Greece – Mediterranean Sea Turtle Conservation

Come experience the beautiful Mediterranean country of Greece. Explore the deep history of the land which founded democracy, Western philosophy, Western literature, political science, the Olympic Games, and major mathematical and scientific principles. Greece’s ancient history has earned it 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, all waiting to be explored.

Your specific duties as a volunteer will vary from month to month throughout the season.

May/June: The work focuses on identifying new nests, and protecting them from any environmental hazards. Specifically, your work may include:

• Early morning beach walks to identify any overnight nesting
• Marking new nests
• Moving nests if they lie below the high tide line
• Building a protective barrier around the nests
• Building a runway for turtles to follow to the water so they don’t get lost when they hatch

July/August: This is hatching season so the work involves monitoring and recording the hatchlings from each nest. Your work may include:

• Early morning beach surveys to monitor which nests hatched
• Counting number of hatchlings (by counting tracks in the sand leading from the nest down to the water)
• Nest excavations to determine the success rate of the nest

September: You may see the end of hatching season, but the focus will be on nest excavations to study the success rate of each nest. Your duties will include:

• Nest excavations continue through the end of hatching season
• Taking down protective bamboo barriers

The volunteer work that is carried out throughout the span of the project is related to environmental education – working the information kiosk for visitors and giving presentations at local campsites or hotels, as well as beach patrols, bamboo harvesting (used to mark and protect the nests), and general maintenance of the site.

Volunteer work is organized on a rotating schedule of 3-4 hour shifts, with evenings and weekends off to spend how you wish.

Please note: it is important to remember that nature is unpredictable, and no matter what month you go, there are no guaranteed turtle sightings. Regardless, your work during any of the months will still be contributing to the safety of the turtles when they do hatch and the success of hatching season.

Internet: WiFi is available intermittently at the campsite. We recommend purchasing a local SIM card.

Laundry: Washing machine and dryer available for small fee. A hand-washing station is available.

Accommodations: Volunteers will be sleeping on very basic mats in shared, two-person same gender tents at a designated area of a public campsite. There are shared bathrooms with running hot and cold water, including flush toilets and showers. There are electricity supply boxes available on the campsite, but not in each individual tent. Valuables can be stored and locked in the campsite office. (Please be sure to bring your own camping mattress or air mattress along).

Food: Ingredients for breakfast, lunch & dinner are provided, and volunteers will take turns to cook for the group.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• Ability to work in a team
• Good physical fitness – can be walking up to 5 km at a time
• Ability to work at early hours of the morning
• Good level of English
• Flexible attitude
• Travel and medical insurance
• Police clearance