Our blog is your go-to resource.
The Environmental Center is your friendly neighborhood sustainability hub.
Our blog tells the stories of the people and organizations, the programs, tools and technologies, that make sustainability real every day. You’ll find the inspiration and resources you need to put sustainability into action in your life, at home or at work.
Be sure to check out our community calendar for upcoming events, and get to know our Partner Groups. Need a space for an event? Our door is open for learning, collaborating, and a whole lot more.
Recent Posts
The Hub
School’s out, but gardens are still growing!
June 18, 2018
It’s time to replenish our School Garden Grant fund so that MORE local kids can get outside and reap the benefits of learning in a garden. We need to raise $7,500 from donors by July 27th. Research indicates that garden-based learning generates positive outcomes for students – including physical, intellectual, psychological, and social benefits. We’ve […]
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Green Spotlight: Bend Montessori School
June 22, 2018
On any given day of the week, around lunch time at The Environmental Center, it’s common to hear the laughs of preschoolers drifting upstairs to our office from the Kansas Ave. Learning Garden below. If you look out the window, you’ll see an excited group of Bend Montessori students in reflective vests (as they just […]
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The Environmental Center is looking for a Treasurer
June 19, 2018
Our Board of Directors are looking for a new person to serve as our Treasurer. The Treasurer serves on our Board of Directors and is the Chair of our Finance Committee. The ideal candidate will have a passion for the environment and sustainability, will be comfortable with numbers and spreadsheets, will have some experience/skill with […]
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We’re Looking for a Water Education Program Intern!
June 15, 2018
Title: Water Education Program Intern Supervisor: April Farmer, Water Education Lead, Sustainability Educator Position Type: Internship Position Timeline: September through October and then in the spring April through June. Approximately 60-100 hours throughout the internship. Start date is September 3rd . Organization Overview: The Environmental Center’s Mission is to embed sustainability into daily life in […]
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Bend’s Transportation Plan: Moving People, Not Cars
June 4, 2018
The City of Bend recently launched a new planning effort, this time focused on transportation. Its purpose is to develop a plan to meet Bend’s transportation needs through 2040, when Bend’s population will reach 153,000. Yikes—that’s a lot of people trying to get around town. The City also established the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC), […]
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Meet our 2018 Spring Outdoor School Interns
May 28, 2018
The Environmental Center’s outdoor school program offers students an all-day excursion outside the classroom to a natural area. We travel to sites throughout Central Oregon – including Sawyer Park, Cline Falls State Park, Shevlin Park, and Skyliner Lodge. Students rotate through several different environmental education activities, allowing ample time for exploration and free play in […]
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Register for Summer Camp
May 14, 2018
The Environmental Center is taking our education program out of the classroom this summer! We have two programs geared at teaching students to be leaders, live lighter on the planet, and connect to the natural world. If you have questions before signing up, please call or email Jackie Wilson at 541-385-6908 x 15 . Register today! Click […]
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Our Food is Too Good to Waste
April 30, 2018
In the United States, 40% of food we are growing, raising, and cooking ends up going to waste. In an effort to increase awareness around the poignant issue of wasted food, the Rethink Waste Project, a program of The Environmental Center, is searching for residents of Deschutes County to take the Rethink Food Waste Challenge. […]
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SaveOurSphere Earthy Ale
April 20, 2018
Why celebrate Earth Day when you can celebrate Earth Week!? Worthy Brewing has a new beer on tap, “SaveOurSphere,” in honor of Earth Day this year. Between April 21 – 28th, they’ve chosen The Environmental Center to receive 50% of the proceeds from this beer. A few days ago, our staff got to sample the SOS ale […]
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Free LED Program Expands to Madras & Prineville
April 2, 2018
We’re excited to announce that The Energy Challenge is expanding its successful Free LED Program to two new communities – Madras and Prineville! Installs in Madras and Prineville will begin the last week in April, and will run for only five weeks, through May 24. We need your help to spread the word to all […]
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