Four ARCHELON volunteers climbed the famous volcano El Teide and raised funds for ARCHELON. How did that happen?
It all started when “our” Megan McFarlane found out that The Fair Earth Foundation, a registered UK charity, runs in the first week of every month a special challenge to climb Mt Teide. Well, she, together with Sam Finlayson and Lucie Grosjean climbed El Teide last month and made a different type of contribution to ARCHELON in 2020, one that is worth a special mention!
Megan informed us two weeks ago that via their participation in the Teide Challenge last October, over £5,000 was raised by people and organisations supporting the Fair Earth Foundation, and a part of it will reach ARCHELON as a donation. “We are honoured and touched. Your donations are really important!” said Daphne Mavrogiorgos, ARCHELON’s Director.
“I never had any doubt that I would be putting ARCHELON forward for this, as I knew that you have struggled to carry on your work during the pandemic, especially as all public awareness opportunities and events were unable to occur throughout the season and beyond”, Megan replied.
When asked to describe her experience, Megan said: “Climbing El Teide was the ultimate combination of determination and teamwork. There were difficult parts but also funny moments, and as a team we pushed through, supporting one another and taking in the beautiful starry sky on all our breaks. It is a gruelling 7 hours but is definitely worth the challenge and the sunrise at the top made it all worthwhile. It’s almost as if you’re on Mars!”.
There is more to this story. Eve Pillmore, another one of “us” from the nesting beach projects and the Rescue Centre, has just returned from the November climb on El Teide! She also nominated ARCHELON for her fundraising. And in one word, she found the experience “inspiring”!
We thank all four of them for making this type of donation to ARCHELON possible. You can do that too, with the Teide Challenge. Get to fundraise £250 through the dedicated JustGiving team page, and you will get your flights to Tenerife South Airport. Fair Earth Foundation will take care of everything else to get you to the top of Teide so you can wave the ARCHELON flag!
ARCHELON’s volunteering projects for 2021
Sea turtles that unite the Mediterranean
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.