The Nature Field Trips are returning in 2023. These field trips are great fun for the whole family and an excellent opportunity to discover shoreline and forest ecosystems as well as Hornby’s unique geology.

Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Youth 18 and under attend for free. For inquiries or to register, email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Spring 2023

Plants in the Forest
Sunday, April 16th, 11am – 12:30pm
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, a herbalist, botanist, birder and maker of hand-crafted tools and fibre.
Cost: $10 for adults. Children attend free.

Birdsong ID Walk
Wednesday, May 31st, Time TBA
Art will lead a slow walk through the forest focusing on birdsong identification
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: $10 for adults. Children free.
Maximum: 10 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Summer 2023

Birdsong ID Walk
Sunday, June 25th, Time TBA
Art will lead a slow walk through the forest focusing on birdsong identification
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: $10 for adults. Children attend free.
Maximum: 10 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Plants in the Forest
Friday, July 14, times TBA
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.
Cost: $10 for adults. Children attend free.
Maximum: 12 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Hear, See, and Enjoy our Local Birds
Friday July 21st, time TBA.
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: $10 for adults. Children attend free.
Maximum: 10 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Hear, See, and Enjoy our Local Birds
Friday, July 28th, time TBA.
Site will follow via email with your registration confirmation.
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: $10 for adults. Children attend free.
Maximum: 10 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Sandpiper Geology Walk and Scavenger Hunt
Friday, July 28th, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Sandpiper Beach
Join John for a fun and informative walk across the Sandpiper rocks which includes 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 fully 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 attend free.
Maximum: 25 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Tidal Walk with Steve MacDonald
Friday, August 4th
Info coming soon.
Cost: $10 for adults. Children attend free.

Sandpiper Geology Walk and Scavenger Hunt
Friday, August 11th, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Sandpiper Beach
Join John for a fun and informative walk across the Sandpiper rocks which includes 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 fully 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: $10 for adults. Children are free.
Maximum: 25 people per walk
Pre-registration is essential as space is limited. Email hornby.naturalhistory@gmail.com

Below are some images from past field trips.