ARCHELON volunteers and sea turtles in Crete star in a new film by EyeQ Productions
Have you ever wondered what is going on in one of ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Protection Projects? Get a taste of the volunteering actions in the new video filmed on the beach of Rethymno...
Every year, from May to October, i.e. during the sea turtle nesting season, volunteers from all over the world arrive in Zakynthos, Peloponnese and Crete, Greece. Determined to offer a part of their summer to the sea turtles, they camp at the organized Research Stations that ARCHELON operates in these areas.
The film "Volunteers protecting sea turtles in Greece" was created in collaboration with EyeQ Productions based in Heraklion, Crete. The production team met Lydia Koutrouditsou, ARCHELON’s Project Manager for Crete, who welcomed them to the Rethymno project.
"We chose to live with ARCHELON volunteers in Rethymno and record their daily life. We wanted to understand why so many people from all over the world choose to spend their summer protecting sea turtles. Our experience there, the smiles and stories of the volunteers as well as the little turtles we saw running towards the sea, was our answer!", says director Vangelis Kalaitzis from EYEQ, who took over the mini doc.
"We collected a large amount of material of great interest, which could become a longer documentary. But we had to make a shorter film that still captures the energy and the work that happens there", he adds.
The film was shot in Rethymno, but the work and the lives of the volunteers are similar in all the sea turtle protection projects that ARCHELON has been organizing for almost 40 years.
"At the end of the projects on the nesting beaches every year, we ask the opinion of all the volunteers on various issues related to their experience, through a questionnaire", says Fryni Papanikolaou, ARCHELON’s Volunteers Officer. "In the summer of 2022, however, we had the opportunity to capture their views and experiences at the Rethymno project through this short film", she continues.
If you are wondering what your participation in one of the projects could be like, you can watch the short film on ARCHELON’s YouTube channel and... apply here.
ARCHELON shared a message for a better and more sustainable planet in Zakynthos
Open Call for Field Leaders: If you can dream it, you can do it!
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS02/07/2025
Citizen Science: Recording of Sporadic Nesting of Sea turtles across the Aegean
For over four decades, many people have been reporting turtle sightings and tracks across the Greek coastline. Thanks to them, we have confirmed 577 unique nesting events outside our regularly monitored areas
- OUR NEWS01/07/2025
Satellite Tagging Completed and Captured on Film in Crete
ARCHELON has just successfully completed the 2025 deployment of satellite transmitters on Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Crete, as part of the ongoing LIFE MareNatura Project. This year’s work in Crete was extra special: the LIFE MareNatura Documentary team joined us in the field!
- OUR NEWS23/06/2025
Enjoy the Beaches Responsibly: Together We Protect the Sea Turtles of Kyparissia Bay!
So far, more than 2,000 nests have been recorded in the area. In order to best manage the protected beaches, we have adapted our field work protocols.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2025
World Sea Turtle Day: We can all live together!
Today, June 16th, we celebrate World Sea Turtle Day. On this occasion, ARCHELON expresses its warmest thanks to all citizens, volunteers, donors and supporters who actively contribute to our work.
- OUR NEWS10/06/2025
New Adaptation Strategies for Sea Turtles and Mediterranean Monk Seals
Institutions, associations and researchers will work for 5 years alongside the coastal communities to evaluate and respond to the effects of rising sea levels and ocean warming. These are to be developed through the ‘LIDE ADAPTS’ project which is being carried out in Italy, Greece and Cyprus.
- OUR NEWS08/06/2025
World Oceans Day: Conservation and Anthropogenic “Wounds” in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos
On the occasion of World Oceans Day, ARCHELON brings to the fore the challenges facing Laganas Bay, Zakynthos - one of the most important refuges of the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean.
- OUR NEWS06/06/2025
Sekania: History of the most precious refuge for the Loggerhead in Zakynthos
Sekania, a secluded 600-meter-long beach in Zakynthos, is a global model of success in biodiversity conservation, with more than 24,000 sea turtle nests recorded over the last 40 years.
- OUR NEWS05/06/2025
World Environment Day: Keeping Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Safe from Plastics and Bulldozers
On June 5th, we celebrate World Environment Day, a day established by the United Nations in 1972. This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution, and ARCHELON is calling for action on the sea turtle nesting beaches.
- OUR NEWS02/06/2025
Sea Turtles Return to Crete: A Shared Victory for Nature and Sustainable Travel
ARCHELON volunteers have just located the first sea turtle nests of the season on the beaches of Rethymno, Messara, and Chania. Now the challenge to prove that tourism destinations on Crete can make a significant move towards sustainability is on again.
- OUR NEWS29/05/2025
Amvrakikos Project 2025: Special Call for a Field Leader
ARCHELON is looking for a highly motivated person to lead its project in Amvrakikos Gulf, one of the few foraging sites for loggerhead turtles in Greece linking several populations nesting across the Mediterranean region.
- OUR NEWS22/05/2025
Sea turtle nesting has begun in Greece: learn what to look out for!
The first nests for 2025 have already been located and protected at Laganas beach in Zakynthos, Elaia beach in Kyparissia Bay and Pachia Ammos beach in Messara Bay in Crete!
- OUR NEWS16/05/2025
Advancing sea turtle photo-ID research with artificial intelligence
Sea turtle facial scales remain stable throughout a turtle’s life allowing researchers to recognise individuals from photos, often taken over decades!
- OUR NEWS15/05/2025
Kyparissia Bay: Balancing Nature and Tourism
Αs the popularity of the protected area increases and pressures from tourism and climate change intensify, the question that arises is: How many people can this beach “bear” without degrading the environment?
- OUR NEWS07/05/2025
Discover the secret nature of Crete: Sea Turtle Beach Walk with ARCHELON
Live a unique ecotourism experience in Crete by participating in ARCHELON Sea Turtle Beach Walks on the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead, starting on May 15th in Chania and Rethymno. Now open for reservations on our website!
- OUR NEWS24/04/2025
Are You Over 50? The Sea Turtles Need You!
If you’re 50 or older and ready to dive into a unique conservation experience, we warmly invite you to join us. Help protect sea turtles, meet like-minded people, and discover the natural beauty of Greece with ARCHELON by your side.