Shell museum expands educational capacity
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium reported that with the beginning of the new school year, it has increased its staff, transportation and supplies capacity to educate more K-12 students through its field trip and Mollusks on the Move mobile outreach program.
During the 2025-26 school year, the museum educated more than 15,000 students at over 50 schools in Lee and Collier counties. It was record participation and also the maximum number of schools that it could serve with its resources. Over the summer, the museum increased its education staff and added a second outreach program vehicle to its fleet to reach more schools and students.
“The museum’s K-12 programs are an innovative way to teach about shells, science and conservation and to support students’ learning,” Director of Education Jorden Falker said. “The impact of the programs and high demand from schools and teachers prompted the museum to make these investments, which will make it possible to educate even more students this coming school year.”
The K-12 program options include:
– Guided field trips: Students meet marine life in the aquariums, explore the Great Hall of Shells, take a guided tour with museum educators, and participate in a scavenger hunt.
– Mollusks on the Move: Marine biologists bring the mollusks to the classroom and provide an interactive experience of live mollusks, shells, games and artmaking.
– Mollusks Online: Marine biologists bring the wonders of shells and mollusks virtually to classrooms, including octopuses and other marine life.
Most of the time, the programs are available at no cost thanks to donors who support its giving program, Adopt-A-Class. Adopt-A-Class assures that students at Title I schools have access to the museum’s programs regardless of ability to pay.
For more information, visit ShellMuseum.org/k-12 or contact Jessie Macaluso at jmacaluso@shellmuseum.org.
To reach BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM, please email