Livable Future Forum
2024-10-23 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-11-13 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
How do we meet our community’s needs without compromising the environment and all that makes Central Oregon so incredible?
Through our Livable Future Forum, we’ll explore that question and more as LandWatch program directors chat with knowledgeable local leaders about land use and livability topics. From the fascinating life and times of mule deer to the reality of farming in the high desert to the creative work of developing Complete Communities, you’ll gain new insight into the many ways land use decision making is foundational to life in our region — and learn how you can participate in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future for Central Oregon.
Events will be on Oct. 3, Oct 23, and Nov. 13. All events will start at 7 pm and take place at Open Space Event Studios in the Bend Central District.
Each event in this three-part series will feature a LandWatch program director in conversation with fellow local experts covering a range of topics on land use and regional livability.
REGISTER FOR ALL THREE EVENTS
On October 3, we’ll start out by looking closely at the lives of mule deer, with the High Desert Museum’s Curator of Wildlife Jon Nelson. You see deer often, but how much do you know about this shy, fascinating species? Find out.
GET TICKETS FOR OCT 3 ONLY
On October 23, we’ll talk about farming in the high desert with local farmers and ambitious entrepreneurs Megan Kellner-Rode and Cate Havstad.
GET TICKETS FOR OCT 23 ONLY
And, on November 13, following hot on the heels of the national election, we will host a lively session all about how we can act locally to create Complete Communities to ensure a more equitable, climate-resilient future.
GET TICKETS FOR NOV 13 ONLY

Sunsetting Solarize: Your Last Chance to Go Solar with Solarize Deschutes
2024-10-28 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Don’t miss out on this final opportunity to explore solar energy for your home through the Solarize Deschutes campaign before it ends on October 31st! Whether you’re just starting your solar journey or have already received a quote, this event is your chance to get expert advice, learn about current tax credits and incentives, and connect with other homeowners making the switch.
What to Expect:

Expert Guidance: Have your solar questions answered by professionals and get tailored advice based on your needs.
Bring Your Proposal: If you’ve already received a quote, bring it along for additional insights and guidance.
Learn About Solar: If you’re new to the process, we’ll walk you through how solar works, the benefits, and how you can join the campaign before the deadline.
Exclusive Discounts: Sign up for a no-obligation solar assessment by October 31st to lock in discounted pricing and see if your home qualifies.
Fun for All: Kids’ activities, light snacks, and beverages provided, making it easy to drop in anytime from 4:00–6:00 PM.
Bonus Resources: If solar isn’t the right fit for your home, learn about additional energy-saving options

About Solarize Deschutes: Solarize Deschutes is a community-powered initiative aimed at making solar energy more accessible and affordable in Deschutes County. Led by The Environmental Center, Energize Bend, and community members, this campaign has helped local residents discover their solar potential through discounted rates and community support.
If you need to request custom analysis of your home and a bid, make sure to do so before October 31st. If you have any questions, please connect with us at solarize@envirocenter.org.
This is your final chance to get involved before the sun sets on this campaign, so don’t wait—join us and see how easy it can be to go solar!
REGISTER HERE

Climate Resilience in Housing Panel
2024-10-29 12:00 - 13:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
RSVP HERE!

How to Make Decisions About Energy Investments for Affordable Housing
2024-10-29 16:00 - 17:30 | Azimuth 315, Northwest Labiche Lane 2155, Bend, Oregon, 97701, United States
Guidance on How to Make Decisions About Energy Investments for Affordable Housing
Join us on October 29 at the Azimuth 315 Apartments in Bend for a thoughtful discussion with local leader and Energy Trust Net Zero Fellow Rob Roy, who will share replicable strategies for analyzing and making decisions about energy investments in commercial construction. Research is based on comparisons of modeled and operating performance of three Pacific Crest Affordable Housing projects in Bend. The event space, Azimuth 315, is one of the case studies featured in his research.
Through his research, Rob evaluated the efficacy and replicability of Pacific Crest’s financial model, which considers the long-term monetary impact of implementing various energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems. Rob also developed a tool that other affordable housing developers and design teams can use to evaluate the impacts of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems over the lifespan of their projects.
Rob Roy has established himself as an industry leader by building some of the most energy-efficient affordable multifamily buildings in the nation. Rob led the research with funding from Energy Trust of Oregon’s Net Zero Fellowship. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with Rob about the research and its applicability to your own work.
About Net Zero Fellow Rob Roy
Rob Roy is a founding partner and co-manager of Pacific Crest Affordable Housing and has extensive experience with all facets of building and development, from financing and construction to planning and land use. His 32 years of experience navigating complex public-private partnerships, alongside his work as a three-time Olympic snowboarding coach, have refined his collaboration, negotiation and business skills.

Happy Hour & Instream Collective Launch Party
2024-11-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Confluence Fly Shop, 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Come to enjoy a beverage and talk fishing, rivers, and conservation with the DRC crew and supporters. Join fellow river enthusiasts in learning about our work and how YOU can help us Raise the Deschutes.
Become a supporting member and help steward this precious resource that makes Central Oregon such a special place to call home. The Instream Collective – where your investment becomes our future flows.
*This is a free event and you do not need to be a member to attend.

OSU-Cascades Science Pub: Mapping War Zones via Satellite
2024-11-19 17:30 - 19:00 | OSU Cascades – Edward J. Ray Hall, Atrium, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Join Jamon Lee Van Den Hoek, Associate Professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, for a guest lecture on mapping conflict zones with satellite at the November Science Pub.
In war torn areas, physical damage can be immense and reporting of it inconsistent or worse, unreliable. Learn how Jamon Van Den Hoek and his team in the Conflict Ecology Lab use open satellite data to monitor damage caused by armed conflict and to develop new approaches to map refugee movements and assess environmental and climatic change in politically fragile contexts around the globe. The lab’s maps and data covering the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have been published in the New York Times, BBC, Al Jazeera and other major global news outlets.

Food Provided (Heavy hors d’oeuvers prepared by OSU-Cascades EDGE Catering No-host bar with beer, cider, wine and non-alcoholic beverages)
REGISTER HERE

Groundwater Grief, River Relief: The Status and Future of Central Oregon’s Water Supplies
2024-11-21 11:30 - 13:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
Central Oregon faces unique and evolving challenges in water use, driven by new state-imposed groundwater rules layered on top of complex and often arcane water rights allocations. Join moderator Emily Cureton Cook of OPB and a panel of water experts as they unpack the complexities of managing this precious resource in a region dealing with prolonged drought, population growth, and competing needs from agriculture, tribes, and urban areas.
Confirmed Panelists:

Bobby Brunoe, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Ed Fitch, City of Redmond

Beneath the Surface: Navigating Oregon's New Groundwater Rules and Their Impact in Central Oregon
2024-12-16 17:30 - 18:30 | Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Understanding the largest change in Oregon’s water policy in decades. What changed? Why did it change? And what does it mean for the future of water in Central Oregon? Register here!

Home Energy Assessment: Empower Your Home
2025-01-15 14:00 - 15:00 | Becky Johnson Community Center, 412 SW 8th St, Redmond, OR 97756, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
Do you qualify for upgrades to lower home energy costs?

This event will be recorded. A link will be available here later.
Join The Environmental Center (TEC) for a hands-on session on improving comfort and reducing energy costs for your home! TECs mission is to weave sustainability into the everyday lives of Central Oregon residents, and we’re committed to helping underserved communities access resources for a healthier, greener future.
The Environmental Center and Energy Trust of Oregon are collaborating to provide energy-saving solutions to communities that have often been overlooked, including low- to moderate-income households, people of color, Indigenous communities, individuals with disabilities, and rural residents. Through our free energy assessments, you’ll be connected to incentives and resources that make home upgrades like insulation, efficient heating, hybrid water heaters, and new windows more affordable, comfortable, and accessible.
In addition to sharing resources for TEC’s free program, resources for standard incentives beyond the program will be shared, so there’s something for everyone trying to have more sustainable, low-cost upgrades for your home. Find out more about the Home Energy Assessment program at https://envirocenter.org/programs/the-energy-challenge/hea/
Event Highlights:

Learn how the Home Energy Assessment program works and whether you qualify for assistance.
Get guidance on signing up and accessing free or low-cost energy upgrades.
Connect with Environmental Center staff ready to answer your questions about sustainability upgrades.

Questions? Contact laurelw@deschuteslibrary.org

Green Energy Series #24: Electrical Panel Upgrades
2025-02-01 10:00 - 11:00 | OR
The free, monthly Green Energy Series takes a closer look at topics related to energy, solar + storage, and green technology.

Register Here!

Raising the Deschutes: Challenges and Solutions for Our Rivers
2025-02-20 17:30 - 19:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The rivers of the Deschutes Basin are vital, supporting fish and wildlife, agriculture, and recreation. However, challenges like low streamflows and water quality issues threaten their health.
Join the Deschutes River Conservancy to explore what makes the basin special, the challenges it faces, and the collaborative efforts to restore streamflows, improve water quality, and ensure a sustainable water future for generations to come.
Doors open at 5:30. Program starts at 6 pm.

February 20, 2025
Worthy Brewing
Free

Registration: https://www.deschutesriver.org/event/raising-the-deschutes-challenges-and-solutions-for-our-rivers

Fossils and the Future: Lessons from Oregon’s Ecological Past
2025-03-12 19:00 - 20:00 | OR
Spend an evening with Oregon Natural Desert Association as they continue the High Desert Speaker Series by uncovering the fossilized world of eastern Oregon. Dr. Samantha Hopkins, University of Oregon Professor and Earth Sciences Department Head, will take you on a journey through time as she reveals what Oregon’s high desert fossils tell us about the past, present and future. You’ll explore a few fossilized mammals of eastern Oregon and discover what these creatures tell us about the desert ecosystem 30 million years ago. Samantha will also explain how fossils reveal changes in ecosystems and communities over time and what those shifts can tell us about our future in a changing climate.

Sailing the Sagebrush Sea
2025-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Stretching hundreds of miles east from Central Oregon, this expanse of sagebrush desert is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, stores vast amounts of below-ground carbon, and intertwines deeply with multiple cultures and economies. Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Anya Tyson for a talk on the unsung majesty and magic found in sagebrush desert. Anya will also dive into the trends, challenges, and opportunities that shape this region’s future. This presentation is free and ticket sales open one month prior to the event.
Nature Nights are free, but a ticket is required. Please register online: deschuteslandtrust.org

Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety and Health
2025-03-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd., Bend, Oregon, Bend, OR, United States
Join EMO’s 12th annual Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit on March 16, 2025!
“The Earth Summit is a valuable opportunity to revitalize our community connections and raise up local leadership as together we take faithful action in response to climate change.” -The Rev. Richenda Fairhurst, Chair, EMO Creation Justice Committee
The Earth Summit will take place in communities all over Oregon. Explore how climate change affects your safety and health—and what you can do about it. Connect with your community and key organizations. Learn how to protect yourself and your neighbors. Sign up to take the next step with others.
This gathering is both in-person and on Zoom, held simultaneously with 15 other locations across the state. The first part of the event will be a plenary session on Zoom, with participants watching together from their locations across Oregon. Practical workshops will follow on Zoom and in-person.

Beneath the Surface: Desert Mussels
2025-03-19 18:00 - 19:00 | OR
Join Oregon Natural Desert Association for the final event of the High Desert Speaker Series as they dive beneath the surface of high desert streams and into the hidden world of mussels. Alexa Martinez, Wildlife Biologist at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, will shed light on the fascinating lives of native mollusks thriving in the waterways of eastern Oregon. Alexa will share the unique habitat of each mussel species and discuss how snowmelt feeds the watersheds that sustain these creatures. Come learn how these often-overlooked species play a critical role in maintaining the health of the desert ecosystems.

Tertulias . . . ¡de película!: Santuario
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 | OR
Empezamos nuestro ciclo de cine celebrando el día de la Tierra, con el documental “Santuario” de Álvaro Longoria. Un hermoso documental sobre la iniciativa de protección ambiental para crear el santuario marino más grande de la Tierra en el Océano Antártico. Disfruta una noche en comunidad, cine, snacks y reflexiones al final de la película.
Tertulias . . . ¡de película! es un programa que busca proveer espacios de conexión para comunidades hispanohablantes. Durante estas tertulias hablamos abiertamente y sin prejuicios sobre nuestras ideas y sentires a partir de la interacción con el arte cinematográfico y documental. Un lugar en el que se le de rienda suelta al mundo de las ideas y de autoeducación popular, con el lenguaje español como el vehículo que conecta.
Ubicación: Envía un correo electrónico a juliana@oregonhumanities.org para registrarte y recibir la dirección.
Organizan: Oregon Humanities en colaboración con BENDITAS, The Environmental Center, y OSU Cascades.
¡Pregúntanos por el apoyo que ofrecemos para cuidado de niños!

January 8th Forum: Slippery Slopes - Why Oregon’s Recreation Industry Is on Thin Ice
2026-01-08 08:00 - 09:30 | Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, Central Oregon Community College, Bend, 2600 Northwest College Way, Bend, OR, 97703, United States
Join for the First Forum of 2026!
Oregon’s outdoor recreation world is hitting a serious crunch. Unenforceable liability waivers are sending insurance premiums soaring, impacting ski areas, rafting guides, gyms, and the small businesses that keep our adventure culture alive.
Join City Club of Central Oregon on January 8 for a clear look at what’s happening, who’s affected, and what solutions are on the table.
Featuring:
• David Byrd, National Ski Areas Association
• Jordan Elliott, Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association
• Tate Metcalf, Sisters Athletic Club
• Rep. Emerson Levy, House District 53
Forum Details:
Thursday, January 8, 2026
8:00-9:30 a.m.
Central Oregon Community College, Coats Campus Center, Wille Hall
If you ski, bike, climb, paddle, or just care about the future of Oregon’s recreation economy, this forum is a must-attend.
REGISTER HERE
