The Environmental Center

Bird Walk, Indian Ford Meadow Preserve
2014-04-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Carol Wall on a bird walk at picturesque Indian Ford Meadow
Preserve. Explore pine forest, sage-flats, and creek-side willows in search for songbirds,
hummingbirds, and soaring raptors. Listen for the California quail’s distinctive “chi-ca-go” call
while you see what species of birds have returned as part of their spring migration.
Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event.
Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/events.
Rating: Easy, ~1-2 mile walk.
What to Bring: Binoculars, snacks, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

Bird Costume Workshop
2014-04-13
Get ready for the Earth Day Parade by making a beautiful bird costume! We will be cutting, sewing, gluing, buttoning, and glittering old stuff into magnificent costumes that will turn you into a Central Oregon bird! This workshop will be fun for all ages – tiny toddlers to adults.

Choose the bird you’d like your costume to represent ahead of time, or decide at the workshop. At Camp Fire, we love the sage grouse, golden eagle, mountain quail, spotted owl, belted kingfisher, raven, northern flicker, turkey vulture, and scrub jay, but feel free to look at other Central Oregon birds to figure out which one inspires you.

We encourage you to bring items that are destined for the thrift store or landfill – we want to create costumes with materials that are stained, ripped, torn, too small, or too large. You can even choose what kind of bird you’d like your costume to represent, and bring materials in those colors. If you have a large pile of materials that you would like to share with others, please bring it! We are happy to donate any unused materials to a thrift store when the event is over. We will be deconstructing and reconstructing these materials into fitted likenesses of Central Oregon birds so we can all fly in a communal flock during the Earth Day Parade!

Kids under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.

Members attend for free! Non-members pay $5 at the door. Or, join Camp Fire today and come to the workshop for free!

Space is limited and registration for each participant is required. Please click here to register.

Bling Your Bike for Earth Day
2014-04-12
Rowena Meyer-Allen, a local encaustic artist, fabric soft treatments designer, and founder of the C.R.A.F.T. (Creative Reuse: Art From Trash) Materials Exchange will be offering a “Bling Your Bike for Earth Day” workshop at the Environmental Center. Bring your bicycle, tricycle, unicycle, wagon or other human-powered mode of transportation and transform it into the species of your choice to ride in the Earth Day Parade!
This is a free workshop. C.R.A.F.T. will be supplying materials. Donations of recyclable art materials are also welcomed and please, feel free to bring along any art supplies or tools you may wish to use or share. For a more information and a list of suggested materials, please visit the C.R.A.F.T. website.

Growing Vegetables Class, Advanced Level
2014-04-12
This class will go into detail how to grow the most common vegetables for the area, including tomatoes. A two hour class for the community.
For more information call 541-548-6088. Click here to register.

Celebrate the 50th Wilderness Act Anniversary
2014-04-11
Join Discover Your Forest and the Deschutes National Forest for an evening celebrating Wilderness!
US Fish & Wildlife Wolf Coordinator, John Stephenson, will discuss wolves in Oregon and their connection with the wolves in the Frank Church Wilderness in the film.
The Film, River of No Return, is set deep in the heart of Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, part of the largest roadless area left in the lower 48 states. At 2.5 million acres, it is larger than Yellowstone, yet most people have never even heard of it. Designated a federally-protected wilderness in 1980 by Congress, the region is full of deep canyons and mountain forests, rivers and abundant wildlife. Otters and elk, deer and coyotes, blue birds and bighorn sheep, and newly-restored wolf populations all thrive there. Today, nine packs of wolves roam freely through the park, each pack dependent on family – raising their young and hunting together.
Working with the Nez Perce Tribe in Central Idaho, wolf biologist Isaac Babcock spent 13 years participating in the wolf reintroduction program organized in the area. Wanting to share the raw beauty of the land and the wolves with his new wife, Bjornen, Isaac proposes spending a year there as an unconventional honeymoon, documenting their days as they go along. River of No Return tells their story, the story of a couple that took on the wilderness and all its challenges. The two have come to treasure their experience in an untamed place that, for a period of time, they called home.
$5 at the door goes towards Discover Your Forest.

Whole Foods 5% Day
2014-04-09
Shop at Whole Foods Market in Bend on Thursday, April 18th and 5% of the store’s net sales will be donated to our school gardens program! Hope to see you there. Please spread the word.

Earth Day Mask Making Workshop
2014-04-05
Saturday, April 5, at The Environmental Center
$5.00 materials donation greatly appreciated!
C.O. mask maker, OPB Art Beat Alumni and long time A.I.E. artist Debra Fisher will be volunteering her time to teach mask/costume workshops at The Environmental Centers for our Earth Day Parade held in downtown Bend on Saturday April 19, 2014. Being an animal not your thing? How about a plant, or create a portable mural of your favorite natural scene!
Central Oregon is full of amazing artist and creative folks, who live here for the natural beauty and out door life style. The Earth Day Parade needs your creative expression to help increase awareness and sustain our natural environment for generations to come. Please join us, to make this the best Earth Day event ever!
If you already have an idea for a mask/costume and need help with a design, or can’t make the workshop you can contact Debra by phone at 541-388-8369 for free consulting.

Seed Starting Class
2014-04-05
Learn how to start your own seeds for your garden from OSU Master Gardeners™. Part of class will be in OSU Extension Greenhouse.

Discover Nature Days
2014-04-05
Presented by the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon Partners

August 6th
11:00am– 12:00pm
Boyd Park

Predators and Prey presented by The Environmental Center. Have fun learning about the diverse animals that call Central Oregon home through exciting games and interactive science activities. Free!

August 13th
11:00am– 12:00pm
Pine Ridge Park

Birds of Prey presented by High Desert Museum. Experience an up close encounter with a raptor and learn about exciting adaptations of birds of prey. Free!

5th Birthday Bash for Badlands & Spring Basin
2014-04-04
On March 30, 2009, the Oregon Badlands and Spring Basin became forever protected with a stroke of the president’s pen. Join us on Friday, April 4, at the Oregon Natural Desert Association’s Bend office to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their designation as wilderness! We’ll offer up a fun photo contest, serve bites and bevs, dance to live music and recognize those whose hard work helped secure more than 35,000 acres of wild lands for future generations.

Repair Café
2014-04-03
Join us for our in-person Repair Café on Wednesday, July 20, 5:30-7:30pm at Gear Fix!
The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project coordinates with an amazing group of volunteer fixers to host Repair Cafés every few months. This will be the first in-person Repair Café in Central Oregon since 2020. These free events connect people with broken stuff to people who like to fix stuff – they’re all about repairing things (together). Stuff like, jewelry, small appliances and electronics, outdoor gear, clothing, and more. Repair Cafés are held around the world! Repairing with other people saves natural resources, prevents waste, and cultivates community. Learn more at envirocenter.org/tec-events/repair-cafe/
Not sure if it can be fixed? Bring it!
Contact: udara@envirocenter.org with questions or if you’re interested in being a volunteer fixer!

Lunch with LandWatch: Protecting Central Oregon at the Legislature
2014-04-01
At this month’s Lunch with LandWatch, Jonathan Manton will give an update on the 2014 legislative session. He will talk about why it is so important for Central Oregonians to have a voice in Salem, how grassroots efforts can make a difference, and what we can do to ensure the laws we have in place continue to protect the place we love.
What: LandWatch’s lobbyist for the public interest, Jonathan Manton, will speak about giving a voice to public interest issues in Salem and update us on the most recent legislative session.
When: Tuesday, April 1st, 12-1pm. Please arrive half an hour early to order your lunch.
Where: Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails 919 NW Bond St. Bend. Menu can be found here.
Please RSVP here
More about Jonathan:
Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law and has over a decade of professional experience in Oregon state government and politics. He is the Principal of Sawnee Services, a small business providing government relations and campaign services to clients throughout Oregon. Central Oregon LandWatch and Friends of the Metolius are among his clients.

Jonathan has been the lead advocate and author of several recent laws to further the public interest. These include a funding measure for survivors of domestic violence, a bill that improves crosswalk safety for pedestrians, and provisions that make bike/ped projects eligible for Connect Oregon dollars.

In a 2011 survey by the Portland Mercury, Oregon legislators ranked Jonathan the lobbyist most committed to the public interest, the lobbyist with the highest integrity, and the most effective lobbyist in Oregon.

Earth Day Mask Workshops
2014-03-29
FREE at the Art Station!
Kids: grades 1st-4th: 10:00AM – 12:00PM
5th grade –Adults: 1:00PM – 3:00PM
$5.00 materials donation greatly appreciated!
*C.O. mask maker, OPB Art Beat Alumni and long time A.I.E. artist Debra Fisher will be volunteering her time to teach mask/costume workshops at The Art Station, for the Environmental Centers, Earth Day Parade held downtown Bend on Saturday April 19, 2014.
Central Oregon is full of amazing artist and creative folks, who live here for the natural beauty and out door life style. The Earth Day Parade needs your creative expression to help increase awareness and sustain our natural environment for generations to come. Please join us, to make this the best Earth Day event ever!
*The adult afternoon class will count for a professional development class for A.I.E. art teachers.
If you already have an idea for a mask/costume and need help with a design, or can’t make the workshop you can contact Debra by phone at 541-388-8369 for free consulting.
Being and animal not your thing? How about a plant or create a portable mural of your favorite Natural scene.

March Green Drinks, hosted by Nature's Natural Foods Marketplace!
2014-03-27
We are returning to our standard Green Drinks for the month of March so that you can catch up with friends and meet some new faces. Stay tuned for more special Green Drinks events in 2014!
Our host for this month’s Green Drinks, Nature’s Natural Food Marketplace, has been a treat for the senses since they opened 30 years ago. Walking in the door, Nature’s customers are welcomed by colorful produce, friendly staff, and the aroma of daily soup specials, freshly roasted coffee, and naturally scented soaps and candles.
Fun fact about Debbie and Nature’s: she organized Bend’s first Earth Day Fair, in the Wagner Mall parking lot in front of her store. She wanted to bring together local people committed to environmental protection and personal health through natural foods. That’s the heart of Nature’s—pioneering the way for natural foods in Bend since 1986.
Green Drinks is a fun community event. You can learn about local green businesses and their sustainability efforts and share a drink or two with like-minded community members.
* Enjoy a truly Green Drink by bring your own cup to help keep this event Zero Waste and consider alternatives to driving alone such as carpooling, walking, biking and transit.

Bend Area Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication
2014-03-26
Join Bend Area Habitat for Humanity for the Nickelson Family home dedication, tour and lunch.
Location:
2848 NE Spring Water Place
Bend, OR 97701

Growing Carbon
2014-03-25
Join former Central Oregonian and natural resource advocate, Jeff Goebel, to hear about his experience internationally and at home on how planting trees and plants in the quickest way out of the global dilemma.
Visit www.aboutlistening.com for more information about Jeff and his work abroad.

KPOV Kids Radio Camp
2014-03-24 - 2014-03-28
KPOV will be hosting two camps over spring break, Mon-Fri, March 24-28:
1. 10-12 year olds, 9am-noon
2. 12-14 year olds, 1pm-4pm
Sign up online for either spring break camp with the Bend Park & Rec District.

Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory Spring Break
2014-03-23 - 2014-03-28
Looking for something fun to do with the family over spring break? Check out what the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory have to offer!
March 23rd – April 20th Open 7 days/week from 10am – 4pm Admission $4 adults, $3 kids, members free
Live Raptor Presentations each Thursday, Friday and Saturday (between 10am and 12pm)
Solar Viewing – March 22nd – 30th 11:00 am 0 2:00 pm – Free Admission Night Viewing – Saturday, March 22nd , Wednesday, March 26th , Friday, March 28th, Saturday, March 29th: 8:00 – 10:00 pm, $8 adults, $6 kids (2-12), members free In April, Observatory is open Wednesday and Saturday evenings 8:00 – 10:00 pm.
Special Activities 10:30am – 12:30pm
Tuesdays – Creature Crafts – Ages 4+
• Use your imagination to create nature inspired masterpieces! $13.50 members, $15 non-members.
Wednesdays – Family Nature Hike – All ages
• Join a naturalist for a hike around scenic Sunriver. We will lead you to some of the best places for wildlife viewing! Free with Nature Center admission.
• Rocket Science: Kids build and launch their own rockets. – March 26th – 10:30am – 12:30pm, $20: $18 Members: Registration Required
Thursdays – Experiments in Nature – Ages 5+
• Turn on your science mind and conduct your own experiments to learn how nature works! $13.50 members, $15 non-members
Fridays – Adventure at Benham Falls – All ages *some rough terrain
• Join us for a wildlife hike to Benham Falls. We will point out interesting plants and animals along the way while describing the geologic processes that formed Benham Falls. $10 adults, $5 kids (SNCO members, $8 adults, $2 kids). ***This is an off-site event, reservations required by Thursday*** Meet at the Nature Center by 10:15am.
• Rocket Science: Kids build and launch their own rockets – March 28th– 10:30am – 12:30pm, $20: $18 Members: Registration Required
Saturdays – Bird Walks
• Join our local bird expert, Tom Lawler for a birding walk on and near Nature Center grounds. The migratory birds are making their way through and are sure to offer up some great photo opportunities! Don’t forget your binoculars and camera! Suggested $5 donation

Please call the Nature Center at 541-593-4394 to make reservations for kids’ classes or hikes. We look forward to seeing you!

Growing Vegetables Class, Introductory Level
2014-03-22
An introductory class on growing vegetables including climate, site selection, soil preparation, season extension and crop selection. A two hour class for the community.
A two hour class for the community. For a full class schedule go here and here to sign up.
Call 541-548-6088 for more information

Geology Hike - Smith Rock State Park
2014-03-22
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Derek Loeb for a geology hike along the Summit Loop Trail at Smith Rock State Park. This gorgeous 7-mile hike follows the Burma Road up to a ridge overlooking famed peaks like Monkey Face. On the descent, the trail crosses a private property protected by the Land Trust for its mule deer and Crooked River habitat. Along the way, learn about how Smith Rock’s unique geology was shaped by volcanoes and water.
Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register here.
Rating: Difficult, ~7 mile hike.
What to Bring: Snacks/Lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

Pints and Politics
2014-03-20
Meet the Oregon League of Conservation Voter’s Endorsed Candidates at the Broken Top Bottle Shop and Ale Cafe!
Join OLCV, friends, volunteers, and community members to hear from local candidates who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy, from 7pm-9pm.
August 21st: Craig Wilhelm, for State Representative (HD 54-Bend)
September 18th: Jodie Barram, for Deschutes County Commissioner
Visit the OLCV website for more information.

Reflections on Fifty Years of Bird Banding
2014-03-20
Birder’s Night – Reflections on Fifty Years of Bird Banding
Enjoy an evening with Jim Anderson, one of the most esteemed storytellers and naturalists in Central Oregon, as he shares stories and photos of raptors he has known in his 50-years of banding birds. Jim’s stories will include how he got started with bird banding, his first encounter with a golden eagle, and insights into what causes raptor fatalities. Jim promises a lively program, with photographs and lots of time for questions and group interaction.
Anderson has worked continuously as a naturalist for over 50 years, including a life-long interest in golden eagles. He taught for many years at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry before establishing permanent residence in Sisters, where he writes a weekly nature column in The Nugget, volunteers in schools and is an active member of Friends of the Sisters Library.
The program begins at 6:30PM; A discussion covering local birding and birding events starts at 7:00 PM, with Anderson’s talk from 7:30 to 8:30.
ECAS members, friends, neighbors and Central Oregon visitors are all welcome.

Build It! Breakfast
2014-03-20
You’re invited to the 3rd Annual Fundraising Breakfast, a powerful and inspiring opportunity to find out more about Bend Area Habitat for Humanity. Guests will enjoy a free continental breakfast during the one-hour program, which includes:
• A meaningful video that will give you an understanding of how Habitat changes lives through home ownership.
• An update on Habitat’s progress and vision from Executive Director, Mark Quinlan.
• Inspiring testimonial from a family whose life has been drastically changed through Habitat for Humanity.
• Message from Guest Speaker.
Schedule:
7 a.m. – check-in, breakfast
7:30 a.m. – program
8:30 a.m. – program conclusion
Funds raised on this morning will be used in Bend and Crook Co. Bend Area Habitat for Humanity
plans to serve more than 30 families this year through homeownership, rehab, repair and
weatherization services.
Please park in Lot E at St. Charles Medical Center and enter through the main entrance.
The conference room is just off the main lobby to the east.
To RSVP, please contact the table host who invited you. If you have questions, email
Robin Cooper Engle, Community Outreach Manager.

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
2014-03-20
How often do we stop to tell the kids and teens in our lives how incredible they are? This is why Camp Fire founded Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® in 1997—to activate millions of adults across the U.S. to write/tell a young person in their life what makes them incredible.
Join Camp Fire Central Oregon on Thursday, March 21st to celebrate the incredible kids in our lives with an afternoon of FREE ice skating at The Pavilion in Bend!
Free ice skating for all kids up to 18 years old*. Fun for the whole family – raffles, contests and tasty treats! Wear your Camp Fire t-shirt for a free raffle ticket.
*Must be accompanied by an adult and arrive by 5:30pm. Limit first 200 kids in the door.

Nature Night: Central Oregon Wildflowers
2014-03-19
March Nature Night with the Deschutes Land Trust
Central Oregon’s high desert country has diverse habitats from wet meadows to sage-steppe, ponderosa pine forests, and high elevation meadows and peaks. As a result, the area is home to a great number of species of native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs. Some are big, showy, and widespread. Others are tiny and easily overlooked.
Join photographer and field guide author Mark Turner on a colorful, armchair exploration of some of his favorite Central Oregon plants. See rare or uncommon plants along with showy favorites via Mark’s stunning photography.
This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online: deschuteslandtrust.org/events.

Growing Vegetables Class, Advanced Level
2014-03-19
This class will go into detail how to grow the most common vegetables for the area, including tomatoes. A two hour class for the community.
A two hour class for the community. Go here for details and here to sign up.
Call 541-548-6088 for more information

Growing Vegetables Class, Introductory Level
2014-03-18
An introductory class on growing vegetables including climate, site selection, soil preparation, season extension and crop selection. A two hour class for the community.
A two hour class for the community. Go here for details and here to sign up.
Call 541-548-6088 for more information

Light Up The Night
2014-03-17
The Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee has teamed up with Commute Options for Central Oregon, the City of Bend, and the Road Users Safety Task Force to conduct several evening events to enhance the visibility of people walking and biking to motorists.
Each evening event will highlight the safety issue as well as provide critical gear to the community to eliminate these types of crashes.
Critical gear includes:
• front reflector
• rear reflector
• front head light
• highly visible clothing
• reflective tape
• reflective leg and arm bands
• flashing reflectors.
There are few nighttime related walking and biking crashes in Bend, however, most result in injury or death. In the five year period between 2006 and 2010 there were 19 nighttime bike riding crashes reported to the police. Ninety percent of these crashes involved a person riding on a bike while dressed completely in dark clothing on a bicycle that was completely invisible to the motorist that struck them. Similar statistics exist for nighttime walking crashes.
Through this campaign we wish to highlight the importance of night time safety habits while walking and biking in our community.

Whychus Canyon Hike
2014-03-16
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Mary Crow for a late winter hike at Whychus Canyon Preserve. Explore ancient juniper groves and panoramic mountain views as you hike down into a canyon carved by Whychus Creek. Then, watch for birds and maybe even some early wildflowers as you hike out of this stunning rimrock canyon into the grasslands and beyond.
Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register here.
Rating: Moderate, ~4 mile hike.
What to Bring: Snacks/Lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

KPOV’s Spring DJ Class
2014-03-15
KPOV’s Spring DJ class begins Saturday, March 15th. The three session class will prepare you for going on air or volunteering at High Desert Community Radio.
Registration is through COCC Community Learning.
For more information about the DJ classes, or about becoming a KPOV DJ, email Jill at KPOV.
