The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum will expand its new Keeper Chats program, thanks to the support of Bank of the Islands.
Last spring, the Museum debuted Keeper Chats – an aquarium gallery talk held every day at 11am, during which Aquarists share their expertise on the Museum’s Giant Pacific Octopus and other marine life in the Beyond Shells Living Gallery. Based on positive visitor feedback, the Museum will add a second daily Keeper Chat (time to be announced), and Bank of the Islands has been named the presenting sponsor for 2022.
“Bank of the Islands is proud to support the Museum’s educational mission,” said David Lowden, Vice President Private Client Relations, Bank of the Islands. “The Museum’s Aquarists have incredible information to share about the animals in their care – including the Giant Pacific Octopus which captivates Museum visitors every day.”
During Keeper Chats, visitors learn about the octopus’ behavior, life cycle, nutrition, different types of enrichment and training, veterinary care, and water quality, as well as their importance to the ecosystem. Keeper Chats are included in the cost of admission to the Museum.
Learn more at ShellMuseum.org.
About the Museum: The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is a Natural History Museum, and the only accredited museum in the United States with a primary focus on shells and mollusks. Its mission is to use exceptional collections, aquariums, programs, experiences, and science to be the nation’s leading museum in the conservation, preservation, interpretation, and celebration of shells, the mollusks that create them, and their ecosystems. Permanent exhibitions on view include the Great Hall of Shells which displays highlights of the Museum’s collection of some 550,000 shells, as well as the Beyond Shells living gallery of aquariums and over 50 species of marine life. For more information on the Museum, please visit ShellMuseum.org or call (239) 395-2233.
About the Bank: Bank of the Islands, a name synonymous with island community banking since 1974, is located at 1699 Periwinkle Way, at the corner of Casa Ybel Road, on Sanibel. The Captiva office is at 14812 Captiva Drive, next to the Captiva Post Office. As the oldest locally owned and managed community bank on the islands, Bank of the Islands is proud to be the winner of 50 “Best of the Islands” awards since 1999, including being chosen the Best Island Bank for 23 years straight.
