PARTICIPATION GUIDE FOR CRETE-MESSARA

Transcription

1 PARTICIPATION GUIDE FOR CRETE-MESSARA

2 General Information Crete is one of the most important nesting areas for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean, with an average of 300 nests laid annually on a total of 34km of beaches. Even though the nesting areas of Crete are now being included in the NATURA 2000 network of protected areas, uncontrolled coastal development and human interference are exerting intense pressure on the nesting beaches of the island. The ARCHELON Project of Crete aims at protecting and monitoring turtles and nests, informing visitors and promoting the co-operation with local communities and authorities as well as the tourist industry in order to achieve long term conservation. Every year ARCHELON informs some 150,000 people about the threats sea turtles face on the island.

3 WHAT TO EXPECT: Volunteers who arrive at the beginning of the project are helping to build up the campsite, turning a field into a home for the volunteers who will join the project throughout the summer. During the first two weeks we prepare for the oncoming nesting season and carry out equipment maintenance. An important part of the work you will do as a volunteer is helping gather scientific data through monitoring all turtle activities. Nesting season normally starts mid May and lasts till about mid August. The monitoring work we do during nesting season includes: Morning surveys to look for adult turtle tracks and locate nests, 'caging' or relocating threatened nests Dealing with injured or dead turtles Hatching season starts about mid July and lasts till the end of October. The monitoring work we do during hatching season includes: Morning surveys to look for baby turtle tracks and locate nests, marking of hatching nests, dealing with any hatchlings that are still on the beach Excavations of hatched nests to determine the hatching success Dealing with injured or dead turtles In Messara s project due to the length of the beach and thus the low nest density, the team does NOT conduct night surveys to tag adult female turtles during nesting.

4 The main threat onshore and inwater to sea turtles nowadays is the rapid mass tourist development, which destroys the suitable nesting beaches and creates in-water threats for the turtles such as speedboats. Crete is a very popular holiday resort and all of the nesting beaches are heavily used by tourists. In order to protect the nests, the beaches and the turtles in-water Crete s project is running a large Public Awareness (PA) programme. As a volunteer you will help to inform as many visitors as possible about the turtles and about the ways they can help to save the Caretta caretta. You will also take part in fundraising to collect money for covering the running costs of the project. We carry out PA work from the beginning of June till the end of the season. It includes: Beach patrols where we inform beach users how to behave on the nesting beaches in order not to harm the nests Safe guarding of nesting beaches at night to prevent people from entering the beaches and therefore disturbing turtles Running of information kiosk Giving slide shows and conducting Information Tables at hotels Volunteers who are here at the end of the season are helping with dismantling the campsite, packing everything up and storing it so it's ready to use for the following season. Everything you need is available on the camp: cooking facilities, showers, toilets. ARCHELON is constantly trying to improve living conditions for volunteers but money is a limiting factor. It takes the responsibility and effort of every single volunteer to maintain and run the campsite. As well, in a weekly rotating schedule every volunteer is supposed to help with the cleaning of the camp, toilets, kitchen etc. Duties are allocated by the field leaders and involve all aspects of the daily routine (public awareness, nest and turtle protection, and maintenance). Volunteers and field leaders represent ARCHELON both on and off duty. Therefore proper behaviour and appearance are essential at all times. Consumption of alcoholic beverages and smoking during working hours or drug and alcohol abuse at any time are not allowed. Please note: The work includes long working hours in the heat (sometimes 6 hours), and that we get to some of the shifts by walking, some paths up-/downhill. With an average level of fitness this is managable, but please be prepared that the work can be hard and exhausting. With the right attitude and the right team it is still fun!

5 PARTICIPATION COSTS Once approved, an applicant will have to pay once a non-refundable participation fee ranging from 250 to 350, which depends on the date of arrival (please see the table below). Mid May to 15th June th June to 20th August st August to mid October 250 The participation fee includes administration and training cost as well as the cost of the annual subscription to ARCHELON, an exclusive volunteer T-shirt (received upon arrival), the accommodation and the insurance of the volunteers in case of an accident. The volunteers are living in ARCHELON camping for the duration of their volunteering. ARCHELON is not in a position to offer financial assistance or give refunds. Volunteers cover both travel and food expenses. Volunteers cover both travel and food expenses. Around an amount of 15 per day may suffice to cover basic food needs, but if you want to participate in the communal life of the camping where the volunteers share the daily cost of nutrition, around an amount of 20 per week may suffice to cover basic food needs.

6 Accommodation ARCHELON Research Field Station of Matala is located in Matala, inside the municipality Camping Matala (class B). The campsite is on a sandy cliff just in proximity with the historical caves of Matala Bay, and in close proximity to the sea. There is easy access on foot to supermarkets, bakery, cafeterias, internet and night life, for which Matala are famous for. Camping provides: Internet Wi-Fi (for private laptops) and fax facilities Electricity Limited shade under the tamarisk trees Showers (most of the time with hot water) Toilets The Camping contact details are the following: Camping Matala, tel.: , info@visitmatala.com, Web site:

7 GOOD TO KNOW: The official start of the project is the 1rst of June There will not be anybody there before the 1rst of June. The official end of the project is the 30 September On the campsite we run a communal food system that helps to keep the living expenses for everybody as low as possible (not more than 3-4 euro per day or 20 euro per week). The money you pay to the 'food fund' once a week covers all essential food needs and provides you with basic breakfast, lunch and dinner, and if there's some money left at the end of the week, then we get ice cream and chocolate cake... This food system is not obligatory, it is recommended though as it is cheaper and helps the communal living and storage of food. There are super markets in walking distance where you can do your own shopping. Pets are not allowed Volunteers are responsible for the safety of their valuables. Camp is generally safe, but ARCHELON takes no responsibility volunteers' property. So please consider if you really want to bring valuables. No volunteer can stay in the project for a period more than the one has already been agreed (except otherwise arranged). Please note that you 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. The volunteers can get a participation Certificate upon request to the volunteers@archelon.gr and only after the end of their placement. In case of an internship the volunteers should inform the volunteers officer in volunteers@archelon.gr with all the requirements of the University well before hand. Please note that due to the amount of work, the paper work arrangements for internships might take some time. Please also note that no project data can be used for any report you may have to write.

8 Weather Summers are very hot and sunny during the day, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 40oC. During the night it can get cooler and humid. At the beginning and at the end of the project it can get cold during the nights. Rain also is usual in May and in September/October

9 HOW TO GET TO MESSARA PROJECT There are two airports on Crete, in Heraklion and Chania. Several flights are available to both from major European airports. For details, please contact your travel agent. Alternatively, you can fly to the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). From there, you can connect to Heraklion or Chania (2-5 flights daily, duration 45 min). For details contact Olympic Airlines ( or Aegean Airlines ( You can also take the ferry to Crete from Piraeus, the port of Athens. To get there, you need to get the bus No. X96 from the Athens airport (frequent departures, bus fare 3.00) and get off at "Plateia Karaiskaki" in Piraeus. Ferries sail every evening (between 16:00 and 21:00) from Piraeus to Chania and Heraklion (duration 9-10 hours, fare deck class oneway). Shipping companies: ANEK lines ( MINOAN lines ( Hellenic Seaways (

10 The Bay of Messara is situated on the South Coast of Crete. Access to Matala village, where the ARCHELON campsite is situated, is easiest from Heraklion town. The meeting point is either the ARCHELON campsite, located within the community camping of Matala, or the ARCHELON Information Station, located across the road from the bus stop (open at certain hours of the day). The community Camping "Matala" (class B) is almost next to the beach. It is fenced and planted with tamarisks and featuring service areas, a mini market and facilities like as electricity, WC, medical service, post, drainage (tel: /42720). A. From Heraklion port: From the port you need to get to the Chanioporta KTEL* bus terminal, situated 2km away. You can either walk there, or take a taxi (fare approx. 4.00). From Chanioporta (bus terminal), take the bus for Matala. There are three departures daily (last bus departure at 3:30pm, fare approx. 7.00, duration 1 hour 15 mins). B. From Heraklion airport: Take taxi (fare approx ) to Chanioporta KTEL* bus terminal, then bus for Matala (see instructions above). There is also a bus outside the airport towards Chanioporta with only depending on the time of the day). C. From Chania port: The port of Chania is in Souda, located at around 8km away from Chania. Take the bus towards Heraklion that departs from the port (fare 13.80) and get off to Chanioporta KTEL* bus terminal in Heraklion (duration approx. 2 hours and 45min). From Chanioporta (bus terminal), take the bus towards Matala. There are three departures daily (last bus departure at 3:30pm, fare approx. 7.00, duration 1 hour 15 mins). From Matala follow the above instructions to get to the campsite. D. From Chania airport: Since there is no frequent bus service to town, you probably will have to take a taxi (which is going to cost around 20 ) to KTEL* bus terminal in Chania town. From there take the bus to Heraklion (Frequent departures, duration 2 hours and 45min, fare 13.80) and get off to Chanioporta KTEL* bus terminal. From Chanioporta (bus terminal), take the bus towards Matala. There are three departures daily (last bus departure at 3:30pm, fare approx. 7.00, duration 1 hour 15 mins). From Matala follow the above instructions to get to the campsite. * KTEL is the name of the bus company For further bus information:

11 WHAT TO BRING: Camping gear (Tent, camping mattress, sleeping bag, torch, alarm clock) Decent clothing for working with the public (our presentations take place in 5- stars hotels so you need to look professional and well dressed- you need to wear clean shirt or t-shirt, long trousers or skirts, clean shoes, no sandals). Νote that we live in camp so any white or very light coloured clothes can get dirty quite easily Robust clothes and good walking shoes for working on the beach Bathing suit, sun screen, sun glasses, mosquito repellent, sun hat or any other kind of sun protection for your head (all these items can also be bought on the island) Comfortable clothes and shoes or sandals suitable for hot weather Waterproofs (rain coat and proper shoes)... especially for the beginning and the end of the season! Warm clothes for beginning and end of season (May, June, September, October)... it gets quite cold during the nights. DRIVING LICENCE if you have one. When you drive a car in Greece you need to carry your license on you. Optional: CDs or ipod... if you want to enrich the variety of music available on camp a bit, something to read, snorkelling stuff, games, good ideas... Sense of adventure YOUR SMILE! You don't need to bring any cooking stuff such as cutlery... everything (of the basics) is available at the campsite -but you can always enrich our kitchen equipment.

12 Before you come to Crete: Please have a look on ARCHELON's web site ( to get an idea about sea turtles, the organisation and the Crete s project. If you have any difficulties call Rethymno office at (0030) or Crete Project Coordinator Reggina Stefanatou at (0030) or Athens Office the Volunteers Officer Theoni Karkoulia at (0030) (working hours: Monday-Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm) or in case of emergencies (0030) PLEASE INFORM THE PROJECT BY (crete@archelon.gr and archelon.crete@gmail.com) FOR THE EXACT TIME AND DATE OF YOUR ARRIVAL. IT IS NECESSARY TO BRING WITH YOU A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT OR I.D We are looking forward to meeting you on Crete soon.

13 Code of Conduct Please check your acceptance letter and make sure you read this carefully.

14 Learn more about Crete Island: ete hymno/things-to-do

15 The Accommodation Area in the Research Field Station

16 The Accommodation Area in the Research Field Station

17 The kitchen

18 The kitchen

19 Volunteers on duty

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21 Dining & Rest Area

22 Volunteers having some fun

23 Volunteers having some fun

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