The Environmental Center

AdvenTours: Deschutes River Trail and Benham Falls
2024-09-08 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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!

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

Turtle Wisdom: Personal, Political, Playful
2025-02-19 17:30 - 19:00 | COCC, 2600 NW Collge Way, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Artist Talk by Betty LaDuke

Wednesday, February 19, 5:30 p.m., West Wing Reading Room, Barber Library, COCC Bend Campus
For more than 60 years, LaDuke has traveled the globe as an artist and activist. In 2021, she began an artistic journey with her Turtle Wisdom pieces. Turtles became her symbolic storytellers, offering observations on current events. Each colorful, wood Turtle tells a story and has been created to invite conversation rather than provide answers.
LaDuke’s Turtle Wisdom exhibit will be on display at COCC’s Barber Library Rotunda from January 6 to March 25.
Barber Library is hosting an artist reception at 4:30 p.m. the same day in the Rotunda.
ASL interpretation will be provided.
FREE and OPEN to the public. Please register here to reserve a seat.

Run for Office & Organize to Win: A Training by Oregon Working Families Party & Vote Run Lead Action
2025-03-04 17:00 - 20:30 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Run for Office & Organize to Win: A Training by Oregon Working Families Party & Vote Run Lead Action
📅 Date & Time: March 4th, 5:30pm – 8:30pm (5:00 – 5:30 in-person check-in)
📍 Location: Redmond, Oregon + Virtual Option Available
Are you ready to fight back against right-wing authoritarianism and build real power in your community? The Oregon Working Families Party and Vote Run Lead Action are teaming up to bring you an empowering training designed to help you run for office and organize to win.
The far right is attacking our schools, our communities, and our democracy. The best way to fight back is by taking power locally—winning elections, organizing campaigns, and building the grassroots movements that will shape the future.
This training is for candidates, organizers, and everyday people who want to step up and lead. Whether you’re thinking about running for school board, city council, state office, or working behind the scenes to elect bold leaders, this training will equip you with the skills, strategies, and network you need to make it happen.

March Green Drinks: film screening of ZURAWKSI V TEXAS
2025-03-31 17:00 - 20:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Join us for a screening of ZURAWKSI V TEXAS, a powerful film that follows three patients from Texas denied abortion care—even while facing life-threatening pregnancy complications—and the courageous attorney fighting on their behalf.
This event will explore the intersections of Environmental Justice, Reproductive Justice, and Gender Justice.
After the film, engage in a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring representatives from key organizations working at the forefront of these issues.

Farming While Black: Reclaiming Land and Agricultural Heritage - Film Screening and Discussion
2025-04-08 17:30 - 19:30 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
In this 75 min. feature-length documentary, Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm, reflects on the plight of Black farmers in the United States. From the height of Black-owned farms at 14% in 1910 to less than 2% today. Leah and her Soul Fire family help propel a rising generation finding strength in the deep historical knowledge of African agrarianism – and its potential to save the planet.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information, visit cocc.edu/snv

Location
Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus, 97703

American Foreign Policy in a New Era with Jane Cramer, Ph.D.
2025-10-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, Central Oregon Community College, Bend, 2600 Northwest College Way, Bend, OR, 97703, United States
American Foreign Policy in a New Era
Jane Cramer, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Political Science, University of Oregon
Tuesday, October 14, 6:30 p.m., Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus
Access to the recorded version also available
Tickets:
Sliding-Scale Pricing $0-$10
Register here

Jane Cramer will explore the contours of the U.S. foreign policy debate as it plays out in a world of multiple and escalating crises and domestic polarization.
Click here for more information
