Protecting sea turtle nesting activity - Messara
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About the project
Protecting sea turtle nesting activity - Messara
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
ARCHELON, a nonprofit conservation organization active since 1983, runs a number of volunteer projects for the protection of sea turtles and their habitats in Greece every year. More than 500 international volunteers per year participate in our projects, including about 30 field leaders. Every year we are entering in internship agreements with 70 Universities and other educational establishments from all over the world.
💼 What the programme involves
The area is the third largest loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nesting habitat on the island of Crete, with an average number of 60 sea turtle nests each year.
From early June to late September, volunteers of all ages from all over the world participate in ARCHELON’s sea turtle conservation program in Messara. The activities vary depending on the season (nesting season: mid-May - mid August, hatching season: mid-July - late September):
• ‘Patrolling’ the beaches every day (Morning observation), during which loggerhead reproductive activity is recorded.
• 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 the city of Matala and the nearby villages, manning information tables, and by organizing presentations at tourist facilities and campgrounds of the area,
• ‘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.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will live in the campground designated by ARCHELON for the duration of their participation in the Project. The ARCHELON Southern Crete Research Field Station is based in the municipally owned campground in the village of Matala. The site is located on a sandy cliff close to the historical caves of Matala Bay, and in close proximity to the sea. Supermarkets, a bakery, and cafeterias with Wi-Fi access can easily be reached on foot.
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.
The campground provides the following:
• WC
• Showers (most of the time with warm water)
• Electricity
• Limited shade under the tamarisk trees
• Cooking facilities and equipment
Note: There is no Internet connection available at the campground. However, Wi-Fi Internet access is available in the local shops and cafes. (You need to bring your own laptop or other device.)
🎒 Leisure activities
The area offers many free-time activities to choose from: Explore Matala village, which was a famous hippy area during the 60s and the 70s, swim at the wonderful sandy beaches near the campsite (Matala beach, Red beach, etc) or at the nearby fishing villages (Kommos, Kalamaki, Kokkinos Pyrgos, Agia Galini),hike across the famous gorges and mountains of Crete (Agiofarago gorge), visit the famous hippy caves. You can also rent a car and visit the surrounding areas. The Messara project is ideal for relaxation as it is far away from the large tourist centres, and at the same time you have the chance to enjoy some of the music events (the Matala festival) that take place there throughout the summer.
⚠️ Requirements
- Applicants must be over 18 years old.
- They must be able to communicate fluently in English and must be covered by a personal health insurance policy.
- The minimum period of participation is 5 weeks. Exceptionally, returning volunteers can join their projects for 4 weeks.
- A combination of participation in more than one projects is possible if the duration of stay in the second/ third of them is 4 weeks or longer.
- Applicants must be in very good health and in good physical shape due to the projects' physically-demanding tasks and living conditions.
- Volunteers must bring their own camping gear (e.g. sleeping bag, tent, torch, alarm clock, etc).
ℹ️ Additional information
Participation period: From May to October. These sites together host about 50% of the nests of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in the whole Mediterranean.
Minimum participation is 4 weeks
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 one 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
• Greek speakers are welcome and a specific number of them will be accepted with a reduced volunteer participation fee under the same rules & cancelation policy, see link.
• 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.
• 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.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📷 Project photos
📅 Available sessions
Archelon2025
31/05/2026 at 00:00 → 30/09/2026 at 00:00
Archelon-07-2023
29/05/2023 at 00:00 → 29/09/2023 at 00:00
Archelon-09
31/05/2024 at 00:00 → 30/09/2024 at 00:00
Archelon-09
01/05/2022 → 31/10/2022
Crete - Messara 1
08/05/2021 → 15/06/2021
Crete - Messara 3
16/06/2021 → 20/08/2021
Crete - Messara 3
21/08/2021 → 15/10/2021
Archelon2025
31/05/2025 at 00:00 → 30/09/2025 at 00:00
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
800.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Messara Plain, Moires 704 00, Greece
Greece
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Eastern European Standard Time
Local time: 20:59 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken