Bidding on Adventure

BIDDING ON ADVENTUREBALL AUCTION WINNERS EXPERIENCE FIELD WORK FIRSTHAND

One of the many exciting aspects of the Catalina Island Conservancy Ball each year is the opportunity to bid on exclusive experiences during the silent auction. These experiences include everything from a day with the CEO to a day in the field with conservation or education staff. Recently, Conservancy members completed experience packages they won during the 2021 Conservancy Ball auction.

Jean Walker went fox trapping for the second time, joining Sr. Wildlife Biologist Emily Hamblen. Her son Drew (now 16) went when he was 14, and this year she brought her 14-year-old son Nick.

“I had no idea everything that would be involved with trapping the foxes,” she said. “Emily is very hands on with the boys letting them do the absolute maximum they’re allowed to do and sharing about the animals.”

She said that Drew has always been very interested in animals and even hung a framed picture from his experience of him with Emily and a fox in his room. “I would say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience except that I’ve done it twice,” Walker said with a laugh. “But it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and anyone would love it.”

Julia Banning and her sister Ellie Anderson joined Plant Conservation Manager Lauren Dennhardt, Ph.D. for a day in the field with the invasive plant team, having been fox trapping several years ago.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the opportunity to go out with – in both cases – these very knowledgeable young women,” said Banning. “It’s an access to the Island and to expertise that you just can’t get anywhere else.”

While the two pulled a couple of fennel plants, they spent more time at Ben Weston Beach pulling sea rocket (Cakile maritima) since it is easy to identify and pleasant work. After a stop at Airport in the Sky for lunch, the crew visited a scrub oak grove and the Summit Vista Garden on the way back to Avalon.

“Pulling weeds was part of it, but it was so much more than that,” added Banning. “The really great part was being able to spend a day in the field, see a lot of different things and being able to talk to Lauren.”

It's an access to the Island and to expertise that you just can't get anywhere else.