The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium announces upcoming opportunities for field education: Sunrise Shell & Mollusk Strolls, Live Mollusk Counts, Guided Beach Walks, and Snail Search and Biodiversity Walks.

 

‘’Getting outside and enjoying our beautiful beaches and natural areas in Lee County is also a wonderful way to learn,’’ said Associate Director of Education Jorden Falker. ‘’These summer and fall programs offer opportunities for education, community science, and fun.’’

 

Sunrise Shell & Mollusk Strolls

Join a Museum Marine Biologist for low-tide beach strolls with good shelling conditions at Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel to learn about local mollusks and their shells, and to search for live mollusks.

  • Saturday, October 19 · 8:30am
  • Sunday, November 17 · 7:30am
  • Monday, December 16 · 7:30am

Cost is $10/adult, $5/Museum Member adult/$5 child (17 and under). Capacity is limited. Pre-registration is required at ShellMuseum.org/sunrise-stroll. Parking not included.

 

Live Mollusk Counts

Contribute to community science by walking Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel at some of the lowest tides of the year to document sightings of living mollusks. Data collected is used to help benchmark the health of local mollusk species on Sanibel.

  • Saturday, September 21 · 9am
  • Monday, November 18 · 8am

There is no cost for this program, but pre-registration is required by emailing [email protected].

 

Guided Beach Walks

Beach walks with Museum Educators include an introduction to local shells, exploration and shelling, and discussion of the morning’s finds. Beach Walks will be offered weekly at Sundial Resort on Sanibel, on Wednesdays at 9am, and will begin in December. Please visit ShellMuseum.org/beach-walks for confirmed dates and registration information.

 

Snail Search and Biodiversity Walks

Join a Museum Educator for biodiversity walks in natural areas throughout Lee County to observe flora and fauna and document land snail sightings. Information gathered contributes to community science about land snail species distribution in Southwest Florida.

  • Friday, August 9 · 10am · Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Estero
  • Tuesday, September 24 · 1pm · Pond Apple Trail, Sanibel
  • Friday, October 25 · 4pm · Koreshan State Park, Estero
  • Tuesday, November 19 · 10am · Wild Turkey Strand Preserve, Fort Myers
  • Wednesday, December 11 · 3pm · Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve East, N. Fort Myers

There is no cost for Snail Search and Biodiversity Walks, but pre-registration is required by emailing [email protected].

 

For more information on Field Education Programs please visit ShellMuseum.org or email [email protected].

 

About the Museum: The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is a natural history museum and aquarium, and the only museum in the United States devoted primarily to 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. For more information, please visit ShellMuseum.org or call (239) 395-2233.