Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida
SCCF Opportunities for Visitors to be Featured at March Chamber Luncheon
Sanibel Sea School Director Shannon Rivard will be the lead speaker at the SanCap Chamber’s Business Luncheon on March 18 at the Sanibel Community House. She will share a new video, brochure, and content for island resorts’ websites that feature ways visitors can explore, learn, and take part in conservation with SCCF. Coastal Watch Director Kealy Pfau will top off the presentation with a lightning pitch on this year’s Voluntourism opportunities.
Funded through a FY 25-26 Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) Attractions Marketing Grant, the media kit invites visitors to explore with purpose and connect with nature and conservation through SCCF programs, including:
- weekly beach walks led by Marine Science Educators to explore the wrack line
- private on-land and paddling family/group experiences
- dropping off the kids for a day of ocean/estuary exploration
- volunteering to restore mangroves, oyster reefs, or gopher tortoise habitat
It will be distributed through a SanCap Chamber eblast to all members following the luncheon. All digital assets — the video and website content — will be downloadable.
Brochures will be available at the luncheon, in the Chamber lobby, and at Sanibel Sea School.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Shannon Rivard
As Director of Sanibel Sea School, which is part of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), Shannon leads a team of educators, developing a hand-on curriculum and fosters community partnerships to further Sea School’s mission of improving the ocean’s future one person at a time.
Through fostering new programs, classes, and camp opportunities, Shannon helps to create meaningful relationships between people, marine life, and our oceans.
Shannon is an experienced marine science educator with a robust background in informal education and working in the non-profit sector. With a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami and a Master of Professional Science in Marine Conservation from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Shannon has built a career centered around marine conservation and education.
She joined Sanibel Sea School in 2017 as a Marine Science Educator, where she taught hands-on, field-based marine science courses to a diverse audience. Her passion for the school’s mission and innovative teaching style led her to her current role as Director.
Shannon embodies the mission phrase of “Ocean Love” every day at Sanibel Sea School. Her leadership, creativity, and passion have made a lasting impact on the lives of countless children and families across Southwest Florida.
Kealy Pfau
Kealy grew up in Iowa and spent her childhood vacationing in Florida, where she fell in love with coastal wildlife and habitats. Kealy attended the University of Tampa, where she studied Environmental and Marine Science. After her studies, she worked for The Audubon Society, monitoring and protecting nesting shorebirds on beaches in Florida and Massachusetts.
As Coastal Watch Director at SCCF, Kealy is responsible for planning and carrying forth conservation initiatives on Sanibel and Captiva. She is passionate about our coastlines, conservation, and public outreach, and is continually expanding her role in engaging the community on a deeper level.