Poster contest for children and young adults: Welcome the 2024 turtle hatchlings on the beaches!
June on the beautiful beaches of Laganas Bay of Zakynthos, Kyparissia Bay, Lakonikos Bay, Koroni, Rethymno, Chania and Messara Bay… Female loggerhead turtles come out of the sea at night and leave their precious eggs in the nests they make in the warm sand of the beach. In the mornings it is our turn to visit the beach for swimming and cooling off by the water. But we have to be careful...
In a few weeks the baby turtles will break their egg shells, emerge from their nests in the sand and begin their journey to the sea, which will be their home for the rest of their lives. If we come across nests or turtle hatchlings on the beach, there are some rules to follow:
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Respect the turtle nests that are protected by cages and carry the special ARCHELON signs.
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Do not litter the beaches. Keep them clean so that sea turtles don't ingest our plastic packaging.
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Close and remove umbrellas, sunbeds and any other furniture from the beach after sunset.
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Turn off the lights towards the beach so that the turtles don't lose their way.
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Do not touch or carry the hatchlings. They need to get to the sea by themselves.
Help us spread the message about sea turtle protection by making an Informational Poster of your own inspiration! Use colors, paints, collage or your computer and of course lots of creativity and imagination to make a poster that will inform how hatchlings can be protected.
Send a good photo of your poster at info@archelon.gr, along with your name, address, phone number and year of birth to participate in the competition! The competition is for children and young people. The most popular posters will be used by ARCHELON to inform visitors on the nesting beaches and their creators will win special prizes.

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RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS20/07/2026
43 Years of Tagging Sea Turtles in Greece Reveal Their Journeys in the Mediterranean
A new scientific publication highlights the important marine areas turtles use in the Mediterranean, through ARCHELON’s tagging program in Zakynthos, Kyparissia Bay and Rethymno.
- OUR NEWS17/07/2026
The first hatchlings of 2026 in Zakynthos!
The first nest hatched on Dafni beach in Laganas Bay in Zakynthos. Our team discovered the tiny tracks in the early hours of Tuesday, July 14th.
- OUR NEWS15/07/2026
A rare giant of the Greek seas: What our new study reveals about the Leatherback turtle
A new scientific publication brings together for the first time all available records of the Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Greek waters.
- OUR NEWS10/07/2026
Raising awareness for the sea turtles in Corfu
To mark the launch of the project, ARCHELON carried out a series of outreach activities across Corfu, bringing local communities and visitors closer to sea turtle conservation.
- OUR NEWS08/07/2026
Protecting loggerhead sea turtles contributes to maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.
Sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. As part of marine food webs, they contribute to the balance and functioning of coastal and marine habitats.
- OUR NEWS05/07/2026
Is the Zakynthos National Marine Park Truly Protected?
Two cases of environmental law violations in Zakynthos that went unpunished.
- OUR NEWS29/06/2026
New Sea Turtle Protection Project in Corfu
ARCHELON partners with the Ionian Environment Foundation and the Mar-Bella Collection Hotel Group to Protect the Nesting Beaches of Corfu
- OUR NEWS26/06/2026
ARCHELON & TUI Turtle Aid Greece: 3 successful years in Crete
With the completion of the “TUI Turtle Aid Greece” project, ARCHELON presents impressive results in nest protection, the hotel employees training and raising awareness among 66,000 tourists.
- OUR NEWS24/06/2026
Effective turtle conservation begins with safeguarding the nesting beaches
Field surveys were carried out over two consecutive nesting seasons (2024–2025), assessing 167 nesting beaches across Greece, covering 270 km of coastline.
- OUR NEWS22/06/2026
ARCHELON expresses its sorrow at the loss of Mona Khalil
- OUR NEWS19/06/2026
The world of marine megafauna: New Photo Exhibition at Agiannakis Environmental Station
The Exhibition is part of the LIFE MareNatura Project and is open to the public every Saturday 18:00 - 21:00.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2026
New data reveals that sea turtles follow much more complex migration strategies
World Sea Turtle Day is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, but also to remember why we continue to research and protect these ancient ocean travellers.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2026
Coordinated action in Greece, Cyprus and Italy to protect sea turtles against the climate crisis
Today, June 16, the world celebrates World Sea Turtle Day. In the Mediterranean, this celebration comes at a critical turning point.
- OUR NEWS15/06/2026
Turtle Festival: Diving into Deep Waters at ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Rescue Centre!
On the occasion of World Sea Turtle Day (June 16), last Saturday the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre opened its doors to the public for this year’s Turtle Festival, themed “Into Deep Waters.”
- OUR NEWS09/06/2026
Celebrating World Environment Day with Sea Turtles in Rethymno
Last Friday, ARCHELON's team in Rethymno took part in a special awareness-raising event, co-organized by the Municipality and the 2nd Experimental Primary School of Rethymno.


