Programs at the Ojai Raptor Center

See below for current education programs offered at the Center. We have on site programs for school aged groups and adults. The Center is located near Lake Casitas in Ventura County, nestled between the Los Padres National Forest and the Pacific Ocean. Meet ORC’s non-releasable ambassador raptors in live demonstrations lead by their trainers for a fascinating, intimate educational experience about raptor ecology and conservation.

*We’re on our annual summer break from on-site programs due to heat and yellow jacket activity, prioritizing the safety of our guests, birds, and staff. In the meantime, explore our off-site offerings and special events!

Meet the Ambassadors

Private & Public Education Programs at the Center for All Ages

Join us for a one-hour immersive experience in the scenic Ojai Valley, where you’ll meet our raptor ambassadors up close. Learn their unique stories, natural history, and watch live demonstrations of their natural behaviors…read more

*Available Virtually! Click Here for more information

A woman at an outdoor educational display shows a group of children and an elderly woman a large owl, with various mounted bird specimens on a table.
Close-up of an American kestrel perched outdoors with a fence, trees, and blue sky with clouds in the background.
Close-up of a barn owl with a distinctive heart-shaped face, dark eyes, and mottled brown and white feathers, standing outdoors.

Field Trips to the Center

Private Education Programs at the Center for School Aged Students

This engaging one-hour program offers students a unique opportunity to explore raptor biology through both tactile examination and live demonstrations. At our biofacts table, students will handle feathers, bones, and other specimens to understand key raptor adaptations, such as flight mechanics, hunting strategies, and sensory abilities.

Following this, students witness those same adaptations in action …read more

A group of children and a woman examining and handling various bird and animal specimens displayed on a table at an outdoor educational exhibit, with some specimens mounted on sticks and a diagram on the table.
Woman holding educational poster about owls explaining to children at an outdoor event
Close-up of a turkey vulture with a red head and dark body, standing indoors with a woman in the background.

Raptors Are the Solution

Private Education Program at the Center for All Ages

This program highlights the role of raptors in natural pest control and teaches about the dangers of pesticides. It promotes natural rodent control through exclusion methods —alongside using raptors like Barn owl boxes and hawk perches. Tailored for either students or adults, the program draws from a study ORC participated in, demonstrating the effectiveness of raptors in controlling rodent populations...learn more

*Available Virtually! Click Here for more information

An owl flying through the air while carrying a small mouse in its talons.
A green birdhouse with a slanted black roof, mounted on a tree trunk, with the logo and text 'OIA RAPTOR CENTER' on the front.
A red barn with a closed door, a small blue window above the door, and lights on the roof, with trees and a clear sky in the background.

Ojai Raptor Center’s Education Programs are supported by

Illustration of a yellow historic building under a full moon with a blue sky, with text reading 'ROTARY CLUB OF OJAI WEST' at the bottom.
Edison International logo with a stylized yellow sunburst and a green square background.
SoCalGas logo with stylized flame icon and company name in blue text.
Logo of the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society featuring a silhouette of a bird on a branch and another bird flying, with text around the circle.

“Thank you! Your presentations fill the students with knowledge, wonder, curiosity and yes passion to do what they can to protect their local raptors”

— Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Outreach and Education Coordinator