| An emotional image of the event on 27th May at the Rescue Centre for the celebration of “World Turtle Day” - 06/06/2012 |
A few days after the successful event at the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, the celebration of “World Turtle Day”, people of ARCHELON describe their experience with excitement.
Anthoula Toyia:
Yesterday's event was a successful attempt by ARCHELON to bring people to the RC to inform them and raise their awareness about ARCHELON; many people learned about us for the first time. Also, it was an opportunity to present something different, something new to those who had already known us before the event. Of course, what personally thrilled me was when I saw many families with children of different ages, each understanding all the information we shared and enjoying it too! Whichever parent I talked to during the activities under the tent or on the platform was excited and "thirsty" to learn things and tried to participate as much as they could!
Elly Tarabe:
 An emotional image filled with sensitivity, children’s smiles and joy.
Sunday’s event, on the occasion of World Turtle Day, was living proof that, during the daunting climate of the time, people feel the need to focus their attention on the magic of nature.
The Caretta caretta brought people together: Both children and adults visited ARCHELON to meet a miraculous creature, to support it in the difficulties it is going through, and to learn more about the situation by participating in interesting activities, documentaries, children’s presentations and tours through the treatment facilities. Just for one day, the daily problems that concern all of us were put aside and the Rescue Centre was filled with sensitive people and excited children who learned about the life and plight of Caretta caretta, the dangers that endangered animals face, and ways in which we -at all ages- can contribute to environmental protection.
Special thanks to those who helped in the preparation and running of the event, and even more to those who, with their presence, helped transform a simple event into a remarkable awareness celebration!
Jane Mantarakis:
Children smiling and laughing as they played a floor game where a toy sea turtle is making its journey across the infinite ocean. .. . . . .
adults and children creatively assembling colorful beaded bracelets with silver sea turtle accents while others are drawing and gluing sea creatures for a mural of an underwater habitat. . . .
visitors taking photos, observing sea turtles who are receiving treatment for injuries at the Rescue Center . . . . .
volunteers sharing information and discussing the importance of ARCHELON’s work. . . .
groups viewing presentations about the impact that people in the community have on the environment and preservation of endangered species such as Caretta Caretta. . . . .
all individuals contributing to a fun, interesting, worthwhile World Turtle Day celebration at the ARCHELON Rescue Center on May 27.
Theodoros Benos-Palmer:
The number of visitors on World Turtle Day topped the attendance record for celebrations that have ever taken place at the ARCHELON Rescue Centre!
 The hundreds of families with children of all ages (about 450 people) managed to keep 25 enthusiastic and commendable volunteers occupied full time at 11 different activities. The use of various areas within the RC provided a strong experiential contact and provided the means to transform a Sunday stroll–visit into a great learning experience by activating the empathy of children and creating strong emotions in both the young and the old alike.
Therefore, visitors not only acquired information on endangered species in order to feel the need to protect them, but also discovered values, standards and ways to contribute. I hope this event becomes an institution so that every last Sunday of May at the Rescue Centre will be a meeting point for those who believe in the need to preserve the natural marine environment and coastal ecosystems with the sea turtle as a symbol!
Joanne Stournara:
The Turtle Day event at the Rescue Centre on Sunday was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. From the point of view of ARCHELON's staff and volunteers, the event was an excellent opportunity to both introduce newcomers to ARCHELON and to welcome back people who already knew ARCHELON. It was very successful, and at the same time enjoyable and rewarding. Each visitor – no matter what his/her age – found something of interest, whether it was watching a documentary geared to his/her age group, taking part in one of the environmental awareness activities, or seeing the turtles up close and learning about their plight. I felt that the two groups 'inspired' each other, and that a sense of good will and comradeship developed and could be felt by everyone. In fact, a mother who had attended the event wrote a brief but very heartfelt thank you note to ARCHELON.
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