U18 Trip - Turtle and Conservation - October half term (age 16-17)

A one-week, hands-on conservation volunteering trip for 16-17 year olds based on the Greek island of Kefalonia. Participants join Pod Volunteers under-18 team and take part in daily conservation activities including national mountain park surveys, coastal and bird surveys, harbour turtle surveys, drone-assisted observations, paddleboard seagrass mapping (weather permitting) and beach/coastal clean-ups.

The programme is accompanied by educational presentations on turtle biology, conservation methods and the scientific techniques used in the field. Accommodation is provided in a family-run resort situated between Argostoli and Lassi, with shared ensuite rooms (single-sex allocation), meals included and local transfers to project sites.

Participants are supported throughout by dedicated UK team leaders who stay with the group, and local conservation staff and field leaders. The placement has been approved as meeting the Residential section requirements for the DofE Gold Award and a volunteering certificate and reference can be provided on request.