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    Catalina Falconry Experience

    4.9 (74 reviews)
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    GYR hawk
    Sean B.

    Let me start from the beginning, I've been going to Catalina Islands for many many years and have enjoyed Avalon tremendously. In my time on the island, I've noticed a falconer, keeping the area free of seagulls and nuisance birds. I have spoke to the falconer many times his name is Dave, very nice dude and very willing for any conversation about his job. Well, while we are walking around in the afternoon Friday, we found him and talked to him briefly again and he explained to us that he had a class on Saturday at 9:45 and to go online and sign up, with myself and two of my friends, I did and I can't tell you what very cool and satisfying experience and educational to boot Dave and his co-worker Kristy were awesome! We got to see and hang out with 4 different birds of prey First was a GYR hawk, very cool, second was a Harris Hawk, with this Hawk, "willow" we were treated to a fly on and landing on each of own hands, with a glove....we were clearly informed on how to handle our portion of the experience...totally professional. The third bird was a perigon falcon and the last was an Eurasian Eagle owl....huge!!! Very impressive. Our host was Dave, very personal and very well versed in his business. Can't say enough nice things about Dave. The way he explained everything and his personal interactions with each of us class people was very helpful. Once again thanks again for the experience

    Brett B.

    This is a must see experience! Jerry and Dave are fantastic teachers of the history of falconry. The best part is the up close inaction you get by going here. You actually have a raptor land on your gloved hand, surprisingly, the bird was much lighter than I expected. If you love nature and animals, this is the one stop to make on any visit to Catalina island.

    Misty B.

    And incredible interactive experience with amazing birds. Husband and wife team working to educate about the birds and how they function in the world. This is a must when on Catalina Island

    Matt C.

    What an amazing experience! Our falconer Dave shared his love for raptors with us and we enjoyed every moment. It was a mix of education and entertainment as we learned about the birds background and benefit to humans over thousands of years of history. I'm going to take my kids when next time we visit the island.

    Jenn C.

    What an incredible experience from start to finish. Dave and his team are so professional and full of knowledge. Their birds are all fascinating and our group walked away amazed at all we learned. Getting to get a taste of being a falconer for a day was awesome! Got some great photos and highly recommend this not to miss experience.

    lisa m.

    My son chose this experience and while I was excited for it--I didn't know how much our whole group would love it! Everything about the experience was top-notch. We met at a beautiful grassy area that overlooked the water and the harbor. From the moment we arrived, Dave and Gina were welcoming and kind. We got to meet and interact with 5 different birds. They gave us an overview about the animal and the history of the animal in the context of human history (like the role of falconry in the Middle East). You also get to have the chance for the hawk to land on your arm and watch the birds feed. We got lucky and a bald eagle also flew over during our experience. We were part of a Disney Cruise group excursion--but the group was small and we really felt like we had an "exclusive" and "behind the scenes" experiences. Many thanks for Dave and Gina for a wonderful morning getting to see Ruby and the other birds!

    Dave was an amazing falconry, educated us about the species of birds they currently have. He respected his birds very well and handle them properly. Healthy beautiful birds. From the eagle Owl to the Gyrfalcon. Love them all definitely worth the experience and to do again as an activity on the island 10 stars

    An unforgettable and educational experience! Dave went out of his way to make sure everyone in our group had a meaningful interaction with the birds. My 10-year-old son had an absolute blast, he even made a point to find Dave again later in town! I highly recommend doing this at least once. Not only is it incredibly fun, but it also supports a great cause. A solid 10/10, would absolutely do it again!

    Dave & Paxson, Gyrfalcon

    What an exhilarating, beautiful experience it was taking part in the Catalina Falconry Experience recently with my best friend! Dave and Gina were both incredibly knowledgeable, humorous and full of compassion & respect for these incredible birds. We enjoyed meeting and interacting with Willow, Ruby, Paxson and Tess who were all amazing sports & stars of the show. We learned so much & are grateful for this epic experience. We would highly recommend!! Book this now!!! Thank you again, Dave & Gina!! Lory & Tova

    Flying
    Tony G.

    If you love birds, don't miss out on this chance of a lifetime. Stunning raptors and the owl Ruby is a beauty. So informative and fun. Dave was a wealth of information and also the falconer that keeps all of Catalina free of sea gull poop. His beautiful falcons keep the casino and town clean. We got some photos on our phones to frame because of this up close and personal experience. Very memorable.

    Duke taught us a little about his job.
    Marilou Q.

    We spent a good two hours meeting and learning about these beautiful birds. It was an honor to get up close and personal with a Gyr Falcon, a Peregrine Falcon, a Harris Hawk and a Eurasian Eagle Owl, and to delve into Dave's knowledge about these and other birds of prey. It's clear that this is a passion as well as a career for Dave. He speaks about his charges with fondness and humor, and was willing to share information with anyone within earshot. Having participated in a previous falconry experience, we thought we knew what to expect, but were wowed by the variety of birds and the time we could spend close to them. Still feeling the awe and excitement hours later! Side note: the Harris Hawks have a side gig in the community, working as seagull mitigation. Look for them if you're in downtown Avalon!

    Dave and his peregrine flacon you could pet.

    Dave and his staff are very kind and respectful of their birds. The are knowledgeable about the history of this sport, and their individual bird, which make this unique experience a one in a lifetime adventure. He knows which birds are Ok with being touched, and which aren't. Dave is very clear on his instructions, and if you follow them your experience will be incredible. I was so surprised how light Willow, our HArris hawk, was. She was also extremely gentle when she landed. This is a must see if you're visiting Catalina!!!

    Participated in the Catalina falconry experience and was excellent as usual! I love how this program gets you up close and personal with hawks, owls and falcons. You get to meet the birds, touch them and really learn about them and their history in falconry. Dave does a great job keeping the experience fun, educational and interactive. We love this experience and have participated three times. It never gets old and where else are you able to have a stunning hawk literally eat out of your glove?!?! Very cool experience, I highly recommend!

    Dad & Duke

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    Dave and his birds are amazing. Very informative and professionally done. A great experience for the whole family.

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    10 months ago

    Great experience. Unique and fun thing to do on Catalina island. Can't find similar anywhere else

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Catalina Falconry Experience

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    Review Highlights - Catalina Falconry Experience

    Dave was a wealth of information and also the falconer that keeps all of Catalina free of sea gull poop.

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    Catalina Island Marine Institute - Bunkbeds

    Catalina Island Marine Institute

    3.8(42 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    I chaperoned my child's middle school trip in September 2025 and was very impressed by the…read moreexperience. To clarify: this is a camp. It's not a resort, hotel, or glamping and so my review is of a camp. The staff are attentive, well trained, coordinated, knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. The food is good camp food. The program is educational and fun. There's a strong emphasis on safety and creating a safe space. The equipment is good quality and well maintained. The bunk houses are standard camp bunk houses: a safe and comfortable place to sleep. That's it. They're clean enough but they're bunkhouses with bunks. I, my child, and the rest of the class enjoyed the boat ride to and from, the activities, the food, and the staff. Highly recommend this experience.

    My son went here as part of AP Biology class and he had a great time. One of my daughter's friends…read morefrom a different school also went as part of her AP Biology class and she also said it was the best time ever. You have to take a ferry ride from California. You then stay in a small cabin which has about 10-11 kids together (see photo). Room is messy but remember these are AP Bio kids. There are educational lectures but also some swimming with wetsuits and hiking. Not alot of sleep but a great time. The food is catered. One day was orange chicken. They did need to bring something for breakfast on Friday, the day of arrival. One big benefit to being tortured in AP Biology.

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    Catalina Island Marine Institute - 2023

    2023

    Catalina Island Marine Institute - View from up high on from Bible Trail

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    Campus By The Sea - The camp life guard on watch over campers swimming and snorkeling in beautiful Gallagher's Cove next to the iconic pier.

    Campus By The Sea

    4.7(20 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Catalina island was the most thrilling, exhilarating, lively, stimulating, and engaging, time…read moreever!!!! I went there for science camp in 6th grade and it was a blast! I would never say no to this place. I was very impressed with the food, one night it was spaghetti with garlic bread and the next night was tacos and burritos, you would never know what you would get! but always expect something good. Now talk about the cabins, the cabins were actually really nice, 4 bunk beds, that fit my cabin group perfectly. Next to the bathrooms, the showers were really nice and warm for a deserted island but make sure when you are in the bathrooms you make sure you leave nothing in there, because my friend left her brand new expensive hat in the bathroom, and next time she saw it it was in the toilet. They do have a lost and found but just make sure you don't lose anything. But try not to just leave your stuff in the bathroom but even at your cabins there's a lot of wild animals out there, when i was there i saw a lot of deer and also when i went on a 5 mile hike up on a huge hill we saw a rattle snake, foxes, and even bison. We also went snorkeling and it was so cool and amazing to the all the fish I saw a lot of garibaldi, and I even got to tough one it was kind of difficult but very, very cool. Garibaldi fish are named after the 19th-century Italian general, Giuseppe Garibaldi, whose followers were famous for wearing bright orange shirts. This is a fitting tribute to the fish's brilliant orange-red coloration and its fiery, territorial nature. tide pools were super duper fun. My class got to walk in the tide pools and see fish and a lot of crabs. but don't make the mistake of wearing adidas while walking in the tide pools. I definitely recommend crocs, water shoes, or booties. especially for when you are going in the water, this was one of my least favorite things at all, you had to walk on a bunch of rocks and it was clear so you could see all the rocks but still hurt a lot. Also one of my favorite things was kayaking. We kayaked more than 2 miles, 1.4 miles to our stopping point and obviously 1.4 miles back. For kayaking I would definitely recommend wearing shorts, a bathing suit and a lot of sunscreen like for real I got very sunburnt there so just make sure you were sunscreen.

    My family and I have been going to this camp for 35 years--in fact, my parents went in the 1960s…read more The rustic setting and gorgeous ocean view with palm trees and an iconic rock jetty always bring me a deep sense of peace and joy as I get to experience the wonder of nature. I have been so blessed by this camp that I now volunteer my time there when I am able. I have been three times this summer, and each time the staff have been incredibly gracious and hospitable. The food is delicious, prepared from scratch by hand, and it's amazing the quality they consistently produce for groups of 200 or 250, including their fresh-baked bread and famous cinnamon rolls. I highly recommend this camp for groups. Even a weekend-getaway or a midweek conference will be enhanced by the incredible setting and hospitality, and it always makes the hour-long boat ride across the channel well worth it.

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    Campus By The Sea - The sign where everyone takes their picture

    The sign where everyone takes their picture

    Campus By The Sea - Beat the huge beach crowds with our quarter mile of private beach on our secluded cove, on the leeward side of Catalina Island.

    Beat the huge beach crowds with our quarter mile of private beach on our secluded cove, on the leeward side of Catalina Island.

    Campus By The Sea - Seaside amphitheater perfect for worship and camp songs near our private beach on Catalina Island.

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    Catalina Sea Camp - Beachfront

    Catalina Sea Camp

    4.3(11 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    To improve, 1.when you say the class schedule is going to be emailed on Friday then send it…read more Instead, told on Friday will get it when we arrive. We asked when we arrive to drop off still no list of what they are doing and when. 2. Just pretend that Jacque might care when kids are bullying your child. He went to her the first day and said he needed a new cabin because the kids were mean and the counselor in the cabin and she refused. Pretty much said handle it. After that he did not want to go to any of the classes he signed up for because there was always one of the kids from the bullies in that class. Then it was hard because there was no direction on the classes for a kid with dyslexia. I could go on and on but I'll just say unless your child or teen is going with a friend find a different camp.

    Both my sons went to Catalina Sea Camp one week session. My 9 year old has adhd I was told by Jaqui…read morethat they are not counselors or therapists so they cannot accommodate him. My 11 year old was accused of cussing at a camper and jaqui made him sit out for the last day of camp. I spoke to my son and he told me he didnt cuss and I believe him when I asked him how camp was he told me he wasn't having fun and that Jaqui was mean to him based off of her connection with the other camper. I thought my kids were going to have a great experience instead it was the total opposite when I asked to speak to my son jaqui hung up the phone. I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor. Spoke with a gentleman named Paul I will say that Paul was respectful and very understanding and willing to fix the situation I think they should fire Jaqui to be honest. Ruining a child's summer experience based off hear say is totally not fair. Just want to give parents a heads up before they send their kid.

    All Life Education - We are here to help

    All Life Education

    5.0(3 reviews)
    46.9 miJefferson Park

    Jason was my college counselor when I was preparing for SATs and college applications. I do not…read morethink there is enough emphasis in getting guidance on college applications; however, considering how stress-inducing it is for students, it is pivotal to work with Jason to not only get assistance will the application but guidance on your path to college. He is exceptionally intelligent with a huge background in education and teaching. He always prioritizes his students and establishes an honest, comfortable space to ensure that his students are well taken care of. Before working with Jason, I never had any intention of attempting to go to a better university other than my hometown college; however, not only did he help me find confidence, but he guided me into valuing myself as an individual and student. Till this day, I still hold onto the advice he has given me that helped me grow in my college career and corporate career. If you are a parent or a student, do not miss the opportunity to work with Jason.

    I was Jason's student for a little over two years, from the time I was in 7th grade to 9th grade. I…read moream now a sophomore in college, but I think about what Jason taught me every now and then. Jason was my first creative writing teacher. At the time, I did not know what writing could look like or do. I liked to read, so I just wanted to copy what I saw. But Jason took me seriously despite my lack of experience and knowledge, so I learned to take writing seriously. He did not focus on formalities and techniques right away. First, he taught me to look for stories in everything I watched and read. He showed me good movies, animated shows, comic books, articles, and more of all genres. What I appreciate most about him now is that he did not look down on any storytelling medium. He taught me not to be pretentious. When I started to write with him, Jason was encouraging and honest. He pushed me to write about myself for the first time. Before him, I did not know you could write about yourself unless you were a celebrity because I had not been exposed to nonfiction. He pushed me to experiment with form because he prioritized expression over formalities. I learned to be critical when editing by watching him edit my writing. I watched him pay attention to how writing sounds in one's head, which informs my writing to this day. He did not force me to write in a specific style, which I realize now is why I even have my own style. I am still writing in creative writing classes here at college and in my free time. If it were not for Jason, I would probably not be writing. I would probably not be at the school I'm in. I would probably not enjoy movies and shows across all genres, and would definitely not look for stories in everything I consume. He really is a great teacher and mentor.

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    Catalina Falconry Experience - active - Updated May 2026

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