The Environmental Center

Who Uses the Water in Central Oregon? Cities, Farms, Rivers, and How It’s Distributed
2026-04-20 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
As canals turn on and river levels shift, many people ask: who uses the water in Central Oregon and how is it distributed? This Raise the Deschutes seminar investigates where the water goes, who holds the rights to it, and how it is managed across an overallocated basin. We will explore municipal systems, irrigation, and instream flows, and what this water year looks like. This seminar coincides with the City of Bend’s 100th anniversary and the Deschutes River Conservancy’s 30th year.

Let's Talk Housing Solutions
2026-04-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Hosted by Central Oregon YIMBY, 1000 Friends of Oregon and Central Oregon LandWatch
What can YOU do about the housing crisis? Come find out!
Join us for an interactive workshop, learn about upcoming policy changes in Bend, explore strategies for lowering rents and affordable housing. Plus, free pizza!
Hosted by Central Oregon YIMBY, 1000 Friends of Oregon and Central Oregon LandWatch

Kiss the Ground at Caldera High School
2026-04-24 17:30 - 20:00 | caldera high school, 60925 SE 15th St,, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Join students from Caldera High School for a community movie night showing Kiss the Ground, a film about regenerative agriculture and the impacts humans have on the planet both good and bad. This event will feature a raffle at intermission with items from local Bend companies, including Sunnyside Sports, El Sancho, and Roundabout Books. All proceeds will be donated to local environmental organizations, including a suggested donation at the front doors of $5.

COMMUNITY LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RECYCLING EVENT
2026-04-25 09:00 - 15:00
Mt. Bachelor Rotary, Bend Rotary, and Greater Bend Rotary are teaming up to host
a community lithium-ion battery recycling event on Saturday, April 25. This free
event gives Central Oregonians an easy, responsible way to recycle old lithium-ion
batteries and rechargeable devices that often sit forgotten in junk drawers.
Community members are invited to bring items such as smartphones, tablets, laptops,
electric toothbrushes, power-tool batteries, rechargeable vacuums, wireless
headphones, and other lithium-ion battery-powered devices.
Drive-through locations in Bend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (61980 NW Skyline Ranch Rd.)
 Nativity Lutheran Church (60850 Brosterhous Rd.)
 Deschutes Children’s Foundation East Campus (2125 NE Daggett Ln.)
In addition, a drop-off booth will be part of the Environmental Center’s Earth Day
Celebration on April 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alpenglow Park (61049 SE 15th St.)
As our world increasingly electrifies, from vehicles to home energy systems, lithium-ion
batteries are at the center of powering a cleaner future. These batteries contain
valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. When recycled, more
than 95% of these metals can be recovered and reused to create new batteries and
sustainable energy products right here in the United States.

Earth Day Fair and Celebration
2026-04-25 11:00 - 15:00 | Alpenglow Community Park, 61049 SE 15th St OR 97702, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
An Annual Celebration of Earth And Community.
This family-friendly event will feature a lively and inclusive celebration where people of all ages are encouraged to wear costumes that showcase their favorite thing about planet Earth. The fair will feature food vendors, booths, performers and artists.

Pedal for the Planet
2026-05-02 08:00 - 12:30
Get ready to roll for a greener future! 350 Deschutes is excited to introduce Pedal for the Planet, our brand-new community bike ride and fundraiser happening Saturday, May 2, 2026. Join us in Bend as we hit the trails of beautiful Central Oregon to celebrate the outdoors, connect with neighbors, and support local climate action.
This fun community bike ride features a paved 12-mile loop starting and ending at Farewell Bend Park, traveling along the scenic Haul Road Trail and Rim Rock Trail to the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station and back. For families with little ones, the shorter Logger Loop (1.33 miles) offers a relaxed, family-friendly option—perfect for walking or riding together. Registration is open for both individuals and families, and bike rentals will be available, so everyone can join in!
This ride is more than just a day of cycling—it’s a movement for change. Every mile you pedal helps fund 350 Deschutes’ ongoing climate work, from advocating for clean energy to building a more sustainable Central Oregon. So grab your bike, bring your friends, and be part of the very first Pedal for the Planet. Let’s make this a tradition that keeps our community active, inspired, and committed to protecting the spaces we love.

Happy Girls Run
2026-05-09 09:00 - 15:00
Grab your bestie and take in the beauty of Central Oregon as you embark on your scenic journey. You’ll be well-supported with multiple aid stations, medics and helpful event staff to make the day all about achieving your personal goals.
Happy Girls is all about embracing each and every woman’s fitness level. We believe that running is a way to achieve personal goals by overcoming fears and obstacles. Featuring out-of-this-world goody bags, cute t-shirts, cozy sweatshirts and lots of Happy Girls athletic wear too, it’s not just about the finisher’s medal (although that’s so cool!)

Interfaith Earth Summit 2026
2026-05-17 12:30 - 15:30 | Trinity Episcopal Church, 469 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Interfaith Earth Summit to learn about ways to stop oil and gas from expanding, keeping people and the planet safe and healthy.

Pints & Politics
2026-05-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Broken Top Bottle Shop, 1740 NW Pence Ln #1, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Oregon League for Conservation Voters is back with Pints & Politics! This will be a fun evening with the community, spent unpacking what happened during the 2026 Legislative Session, and what we know of the results from the primary election.

Ecochella
2026-05-30 15:30 - 19:30 | Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Our friends at Deschutes Youth Climate Coalition are putting on Ecochella! Think Munch n’ Music with more sustainability, local vendors and non-profits, and tons of folks amped about saving the planet.

Farm-to-Table Fundraiser
2026-06-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Corner of Shoshone and Pumice Butte Rd, Bend, OR 97702
Join us for a special Farm-to-Table Fundraiser at our Deschutes River Woods farm, BRUF (Braided Roots Urban Farm)! This is a small, intimate gathering – just 30 to 40 people, so there’s space to slow down, ask questions, and truly be part of the experience. Tickets are $40, and all proceeds go directly back into supporting our efforts to increase access to fresh, nourishing food in our community. Enjoy a guided farm tour, a locally sourced dinner, a presentation about our work, and a chance to connect while supporting community food access.

Oregon Origins Project
2026-06-25 19:30 - 2026-06-26 22:00
Oregon Origins Project presents a bold and multifaceted exploration of Newberry Volcano in central Oregon, the largest volcano in the Cascade Range. The June 25-26, 2026 program includes a new work for contemporary dance inspired by the caldera, an evening of Northern Paiute legends and stories, an exhibition exploring geology and transformation, and a special guided tour of the volcano for ticket holders. Tickets are flexible pricing with a minimum ticket price of $10.

Thursday, June 25 at 7:30pm: Stories of the Northern Paiute, a special gathering led by Wilson Wewa, the tribe’s spiritual leader and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Wewa’s presentation will range widely across the central Oregon landscape, including Wayahoo Panoona, as he shares oral histories, legends, accounts of war, and recent events related to the Northern Paiute presence in the lands that have been their homeland since time immemorial. A Q&A will follow Wewa’s presentation.

Friday, June 26 at 7:30pm: Echoes of Eruption, a new contemporary dance work commissioned by Oregon Origins Project from choreographer/composer Samuel Hobbs and performed by Hobbs’ innovative dance company push/FOLD. This substantial new work will take audiences into the molten heart of Newberry, layering and folding bodies in a sculptural exploration of churning magma, with a musical soundscape evocative of the glassy textures of the nearby Big Obsidian Flow.

Following the performance, University of Oregon geologist and Bend resident Daniele McKay will offer a multimedia guided tour of the caldera’s past, present, and future, illuminating the remarkable variety of volcanic features at Newberry and how it has shaped and continues to shape central Oregon. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A with the creative team.

Also, don’t miss Visual Echoes, a companion exhibition of visual artworks at the Scalehouse Collaborative for the Arts Annex between May 1-June 26, 2026.

Oregon Origins Project VIII: Echoes of Eruption is supported by the Ronni S. Lacroute Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Clabough Foundation, Tower Theatre Foundation, Waypoint Hotel, Reed College Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program, Brooks Resources, Discover Your Northwest, and the Central Oregon Geoscience Society.
