Hornby Island Community School

Hornby Island Community School holds a unique collection of fossils, skulls, insects, and mounted specimens of birds and small mammals. The exhibit is open to the community on an informal basis throughout the year and is hosted for the general public during summer months.

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Everything here has been made possible either through direct donation from community members and visitors or from our own fundraising efforts.

Land and marine mammals, rodent, bird, duck skulls and tortoise shells are an integral part of the collection.

Explore the full spectrum of local ecosystems, from rainforest, intertidal zones, wetlands to a 3 D watershed model of Hornby.

Find answers to your questions about what you found on the beach or in the woods. Compare your find to others similar in the collection.

All of the specimens in the collection have died either accidentally or naturally. The school holds provincial and federal permits allowing for their preservation.

The mink is one of three mammals in the exhibit along with 36 mounted bird specimens. The exhibit is located in a ‘classroom’ across from the library.

Students regularly visit the exhibit for science and art projects and for personal pleasure.

Sixty-five million year old ammonites, baculites and bivalves are the characteristic fossils commonly found on Hornby. Hornby Island’s geologic historic record is evident through fossils such as these.

A summer guest speaker series offers presentations on topics specific to the collection, furthering our purpose to facilitate connections between the world around and the one within.

Reference resources, drawing materials and hands-on activities are plentiful and accessible.

Here you see our eclectic display of insects and butterflies from Hornby and elsewhere.

Playground set in Douglas Fir, Balsam and Cedar trees.

Our Natural History Collection Exhibit

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