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
Farewell to Tracy, our Food Hero!
September 15, 2021
We recently said goodbye to our wonderful Garden & Nutrition Educator, Tracy Ryan, as she transitioned into a position supporting students at Jewell Elementary School. While we are sad to see her go, those that know Tracy know that she loves to laugh and her enthusiasm for life can be infectious. So we know she’ll […]
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Meet the Artists from our Welcoming Week:Multicultural Art Exhibit
There are so many amazing artists here in Central Oregon sharing their stories. This year The Environmental Center will be highlighting a few local BILAPOC, LGBTQ+ artists at our Welcoming Week: Multicultural Art Exhibit, happening for free this Thursday, September 16 from 4:30-6:30 PM, at The Environmental Center. We hope you’ll join us to share […]
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A Look Back on the 2021 Summer Youth Education Programs
September 13, 2021
As we packed away the hula hoops, animal skulls, water colors, and scoured the forest at Skyliner Lodge for lost water bottles, single shoes, and the occasional lost towel, the TEC youth education team breathed a big sigh of relief—another successful summer of outdoor based programs (and arguably our best one yet) was officially over. […]
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Green Spotlight: Grow and Give with the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance
September 10, 2021
In Deschutes County, 1 in 8 people across the County is food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. At the same time, an estimated 26% of our landfill (the one that is projected to be full by 2029) is comprised of wasted food. The High Desert Food and […]
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Petal Painting: DIY Watercolor Paints
Do you have flowers in your garden or a special bouquet beginning to wilt and whither? Let’s give those beauties another life by creating our very own, low-waste watercolors! Take this opportunity to soak in the season and colors changing all around us. Want to petal paint with us? Join us at the Welcoming Week: […]
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Thoughts From Our Naturalists in Training
September 1, 2021
At The Environmental Center, our Youth Education Team offers a variety of summer programs to enrich the minds of children, and teach them about sustainable living with hands-on activities in the classroom, the outdoors, the gardens, and beyond. We believe it’s important to foster future leaders in sustainability. That’s why the team also provides mentorship […]
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Welcome Adrienne, Our Newest FoodCorp Member
We’re very excited to announce we have another new face at The Environmental Center! Please help us welcome our newest FoodCorps Service Member, Adrienne Atkins! Adrienne started her service term at the beginning of August, and after a week of national training, jumped right into working with kids in the garden this past month. She will […]
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Rethinking Waste – Music Festival Edition
August 31, 2021
Earlier this month, our team partnered with Mini 4 Peaks to Rethink Waste – music festival edition. In collaboration with festival organizers and vendors, we worked to eliminate single use food packaging, set up ample waste sorting stations with educational signage, and coordinated a volunteer recycling crew. The result: 61% of waste diverted from the […]
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These Eco-Heroes Had a Blast Exploring Bend via Bike
August 17, 2021
Superhuman strength and magical powers only exist in comics and movies, but real-life heroes biked among us during the July Eco-Hero Adventures summer camp. After a thorough safety lesson from Commute Options, the campers were ready to go! Here’s Where the Eco-Heros Docked Throughout the Week! Navigating through Bend, fueling their transport with the energy […]
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We Wrapped up our Multifamily Recycling Project
August 5, 2021
Remember the grant we won to pilot a Multifamily Recycling Project? Well we finished the project and are excited to share what we accomplished during the past year and half. What did we do? Our Project Coordinator spent 10 weeks at four properties tabling and handing out toolkits to residents. Overall, she handed out toolkits […]
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