The Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), is one of the three species of sea turtle that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and the only one that nests in Greece.

Project

Volunteer work with sea turtles in Greece. The sea turtle project is an organization founded in 1994 with the aim to protect sea turtles and their habitats in Greece, as well as to raise awareness among the public about the dangers they face and lobby for the implementation of the measures needed for their protection in a short and long-term basis.

Each project has a coordinator who is assisted by seasonal personnel (field leaders). Field leaders and other experienced members of the project are responsible for allocating duties, training and supervising volunteers. The Official language of communication on the project site is English. Knowledge of other languages like German can also prove to be very useful for public awareness purposes.

The project is situated on different areas:

In Athens: Athens is the capital of Greece and is situated on the eastern part of the mainland. It’s also known as the city of antiquity.

On the island of Zakynthos: Zakynthos is the most southern and third largest in both size and population of the Ionian Islands.

In the Peloponnesus: The Peloponnesus is the most southern part of the mainland of Greece. Originally it was an island.

On the island of Crete: Crete is the largest and most famous Greek island, which separates the Aegean sea from the Libyan sea and forms the border between Europe and Africa.

You will be responsible for arranging your own transport to the project. Further details on travel information to the project can be found in the extensive information folder.

On arrival you will get an introduction. The work depends on where you will be placed by the project. If you would like to help in the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre in Athens (all year round), for example your tasks may be:

  • Sea turtle Rehabilitation:  duties include the preparation and administration of food (usually fish) to the turtles, daily treatment of the animals as determined by the vets (administering medication, cleaning wounds), cleaning/disinfection of the rehabilitation tanks as well as taking biometric data and making behavior observations. This is one of the main daily activities within the Rescue Centre, since at any given time there is an average of 20 to 25 turtles under treatment. Please note that this is a highly physical demanding task
  • Public Awareness:  activities include providing information to visitors of the Rescue Centre, conducting presentations/tours to organized groups and assisting in public events to promote the Rescue Centre (e.g. publicized sea turtle releases, participation in exhibitions, etc.).
  • Maintenance:  activities include basic maintenance duties like cleaning the facilities and equipment.
  • Data entry:  Volunteers may be asked to assist by carrying out data entry on the computer.

If you would like to help in seasonal fieldwork (Crete, Zakynthos or Peloponnesos), the activities vary depending on the location and the season (i.e. nesting season: mid-May through mid-August and hatching season: mid-July through late September), and may include the following:

  • ‘Patrolling’ the beaches every day (Morning observation), during which loggerhead reproductive activity is recorded.
  • ‘Patrolling’ the beaches every night (Night observation), including measuring and tagging the nesting females.
  • Protecting the nests in situ (with ‘fencing’) from both human activity and/or predation by mammals, and relocation of nests, when necessary.
  • Constructing special ‘shading’ structures to guide hatchlings to the sea in areas where artificial light (from roads, shops, etc) may disorient the hatchlings when they emerge from the nest.
  • Excavating nests after the hatchlings have emerged, in order to estimate the hatching success.
  • Increasing public awareness of both tourists and local residents by operating a seasonal information station in Kalo Nero village, manning information tables, and organizing presentations at tourist facilities.
  • “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. Artistic skills such as drawing and photography can also be quite useful.
  • Following the protocol for dealing with injured or dead sea turtles, if necessary.

You will work 7 days a week (about 6-8 hours a day, please be flexibel) and time off is arranged in half or full days off and is granted according to the needs of the project. The general rule is one day off for approximately every ten days of participation and days off cannot be taken in a row. Volunteers of the rescue centre will normally get one day off each week.

In Athens, accommodation will be offered in a nice apartment not far from the reception center. There is a bathroom and kitchen available, which you will share with other volunteers. For fieldwork projects you will stay on campsites, reserved for the project volunteers only, with outdoor very basic sanitary and cooking facilities, which you will share with other volunteers. It is absolutely necessary to bring along your own camping gear like sleeping bag and tent. Family volunteering, contact info@globalspirit.nl for the accommodation options.  

As a volunteer you must meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum age for participation is 18 and for some projects also participants with children (8 jaar – 18 years old) are welcome (family volunteering)
  • Volunteers must be able to communicate in English
  • Volunteers must be in very good health and in good physical shape due to the projects’ physically-demanding tasks and living conditions
  • Long term participation is highly appreciated with a minmum of 5 weeks
  • Able to work in a team

The period and duration differs per project location:

  • Volunteers are welcome in Athens all year around with a minimum stay of 5 weeks
  • Volunteers are welcome on the island of Zakynthos, Crete and on Peloponnesus: from half May – half October 2022
  • You are free to choose your own arrival date
  • Family volunteering (with children from 8 – 18 years old) June to September. Unfortynately, this short-term participation project is not running in 2022
  • Minimum stay of 5 weeks (excluding day of arrival and departure)
  • Volunteering with children minimum stay of 3 days and maximum 1 week

Rehabilitation Centre in Athens participation of 5 weeks or longer:

Period: Jan-Dec Price per person
5 weeks € 655,-
6 weeks € 730,-
7 weeks € 785,-
8 weeks € 840,-
9 weeks € 895,-
10 weeks € 930,-
11 – 13 weeks € 950,- + € 20,- per week
From 14 weeks onwards On request via info@globalspirit.nl
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Costs include:

  • Information and assistence before deparure
  • If desired, estimate of flight options / travel possibilities (the most convenient flights options at a glance)
  • Accommodation
  • Training and support
  • Volunteer T-shirt (received upon arrival)
  • Donation tot he project
  • Program- and administration cost
  • And, of course a very memorable experience!

Prices are valid for the said periods in the year 2022.

Fieldwork project on Zakynthos, Crete or Peloponnese for participation of 5 weeks or longer:

Period: 10 May-15 June Price per person
5 weeks € 535,-
6 weeks € 570,-
7 weeks € 605,-
8 weeks € 635,-
9 weeks € 660,-
10 -11 weeks € 685,- + € 25,- per week
12 weeks € 735,-
From 13 weeks onwards € 770,- + € 35,- per week
Period: 16 June-20 August Price per person
5 weeks € 595,-
6 weeks € 630,-
7 weeks € 665,-
8 weeks € 695,-
9 weeks € 720,-
10 -11 weeks € 745,- + € 25,- per week
12 weeks € 795,-
From 13 weeks onwards € 830,- + € 35,- per week
Period: 21 August-15 October Price per person
5 weeks € 535,-
6 weeks € 570,-
7 weeks € 605,-
8 weeks € 635,-
Costs include:

  • Information and assistence before deparure
  • If desired, estimate of flight options / travel possibilities (the most convenient flights options at a glance)
  • Accommodation (volunteers have to bring their own camp gear)
  • Training and support
  • Volunteer T-shirt (received upon arrival)
  • Donation to the project
  • Program and administration costs
  • And, of course a very memorable experience!

Prices are valid for the said periods in the year 2022.

Internship volunteers fieldwork project on Zakynthos, Crete or Peloponnese for participation of 5 weeks or longer:

Period: 10 May-15 October Price per person
5 weeks € 595,-
6 weeks € 630,-
7 weeks € 665,-
8 weeks € 700,-
9 weeks € 735,-
10 -11 weeks € 770,- + € 35,- per week
12 weeks € 840,-
From 13 weeks onwards € 875,- + € 35,- per week
Costs include:

  • Information and assistence before deparure
  • If desired, estimate of flight options / travel possibilities (the most convenient flights options at a glance)
  • Accommodation (volunteers have to bring their own camp gear)
  • Training and support
  • Volunteer T-shirt (received upon arrival)
  • Donation to the project
  • Program and administration costs
  • And, of course a very memorable experience!

Prices are valid for the said periods in the year 2022.

Family participation; parent (s) / caregiver (s) with child (ren) 8–18 years old.

Fieldwork projects on Peloponnesus or Crete (June-September):

Period 1 parent with
1 child (8-18 years)
2 parents with
1 child (8-18 years)
extra child
(8-18 years)
3-7 days € 190,- € 240,- € 30,-
Extra week € 45,- € 75,- € 15,-
Costs include:

  • Information and assistence before deparure
  • If desired, estimate of flight options / travel possibilities (the most convenient flights options at a glance)
  • Training and support
  • Volunteer T-shirt (received upon arrival)
  • Donation to the project
  • Program and administration costs
  • And, of course a very memorable experience!

Prices are valid for the said periods in the year 2021.

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