary objective of ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece has been to protect the sea turtles and their habitats in Greece through monitoring and research, developing and implementing management plans, habitat restoration, raising public awareness and rehabilitating sick and injured turtles.
Volunteers are invited to work on the island of Zakynthos where the first National Marine Park for sea turtles in the Mediterranean was established in 1999, where they will assist the Management Agency of the NMPZ (National Marine Park of Zakynthos) in its task to implement protection measures for the preservation of the sea turtles.
In Peloponnesus (Kyparissia Bay, Koroni and Lakonikos Bay), volunteers will protect nests against predation from foxes and other mammals, and assist in the running of the established Nature Information Centre of Agiannaki (Kyparissia Bay).
On the island of Crete (Chania, Rethymno and Messara), participants will work for the implementation of a Management Plan for the nesting areas.
At the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in the daily treatment of sea turtles that usually bear injuries as a result of their accidental capture in fishing gear and help in raising public awareness among the public as well as in the maintenance of the Centre’s facilities.
Volunteer Information
Costs & Benefits
Requirements
Contact information
Project Summary
Field projects’ tasks:
Nest Management and Habitat Protection which includes morning survey, nest protection and excavation.
Public Awareness which includes tasks in ARCHELON’s Information Station, Slide Show Presentations and Providing Information during fieldwork.
Maintenance and Day-to-Day duties
At the Sea Turtle Rescue Center the tasks are:
The treatment and rehabilitation of injured, sick or weak sea turtles
The raise of public awareness, especially amongst schoolchildren and fishermen
The operation of a Sea Turtle Rescue Network throughout Greece
Volunteers stay on either designated camp areas, restricted to ARCHELON volunteers, with outdoor basic sanitary and cooking facilities or organised camps. It is absolutely necessary to bring along camping gear (e.g. sleeping bag, tent, torch, alarm clock), warm and comfortable clothes, waterproofs (especially for May and September/ October), plus decent clothes for working with the public.
Volunteers must be prepared to share a communal life, living and working in both populated and secluded areas, often as members of small teams and usually under harsh conditions. They must also be prepared to participate in every aspect of the work. Duties are allocated by the field leaders and may include working throughout the night or long hours during the day.
At the Rescue Center the volunteers work as part of a group in a multi-national environment. Accommodation with the basics is provided in ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre. One train wagon and a container have been converted into accommodation area and have one shower, toilet and cooking facilities.
Summer projects: Once approved, an applicant will have to pay once a non-refundable participation fee ranging from 200€ to 300€ (except Rethymno and Koroni Project) which depends on the date of arrival.
In Rethymno and Koroni the accommodation of the volunteers is placed in an organised camping and the volunteers need to cover their own accommodation.Please visit the Participation Guide of each of the above mentioned projects to find out more details about it.
Below you will find the fees for the rest of the projects:
Mid May - 15th of June - 200€, 16th of June - 20th of August - 300€, 21st of August - mid October - 200€
Rescue Centre: The participation fee of applicants accepted to work at ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre is 200€ regardless of arrival date.
The participation fee includes administration and training cost as well as the cost of the annual subscription to ARCHELON, an exclusive “volunteer” T-shirt and a turtle biology booklet (both received upon arrival), the accommodation (except the project of Rethymno and Koroni) and the insurance of the volunteers in case of an accident (covers up to a limit).
The volunteers cover their own personal, travel and food costs. Since they live in a communal life system, they share the food costs which is between 20€ to 30€ per week.
Applicants must be between 18 to 65 years of age, able to communicate in English (the projects are English speaking) and carry a health insurance policy. The recommended participation period is more than 6 weeks (minimum participation 4 weeks/28 days). Long term participation is highly appreciated.
Please note that there is a greater need for volunteers during the beginning (mid-May to June) and the end (September to mid-October) of the projects
Volunteers are selected on an individual basis. Groups of more than two persons are not accepted for the same project and period of time.
Volunteers are entitled to 3 days off during a 28 day period.
Only formally accepted volunteers will participate in the projects. These include the fill of ARCHELON’s application form, the receipt of an acceptance letter that we send to you once your application form is approved and mainly the confirmation of the participation.
Details about the confirmation are sent with the acceptance letter. Please make sure your participation is confirmed before you arrive at the project. No one is accepted in ARCHELON projects without following the above mentioned procedure.
ARCHELON
57 Solomou Street
GR-10432
Athens,
Greece
Tel: +30 210 5231342
Email: stps@archelon.gr and volunteers@archelon.gr
Website: www.archelon.gr
Location: Zakynthos, Greece
Average cost per day: 15€
Focus: Conservation and Marine Biology
Skills needed: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, see requirements
