Public Awareness
The threats sea turtles face are part of the broader environmental problems affecting marine ecosystems. Raising awareness and educating the public are essential to finding and implementing appropriate solutions to address these issues, both on land and at sea. Through ARCHELON's various awareness activities, about 100,000 people are informed each year about sea turtles and how to protect them.
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Every day, at ARCHELON's Rescue Centre in Glyfada, Attica, the public is informed about the rescue, rehabilitation, and protection of sea turtles through guided tours conducted by trained staff and volunteers, following a specially designed route within the facilities. Approximately 10,000 visitors from all over the world each year meet the rescued turtles up close and learn their stories. Learn more about the Rescue Centre and book a Sea Turtle Rescue Tour HERE.
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Seven (7) outdoor Information Stations operate every summer (June - September) in Zakynthos (Zakynthos town), Crete (Chania Harbor, Rethymno Harbor, Matala), and the Peloponnese (Kalo Nero in Messinia, Koroni in Messinia, Mavrovouni Beach in Lakonia). These are the places where you can meet our volunteers, ask for information about the biology of turtles, learn about the appropriate behavior on the nesting beaches, and support ARCHELON with a donation, for which you will receive an information - awareness souvenir.
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Just a short distance from the most important nesting habitat for loggerheads in the Mediterranean, the Agiannakis Environmental Station (at the old Agiannakis Messinia railway station) operates every summer (June - September). Learn more about the opening hours of the environmental exhibition with a message at [westpelop@archelon.gr].
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Every summer (June - September), near the most important nesting beaches, ARCHELON volunteers organize informative presentations or other educational activities in cooperation with hotels and boats that adhere to turtle protection measures.
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Informative walks on the nesting beaches of Rethymno, Chania, Koroni, Lakonikos, and Kyparissia Bay are organized every summer (June - September) for groups of friends or families to observe the conservation activities applied by trained volunteers. Learn more and book a Sea Turtle Beach Walk HERE.
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At the end of the breeding season (August - September), ARCHELON volunteers carry out public nest excavations on the nesting beaches (Zakynthos, Peloponnese, Crete) to record the hatching success of each nest and raise public awareness. For the public excavation schedules follow our announcements on the ARCHELON website or social media.
Environmental Education
Since 1985, ARCHELON has been conducting a multifaceted educational program throughout Greece with presentations for students and with the distribution of portable educational packages to schools. Today, the Loggerhead has become one of the most famous wild animals of our country and a symbol for threatened wildlife in Greece. The aim of all the educational activities is to explain the basic functions of nature, as well as the position of man within it, using the example of the turtle and working with the common assumption that "we all share the same earth".
The Environmental Education program at the Rescue Centre in Glyfada, Attica is attended, either in person or online, by approximately 10,000 students and teachers every year. The program is conducted by trained staff and volunteers of the Association. Reservation required HERE.
ARCHELON field researchers organize educational presentations for students at the Kyparissia Bay area (Agiannakis Environmental Station). To schedule a school visit there (in May, June or September) contact (+30) 6932285817 or westpelop@archelon.gr.
