The Environmental Center

Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety and Health
2025-03-16 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

Vamonos Outside at Deschutes
2025-03-18, 2025-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery, 901 SW Simpson Ave., Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Friends and Family of Vamonos Outside!

If you have a weekly or monthly family out-to-dinner routine, a happy hour networking meetup, or any other reason to eat out or enjoy a beverage, may we suggest you do so on Tuesdays in March at Deschutes Brewery’s Community Pints Night.

By choosing Deschutes on Tuesdays in March, you will help benefit Vamonos Outside. We are actively working to close funding gaps for our summer programs. Thanks for supporting the businesses that support VO!

Community Innovation Fund - March Info Session
2025-03-18 15:00 - 16:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project is accepting applications for the first round of the 2025 Community Innovation Fund (CIF)! CIF provides up to $5,000 for any projects that reduce waste in Deschutes County. If you’re interested in learning more about the application process and what kind of projects can qualify, come join us for this Info Session to learn more and have your questions answered.
Please note: This is an optional Info Session, and is not required to apply for the CIF. We recommend browsing past projects on the CIF Projects Showcase to see the wide array of projects we’ve funded.
Please RSVP for this event!

Happy Hour in the Garden - Bend
2025-03-18 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-04-15 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Come join us in the Kansas Avenue Learning Garden in Downtown Bend for Happy Hour in the Garden! This is an ongoing volunteer drop in event, where you provide the help and we provide beverages. No experience necessary, family friendly event. All tools and tasks will be provided, but feel free to bring your own gloves if you like. No need to RSVP, come for an hour or both. Dates are currently scheduled for the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 4-6pm, March through May. Stay tuned for future Happy Hour opportunities!

Beneath the Surface: Desert Mussels
2025-03-19 18:00 - 19:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
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.

Sustainable Growth & Land Management in Bend: Balancing Development and Retaining Bend's Uniqueness
2025-03-20 11:30 - 13:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
Join City Club for an engaging discussion on growth and land management in Bend. As the city continues to experience rapid expansion, this event will explore strategies for balancing sustainable development with environmental conservation and community needs. Hear from local experts, policymakers, and urban planners about innovative approaches to land use, protecting natural resources, and fostering a resilient future for Bend, while preserving what helps make Bend unique.
Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or community advocate, this event is an opportunity to learn and collaborate on shaping Bend’s growth responsibly.

Spring Open House: Nature-Based Water Reuse Innovations & New Brand Reveal!
2025-03-20 16:00 - 18:00 | LeapFrog Design Workshop, 2447 NE 4th St, Ste 120, Bend, OR, 97703, United States
LeapFrog Design Workshop is excited to welcome spring with you at their upcoming Open House! As leaders in sustainable water management, come see their latest product innovations and fresh new brand.
What to expect:

Drinks and snacks.
Conversation with community members and colleagues from home building, architecture, engineering and landscape design.
Explore our cutting-edge nature-based water reuse technology advances.

Be the first to see our new company rebrand.

Sewing, Mending, and Darning Workshop
2025-03-24 17:00 - 18:30 | Community Room, Deschutes Public Library, 601 NW Wall St, Bend, OR, 97703
This event is sold out. Please email naomi@envirocenter.org if you’d like to be put on the waiting list.

Wild Wednesday Event: Alpinism and Advocacy with Graham Zimmerman
2025-03-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Oregon Wild and Protect Our Winters for a special Wild Wednesday event in Bend on March 26. We are excited to welcome award-winning alpinist Graham Zimmerman for an evening of storytelling from some of the world’s great mountain ranges. Through firsthand accounts of high-stakes expeditions, Graham will explore the deep connection between outdoor adventure and the pressing need for climate action, land protection, and support for marginalized communities.
Staff from Oregon Wild, Protect Our Winters, and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters will also discuss current issues related to public lands and climate, and how you can get involved and advocate for a healthy environment and livable climate.
We will be raffling off a copy of Oregon’s Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide. Tickets are $5 and are an optional purchase below. Raffle tickets not only help us continue these Wednesday presentations but also support our work safeguarding Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters.

Seed Sowing & Transplanting - Sisters
2025-03-29 10:00 - 12:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Find out how and where to choose the right seeds for our shorter growing season in Central Oregon. Learn what varieties of vegetables do well here. The instructor will give demonstrations on how to prepare seed trays, mix the seedling medium, and plant and nurture seeds. There will be information on how to use grow lights and warming mats. You will learn the two stages of transplanting. We will discuss when and how to harden off the young plants so they will thrive outdoors. A long-time successful gardener will teach these “tricks of the trade.”
You will take home the official publication of science-based research, “Growing Vegetables in Central Oregon.” You will learn how to access the Oregon State Extension Service website to get other publications for your gardening projects and concerns. If you need a soil thermometer ($5 each) or row cover ($10 per 6ft x 20ft roll), you will be able to buy those in the classroom. This FREE class is presented by the Central Oregon chapter of OSU Master Gardeners, as part of our Community Education Outreach.
Registration is required.

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.

Happy Hour in the Garden - Bend (April 1st cancelled due to weather)
2025-04-01 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703

Seeing the Forest Through the Trees—A Guide to Low Carbon Buildings
2025-04-01 16:30 - 18:00 | The Breakroom, 1055 "B Northwest, Bend, Oregon, 97703, United States
Join us on April 1 in Bend, Oregon, for a special event focused on a crucial part of the growing demand for housing in Deschutes County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. At this event, Energy Trust of Oregon’s latest Net Zero Fellow, Jeff Stern of LEVER Architecture, will explore the relationship between energy efficiency and building materials on the path to zero-carbon buildings. He will discuss how these concepts shape material and assembly choices to achieve superior building performance while reducing environmental impact.
This event is also a great opportunity to have a dialogue with experts on the topic of mass timber and learn how you can apply to become our next Net Zero Fellow during our open application period. Stick around after the event for an opportunity to network with catered snacks.
Based on his impactful new report, “Seeing the Forest Through the Trees—A Guide to Low Carbon Buildings,” Jeff will discuss:

Optimal approaches for different building types to reduce whole-building carbon
Feasibility of zero-carbon buildings in the current building climate
Comparisons of exterior building assemblies designed to meet Passive House standards for wood stick framed and mass timber, plus comparisons of embodied carbon and much more
Three case studies that address various building types, including affordable townhomes, rental apartments and a Black Business Hub with retail and office space

SheJumps x AdventurUs Women x Between Evergreens | Speaker Series | OR
2025-04-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Embark, 2843 NW Lolo Dr., Bend, OR, 97703, United States
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 – “Movie Night: Dirt Pride, The Approach and the Women Behind the Lens!” – Grab the popcorn friends – we are settling in for a cozy double-feature evening of the films “Dirt Pride” and “The Approach”. We’ll be celebrating the “transformative power of building queer community outside” and watching “the athleticism of BIPOC, women, and adaptive skiers & snowboarders on steep heli and backcountry lines in the wilds of Alaska.” We’ll have some film-makers and athletes present for a post-film panel Q&A. It should be the perfect closing evening to our speaker series, with inspiration for spring skiing/boarding and the upcoming biking season!

399: Queen of the Tetons @ The Tower Theater
2025-04-05 18:30 - 20:30 | Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
For nearly two decades, Grizzly 399 has been a fixture in Grand Teton National Park. Known only by her research number, 399 has captivated photographers since 2007, becoming the world’s most famous — and photographed — grizzly in the world. The film follows 399 as she struggles to raise her cubs in the face of human encroachment, a rapidly changing climate, and threat of losing her protection under the Endangered Species Act. 399: Queen of the Tetons examines an urgent and contentious debate over the future of an iconic American species through the life of one exceptional mama bear.From the BendFilm team: This film brings together the human-wildlife relationships and conflicts with politics, ecology, climate change and, most importantly, a pure love of the bears. The devotees of the beloved Grizzly 399 would attest, she’s a fascinating bear that keeps on giving.

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

Food Waste Prevention and Composting Workshop
2025-04-09 17:30 - 19:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
This free workshop by the Rethink Waste Project during Food Waste Prevention Week will dig into why food waste matters, how to prevent food waste in the first place, strategies for composting, and a chance to answer community questions. We will be joined by Denise Rowcroft, The Environmental Center‘s School Gardens Program Manager, who will cover available composting options, home composting 101, and pros/cons of various backyard composting setups, with a chance to see them first hand out in the Learning Garden.
Register here!

Tri-County Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit
2025-04-10 09:00 - 14:00 | Bend Parks & Recreation District, Riverbend Room, 739 SW Columbia Street, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Welcome to the Tri-County Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit! Join for a day of discussions, workshops, and networking focused on improving biking and walking in our communities. This in-person event will be held at the Bend Park and Recreation District – a beautiful location to engage with like-minded individuals passionate about sustainable transportation. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just starting out, an avid walker – rain or shine – or a seasonal hiker, this summit is for you! Come together to share ideas, learn from experts, and help shape the future of biking and walking in our tri-county area. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the movement towards a more bike and pedestrian-friendly community!

Catch Magazine's Best of Both Worlds Tour
2025-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us for an evening of fly fishing films, photography, and storytelling at the Catch Magazine Best of Both Worlds Tour, supporting the Deschutes River Conservancy.
The event features Todd Moen’s fly fishing films from Catch Magazine, photography and storytelling from Brian O’Keefe, and an introduction by Kate Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Deschutes River Conservancy.
Whether you’re passionate about fly fishing, conservation, or compelling visual storytelling, this event offers a chance to connect with the outdoors and support local water conservation efforts.

Seed Swap
2025-04-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Downtown Redmond Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
Do you gather seeds each season and want share some of your bounty? Do you have extra seeds that you don’t need or that you decided weren’t quite right for you? Join us for a free seed swap in partnership with the Central Oregon Gardeners group.
Please be sure to bring your own seeds to share as these will be the basis for swapping. We will have empty envelopes, bags, labels and other supplies on hand to share. We welcome any seeds: vegetables, fruit, flowers, herbs.
This is an all ages program, everyone is welcome.
Questions? Contact josieh@deschuteslibrary.org

PPC Webinar | This is Your Brain on Plastic: What You Need to Know About Plastics & Health
2025-04-16 14:00 - 15:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Scientists recently discovered that the human brain contains the equivalent of a plastic spoon’s worth of microplastics. This alarming new research is more evidence of the growing presence of plastic inside our bodies that is linked to an exponential rise in serious health problems. Plastics have been linked to cancer; hormone disruption; infertility and reproductive issues; metabolism disorders such as obesity and thyroid diseases; neurological disabilities and diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s—with children and pregnant people among those most vulnerable to these risks. And with more than 400 million metric tons of plastic produced every year as children’s toys, household items, clothing, food and drink packaging, and a seemingly endless array of other plastic products, our exposure to plastic pollution is virtually constant.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Plastic Pollution Coalition will host a panel of experts to explore the latest research and discuss how you can protect yourself and your loved ones while also supporting the wider systemic changes needed to solve the plastic pollution crisis. Joining the discussion will be Dr. Shanna Swan, Prof. Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai; Aminah Taariq-Sidibe, Manager of End Plastic Initiatives, EarthDay.Org; and Ziya Tong, Author & Filmmaker. The webinar will be moderated by Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, Pediatrician & Founder/CEO, Ahimsa.

Educational Talk: Local Roots, How Native Species Shape Landscapes
2025-04-17 16:00 - 18:30 | Sunriver Nature Center & Oregon Observatory, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Join us on Thursday, April 17th, for a look into the vital role native plant species play in supporting local wildlife, pollinators, and ecosystems. This talk will explore how native plants promote biodiversity, out-compete invasive species, and create healthier more sustainable landscapes. We will discuss practical ways to source and incorporate native plants into your own space, strategies for managing invasive species, and how you can get involved in local restoration efforts or more educational opportunities. Learn what is happening in our Sunriver community to restore native habitats and how you can be part of the solution.

COCC Clothing Connection Fashion Show
2025-04-18 16:30 - 20:00 | COCC, 2600 NW Collge Way, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Students and staff will take to the fashion runway in honor of Earth Day during Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) annual Clothing Connection Fashion Show on Friday, April 18. The event is a benefit for a free service that provides school and work clothing to students of COCC and Oregon State University-Cascades (OSU-Cascades).
Location: COCC Bend Campus, Coats Campus Center, Wille Hall

Latinx Fiesta Celebration
2025-04-19 11:00 - 16:00 | COCC, 2600 NW Collge Way, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A free, family-friendly event open to the public
Un evento gratuito, familiar y abierto al público

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Storytime, art, loteria game,
piñatas and folklore dance
12:30–2 p.m. Lunch
2–4 p.m. Music & dance

Ponderosa Seedling Sale
2025-04-20 - 2025-04-27 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Your yard may be full of trees, so why plant more? Ponderosas are special! They are resistant to disease and pests, they grow larger, live longer and are more drought tolerant than many other types of trees. Fun fact: Ponderosas are also fire resistant. Project Ponderosa’s mission is to restore Ponderosa Pine ecosystems all over Central Oregon by engaging our community in hands-on conservation and native plant stewardship. We grow 2,500+ seedlings every year and sell them to our community! The money we make from tree sales like this one covers the purchasing and caretaking of next year’s seedlings.

Earth Day Celebration at Hanai
2025-04-22 16:00 - 19:00 | Hanai Center, Eagle Road, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Hanai Foundation on April 22nd from 4:00pm – 7:00pm to honor Earth Day! This day, and every day, presents an opportunity to remember our responsibility as stewards of this beautiful planet that we call home – it is a chance for us to return the gift of joy, reverence and connection. Through simple acts of mindfulness and gratitude, we can begin to heal our bond to the Earth, ourselves and each other.
This event offers our open house format that invites you to arrive when you can and enjoy a variety of nourishing offerings from a self guided nature walk, reiki for earth connection, tea, art, and a community nature mandala. All ages are welcome. This event is free to attend and any donations will support the Hanai Foundation’s mission to provide events and programs for the community that inspire creativity, compassion and well-being.

Tertulias . . . ¡de película!: Santuario
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
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!

Born of Fire and Rain
2025-04-23 12:00 - 13:30 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Here at the tumultuous edge of a shifting continent, the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest has a lot to say about living on a rapidly changing planet. This is a land of ancient trees, exploding mountains, disappearing owls, tsunamis, megafires, and ten million people. It is a land born of fire and rain. Through words and pictures, we will journey beyond the grid of latitude and longitude, into places only our imaginations can fit, to discover what it means to live in an ecological world.
M.L. (Peg) Herring is an ecologist and emerita professor of science communication at Oregon State University and a proud advocacy leader with the Willamette Valley Broadband. This is her seventh book about the Pacific Northwest.
