Project Life
Volunteer with Turtles in Greece

All volunteers participate in all aspects of the project work. Volunteers are expected to cover 2-3 shifts per day, averaging about 6-8 hours of work (depending on the duration of the beach work).

These shifts include:

I. NEST MANAGEMENT AND HABITAT PROTECTION

• Morning Survey conducted daily at dawn, to assess the previous night’s turtle activities, as well as factors that may have an impact on the nests’ safe incubation (inundation, human impact, etc.) or the coastal zone (beach cleaning, constructions, destruction of dunes).
• Nest Protection against predation, achieved through screening. Meanwhile nests laid in unsafe areas are relocated further up the beach.
• Excavation of a sample of hatched nests is carried out in order to determine hatchling success.

II. PUBLIC AWARENESS

Volunteers interact with tourists and members of the local community through participation in:

• The operation of information stations that operate daily along the Mavrovouni beach.
• Slide Shows on sea turtle biology and conservation conducted in tourist businesses around the area

III. OTHER DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES

These supportive activities are of great importance and play a key role in effective project operation.

Campsites and information stations are maintained in good condition by volunteers. Cooking is also considered part of the daily chores. Basic maintenance of equipment is also volunteer based and includes activities such as painting, preparing materials for the protection of nests, etc. Artistic skills including drawing and photography are also utilised if possible.

Leisure time is available during the day, while project participants are entitled to one day off per week. Days off may be provided any day of the week, not only during the week-ends.