I am interested in eco-tourism, so I learned a lot of things from the activities at Earth, Sea & Sky. For example, I could participate in the biological research of the sea turtles and run the turtle rescue centre and visitor centre. In addition, I was able to meet the great volunteers from all over the world.

The daily life in Zakynthos was exciting and refreshing for me. I had a relaxing time at the whitest beach with the bluest sea, and visited the famous shipwreck beach on a day off.

It was irreplaceable time for me and I’ve never experienced such days in Japan.

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Highlights from my time time with Earth, Sea and Sky include:

• Volunteering alongside incredible people from all over the world whose passion for conservation and our planet’s environment and wildlife inspired me every day

• Educating tourists about the program and how they can help the turtles of Zakynthos

• Spending mornings surveying beaches for newly laid nests

• Witnessing a nest erupt with baby hatchlings and watching them take their first steps

• Helping to save a hatchling caught in plastic

• Relocating a nest that was laid in wet sand.

I was even lucky enough to watch a rare monk seal hunt in the bay outside the centre!

I left educated about the very real impacts humans can have on our wildlife and environment which inspired me to change my career and seek work in marine conservation back in Australia. I am so grateful to Yannis, Jonna and the Earth, Sea and Sky family for my experience on Zakynthos. I definitely plan on visiting again soon!

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Turtles have always fascinated me, strong and tough on the outside but soft in the inside. Over the past two years I have taken great interest in preserving the oceans, focusing on plastic pollution and overfishing in the oceans. During the summer of 2015 I was incredibly busy with my college application, preparing for the ACT and an internship; I wanted to do something different. A few years ago I had come into contact with Earth, Sea and Sky through “Sea Life”. I was too young at the time, but applied two years later and was accepted as a volunteer. Although I have no intentions of pursuing a career in conservation, it is definitely something that I am passionate about and plan to support in any capacity I can.

My impressions of my time at ESS

There is a lot of passion and dedication behind this organization that is infectious. Although I was dedicated before to the cause, the past two weeks have truly taken it to the next level. The same can also be said about sea turtles, I have always tried to accumulate a firm understanding of sea turtles, but during the past 2 weeks I learned more about sea turtles than the past 18 years of my life combined. The turtle crisis must be addressed immediately and the mind-set of the general public must be changed, but luckily there are people like Yannis who with the help of great and dedicated volunteers can give turtles a voice. These conservationists are vital to perseverance of earth and its beautiful and diverse nature.

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Once I arrived in Zakynthos, I immediately very much appreciated the place. The island is beautiful and people were so nice to me. As a volunteer you are much closer to the local people and thus learn more things than a simple tourist. When I saw nests and hatchings for the first time, I knew that I had made the good choice by coming there. It is just impossible to remain indifferent and inert in the face of those animals. I felt useful because I contributed towards their protection. It was very gratifying to be able to answer the tourists’ questions and to inform them.

By working for the center, I discussed with many people and discovered other cultures and ways of thinking. The atmosphere between the volunteers and the managers was very friendly and we had very interesting conversations, in particular about the different aims of the association, during our evenings. Everybody explained its point of view and provided ideas to improve the project. During 4 weeks, I gained much knowledge, which will be useful for my studies, and I got quite a bit of experience.

And if for you, just as for me, English is not your mother tongue, don’t worry about that: nobody will blame you there and you will even make progress!

Thus, if I can give you a piece of advice: forget your shyness and just go! You won’t regret it!

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Yannis and Jonna set an amazing example of how to educate locals and tourists on environmental issues and instilled a sense of urgency in me to make a difference. Volunteering at Earth, Sea and Sky gave me the skills I needed to be hired by a non-profit in the United States. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to volunteer with Earth, Sea and Sky and further my passion for sea turtles and the environment around like-minded people.

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Work involved going on Morning Survey and being in the Centre. On Morning Survey we went to Gerakas Beach to look for new nests. In the Centre volunteers work in the gift shop, go on beach counts, clean and inform tourist of the threats facing Sea Turtles and how they can help. I really enjoyed my experience at Earth Sea & Sky and I would love to volunteer again.

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Life at Earth, Sea & Sky was full of excitement: I shared my volunteering experience with incredibly smart and compassionate people, learned how to take care of all sorts of fascinating animals, educated visitors about conservation issues and enjoyed my long morning walks on the beach, while at the same time getting to know the locals and practicing my very basic Greek language skills. I felt a sense of purpose, and at the same time a freedom I had never experienced before. Yet I still didn’t love the island —until I finally took a road trip and saw beauty hidden everywhere.

It was a revelation: there used to be a pristine paradise there, only it had been spoiled by uncontrolled tourism development and ruthless international corporations. Earth, Sea & Sky’s job of protecting the Ionian fauna is more important than ever, as it will very likely help shape the future of Zakynthos and the attitude of its visitors for the next several years. I’m glad I offered my little contribution to such a worthy cause and got so much in return.

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The few months prior to arriving at Earth, Sea & Sky, I, and the other nine volunteers from CofC, learned as much as we possibly could about tourism and the devastation it is causing marine habitats. However, when I first arrived, I quickly realized that I still had a lot to learn. Yannis and Jonna worked hard to continue educating my group, and train us to teach tourists. While teaching us, I was awestruck by the passion Yannis and Jonna have for their work. Their strength to fight for the survival of marine wildlife, and promote sustainable tourism was incredible to be exposed to.

My experience with Earth, Sea & Sky truly changed me. I always had a love for the environment; however, it was not until I met Yannis and Jonna that I felt like I could go into conservation. They constantly face obstacles and hardships, yet their passion for their work is enough to allow them continue fighting. This makes them incredibly unique, and I find myself aspiring to have half of the strength that they demonstrate. I find myself constantly thinking about my time as a volunteer, and am itching to continue working in marine conservation. This organization inspired me to not only to pursue a profession in conservation, but to also change my own lifestyle.

I no longer attend CofC and am now a student at the George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, DC. I am so excited to continue my work with Earth, Sea & Sky, and see my transferring as a wonderful opportunity to connect another university with this organization. It is my hope to start a student group at GWU that raises money for Earth, Sea & Sky, and to educate the student body to raise awareness about sustainable tourism, and marine habitat conservation.

Ultimately, it is my goal for GWU’s alternative break program to give even more students an opportunity to volunteer with the organization that inspired me to fight for the environment. Earth, Sea & Sky has a very special place in my heart. I want to do everything I can to give back to the organization that gave so much to me.

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Earth Sea and sky staff are helpful, considerate and friendly. Helping us to settle in and teaching us about the Loggerhead turtle. The loggerhead is endangered and the burgeoning tourist industry on the island is destroying the turtle’s precious nesting sites.

Volunteers from many different countries, come help Earth Sea and Sky at their centre near the Gerakas beach. Here we talked to visitors, teaching them how to be turtle friendly tourists. We also encouraged donations and gift shopping so the dream of opening the turtle rescue centre will be achieved very soon.

I loved the early morning beach surveys as we walked Zakynthos’s beautiful beaches, observing turtle and other wild life activity.

Our comfortable accommodation was set in a Greek olive grove, with goats and chickens nearby and a pleasant fifteen minutes walk to the Earth Sea and Sky centre. Numerous swimming beaches, taverna and essential shopping spots are also only a short walk away.

This experience has reminded me to look after all endangered wild life wherever it is. Yannis, Jonna and Earth Sea and Sky are batting for the loggerhead turtles.

In New Zealand, where I live, we also have endangered species, mostly rare native birds. I am challenged to get involved and make a difference here too.

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