U18 Trip - Turtle and Conservation - October half term (age 16-18)
Greece

You will be part of the Pod Volunteer team getting involved in conservation in Greece! Supported by team leaders from the UK who will be living with you on the beautiful island of Kefalonia. It's an ideal trip to complete your DofE Gold Residential but you don't have to be doing the DofE Award to join it!

Each day you will have conservation activities, including a mountain national park survey, bird surveys, harbour surveys of adult turtles, drone surveys and a coastal clean-up. These activities will be accompanied a series of educational presentations about turtles and conservation.

By October, the turtle hatching season has finished. Although there are no baby turtles, you should get to see adult turtles in the bay of Argostoli from the harbour front!

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

What will I be doing?

National Mountain Park Survey

We will visit Mt. Ainos, the highest point on the island at 1,628 metres. The National Park team collect data of tree locations and dimensions on the mountain, to monitor growth rates. You can be shrouded in thick cloud one moment and in clear blue skies the next, it's a very dynamic environment. We will hike a trail with National Park staff and learn about the geology, trees and wildlife along the way, while also enjoying the incredible views! 

Bird surveys

Kefalonia’s coastal areas support over 100 bird species. The aim of the bird surveys is to identify and understand the abundance of the coastal bird species using timed transects or point counts. The data collected contributes to Cornell University’s eBird citizen science program as well as the Ainos National Park database. As well as trying to identify birds visually, we will use the Merlin Bird app to help identify birds by their calls!

Harbour surveys of adult turtles

Over 300 adult and sub-adult sea turtles swim in the bay of Argostoli. During harbour surveys, you will walk along the harbour front and observe the turtles and record information about their foraging, social behaviours and any health concerns such as turtles who have swallowed or become entangled with fishing hooks and lines. 

We may also observe the team using drones to help spot turtles and any potential threats to them.

Paddleboard exploration 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.

Weather and sea condition permitting, you will get to do a seagrass exploration session, where you sit / lie on paddleboards and move slowly above areas of seagrass, helping to map the sea floor by taking photos on a GoPro and recording GPS and depths. You will wear life jackets and you will be accompanied by safety supervisors, on the land and sea.

Clean-up

The team will carry out a coastal clean up to remove litter which can affect turtles, sea birds and many other marine and terrestrial species. 

Presentations

You will receive presentations which cover the aims of the conservation work, scientific methods you are using, sea turtle biology, turtle rescue and drone use in conservation.

Requirements

You should be:

• Able to do walks of up to 8km, including hilly terrain and over rocky ground
• A confident swimmer

Other participants

There are up to 20 participants, accompanied by Pod team leaders.

If coming with friends, you’ll be mixed into different work groups for some of the volunteering shifts. You’ll be together for your free time and for friends of the same sex, you will share a room 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 dedicated leaders from the UK who stay at the resort with you. You will be working alongside the local conservation team, including field leaders and assistants.

Accommodation is provided in shared rooms in a lovely family run resort located on the coast between Argostoli and Lassi.

Rooms can sleep up to 3 people, on a single sex basis. Each room has an ensuite bathroom and kitchenette. The resort is right by the coast and has a great outdoor area with pool, a perfect place to relax and enjoy the sunset!

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 resort restaurant including dishes such as pizza, burgers, moussaka, 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 in the rooms.

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 beautiful 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 resort is located between Argostoli and Lassi and there are stunning beaches nearby as well as beautiful sunset views looking towards the peninsula of Lixouri. During the week, we will have some time in the town of Argostoli, where you can spend time browsing the shops and enjoying the harbour front and town square.

We will also have a trip to a family run olive oil mill, where you will see how olive oil is produced and then get to taste lots of different types of olive oil accompanied by delicious traditional Kefalonian Riganada (bread, tomatoes, feta cheese, herbs)!

Climate 

Kefalonia has a Mediterranean climate. In October the weather can be a bit mixed, there are often warm sunny days and there can also be cloudy / rainy days. Temperatures average around 18-20°C in the day and around 12-14°C in the evening. 

Ella – 2025

“I recently went on Pod volunteer's under 18 October half term turtle conservation trip to Greece. Our group leaders were so friendly and helpful which just made the experience feel really comfortable. The area we were based in around Argostoli was so stunning and the Pod Volunteer team organised a wide variety of activities throughout the week based all around the local area.  I learnt so much about both conservation in general and turtles through the presentation and talk that our group leaders had organised. I would 100% recommend this trip to anyone who is considering it!!!”

Priscila (parent) – 2025

“My daughter really enjoyed her experience in Greece last October. She came back full of energy and with a deeper understanding of the challenges related to turtle conservation in the Mediterranean. Our whole family learned from her about the issues turtles face due to overweight and other environmental pressures. She is already planning to return during her gap year to volunteer and learn even more. From a parent’s perspective, everything was very well organised and provided an amazing and enriching experience.”

Sarah – 2025

“I had a great trip with Pod Volunteer and the team were great providing lots of support with everything we needed. The activities were well organised with lots of time to relax as well. I loved the experience and wish to come back soon!”

Karen (parent) – 2025

“My daughter had an amazing experience in Kefalonia. The Pod team were great. The trip was organised really well, with lots of information and tips provided, and prompt replies to any questions. The trip itself was brilliant, lovely accommodation and lots of great experiences during the week. She came back having made lots of new friends and dreaming of going back again! Thank you Pod”

Lewis – 2025

“I really enjoyed my time on the Pod Volunteers Kefalonia trip. The staff are extremely accommodating, and make you feel really comfortable straight away. You are well looked after and I got to enjoy new experiences and learn things I otherwise would never have known. I would definitely recommend, especially to those who enjoy the outdoors!”

Kristy (parent) – 2025

“My son had an amazing time during his Pod volunteer trip and, as a parent, the organisational elements were spot on.  The activities were interesting and varied and we received useful updates during the week, including photos.  We would thoroughly recommend Pod.”

Natalie (parent) – 2025

“Great communication from start to finish. My daughter visited Kefalonia in October with Pod Volunteer as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Gold award. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

Anon (parent) – 2025

“My son had an incredible time and from booking to him flying home I was reassured and supported by the team to know he was safe and taken care of.  I would highly recommend, even for an anxious parent.”

Emma (parent) – 2025

“My daughter went on the Greece Under 18 trip over the October half term.  She had an amazing time and I felt fully confident with Pod Volunteer.  There were always very quick to respond to any queries I had and they sent us out very detailed information.  I would really recommend using them.”

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. 

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 habitats. The researchers helped set it were very insightful about the topics of seagrass and turtles.”

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 18s turtle conservation project, it was my first time travelling alone, and the experience has been amazing. 

One of our leaders 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, 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.”