U18 Trip - Turtle and Marine Conservation
Greece

You will be part of the Pod Volunteer Under 18 team spending 1 week getting involved in Turtle and Marine conservation in Greece! You will be supported by team leaders from the UK who will be living with you on the beautiful island of Kefalonia. It's open to all 16-17 year olds and is also an ideal trip to complete your DofE Gold Residential.

You will have exciting conservation activities every day, including early morning turtle nesting beach surveys, harbour surveys of the turtles, snorkelling surveys of sea grass meadows and a coastal clean-up. These activities will be accompanied a series of educational presentations about turtles and marine conservation.

Here are typical rotas for the July and August groups. July is turtle nesting season and August is a transition between the end of the nesting season and start of the turtle hatching season.

There is also plenty of time to relax and enjoy the island, and you can find out more about free time activities in our location section.

What will I be doing?

Turtle nesting beach surveys and nest checks

Every year loggerhead sea turtles migrate to Kefalonia to feed and reproduce, with female turtles laying their eggs on the sandy beaches of the island. Unfortunately, the turtle population is now under great pressure from both human and natural threats.

You will help survey the beaches of Kefalonia to monitor hatching sea turtle nests. Starting early in the morning, teams walk along the beach to check turtle nests. If a new potential nest is found, you will help the team to dig the sand to locate and check on the nest. For existing nests, you will help look for any hatchling tracks.

Harbour survey of adult turtles

Over 300 adult and sub-adult sea turtles swim in the bay of Argostoli throughout the summer. Every morning, many turtles visit the town harbour, where fishing boats return with the morning's catch.

During harbour surveys, you will observe these turtles and record information about their foraging, social behaviours and any health concerns.

Snorkel surveys of seagrass meadows

Seagrass meadows are a more effective carbon sink than the rainforest and play a critical role in combating climate change. They form an important ecosystem, providing habitats for many species including turtles, monk seals and several types of fish.

You will take part in snorkelling on the surface of the sea in fairly shallow waters to help map the sea floor and seagrass. You will snorkel together in teams of 3-4 holding on to a pool noodle to keep together. You will wear life jackets (no diving down) and you will be accompanied by two safety supervisors, on the land and sea (on a paddleboard). The data collection involves taking photos on a GoPro, recording GPS and depths. Snorkel shifts will only take place in suitable sea and weather conditions.

Coastal clean-ups

The island of Kefalonia is susceptible to plastic pollution and waste which affects turtles, sea birds and many other marine and terrestrial species. The team carry out regular beach and coastal clean-ups which you will help with.

Presentations

You will receive presentations which cover the aims of the conservation work, scientific methods you are using, turtle biology and health, fish ID and broader conservation topics like climate change.

Nighttime nest monitoring (August group only)

You will spend one night on the beach monitoring turtle nests. Light pollution from beach bars etc. confuses and disorients the newly hatched turtles, which are normally guided by the light of the moon and stars. If hatching occurs (due to nature being unpredictable this can't be guaranteed), you will observe the hatchlings and help the team to release them at a darker part of the beach so they can crawl to the sea on their own. This shift runs through the night and nests are checked every hour. In between nest checks the group sleep on the beach!

Requirements

You should be able to do beach walks of up to 2km and should be a confident swimmer who has snorkelled before.

Other participants

There are up to 24 participants, accompanied by Pod team leaders.

If coming with friends, you’ll be mixed into different work groups for the volunteering shifts. You’ll be together for most of your free time and, for friends of the same sex, we will accommodate you in a tent together.

Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Local support

You will have 3 dedicated leaders from the UK who live at the campsite with you. You will be working alongside the local conservation team, including field leaders and assistants.

Accommodation is provided in shared tents at a campsite conveniently located just outside Argostoli town.

Each tent can sleep up to 4 people, on a single sex basis. Tents are provided with electricity, light, refrigerator, table and chairs. The campsite is set in a shady olive grove and is close to a lovely beach with incredible sunset views, a perfect place to relax at the end of a busy day!

Meals

Meals are included and here are typical examples of the food you will have:

• Breakfast – items are provided for you to make your own breakfast, such as cereals, milk, yoghurt and fruit
• Lunch and dinner – meals are normally served at the open-air campsite restaurant including dishes such as baguettes, pizza, pasta, burgers, souvlaki (kebabs), chips, Greek salads!

Vegetarian options are available. Unfortunately it’s not possible to cater for vegan diets or those with nut / gluten / dairy allergies on this trip.

There is drinking water available at the campsite.

You will need to fly into Kefalonia (EFL) where you will be met on arrival by your team leaders.

Location and free time

Kefalonia is a beuatiful island in the Ionian Sea, west of mainland Greece. It's a really special place to have as the backdrop to the conservation activities and there are lots of opportunities to enjoy the island as well!

The campsite is located just outside Argostoli town and there is a lovely beach on the doorstep and beautiful sunset views from the lighthouse which is a short walk away. During the week, we will have some organised evening walks along the waterfront into the town of Argostoli, where you can spend time browsing the shops and enjoying the bustling atmosphere of the town square.

We also have a half day coach trip to the other side of the island to see the incredible caves of Melissani (you will get to take a boat across the lake with it's azure blue waters) and dramatic Drogarati cave where you walk under the stalagmites. 

Climate 

Kefalonia has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and dry, hot summers with long sunny days. In July and August, temperatures are usually around 30°C+.

Kyla

“I recently had an amazing experience volunteering for the Turtle Conservation Trip in Kefalonia, Greece, organized by Pod Volunteer. The opportunity to contribute to the conservation efforts for loggerhead sea turtles was truly inspiring. The team at Pod Volunteer provided exceptional support and guidance throughout the trip, ensuring that every volunteer felt prepared and valued. 

Our days were spent monitoring nesting sites, learning about the turtles' behavior, and assisting with beach clean-ups, all of which provided valuable insights into marine conservation. The accommodations and facilities were comfortable, and the local cuisine was a delightful addition to the experience. 

I highly recommend this trip to anyone passionate about wildlife and conservation, as it offers a meaningful way to make a positive impact while exploring the beautiful island of Kefalonia.”

Callum

“It was a very good trip as it taught me the value turtles have on the environment and why we need to support their nesting habitats. The researchers helped set it were very insightful about the topics of seagrass and turtles. The snorkelling that we did was great as it showed us the beauty of the sea floor and the wildlife that lived around there. The 4am wake up was well worth it as we were lucky enough to dig up and see a turtle nest with eggs inside it. 

The food and service at the campsite was great and the staff that worked there were very hospitable with the food they made being great every time”

May

“From the moment I signed up to volunteer with pod, I felt fully supported and any questions I asked were quickly answered. I joined the under eighteens turtle conservation project, it was my first time travelling alone, and the experience has been amazing. 

One of our leader met us off the plane at the airport, immediately welcoming and they were all really helpful from then right to the end of the week, making sure I had managed to make it through the airport alright. Any issues we had through the week, including medical issues in the heat, the leaders did everything they could to sort. 

The whole experience, from booking to actually volunteering was straightforward and amazing. It's definitely an experience I will take with me for life.” 

Elise

"The Under 18s week in Kefalonia doing Turtle and Marine Conservation was a fantastic once in a lifetime opportunity. The leaders were so helpful during the lead up to the trip and throughout the week to made sure everything went smoothly. I really enjoyed all the activities such as harbour surveys, beach walks and snorkel surveys. 

The team from gave educational and interesting presentations which helped us with the voluntary work but also provided us with more knowledge of marine life and conservation. One of the highlights of the trip was experiencing baby turtles hatching and helping them make their way to the sea.

I met so many amazing people and have been inspired to do more marine conservation in the near future!"

Elizabeth

“I had an amazing experience with pod volunteer, it was efficient and stress free making it easy to enjoy the work we did. Communication was fantastic from the moment I signed up and I wasn’t worried once about what the plans were! 

Loved the educational lectures that came along with the practical side, it taught me so much and I had a great time!”

Millie

“Offers a wide range of activities along with a healthy amount of free time. The views and campsite were beautiful and tranquil. Everything was very well organised and I would highly recommend this trip!”

Katie

"I absolutley loved going to Kefalonia to do turtle conservation as part of my Gold DofE residential. Our pod volunteer leaders were so nice and helpful. Booking this was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I went with my friend Gabby but we both made lots of new friends who we are so close with now. I also loved exploring Argostoli"

August

“Absolutely amazing, one of the most inspiring weeks of my life, would highly recommend. Very well organised, thank you to podvolunteer!”

Sophia

“All the staff were lovely, a really nice atmosphere, perfect balance between work and free time. Food was lovely. Would definitely recommend.”

Erin

“Enjoyed my time so much, that I am even considering volunteering during my gap year. The leaders were very kind and welcoming.”

Paula - parent 

“Really fabulous educational and fun opportunity for 16-17 year olds to do Gold residential for Duke of Edinburgh, or just for the experience! As a parent, I had no concerns as the communication and organisation is excellent . Staff very supportive. My daughter had such a positive experience from the week..she loved everything about Turtle conservation. Thank you to the Pod team for everything.”

Colette - parent

"My daughter Elise loved the U18s trip to the turtle and marine conservation project in Kefalonia. The organisation both in the run up to trip and during the visit was excellent with fantastic leaders. Elise has talked so much about the conservation activities and everything she has learnt. Supporting hatching turtles to make their way to the sea was clearly an highlight! Elise is really keen to go back to the project. Such an amazing experience for a first trip abroad (without parents) which will leave lifelong memories. "

Caroline - parent

“Our 17yr old daughter is just back from Kefalonia having attended there re. Turtle conservation for her Duke Of Edinburgh Gold. She had the most amazing time. There was a great balance of work and down time, she raved about the experience from start to finish. 

All of the Pod Volunteer staff were fabulous and I found the daily updates very reassuring considering this was my daughters first trip abroad without any family.

Our daughter made some great new friends and made unforgettable memories which she will treasure for a long time. A brilliant success.”

Joe - parent

“Our daughter had an amazing time and we are very grateful to pod volunteer for the opportunity. Everything was well organised and well communicated. Activities were varied and well supervised with lots of relevant education. There were also opportunities for free time which they enjoyed. She made loads of friends and enjoyed mixing with people to similar outlook to herself. Thankyou pod volunteer- we would highly recommend.”

Sharon - parent

“My daughter really enjoyed the whole experience. Any questions, issues or problems that we had before she went was dealt with quickly and efficiently by the Pod team.”

Angela - parent

"My daughter had an amazing week in Kefalonia. She visited as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. As a step towards independent travelling I would highly recommend Pod Volunteer."

Stephen - parent

“Pod Volunteer was great from start to finish for our daughter. They are very organized and responded quickly to queries. She had a lovely time in Greece and learnt a lot about the turtles and their habitats.”

May - parent

"An excellent independent experience for my 17 year old daughter - she loved every minute and I was reassured by the emails home and her rapport with the leaders - would highly recommend - she is even thinking about volunteering next year for a gap year!"

August - parent

"This has been such an amazing experience and opportunity which our daughter thoroughly enjoyed, thank you so much. A great balance of activities and free time, lots of interesting talks on elements of conservation with hands on conservation tasks too. A great group of young people to be away with and fantastic leaders. A gorgeous location, good facilities nearby to explore independently as well as trips further afield by ferry and coach. Would totally recommend to anyone considering this trip!"

Jane - parent

“Very well organised, fantastic experience which was extremely informative, fun and inspiring. The staff were supportive and friendly. The food throughout was good, variety of activities and even trips to local sights. As a parent we received some updates during the week too. Highly recommend this trip.”

August - parent

“My daughter had an amazing time with pod volunteer. I had a query whilst they were away on the conservation and emailed pod volunteer who replied to my email almost immediately. I am so glad my daughter did her turtle conservation trip through pod volunteer. They were well organised and responded to any queries really quickly. My daughter enjoyed an unforgettable experience and would go back in a heartbeat She thoroughly enjoyed all the activities.”