Research and environmental education work on Loggerhead Turtles in the Mediterranean
Program Overview
Based in the beautiful Bay of Lakonikos in the southern Peloponnese, you will live and work with a team of international volunteers to conserve and protect one of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting areas in Greece.
The team will engage in daily morning surveys to record nesting activity and protect turtle nests against predation by mammals and inundation by sea water. Volunteers will also provide important conservation information to overseas visitors and the local community.
GVI’s work in conjunction with our local partner provides you with all the necessary training and opportunities exist for you to explore the fascinating Greek culture and sights of the surrounding local area in your free time.
Life on the Program
The work is varied as all volunteers will rotate around the different roles; turtle patrol, camp duty, bamboo harvesting (used to protect the nests) and an environmental education program for the locals and tourists. The days are long, it is hot and you will have to walk long distances (at least 5km) during surveys.
You will be living in tents right next to the beach and the campsite has a number of facilities, including a mini-market, a self-service restaurant and telephone. In between shifts you will have plenty of time to relax in camp or enjoy the beach. You will also have one day off a week which varies depending on the schedule.
Program Details
GVI works in collaboration with a Greek organisation that has been conducting research in this area since 1983, making it one of the oldest conservation projects in the Mediterranean.
Key volunteer tasks may include:
- Patrolling the beach to locate new tracks and nests
- Recording data and measurements
- Installing protective nest grids
- Nest relocation (if required)
- Nest excavation (from August onwards)
- Bamboo harvesting - assembling nest grids
- Manning beach kiosk - educating public about the project
- Public awareness presentations - conducted at campsites/hotels in the local area
Data collected not only contributes to coastal management plans in Greece but also towards the international strategy for the conservation of sea turtles.
Volunteer Testimonials
It is hard not to regurgitate all that has been said before – ‘how the time has gone’, ‘the amazing people’, ‘combining a beach holiday with volunteer work’. All these things are true. The one thing that will stay with me is the work with the hatchlings; watching them power down the beach, watching as they get battered by the waves but always manage to overcome them and of course the times I had the privilege to hold these tiny hatchlings. So thank you to everyone who has made this time one I will never forget.
They say ‘times flies when you’re having fun’ and that’s exactly what I’ve had in Greece on the turtle project due to the perfect combination of people, turtles and relaxation. I also hope this will not be my last-time in a place where I can walk down the beach at 06.30am and watch hatchlings leave their nest and head towards the sea just as the sun comes up. Something I will never forget. Best wishes to all future volunteers.
Program Details
Build Your Program
What's Included
- Pre-departure support and discounted services
- 24-hour emergency phone
- Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
- Arrival orientation
- Long term experienced staff
- Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
- All meals (unless otherwise stated in field manuals)
- Welcome meeting
- Location orientation
- All necessary project training by experienced staff
- All necessary project equipment and materials
- 24-hour in-country support
- Lunch
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Medical and travel insurance
- Visa costs
- Personal kit
- Additional drinks and gratuities
- Extra local excursions
- International and domestic airport taxes
- Airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
