31/07/2024

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.

Two pictures showing sea turtle hatchlings

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.

Two photos of ARCHELON volunteers raising awareness about sea turtles

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.

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