Protecting sea turtle nesting activity - Zakynthos
Code: bbedc7cf-9bab-11ec-bf60-fa163ef8d720 Copied
About the project
Protecting sea turtle nesting activity - Zakynthos
📝 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.
ARCHELON is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and protection of sea turtles and their habitats in Greece. Its activities combine scientific research with volunteer work and aim to activate society for a better and sustainable planet through education and
information dissemination.
Every project in ARCHELON represents a remarkable blend of vital on-the-ground conservation work for sea turtles and rigorous scientific research through the systematic collection of diverse data.
💼 What the programme involves
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.
ARCHELON has been monitoring the nesting activity on Zakynthos island since 1983 and continues to do so in collaboration with the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (established in 1999). Join our systematic annual efforts to protect sea turtles, nests, and hatchlings—and make a tangible difference for this iconic species!
Protect a Mediterranean Treasure Your mission is to protect the famous beaches of Zakynthos, home to one of the largest breeding populations of loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Every year, more than 1,000 nests are laid here. While helping turtles, you’ll also raise awareness among the thousands of tourists visiting the island each summer.
Experience Life on a Beautiful Greek Island Spend your time in Zakynthos, a renowned destination of outstanding natural beauty. Enjoy crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, and lush wooded hills while contributing to vital conservation work.
Join an International Community Live at the Zakynthos Field Station, a private campground in Kalitero, near Zakynthos town that accommodates up to 50 volunteers from around the world.
Experience communal living, get trained in sea turtle monitoring, and participate in public awareness and fundraising tasks every week in rotating shifts.
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
• “Patrolling” the beaches during the day to raise bathers’ awareness of the importance of the nesting beaches.
• 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.
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
🍲 Food
Volunteers are expected to cover 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.
📍 About the location
Zakinthos, Greece
🎒 Leisure activities
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.
⚠️ Requirements
1. Applicants must be over 18 years old.
2. They must be able to communicate fluently in English and must be covered by a personal health insurance policy.
3. The minimum period of participation is 5 weeks. Exceptionally, returning volunteers can join their projects for 4 weeks.
4. 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.
5. Applicants must be in very good health and in good physical shape due to the projects' physically-demanding tasks and living conditions.
6. Volunteers must bring their own camping gear (e.g. sleeping bag, tent, torch, alarm clock, etc).
ℹ️ Additional information
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 period: From May to mid-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
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.
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
Archelon-03
05/05/2025 at 00:00 → 15/10/2025 at 00:00
Archelon2025
10/05/2025 at 00:00 → 15/10/2025 at 00:00
Archelon2026
10/05/2026 at 00:00 → 15/10/2026 at 00:00
Archelon-03
10/05/2024 at 00:00 → 15/10/2024 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
Zakinthos, Greece
Greece
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Eastern European Standard Time
Local time: 20:58 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken