PARTICIPATION GUIDE AT THE SEA TURTLE RESCUE CENTER

PARTICIPATION GUIDE AT THE SEA TURTLE RESCUE CENTER

Tasks The volunteer will be expected to participate in all aspects of work at the Rescue Centre. These are the Rescue Network, sea turtle rehabilitation, public awareness and maintenance. Duties will be allocated by the Project Leader, usually in accordance with a weekly schedule. More specifically: Rescue Network: activities include response to live sea turtle stranding throughout Greece, collection of injured sea turtles from the airport, train or bus station, or Piraeus port. Understandably these activities are not part of the daily routine, but take priority whenever they do occur. This is the reason that it would be very useful if the volunteer can drive the car of ARCHELON. The volunteers might be asked to drive ARCHELON s car for this purpose. Sea turtle Rehabilitation: duties include the preparation and administration of food (usually fish) to the turtles, daily treatment of the animals as determined by the vets (administering medication, cleaning wounds) as well as taking biometric data and making behavior observations. This is one of the main daily activities within the Rescue Centre, since at any given time there is an average of 20 to 25 turtles under treatment. Please note that this is highly physical demanding task. Public Awareness: activities include the running of the Rescue Centre s exhibition area and providing information to visitors, conducting presentations to organized groups and assisting in public events organized by ARCHELON to promote the Rescue Centre (e.g. publicized sea turtle releases, participation in exhibitions, etc). Maintenance: activities include basic maintenance duties like painting of the wagons, operation of the water supply systems as well as cleaning the facilities and equipment. Data entry: Detailed information is kept on each sea turtle case admitted to the Rescue Centre. All data collected is entered in databases so that they can be subsequently used for the compilation of statistical reports. Volunteers may be asked to assist by carrying out data entry on the computer.

Things you need to know The sea turtles are quite heavy (can get 80 to 90 kilos) and the tasks involve much turtle lifting. During the summer it can get very hot inside both the working areas and accommodation. The Rescue Center is placed in a marina and is made from train wagons and containers (it s like living in a sailing boat). The rooms are small and during the winter there is not much privacy that you can get. During summers there are more options but still volunteers live and work at the same area. The Rescue Center facilities are like living in a camping, so it has much contact with the nature. Mosquitoes, cockroaches, bees and other insects cannot be avoided. Cleaning is the best tool to keep them away. Cleaning is also compulsory for all the accommodation area in a regular basis. Ιt is also compulsory to clean your accommodation area upon arrival and before you go. Basic cooking facilities are also provided. A main shopping area is five minutes away on foot. 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 fee is 300 and it is given once regardless how long the volunteer stays. It includes accommodation cost. The volunteers use a community based system for sharing the food cost. This is around 20 to 30 per week which suffice for basic food costs. If you want to follow your way about food and cooking then you might need around 15 per day in order to cover your own food expenses. Volunteers must be prepared to work long hours. Free time is arranged, according to the needs of the project. Volunteers should be able to work as part of a small team, and undertake their duties with responsibility. Working at the Rescue Centre involves many different jobs as described in the general information you have previously received, in which everyone is expected to participate. Only volunteers that have been officially accepted by ARCHELON can use the project premises. ARCHELON is unable to offer any financial assistance.

Accommodation-Living Conditions The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre is located at the third marina of Glyfada (which is a suburb of Athens), behind the old Town Hall and by the sea. The tel/fax number of the Centre is (+30) 210 8944444. If needed, ARCHELON can also be contacted at the Athens head office. Tel/fax: (+30) 210 5231342 or on the following mobile number: (+30) 6947 410012. Accommodation is provided by ARCHELON on site. The Rescue Center accommodation is quite basic. Bedrooms: All our volunteers are staying in special arranged areas at the Rescue Center. Normally the volunteers are not divided in the rooms regarding their sex. The volunteers have one train wagon (with a small bedroom with 4 beds, kitchen, toilet and shower) and one container with two bedrooms, one lounge room and a small laundry room. The Rescue Center can accommodate maximum 8 volunteers at the same time. Heating/Warming: During winter it can get quite cold. For the winter we use gas stoves. During summer it can get very hot. We have some fans for the heat and limited areas with air conditioning. Privacy: Generally during winter due to the fact that it s cold weather, there are limited private areas, but during the summer there is a common area that the volunteers use.

Dining area in the train wagon

Kitchen area in the train wagon Bedroom in the train wagon In the train wagon: Very small room which has four beds. It is like living in a sailing boat.

Shower/WC in the train wagoon The shower/toilet is quite small room. There is also a WC outside of the train wagoon which is for the public. This should be used by the volunteers only when public hours are over.

Bedrooms In the container: One room with four beds, a smaller room which can accommodate one or two persons, a lounge area and a small laundry room. Lounge area.

Rest area

Main Working Area

Additional working area

Public Awareness Area

Reception and Entrance

Weather The Rescue Center is placed in a marina, surrounded by the sea, so it has much humidity. The weather in winter can get quite cold with occasional rainstorms. Summers are very hot and sunny during the day, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 40oC. During the night it can get cooler and humid.

What to bring with you Volunteers should bring along: a sleeping bag, working clothes, some descent clothing for work with the public, sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses Clothes suitable for the season you are coming

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

Where it is: 3 rd Marina of Glyfada From Athens International Airport, the best option is to take the bus X96 towards Piraeus (every 20' to 30' during day time) and will cost 5 ((please note that this ticket is valid for the duration of 70' minutes)). It will take you straight from the airport to the "Platia Glyfadas" stop (Glyfada square). Please make sure you ask the bus driver to get out at that stop. When you get off, walk to the church and cross the main road at the traffic lights. Go down the street. You should see the 3rd Marina in front of you. Walk around the marina from the right hand side. You should see some train wagons: You have arrived at your destination. When you get means of transportation in Athens, make sure you validate your ticket. If you are using the tram get off at "palio dimarhio" (which means old town hall) stop. There walk toward the church with a big dome. Cross the road the traffic lights towards the sea. Then walk around the 3rd Marina. You should recognize the rescue center with its green train wagons and flag poles. Because you will be carrying lots of stuff with you, it might be a good idea if you took the tram from the square of "Platia Glyfada" where the bus will let you (it is by the traffic lights on your left hand side as you are facing the sea). You can hop on the tram, direction SEF or SYNTAGMA and get off at the very next stop (PALEO DIMARHIO). From there you can actually see the Rescue Centre - just look for the train wagons! Below you can find a map of the Sea Turtle Rescue Center area. If you take a taxi, you should pay no more than 20,00-30,00 (between 12 p.m. and 5.30 a.m. the tariff is double). Please note that the Rescue Center has two gates. The main gate is normally closed so please use the second one which is few meters away from the main gate (as you see the Rescue Center in your left hand side). You also need to let us know about the approximate time of arrival so we will know when to expect you.

Map of the area TRAM stop Paleo Dimarhio Main square of Glyfada Sea Turtle Rescue Center

Useful Numbers The tel/fax number of the Centre is (+30) 210 8944444. If needed, ARCHELON can also be contacted at the Athens head office (opening hours: weekdays 9.00am to 5.00pm). Tel/fax: (+30) 210 5231342 or on the following mobile number: (+30) 69 41 511 511 or the volunteers number (+30) 6947 410012. For urgent matters you can also use the +30 6937 352382) Please make sure you contact the project (rescue@archelon.gr) about the approximate time of your arrival few days before you arrive.

We can also promise one of the best sunsets