Volunteer Programs in Rural Areas, Greece

Spending a month with Terra Sylvestris on Kalamos was an unforgettable experience. The work felt meaningful, the research was hands-on and inspiring, and the people created a genuinely supportive, welcoming community. I learned so much about conservation, wildlife, and living closely with nature, and I left feeling connected, motivated, and deeply grateful.

I absolutely loved this trip!! I got to make a real impact through hands-on community projects, all while exploring some of the most beautiful places in the world. For example, the clear blue waters and quiet villages of the Greek islands were absolutely unforgettable. What made it stand out was how immersive everything felt. Throughout the trip we really were learning, connecting, and contributing. The trip leaders were supportive, the group became like a family, and every day felt purposeful and exciting. It was the kind of experience that broadened my perspective, pushed me to grow, and left me with memories (and friendships) I know will last.

This was my first ever trip with a travel program for teens and i honestly had an amazing time. I got to see sights I've never seen before, experience a whole nother culture and make new best friends. During my trip we spent a week in Corfu Greece which was wonderful, we did our service there and connected with the locals on the island and the food was AMAZING. We also went to Italy which we saw such beautiful sights and got to swim in the ocean, having enjoyed a boat trip along the amalfi coast. Overall would totally go again!

I went to Kalamos island for an internship linked to my studies for a duration of 1 month. This is a real good opportunity to meet wonderful people and to an interresting program. the work wasn't exactly what I had in mind when i sent my application because of a lot of computer work but i leave with really good memories and I hope that i will have the possibility to come again to Kalamos. Thank you Georgia and Ted for having welcoming us as you did. I wish you the best ;)

I had a great time in Terra Sylvestris, with a perfect balance between work and rest. The work is physically hard but in a beautiful and small island and there is no specific knowledge to have. I participated in the bird monitoring and the camera trapping for monk seals, it was like adventures and hikes. And of course I helped gardening. We learned things about permaculture and the island community. You can enjoy the beach everyday after your morning work! Thanks Ted

I had really good time within the organisation. The place is beautiful and it is really nice to explore the island while listening birds or placing camera traps for seals. Also, we have some free time to enjoy this beautiful place and to garden within the nice garden of the house !!

A rewarding and interesting stay with Terra Sylvestris. I was lucky enough to go to both of the association's camps, which allowed me to see a lot of different things. Beautiful setting and incredible volunteers.

My experience in Kalamos and Kastos was WONDERFUL.One of the most interesting projects I've done. Good availability carried out by great variety carried out by Ted. I had a good time with the group, willing and available companions from all over Europe (for the period in which I was there), thank you very much for this experience which I will probably repeat. I really appreciate the work that Ted is carrying out, I hope that it will get better and better in the future and above all that awareness regarding the environment will become increasingly important

Choosing to stay at the Kalamos Island field station for a month was one of the best decisions I have made for a long time! Despite the fact that the organisation was recovering from a period of difficulty due to the heatwaves that had ravaged the Mediterranean over the summer, my experience was one of learning and discovery. Not only was the island itself beautiful (hikes up the mountain recommended, but bring plenty of water!), the people were friendly and accommodating, and I made friendships that I hope will last me a lifetime. I spent the vast majority of my time on the island working on the seagrass ecosystem monitoring project ran by the organisation, and as an undergraduate student with a passion for gaining experience in real field work that makes a difference, I cannot recommend the program highly enough!

When I booked for this project, I didn't had much expectations. But at the end I was so sad to leave. It really was one of the best experience of my life. I can't believe it already has been 6 weeks, time past so fast. Ted is really doing a great and a very important job there. He is really good at it, sometimes a bit stressed but I guess it's normal when you are doing so much. He is doing so much to protect the island, the species there, the environment, etc, I really wish you good luck and keep up the fight! The place is really nice and calm, the people I met there are awesome and my last word goes to Georgia who really made me feel at home, she is one of the kindest person I've ever met. Thank you again for everything and I wish you the best for the future! Micahit

Dear Ted Thank you so much for everything! I am amazed by your dedication to the environment, your work, and your home.You are doing amazing things and I am so glad I got to be a part of it for a few weeks. It is obvious how much you care and how educated you are. Good luck with everything!, Georgia , Thank you!!. From the moment we arrived your smile lit up the room and gave me comfort and peace. Your kind eyes made your home feel like my home instantly. Every time we talked , I learned something new-a lesson about life or a message to live by. Your kindness and generosity radiates and I will always remember how amazing it felt just to be around you!. For the first time in so long I felt completelly at peace the last few weeks. You are and incredible person and mother and I am sorry we did not get a proper goodbye( I guess I will have to come back some day!)THANK YOU!

From January to April 2022 I was at the field station on Kallamos for four months. My work mainly consisted of measuring trees, marking them, registering them, and documentation with photos. For me, working in the garden was a lot of fun but also a lot of physical work. It's amazing with how much enthusiasm, ideas and love the Director of Executive works in his garden. Besides, the beautiful lemon tree and the banana plants remain in good memory. I also edited various photos of endangered animal species and had to enter them into the system via an Exel. I was also on the neighboring island and had the opportunity to do practical work there and even set up a new camera in a cave there and set up a camp. This was a highlight, even for my life. The island as such is an example of beauty, wilderness, and often untouched nature. The old and partly newer forest, which differs greatly on both sides of the island, is beautiful. It is not unusual to see large birds there, hear a woodpecker or see other small animals such as snakes. Ted's house is generally furnished and functional. The participants must demonstrate a high level of self-discipline and be communicative, curious and self-confident. In winter we were an average of ten people, which at the time could be very tight, but on the other hand, working with this special team was always pleasant, team-conscious and also organizationally flawless. For all participants, I always recommend researching their own strengths and then pursuing them and always asking questions. Ted's love for the island is unparalleled, showing a deep childhood imprint and selfless work for this beautiful little Mediterranean island. I would also like to point out how incredibly helpful the other worker it is. She is an amazing team member is an important link who, my deepest respect, is always busy with his work. The team reacts promptly when there are problem. But like everywhere, you need to speak up. I can only recommend everyone to discover the island on their own, because nowadays it is really very rare to find a place that is largely free of people. Overall the experience was positive throughout. At this point I would like to thank you again for the wonderful Easter celebrations and I wish Ted all the best in his work in a world that is driven by money, power and an amount destruction of a world that will never exist like that again. Kind Regards

My time spent in Kalamos & Kastos was both fun-filled & educational. Ted and Georgia were amazing, and I value my new friendships with people around the world. It was a pleasure to learn about field techniques and volunteer in a biodiverse hotspot. Kastos was beautiful as well! Thank you for having me in the program. All the best,

I learned a lot at Terra Sylvestris: you not only get an insight into the work of a biologist and the collecting of data, you also meet amazing volunteers from all over the world and benefit from their experiences and perspectives regarding environmental issues and life in general. Ted is always there to answer questions. He expects commitment and motivation of the volunteers, though there is still plenty of time to relax and discover the beautiful, calm island. Also Georgia is amazing and takes care of the volunteers very well. Another great possibility: you can go to the Camp on the islands Kastos, where you live directly at a bay. I just wished, that I could had the possibility to analyze and evaluate the collected data, but I think this depends on the time one is staying. To sum it up: I am thankful for the time I spent there and learned a lot on various levels :)

I have been working as volunteer for Terra Sylvestris for two weeks in summer 2020. I took part in the Mediterranean Monk Seal programs. This was a wonderful experience which taught me a lot about how conservation works. Life on a small island can be challenging if you're used to the comfort of big cities, but Kalamos is a unknown and beautiful island with olive trees on land and blue-green coastal line. We enjoyed great time together with others.

I learned a lot of things during my stay in Kalamos. The first was that sometimes the running water is out of service ! Life on a small island can be challenging if you're used to the comfort of big cities, but you will eventually adapt. All in all, Kalamos has a lot of commodities for such a small island such as supermarkets, restaurants, cocktail bars, a doctor, ... The people of Kalamos are quite friendly as well. I recommend learning the basics of Greek, it always brings smiles from the locals. Ted is the head of the center and the person that will guide you in the work to be done. He is quite flexible on the tasks he will assign and always made sure to ask if I was okay with my assignments before giving them. I also met Georgia, another member who works with the logistics aspects of the center. She's very helpful and caring, I hope you get to meet her ! Where the island shines most is in the nature/population ratio. You could stay for a week on most parts of the island and see no one. This makes for great expeditions on land, amazing underwater life (compared to other places in the Mediterranean), and afternoons spent alone on the beach. Life does have a smaller pace here. I found it quite relaxing to spend a month taking things calmly and getting some good work done. And on the topic of good work, you will certainly learn how to do it here. You will learn about the constrains of *actual* fieldwork and how to go about them. More than techniques, I learned how to accommodate for situations, something you can only learn on the field. On the whole, I was afraid on spending a month alone stuck on a island living with people I didn't know but I ended up making good friends and leaving a bit of myself on that island.

My most memorable experience at the Mediterranean Sea Turtle Conservation program in Greece was going out on morning surveys and learning so much so quickly. Also seeing turtles on night survey laying their eggs was incredible.

I went on this trip in 2018. It was my second tft trip and I had so much fun. I met great people, tasted so much food, and got to emerge myself in a super cool cultural experience that I would not be able to experience without tft.

It was a phenomenal experience, from the international people from all over, getting to work with them in a field of our common interest to try our best to conserve vulnerable populations was the best experience ever. I enjoyed the most the morning survey.

This experience working with sea turtles in rural Greece changed my life. It set me on a path to pursue my passion for wildlife conservation. The experience I had taught me so much about myself and what I want out of life. It was an outlet for my adventurous spirit and it provided opportunities to create lifelong relationships. I also built connections with fellow GVI volunteers and staff members that will provide opportunities in the future to learn and travel. This experience was well worth the hard work and the time away from home. It was incredible and it inspired my friends and family back home to do small things to make a difference. These projects are magnificent ways to change the world through small thing that you can do. Very fulfilling.