PARTICIPATION GUIDE FOR CRETE-CHANIA
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 datathrough 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 Chania's project due to the length of the beach and thus the low nest density, the team is NOT conducted night surveys to tag adult female turtles during nesting.
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 Cretes 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 and touristic boats 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. 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. 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 manageable, but please be prepared that the work can be hard and exhausting. With the right attitude and the right team it is still fun!
Accommodation: The ARCHELON Research Field Station in Chania is located in the private camping Camping Hania, which is around 3,5km from the town of Chania. The camp is close to the beach in an area where the local community is very friendly. Service at the campsite: Internet Wi-Fi Security: safes that are charged per day Self service launderette:there is a self service launderette as well as numerous showers and toilets for guests staying in tents. Reception: The reception house can provide information regarding excursions and car rental and there are public telephones for your use. Swimming pool Bus tickets (cheaper than buying them on the bus) Garden Restaurant Roof Garden Restaurant Mini market: There is a mini market selling all the necessities including fresh bread and milk on a daily bases. Pool bar
PARTICIPATION COSTS Since the project of Chania is placed in an organised camping the volunteers need to cover the participation fee for ARCHELON which is a fixed cost of 150 and then to cover their own accommodation cost directly with the administration of the organised camping Hania. The accommodation cost per night is 6. The total accommodation cost will be paid there. The cost will be paid according to individual arrangements upon arrival. The contact details of the campsite are the followings: Camping Hania contact; Camping Hania Ag. Apostoli 73100 CHANIA - CRETE Tel. +30 28210 31138, 33700 e-mail: camhania@otenet.gr www.camping-chania.gr/ It is necessary upon your arrival to go to the reception of the campsite and give your passport.
GOOD TO KNOW: The official start of the project is the 20th May 2016. There will not be anybody there before the 20th of May. The official end of the project is the 30 September 2016. 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. 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.
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
HOW TO GET TO CHANIA S 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 Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos). From there, you can get connected flights to Heraklion or Chania (2-5 flights daily, duration 45 min). For details contact Olympic Airlines (www.olympicairlines.com) or Aegean Airlines (www.aegeanair.com). You can also take the ferry to Crete from Piraeus, the port of Athens. Το 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 35.00 deck class one-way). Shipping companies: ANEK lines (www.anek.gr), MINOAN lines (www.minoan.gr), Hellenic Seaways (www.hellenicseaways.gr).
A. From Chania port: The port of Chania is in Souda, located at around 8km away from Chania. Take the bus that departs from the port and get off at the final stop in Chania (Frequent departures, fare approx. 1.30). The bus terminates in the KTEL* bus terminal which is located on the corner of Kydonias str. and Kelaidi str., behind the Hotel "Samaria". Take the blue bus No: 21 (departures during the day every 15 minutes, but it stops after 11.00 at night, fare approx. 1.50) which is placed in the square named 1866. In order to find the stop for the bus No:21 please ask in the KTEL station (it is very close by). You need to get off in the area called Agii Apostoli. Please ask the driver to stop in the bus stop Agii Apostoli or mention the camping Camping Hania. Alternatively, you can take a taxi straight from KTEL to the camping (distance about 3,5km, fare approx. 8.00) or on foot which will take around 15 minutes.you can also take a taxi directly from the port which will cost around 13.00) * KTEL is the name of the bus company
B. 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. Then follow the above instructions to get to the campsite. It is also possible to take a taxi straight to Agii Apostoli (fare approx. 30.00). For more information please visit the following website http://www.bus-service-crete-ktel.com/bindexgr.htm. C. From Heraklion: Take taxi to KTEL* HANION-RETHIMNIS in town, then bus to Chania (Frequent departures, duration 3 hours, fare approx. 15.00). From the Chania KTEL* bus terminal follow the above instructions to get to the campsite. KTEL is the name of the bus company For further bus information: www.bus-service-crete-ktel.com.
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.
Before you come to Crete: Please have a look on ARCHELON's web site (www.archelon.gr) to get an idea about sea turtles, the organisation and the Crete s project. If you have any difficulties call Rethymno office at (0030) 2831072288 or Crete Project Coordinator Reggina Stefanatou at (0030) 6937 352379 or Athens Office the Volunteers Officer Theoni Karkoulia at (0030) 210 5231342 (working hours: Monday-Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm) or in case of emergencies (0030) 6937 352382. PLEASE INFORM THE PROJECT BY E-MAIL (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.
Code of Conduct Please check your acceptance letter and make sure you read the Code of Conduct carefully.
Learn more about Crete s Island: http://www.explorecrete.com/ http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/cr ete http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/crete/ret hymno/things-to-do http://www.crete.tournet.gr/en/crete-activities http://www.visitmatala.com
The Accommodation Area in the Research Field Station
The kitchen & the Dining Area
Volunteers on duty
Volunteers on duty
Volunteers on duty
Volunteers having some fun