Overview
Overview
Since 1983, ARCHELON has been conducting annual summer field projects in the area, aiming to record data relating to the turtles’ nesting activity as well as protecting the nests. The bay of Laganas, in the south part of the island, is an area of outstanding natural beauty with crystal blue waters, sandy beaches and wooded hills. There are 6 nesting beaches in the bay, with total length of 5,5 km, where the largest breeding population of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean lays an average of 1200 nests laid every year.
The National Marine Park of Zakynthos was established in 1999, following a persistent campaign initiated by ARCHELON and supported by several organizations. Within the Park, Sekania- the beach with the highest density of sea turtle nests- is designated as strict nature reserve. The sea turtle nesting beaches of Marathonissi, Kalamaki (from east of Laganas to Chrystal), Dafni and Gerakas, are designated as nature protection sites. The marine area of Laganas Bay is designated as a nature protection area where specific regulations for the protection of the sea turtle population are in force.
Duties
From early May to mid-October every year, volunteers of all ages and backgrounds from all over the world participate in ARCHELON’s sea turtle conservation program in Zakynthos. Since 2000 monitoring of nesting activity is carried out in collaboration with the Park’s Management Body.
Activities occur in all beaches and vary depending on the season (i.e. nesting season: mid-May through mid-August and hatching season: mid-July through late September), and include the following:
- Monitoring of nesting activity ( morning and night surveys) Protecting the nests in situ (with ‘fencing’) from human activity and relocation of nests, when necessary.
- Excavating nests after the hatchlings have emerged, in order to estimate the hatching success.
- Data collection on threats and the implementation of protection measures.
- Increasing public awareness of both tourists and local residents by operating seasonal information stations, manning information tables, and organizing presentations at tourist facilities and tourist boats.
- “Patrolling” the beaches during the day to raise bathers’ awareness of the importance of the nesting beaches.
- Driving, maintaining equipment, maintaining the camp and its facilities (i.e. cleaning, etc.) and various jobs such as painting and carpentry.
- Following the protocol for dealing with injured or dead sea turtles, if necessary.
Free time
During your free time there are plenty of things you can do on the island: spend time in the town of Zakynthos enjoying the spacy squares, the coffee shops, and the delicious food, majestic churches and museums.
You can also make excursions to beautiful natural monuments as the caves of Keri, explore the giant olive trees and visit the beautiful Monastery of Anafonitria. Or you can just swim and enjoy the blue sea in numerous places.
Accommodation
Volunteers will live in the campground designated by ARCHELON for the duration of their participation in the Project. The ARCHELON field research station is based in a private camp ground in Kalitero near the town of Zakynthos.
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.
Campground facilities:
- WC
- shower
- kitchen with basic equipment
- a very warm and friendly atmosphere
Dates , participation fee and other costs
Sea turtles come into the bay to nest in early May, together with the first tourists visiting these beautiful beaches. The first team will be expected to kick off the project and the ARCHELON Field Station on the 8th of May. 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, first hatchlings are out. Higher numbers of volunteers are required for most of this busy period.
From mid-August to October, thousands 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 by the last team in the mid of October.
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 the 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.
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
- 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 Volunteer coordinator 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.
VOLUNTEER TESTIMONIALS
Finbar May
It has been a pleasure to volunteer with ARCHELON again over the last 4 weeks on the nesting beaches of Zakynthos. I have developed my skills in time management, leadership, communication and teamwork through a wide range of tasks such as cooking, public awareness shifts, morning surveys, bamboo cutting, base camp cleaning and base camp fix. I have met amazing and determined people from all over the world. Living in a campsite means we all live together 24/7, which results in really strong friendship bonds forming throughout the camp.
Alex Santerne
Just a year ago, I started an incredible adventure for 1 month for ARCHELON in the island of Zakynthos, Greece. My mission was to protect and monitor loggerhead sea turtles, a species that finds refuge on these coasts to lay its eggs. During these 4 weeks, I had the chance to work with a passionate team, working day and night to preserve this fragile ecosystem.
This experience not only taught me the importance of protecting endangered species, but it also allowed me to develop skills in environmental project management and intercultural collaboration.
