Meeting Dates & Location

The Sarasota Shell Club meetings take place at 7 PM on the SECOND Thursday of each month from September through April.  We meet on the 2nd floor, Room 206, of the Albritton building of the Bee Ridge Presbyterian Church on the southwest corner of the intersection of Proctor and McIntosh Roads.  The address is 4826 McIntosh Road in Sarasota.  See the map below:

2024-2025 Meeting and Excursion Schedule: (*excursions and speakers subject to change)

Thursday, September 12 2024: First membership meeting of the season. Tara Blanchard, the first recipient of the Bopp/Timmermann Scholarship, discusses her research: “Oyster Reef Restoration in Mosquito Lagoon, FL.”

Thursday October 10, 2024: Membership Meeting. Jason Robertshaw from Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium presents: “New Crabs on the Block.” Mote is raising Caribbean king crabs to help with coral restoration. 

Saturday October 19, 2024: Shelling Trip: Sanibel Island and Bailey Mathews National Shell Museum, 10:02 a.m. -0.18 low tide.

Thursday November 14, 2024: Membership Meeting: Dr. Jose Leal from Bailey Mathews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island discusses the museum’s renovation progress in a presentation called “Life After the Flood.”

Sunday November 17, 2024: Shelling Trip: Honeymoon/Caladesi, 6:52 a.m. -0.84 low tide.

Thursday December 12, 2024: Membership meeting: Holiday gift / White Elephant gift exchange.

Tuesday December 17, 2024: Shelling Trip: Carefree Learner in Sarasota Bay.

Sunday December 15, 2024: Shelling trip: Kice Island, 7:09 a.m. -1.10 low tide.

Thursday January 9, 2025: Membership Meeting. Guest speaker is Dr. Emily Lancaster, a marine biology professor.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025: Shelling trip: Carefree Learner in Sarasota Bay.

Wednesday January 29, 2025: Shelling trip, Keewaydin Island: 7:20 a.m. -0.68 low tide. 

Thursday January 30, 2025: Shelling trip. Carefree Learner in Sarasota Bay.

Friday, Febuary 7 and Saturday February 8, 2025: Sarasota Shell Show at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

Saturday, March 1, 2025: Shelling trip, Peanut Island, 3:05 p.m. -0.81 low tide

Thursday March 13, 2025: Membership meeting, Dr. Ashley Oliphant presents: “Shark Tooth Hunting on Carolina Coast,” and discusses her forthcoming book, “The Ultimate Shell Seeker’s Guide”

Saturday, March 22, 2025: Shelling trip: Missouri Key, Florida Keys, 4:10 p.m. -0.23 low tide.

Thursday April 10: Membership meeting. Dr. Ron Bopp discusses Conchologists of America and: “Chasing Florida’s Fossil Seashells.”

TENTATIVE: Monday, April 28, 2025: Shelling trip, Jacksonville, 3:13 p.m. -1.11 low tide. Or, Cedar Key, 9:37 p.m. -0.91 low tide.