Environmental education actions have made the Loggerhead sea turtle one of the most well-known and beloved wild animals in Greece. The ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada is a pole of attraction for pupils, students and teachers from the Region of Attica, who get to meet up close with one of the most emblematic marine animals.

"There is a great response from teachers and students. All the available visiting hours until the end of the 2022-2023 school year have been booked, but a waiting list is maintained, which is activated in case of cancellations", says Anna Kontoleon, ARCHELON’s Education Officer. "More hours for online tours are likely to be added in May, if volunteers become available. This additional possibility will be activated on the basis of the waiting list", she adds.

If you are wondering how many students and teachers participate in the environmental education programs of ARCHELON, we have the answer in the chart below, which depicts the last 6 school years. As can be seen there, school visits at the Rescue Centre did not stop during the pandemic. They were adapted into an online environment, which allowed schools from all over Greece to participate in live online tours. The warm response to this program convinced us to continue the live online tours in the year 2021-2022, while, after the lifting of the restrictive measures of the pandemic, we were also able to welcome back visits from schools. The total number of participants in the Environmental Education activities at the Rescue Centre reached 10,000 students and teachers in 2021-2022 and the attendance was very close to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

"The percentage of students who participated in online tours represents 44% of the total attendance" says Anna. “Students from elementary schools were the majority, while we didn’t lack in participation of both preschool and high-school students", she adds explaining the following chart.

The stories of the injured sea turtles that are treated at the Centre help children learn about human activities that threaten the health of marine ecosystems, while witnessing their impact on wildlife. The unique experience of coming in "contact" with the turtles, helps students understand the value of protecting the marine environment as well as practical ways in which everyone can help. All educational activities are carried out under the guidance of experienced members of ARCHELON.

If you are a parent or a guardian, find out how you can schedule a visit to the Rescue Centre on weekdays and weekends (except holidays) here.