The Peloponnese - Koroni

Since 1995, ARCHELON has been conducting a field project in the Koroni area involving the recording and protection of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting activity. The conservation program covers nesting beaches located west of the town of Koroni, where every year an average of 50 loggerhead nests are recorded.

Koroni is a beautiful coastal town in the province of Messinia, located at the southwestern tip of the Greek mainland. It is about 50 km away from Kalamata, the regional capital, and it is one of the major tourist destinations in Messinia. Koroni is famous for the Venetian castle which looms over the city, its unique geographical position, its architecture, and the golden beaches that surround the town.

In your free time, there are plenty of things to discover inside and around the town! In Koroni, you can attend cultural events that take place daily, wander through the quaint cobblestone streets with their unique houses, and explore the breathtakingly beautiful castle. You can also visit the beautiful neighbouring cities (Methoni, Pylos, Gialova), where history and ancient monuments accentuate the natural beauty of the area. Kalamata, which can be reached within an hour’s drive from Koroni, is a major city that has much to offer visitors (e.g. museums, shops, festivals etc). The Polylimnio Waterfalls, on the way to Kalamata, offer something different from Messenia's usual beaches. Visitors are charmed by the scene of green vegetation, waterfalls, and blue-green freshwater lakes, perfect for a relaxing dip.

Volunteers will live in the campground designated by ARCHELON for the duration of their participation in the project. The ARCHELON Research Field Station in Koroni is based at a modern, well-organized camping next to the beach. The site is located at the entrance to the city and just a five-minute walk to the city centre.

Accommodation costs are included in the Participation Fee. Volunteers must be prepared to take part in a communal life, and to live and work in both populated and secluded areas, often as members of small teams and usually under harsh conditions. Although relevant experience is not necessary, the ability to live and co-operate with people of different cultures and backgrounds is essential. Within the campground, there is an area that is used exclusively by the ARCHELON volunteers and contains all the equipment and facilities needed for daily life.

Campground facilities:

• WC
• shower with hot water
• kitchen with basic equipment
• washing machine
• Wi-Fi
• a taverna (restaurant)
• cafeteria
• swimming pool
• sports facilities
• a very warm and friendly atmosphere.

Sea turtles come into the bay to nest in early May, together with the first tourists. The first team will be expected to kick off the project and the ARCHELON Field Station on the 2nd of June. Monitoring, nest protection and public awareness activity will get busier every day up to mid-June.

From mid-June to about mid-August, everything escalates: final number of nests is reached, numbers of visitors on the beaches go up fast and reach their peak, and first hatchlings are out. Volunteer numbers need to be reinforced for this very busy period.

From mid-August to end of September hundreds of hatchlings reach to the sea with the help of volunteers and this an excellent time for public awareness and conservation work combined. The Field Station and the project are closed on 25th of September.

Participation is arranged in full weeks, each to be calculated as 7 days from the date of taking up duties (e.g. if starting on a Tuesday, last day of duties will be Monday). The arrival date to the project site is the day before taking up duties. The departure day from the project site is one day after the last day of duties.

Once approved, successful applicants will need to pay their volunteer participation fee depending on the dates of participation, as shown in the Overview Table. Fees are applied as shown in the Overview Table of Participation fees.

Volunteer participation fees cover the cost of accommodation, administration, training and accident insurance coverage (up to a limit) as well as the annual subscription to ARCHELON.

The participation fee is paid once (in a single payment i.e. no partial payments are accepted) and proof of payment needs to be sent to ARCHELON before the volunteer status is confirmed.

Please note

• Greek speakers are welcome and a specific number of them will be accepted with a reduced volunteer participation fee under the same rules & cancelation policy, see link.
• You will need to be in the project one day before your first day of participation and you can stay one day after the last day of participation in the project.
• The time of arrival needs to be sent by e-mail to the Volunteers Officer at least 5 working days before a volunteer arrives to take up duties.
• Each volunteer gets an exclusive ARCHELON “volunteer” T-shirt upon arrival.
• ARCHELON is not in a position to offer financial assistance. Volunteers are expected to cover their travel and personal costs along with their food expenses.
• Because of the communal lifestyle, volunteers usually share living expenses, estimated at around €25-€30 per week. Anyone who does not wish to participate in the communal arrangement can estimate their expenses at about €15 per day.
• In case of an internship, after submitting your on-line application, please inform the Volunteers Officer (volunteers@archelon.gr) of the requirements of the University well in advance and preferably before the end of February. Please also note that no scientific data from this project can be used for any report you may have to write.