Urgent Call for Volunteers: Are you looking for a meaningful adventure? Join in to save sea turtle hatchlings!
ARCHELON is facing an unprecedented rise in sea turtle nesting activity across all key nesting sites in Greece. Preliminary data indicate a significant increase in nest numbers compared to previous years.
For those of you who know us already, here are the numbers: the ARCHELON team on Zakynthos has already recorded over 2,300 loggerhead nests, while the team at Kyparissia Bay has surpassed last year's numbers and located an astonishing 7,500 nests. The Lakonikos team is also experiencing a boom with 900 recorded nests, the team at Rethymno has seen a doubling of previous numbers with 360 nests, and the team at Messara Bay has recorded one of their highest numbers with about 250 nests.
This overwhelming number of sea turtle nests demands an increased effort from our teams. With the hatching season peaking between August 15th and September 30th, we urgently need volunteers to assist with recording the hatching of nests, shading nests against light pollution and conducting nest excavations. In addition, as tourists continue to frequent most of the nesting beaches, we need to keep informing them through public awareness activities such as sea turtle beach walks. To meet these demands, we need to invite additional volunteers in order to inform and engage with the public.
Unfortunately, due to many of this year’s volunteers being students, we are facing a shortage of manpower during August and September. But we are sure that there are many of you out there, in your 20s and older, up to 60+, who could take up the challenge and volunteer for sea turtles in Greece during the next two months. No prior experience is required.
To help you make up your mind, ARCHELON will sponsor up to 50 volunteers, who will receive a discount on a first-come, first-served basis. People committing to a minimum of five weeks will receive a 50% discount on their volunteering fees, while those staying for three to four weeks will be eligible for a 30% discount.
If you are passionate about nature and available to dedicate your time to this important cause, please join us in protecting these amazing marine creatures. Your help is invaluable!
Send in your application right away. We will respond by offering you a placement within 5 working days. Once your participation is confirmed, you will need to finalise your travel arrangements.
Apply here!
The discount does not apply to local residents and Greek speakers.
A Major Leap for Sea Turtle Conservation: Tracking Loggerheads Across the Mediterranean
Help Hatchlings Reach the Sea: Keep Nesting Beaches Dark for Sea Turtles!
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS17/04/2025
Special 2-week volunteering opportunity on the nesting beaches – we need you this May and June!
- OUR NEWS14/04/2025
Groundbreaking Study on Microplastic Pollution of Marine Turtle Nesting Beaches
ARCHELON took part in a recent global study that has uncovered alarming levels of microplastic contamination on marine turtle nesting beaches around the world.
- OUR NEWS09/04/2025
Become a Sea Turtle Guardian in Lakonikos Bay
Gracie and Claire, two dedicated individuals who made a significant impact on the sea turtle project of Lakonikos Bay in 2024, talked about their experience.
- OUR NEWS08/04/2025
Meeting of organizations, authorities and businessmen in Rethymno: Crete is preparing for the arrival of the turtles!
On Monday, April 7, we met for another year in the hospitable city of Rethymno to participate in the meeting organized by the Regional Unit of Rethymno on the topic of management measures for the protection of the loggerhead sea turtle!
- OUR NEWS31/03/2025
150 satellite tags for the protection of sea turtles
Since 2002, ARCHELON and its partners have placed 150 satellite and GSM tags on sea turtles monitoring their vast journeys across the Mediterranean!
- OUR NEWS24/03/2025
Become a Guardian of the Night: Volunteer with ARCHELON
On some select beaches, volunteer duties also include night patrols. During the hours when the presence of people on the nesting beaches is prohibited so as not to disturb the turtles, our trained volunteers start their shift, equipped with measuring instruments, research notebooks and red flashlights.
- OUR NEWS14/03/2025
Enriching the lives of rescued sea turtles
A recent study at ARCHELON's Sea Turtle Rescue Centre highlights the importance of environmental enrichment in improving the physical and psychological well-being of rescued sea turtles, aiding their rehabilitation and preparing them for successful release back into the wild.
- OUR NEWS24/02/2025
ARCHELON's Annual General Assembly
According to article 8 of the Statutes of ARCHELON Association, its’ members were invited to attend the Annual General Assembly on Saturday, 22 February 2025.
- OUR NEWS20/02/2025
From the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre in Egypt!
A sea turtle, previously rehabilitated at the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre, has once again made headlines, this time internationally. The tagged turtle was discovered weak and injured on an Egyptian beach after the recent rough seas. This incident, as reported by the Egyptian news agency, underscores the ongoing need to protect the fragile Mediterranean marine environment.
- OUR NEWS17/02/2025
ARCHELON's turtle toy travels the country with students and teachers
We would like to warmly thank all the schools that participated in the Online Tours during the 2023-2024 school year and spread the message of sea turtle protection to the ends of the country! The online tours for the current school year have already started.
- OUR NEWS12/02/2025
Online Presentation of Results 2024
Last year, 500 volunteers from all over the world came to help turtles in Greece! What did they achieve? Join us to find out!
- OUR NEWS11/02/2025
Historic Green Sea Turtle Nest Discovered on Rhodes Island, Greece
This species is globally endangered and the recent discovery is particularly significant as it suggests a possible shift in green turtle breeding areas.
- OUR NEWS04/02/2025
Joanne's Lifelong Passion: volunteering at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre
Joanne's lifelong passion for sea turtles led her to volunteer at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Greece, where she dedicates her time to educating visitors and contributing to the organization's conservation efforts.
- OUR NEWS02/02/2025
2 years of joint systematic efforts to protect Greece's largest wetland
- OUR NEWS28/01/2025
The ARCHELON Recap for 2024: We kept on fighting for Sea Turtles and the protection of the Oceans
2024 was the year that the recovery of the loggerhead sea turtle breeding population in Kyparissia Bay has been confirmed! This site now hosts the largest breeding population in the Mediterranean, which has been growing steadily in the past years thanks to the consistent long-term nest protection efforts of ARCHELON. It was also the warmest year globally on record when, on the side of our heavy core business workload, we made time to strengthen our commitment to volunteerism and sustainable tourism.