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Conserve turtles on this teen volunteer project in the historic coastal town of Giannitsochori, Greece.
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This project has been specially designed for those looking to volunteer, but are aged between 15 and 17 years old. Throughout this project, our younger volunteers will have greater supervision, training, and world-class leaders in the field who have been chosen for their mix of relevant experience and ability to mentor and inspire young people. By participating in this project, our young volunteers will get the chance to conserve and protect one of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting areas in Greece.
5 days a week
Set start dates, June/July and August
Your daily activities on this program include, but are not limited to, patrolling the beach to locate new tracks and nests as well as recording data and turtle measurements. You could also be involved in the instalment of protective nest grids. Additionally, you can expect to participate in bamboo harvesting missions and then in assembling and building nest grids. Lastly, you might be required to man our beach kiosk and at the same time educate the public about our sea turtle conservation efforts.
Based in Giannitsochori, you will live and work with a team of international volunteers and staff to conserve and protect one of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting areas in Greece.
The team will engage in daily morning and night surveys (depending on nesting activity) 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.
You will also have a weekend to enjoy some cultural activities in the surrounding area, a beautiful and historic region of Greece known for its mythological history of heroes and their quests.
There is leisure time during the day. During this time you can enjoy the beach, relax, swim or play beach sports. During the weekend we will take you to visit some classic ancient Greek sites, Mediterranean beaches and traditional coastline cities. Before and after your programme you could explore several sites of interest in the Peloponnese, such as the Mistras medieval fortress, Mount Taygetos, Elafonissosi, Mani, the beautiful town of Monemvasia, or you can take the boat to the islands of Cythera and Crete – the possibilities are endless!
Tents
Accommodation is in shared tents (separate compartments, single sex) with shared (single sex) bathroom facilities within the camp site. There is running cold and hot water available for cooking and extra cool water taps for drinking only. Flush toilet facilities (shared, single sex) are available at the campsite, and participants share camp duties, including cleaning, cooking and other chores.
Food will be cooked as a shared chore by all the participants in the camp site and it is a combination of healthy and varied Mediterranean local products.
You will have limited access to long-distance communications whilst on the programme, so make sure friends and family know how often they can expect to hear from you. Participants typically use internet in the camp, to keep in touch, however, be aware that it very slow as it is shared between everybody; the camp site provides a payphone and pre-paid phone cards are available.
Mobile/cell phone reception is fairly good. Check that your phone works in Greece. If not you can obtain a Greek SIM card (about 5€) easily.
Provided, more info sent upon confirmation
English
Passport, Criminal Background check, Medical form, Parental Consent
Doctors note must be signed if you have any illnesses to declare, also signed by a parent/legal gaurdian
Kit list will be sent across at time of confirmation
Once you have confirmed your spot on this program, you will be allocated to a dedicated program expert who will assist you as you prepare for your program.
Project staff on base who facilitate the project, run training’s & assist with any additional health & safety needs if required. 24 Hour emergency phone. Please ask your program expert for more information.
You will be given the option to pay in instalments for an Instalment Fee of £125 per booking. If you select this Instalment Fee option, a non-refundable deposit payment of £350 is due within 48 hours of notice of acceptance onto the program, 50% of the balance will fall due 16 weeks before departure and the remaining 50% of the balance will fall due 12 weeks before departure. If you the Participant cancel this agreement, the Participant shall not be entitled to a refund of any monies paid.
If you do not select the Instalment Fee option, the full cost of your booking is due within 48 hours of notice of acceptance onto the program. If you the Participant cancel this agreement more than 16 weeks prior to departure, the Participant shall be entitled to a refund of the full amount paid minus £350.
If you the Participant cancel this agreement between 16 and 12 weeks prior to departure, the Participant shall be entitled to a refund of 60% of the full amount paid. If you the Participant cancel this agreement less than 12 weeks prior to departure, the Participant shall be entitled to a refund of £100.
Although my experience in GVI Greece was 6 years ago I remember it so fondly and so vividly. It was such an exciting time and I loved every minute of it! I won’t lie… (I enjoyed it so much that I even cried on the flight home). I made friends there that I still speak to and connect with to this day. At that time, it was the start of my conservation journey, and I don’t think I could have picked a better company or location to begin it at.
Review by:
Millie Onslow
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