Planning for Spring and Summer 2023 events is currently underway.

Summer 2022

Talks

Protecting Herring Habitat in Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel
July 21 from 1:30 – 2:30pm at New Horizons 1765 Sollans Road

The shellfish aquaculture industry operates in areas that include critical spawning and rearing habitat for the herring stock which returns to Denman and Hornby Islands each year. Recently publicized plans to expand and apply for new shellfish growing tenures could threaten the survival of this stock, and ADIMS chair, Dorrie Woodward will share her group’s initiatives to stop these developments and protect critical herring habitat. She will also bring a Parliamentary Petition on these issues, for people to sign, if they wish.

Dorrie Woodward is currently chair of the Association for Denman Island Marine Stewards, (ADIMS). She has worked with others for greater environmental protections for Denman Island’s land and marine ecosystems for many years. ADIMS is a close ally of Conservancy Hornby Island and has supported the moratorium on commercial fishing of herring since it was first organized.

Cost: Sliding scale $5 – $10 for adults.
Maximum: 50

Fresh Water on Hornby Island – What Everyone Needs to Know
Aug. 11 from 1:30 – 2:30pm at New Horizons 1765 Sollans Road

Dr. John Cox and has been conducting water-related research on the island since 2015, as a member of Hornby Water Stewardship. He will share his research offering an in-depth analyis of the sources and sensitivities of our fresh water and an exploration of what steps we might take to safeguard this essential resource.

An ‘almost retired’ geology professor from Mount Royal University in Calgary, John has spent as much time as possible on Hornby over the last ten years.

Cost: Sliding scale $5 – $10 for adults.
Maximum: 50

Walks 

Hear, See, and Enjoy our Local Birds
July 5 and 12 from 8 – 9:30am
Site will follow via email with your registration confirmation.
Children 8 years and older are welcome with and adult.

Art will lead a slow walk through the forest where participants can find birds, identify them by sight and song, and learn about their habits.

Please note the walk may be cancelled, or rescheduled, if the weather is too poor for birding (e.g., rain, high winds).

Dr. Art Martell is retired in the Comox Valley and is the Volunteer Caretaker for the K’omoks Important Bird Area. Before retirement, Art worked as a wildlife research scientist and manager with Canadian Wildlife Service and Environment Canada.  He has had a cabin on Hornby for over 30 years.

Cost: Sliding scale $5 – $10 for adults. Children free.
Maximum: 10 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Plants in the Forest
July 19 from 11am – 12:30pm or 1:30 – 3pm.
Children 7 and older are welcome with an adult.
Site will follow via email with your registration confirmation.

During this forest walk participants will learn about plant families through pattern recognition. Jenna will also introduce a variety of edible and medicinal plants. Time together will be a mix of walking, talking and nature games for all ages.

Jenna Rudolph is the founder of Soaring Eagle Nature School. She is a certified wildlife tracker, an herbalist, botanist, birder and maker of hand-crafted tools and fibre.

Location will come with your registration confirmation.
Cost: $10 for adults. Children free.
Maximum participants: 12 adults and children.
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Sandpiper Geology Walk and Scavenger Hunt
Aug. 9 at Sandpiper Beach from 10 – 11:30am
Children over 10 years are welcome with an adult.

Join John for a fun and informative walk across the Sandpiper rocks ending with a geology scavenger hunt designed for all ages.

If the day is hot and sunny, please consider bringing a sunhat and drinking water and also a pen or pencil for the scavenger hunt.

Dr. John Cox is an ‘almost retired’ geology professor from Mount Royal University in Calgary. He has spent as much time as possible on Hornby over the last ten years and loves wandering over the different rocks found at Sandpiper Beach, most of which formed around 70 million years ago!

Cost: Sliding scale $5- $10 for adults. Children are free.
Maximum: 25
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Forest Family Circles 

July 7 – Water through the journey of a whale
July 14 – Land through the language of trees
July 21 – Air on the wings of the eagle
July 28 – Interconnected relationship to all things through a surprising guest
From 10:30 – 11:30 am
Site will follow via email with your registration confirmation.
For families with children 6 years and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: $10 for each adult. Children are free.

Gather under the trees with Heather as she invites you to learn about a special treasure in the new exhibition at the Hornby Island Natural History Centre. Dive deeper and discover more about whales, trees, eagles and a surprise guest through story, nature itself, games, song, and art. Hornby Island invites you to bring your learning into the forests, waters, warm sunny air and connect with kin.

Wild strawberries, forests, and rivers share their teachings freely and they have guided Heather Royal-Brant (Haud enosaunee/Celtic) (she/her) to learn about the natural world through experience, always with the wonder and curiosity of a child, through the observant eye as an artist, and with the respect of a healer who understands that everything is medicine and all of creation is family, our kin.

Maximum: 20
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

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