Shell museum staff serve as site leaders for beach cleanup
Every year on July 5, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel participates in the annual beach cleanup initiative organized by Keep Lee County Beautiful.
The beaches need cleaning after the Independence Day celebrations. Volunteers across Lee County dispose of fireworks and other litter left behind before it has a chance to pollute area waterways.
Museum marine biologists Kelsey Hausmann and Jorden Falker were site leads for the Sanibel Causeway Islands. A group of 13 volunteers collected about 200 pounds — 18 full bags — of debris from 1.25 miles of shoreline. The most common items collected included plastic bottles, bottle caps, cigarette butts and socks. The most interesting item discovered was the front fender of a jet ski.
“The museum is glad to support Keep Lee County Beautiful’s efforts to help preserve our environment and protect our local marine life,” Executive Director Sam Ankerson said.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, visit ShellMuseum.org/volunteer or email Kelsey.Hausmann@shellmuseum.org.
To reach BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM, please email