The Environmental Center

AdvenTours: Scenic Hike at Smith Rock State Park
2024-07-13 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, OR, 97760, United States
Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is excited to bring more access to the outdoors by partnering with AdvenChair to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair and the incredible team of volunteers at AdvenChair, we will enjoy the reward of stunning views and learn about the incredible geologic history of Smith Rock State Park!
Naturalist Guided Experience: Arriving at the awe-inspiring Smith Rock State Park, we. will begin our descent into the Crooked River canyon and hike along the spectacular riparian habitat. From here our options are many, from a beautiful and flat wander along the river scouting for otters and osprey to a steeper hike up a ridge for stunning views of the Cascade Mountains! Both hikes will enliven the senses and spark wonder at the fantastic geology that shapes this incredible canyon.
Learn more and register here!

Nature Journaling at Whychus Canyon Preserve
2024-07-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Whychus Canyon Preserve, Sisters, OR, 97756, United States
Interested in learning how to combine outdoor writing and sketching with your joy of exploring nature? Join Deschutes Land Trust volunteer and passionate journaler, Kolby Kirk, for a morning of learning tips and techniques for keeping a journal while exploring Whychus Canyon Preserve’s hiking trails! We’ll discuss ways of seeing and recording the landscape, explore reasons for keeping a trail journal, and learn tips for quickly sketching flora/fauna for later identification. No journaling experience needed. Registration is required.
REGISTER HERE

AdvenTours: Lava Lands National Monument Hike and Stargazing
2024-08-03 19:30 - 23:00 | Lava Lands Visitors Center, https://www.google.com/maps/place/4354'34.5N+12121'32.9W/@43.909578,-121.359151,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d43.909578!4d-121.359151?entry=ttu, Bend, OR, 97707, United States
Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is excited to bring more access to the outdoors by partnering with AdvenChair to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair and the incredible team of volunteers at AdvenChair, we will explore Lava Lands National Monument, gaining an understanding for Central Oregon’s volcanic history and immersing ourselves under the night sky!
Naturalist Guided Experience: This adventure will take us to Lava Lands, an amazing 10 square mile lava field just south of Bend. We will hit the trail and head towards the incredible Kipuka, an island of trees that thrive amongst a sea of ancient lava flows. Your guide will share stories and wisdom about Central Oregon’s uncanny geology as we search for inspiring vistas as the sun descends behind the mighty Cascade Mountains. Once the sun’s glow has waned, we will turn our attention skyward, as your guide will impart their knowledge of the twinkling heavens above!
Learn more and register here!

Art and Wine in Nature!
2024-09-07 15:00 - 19:00 | Sunriver Nature Center & Oregon Observatory, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory is home to Central Oregon’s only botanic garden, showcasing the diversity of plant life in the Great Basin ecosystem. Come wander the garden in the cool of the evening and explore local artists who use nature as their inspiration. This evening event will include wine, appetizers, and the sweet sounds of the Obsidian Jazz group.
Featured artists include Copper Moon’s sculpture, Betti Butler’s digital art, Jim Gilmore’s steel sculpture, and Michelle Adam’s photography.
This event is in memory of Harry Hamilton, a long time supporter of Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory’s mission to inspire present and future generations to cherish and understand our natural world.
Admission is free to this incredible display.

AdvenTours: Deschutes River Trail and Benham Falls
2024-09-08 08:30 - 12:30 | Benham Falls
Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is excited to bring more access to the outdoors by partnering with AdvenChair to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair and the incredible team of volunteers at AdvenChair, we will enjoy the reward of stunning views and learn about bask in the serene beauty and power of the Deschutes River.
Naturalist Guided Experience: This serene trail will take us through a forest of Ponderosa Pine among spectacular lava flows where vistas of Oregon’s backbone, the Cascade Range, stand tall in the distance. We’ll witness the seemingly placid Deschutes turn torrid as it careens over ancient lava rock falls while aspen groves sweep along the river’s edge. During our adventure, your guide will impart their knowledge of the Deschutes River’s hydrology as well as local flora and fauna.
Learn more and register here!

Día de Las Monarcas, Celebrating the Magic of Migration
2024-09-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Pioneer Park, Northwest Wall Street, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us on a special day dedicated to the astonishing migratory journey of monarch butterflies with Indigenous performances, a Mayan writing workshop, a butterfly reflection walk, and storytelling. Transportation is available upon request. Food and educational resources are provided. No registration is required. For transportation needs you can email priscilla@envirocenter.org or call/text at (541) 508-5410
Únete a nosotros en un día especial dedicado a las mariposas monarca y su asombrosa travesía migratoria. Durante este evento, exploramos la fascinante vida de estas criaturas aladas, desde sus inicios como orugas hasta su épica migración a través de la observación, talleres educativos y narración de historias. Se ofrece transporte, alimentos y recursos educativos. No es necesario registrarse. Para necesidades de transporte, puede enviar un correo electrónico a priscilla@envirocenter.org o llamar o enviar un mensaje de texto al (541) 508-5410
Thank you to our partners- Deschutes Land Trust, Oregon Wild, Vámonos Outside, and The Environmental Center

AdvenTours: Tumalo Creek Scenic Hike
2024-10-20 08:30 - 12:30 | Shevlin Park, 18920 Shevlin Park Road, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is excited to bring more access to the outdoors by partnering with AdvenChair to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair and the incredible team of volunteers at AdvenChair, we will experience a magnificent ecosystem filled with burgeoning flora and fauna, spring migratory birds, and more that find refuge and resources in Tumalo Creek.
Naturalist Guided Experience: We will begin our adventure along the crystal clear waters of Tumalo Creek. Our route will take us through a section of Tumalo canyon where we will immerse ourselves in some of Central Oregon’s finest geologic features. This scenic area just outside Bend’s front door known as Shevlin Park was founded as a beacon of conservation. Early 1900’s Bend was almost exclusively a logging community and as many areas became heavily logged, demand grew for a nearby area to be protected for recreation. In 1920, Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Company, under the guidance of Thomas W. Shevlin and Hugh O’Kane, donated the land to the city of Bend with the stipulation that it be used for park purposes. This initial donation helped establish the park, and it has been expanded over the years through additional land acquisitions.
Learn more and register here!

Winter Bird Walk with Think Wild
2024-12-01 09:00 - 11:00 | Hatfield Ponds, McGrath Road 22395, Bend, Oregon, 97701, United States
Interested in learning more about bird migration and our feathered friends who overwinter here in Central Oregon?
Join us for a morning winter bird walk led by our passionate youth volunteer and bird expert, Mason! We will learn to identify different Central Oregon bird species and discuss some of their winter adaptations and habits.
Meet at Hatfield Ponds on Sunday, December 1st at 9 am. Binoculars and field guides will be provided.
Event contact: becca@thinkwildco.org

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
