The Environmental Center

Introduction to Growing Food in the High Desert
2023-05-21 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Spring is here! Get ready to garden and join our Growing Food Class. In this class, you will learn how to prepare your garden and start planting. Topics will include soils and soil amendments, bed preparation, starting seeds at home, direct seeding in your garden,transplanting seedlings and navigating challenges . This is a great class if you are new to gardening. The class will include a free vegetable start and early access to plant sale seedlings.
Register

Raise the Deschutes Seminar - Many Voices, One Plan: The Future of Water in the Upper Deschutes
2023-05-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
From the Cascades to Lake Billy Chinook, the Deschutes River has been over-tapped for decades. Fish, farmers, and families all depend on water supplies that are impacted by drought and climate change. The Deschutes Basin Water Collaborative, a consortium of more than 45 stakeholders, is working to accelerate funding, market-based solutions, and implementation of water conservation projects in the basin to help meet demand. Come learn about this work and give the Collaborative your feedback on how you see Central Oregon meeting its water needs in the future.
Speakers:
Bobby Brunoe
Secretary/Treasurer & CEO
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation,
Steve Johnson
General Manager
Arnold Irrigation District
Phil Chang
County Commissioner
Deschutes County
Lisa Seales
Moderator
Programs Manager, Deschutes River Conservancy
Program:
6:00 – Doors open, drinks available
6:15 – 7:45 – Seminar + Q&A
8:00 – Doors close, bar closes
Beverages are available for purchase before and after the event. You are welcome to bring your own dinner.
Register here!

The Whys and Hows of Food Waste and Composting (Redmond)
2023-05-24 17:00 - 18:30 | Becky Johnson Community Center, 412 SW 8th St, Redmond, OR 97756, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
Learn why food waste matters, how to reduce food waste, strategies for composting, and pros and cons of various at home compost bins.
Open to adults and youth, composting beginners and pros! Attendees will be entered into a drawing for an at home composting system.
Register here!

Cashing in on Clean Energy: Save Money and the Climate
2023-05-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
In 2022, Congress passed the largest climate investment in our history with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which included what is now the Affordable Clean Energy Plan. It passed because people like you never stop fighting for what we need – a clean energy future that centers racial justice and equity. It will be successful because of people like you, too. Join us on Wednesday, May 24th, at 6pm to find out more.
Pres. Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan is a game-changer for climate and clean energy. It will help put us on a path to cut climate pollution nearly in half by 2030, and better protect our communities from further devastation. How? In part, by providing tax credits and incentives so people like you can upgrade to clean energy and better energy efficiency, all while saving money on utility bills. Think: window upgrades, energy efficiency projects, electric vehicles, and more!
Join us and our West Coast partners next Wednesday for a virtual event going over the incentives coming our way.
What: Cashing in on Clean Energy: Save Money and the Climate
When: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 6PM PT
Where: Zoom Webinar
REGISTER NOW
A just clean energy transition plan is critical to reduce climate pollution while ensuring all our communities thrive. The Affordable Clean Energy Plan is the biggest opportunity we have to jumpstart this transition right now. Climate action can’t wait.
Our invited speakers, including from national LCV and Rewiring America, will go over the different benefits and offer resources to help you plan your clean energy transition. RSVP today and learn how you can cash in on clean energy!

Wild Life: love is a force of Nature Screening
2023-05-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Patagonia@Bend, 1000 NW Wall St, Ste 140, Bend, OR, 97703, United States
Wild Life: love is a force of Nature Screening

If you’ve been on this earth for a while, hopefully you’ve made a few of those truly great friends. Friends who are like family and continue to do things that inspire and challenge you. Kristine Tompkins is one of those friends for us.
Kris started her career as an assistant shipping clerk, working for Yvon Chouinard between high school classes. At 29, she became Patagonia’s first CEO. More than twenty years after starting at Patagonia, she “retired” to Chile and joined her husband, Doug Tompkins, in an audacious plan that has, via Tompkins Conservation, created 15 national parks, protected 15 million acres of wilderness and is rewilding over 20 species in Chile and Argentina.
Wild Life is a sweeping portrait of Kris and Doug from Nat Geo Documentary and Oscar winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin—more friends for whom we’re grateful. In select theaters now and a free screening in our store, the film chronicles a fight for wild nature that was born of love, survived tragedy and continues to inspire and challenge us all.
Join us for a free screening at Patagonia Bend!

Get tickets here!

Sense of Place Webinar Series: Indigenous Perspectives of Earth, Water and Sky - Inside Indigenous Classrooms
2023-05-25 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom
We are delighted to announce the 12th webinar in our Speaker Series, A Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives on Earth, Water and Sky – Inside Indigenous Classrooms, featuring NASA EZIE Mission Program Manager Dr. Nelofar Mosavi, Indigenous students, Maverick teachers, Lego robotics and coding, and more!
This webinar will take place May 25th, 2023, at 3:30 Pacific Time.
Click here to REGISTER NOW

REI Presents: Kristen & Ville Jokinen
2023-05-27 - 2023-05-29 | REI, 380 SW Powderhouse Dr, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
10am-3pm

VIRTUAL Workshop: Supporting Gender Expansive and Transgender Youth
2023-05-30 15:00 - 18:30 | Online Event
The TransActive Gender Project is based in Portland and provides a holistic range of services and expertise to empower transgender and gender expansive children, youth, and their families to live healthy lives that are free of discrimination. Workshop participants will gain a better understanding of gender identity development, cultural gender myths, and stereotypes and their impact on gender diverse and transgender children. This workshop will focus on demonstrating inclusive language, how to address bullying, and ways to analyze curriculum and programs. We’ll also be joined by Jamie Bowman, a local LGBTQIA+ advocate who is co-founder of the Central Oregon Transgender Health Coalition.
All educators are welcome to attend though the content will focus on out-of-school and summer programs.
This workshop has been organized by The Environmental Center, Camp Tamarack, and the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon with support from High Desert ESD.
REGISTER HERE FOR VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
Note: Registration is separate for the in-person workshop on June 12th.

Energy Efficiency and Smart Electrical Panels
2023-05-31 12:00 - 13:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Free educational event highlighting the innovative smart electric panel. Join us for a panel discussion and presentation.

Green Energy Series #8: Batteries and Fire Code
2023-06-03 10:00 - 11:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Solar Oregon is presenting a Green Energy series – free talks for those interested in learning more about the technologies and design of zero energy buildings. Solar Oregon is a non-profit educational organization leading the way to a clean energy future. These one-hour seminars will explore solar, energy storage, and energy-efficient equipment and design. Envisioned as a follow-up to Solar Oregon’s popular Go Zero home tours, these online talks will encourage a deeper dive into the technology and allow for Q+A discussion contrasting options to aid in decision making. Future talks include: Zero Energy Design, Battery Storage Systems, DIY PV Systems, Heat Pump and other Water Heaters, and Utility-Scale Storage.

WaterWise Landscape Field Day
2023-06-04 09:00 - 13:00 | Hollinshead Barn, 1235 NE Jones Rd., Bend, OR, United States
Event Line Up

Presentations:
Local professionals will give 30-minute presentations on the following topics:

Design and Site Considerations
Plant Selection in the WaterWise Garden
Irrigation-Hands-on Drip Conversion Demostration

Demonstration and Display Booths
Gather information on irrigation, design, and landscape resources from local vendors: Bend Urban Gardens, Central Oregon Lawn Center, Ewing, Horizon, Oregon Bee Atlas, OSU Master Gardener Q&A, Pollinator Pathway Bend, Water Whys Irrigation, and Your Garden Companion.
Native Plant Giveaway
Receive 6 free native plants from Wintercreek Nursery compliments of Worthy Environmental and the City of Bend in cooperation with Pollinator Pathway Bend. Must register to receive plants.
To register for this event, click this link.
Download a copy of the flyer: Water-Wise Field Day June 4, 2023.

Cross-Cultural Celebration
2023-06-04 17:00 - 19:00 | COCC, 2600 NW Collge Way, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This event takes place at the Pinckney Center for the Performing Arts.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2023-06-06 16:00 - 18:00, 2023-06-20 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Join us in our Kansas Avenue Learning Garden for our ongoing volunteer work party series. In 2022, volunteers contributed over 200 hours to help keep our learning garden maintained over the growing season. We couldn’t do it without you!
This event is open to all ages and gardening abilities! No experience or tools required. Beer and non-alcoholic beverages are provided for all who volunteer. Each event includes seasonal ongoing tasks as well as special projects as needed throughout the growing season. Volunteers are welcome to pop in for an hour or stay the whole time. No need to RSVP or commit ahead of time. (Pro tip – put the following dates in your phone calendar now – then when it pops up you can decide if it works out for you or not!)
In 2023, Happy Hour in the Garden will once again run twice a month from March through October. This schedule throughout the extent of the growing season offers meaningful volunteer experiences for all who come, and deeper care for the garden when it needs it.
For Spring 2023, our Happy Hours will be 4-6pm, on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month.
March & April Happy Hours sponsored by Wild Ride Brewing

March 7 & 21
April 4 & 18

May & June Happy Hours sponsored by Worthy Environmental

May 2 & 16
June 6 & 20

Stay tuned for confirmation of dates for July through October, as these might switch to the 2nd & 4th…)
Contact Denise, Garden Program Manager, if you have any questions about getting involved.

How to Go Solar + Storage
2023-06-07 18:00 - 19:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
At this workshop you’ll learn everything you need to know to feel confident adding solar or energy storage to your home or business.

Oregon's Water Strategy: Madras Regional Community Conversation
2023-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 | COCC Madras Campus, 1170 Southeast Ashwood Road, Madras, OR, 97741, United States
In Oregon we have a plan for our water. It is called the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy helps us understand what water we have available in Oregon and what we need for people, plants, animals, and the land. It also has actions we can take to meet those needs.
Now it’s time for that plan to be updated. The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) and 13 other state agencies are working with Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT), a program at Portland State University.
We want to hear what you want to see in the update to Oregon’s water Strategy. Your input will help the state plan for the future to meet our water needs. We are hosting community conversations in different parts of the state.
If you are interested in attending one of these, please register here. Walk-ins are welcome. We will have food and supervised play for children.
Contact us at (503)725-5248 or info@oregonskitchentable.org if you have questions.

Abundant Oregon: Celebrating 50 Years
2023-06-08 16:00 - 19:00 | The Commons Cafe and Taproom, 875 NW BROOKS ST., Bend, OR, 97703, United States
Join Central Oregon LandWatch to celebrate 50 years of Oregon’s revolutionary land use planning system – with food, music, art, local vendors, and more!

Patagonia Worn Wear Repair Tour
2023-06-10 10:00 - 19:00 | Bend Brewing Company, 1019 NW Brooks Street, Bend, OR, 97701
Repair Meets the Road
Does your favorite piece of gear need a little help? Come down to Bend Brewing Co and Worn Wear will fix it for free—any brand, one garment per person—so it stays in action and out of the landfill.
Once you’re all patched up, stick around for live music, wader repairs, and enjoy some beverages from our hosts at Bend Brewing Co!
Good times. Great vibes. Come Hang!

IN PERSON Workshop: Supporting Gender Expansive and Transgender Youth
2023-06-12 09:00 - 13:00 | Bend Parks and Rec District Office, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend, OR, 97702, United States
The TransActive Gender Project is based in Portland and provides a holistic range of services and expertise to empower transgender and gender expansive children, youth, and their families to live healthy lives that are free of discrimination. Workshop participants will gain a better understanding of gender identity development, cultural gender myths, and stereotypes and their impact on gender diverse and transgender children. This workshop will focus on demonstrating inclusive language, how to address bullying, and ways to analyze curriculum and programs. We’ll also be joined by Jamie Bowman, a local LGBTQIA+ advocate who is co-founder of the Central Oregon Transgender Health Coalition.
All educators are welcome to attend though the content will focus on out-of-school and summer programs. Lunch will be provided.
This workshop has been organized by The Environmental Center, Camp Tamarack, and the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon with support from High Desert ESD.
REGISTER HERE FOR IN PERSON WORKSHOP
Note: Registration is separate for the virtual workshop on May 3oth.

Federal Community Grants Program & the Justice40 Initiative
2023-06-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Online Event
The panel will analyze Justice40 initiatives and discuss merits and growth opportunities. The presenters will also share updates and considerations for entities intending to apply for funding from the discretionary grant programs that provide access to EV charging within rural areas, low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, and communities.

Flat Tire / Tubeless 101 Clinic
2023-06-14 17:30 - 19:00 | Good Bike Co., 284 NE 3rd St., Prineville, OR, 97754, United States
Learn why tubeless tires are superior to tubes and how to make the switch. This clinic is FREE. All are welcome to attend. Click the button below or call 541-903-0509 to pre-register.
RSVP is required to attend.

Open Spaces and Open Houses? The Tradeoffs in Oregon’s Land Use System
2023-06-15 08:30 - 10:30 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
Oregon’s land use system is 50 years old. It is both celebrated for its prevention of urban sprawl and derided for driving up housing costs. Join City Club as they welcome nationally recognized land use expert Bill Fulton, as he explores what makes Oregon’s land use system unique, and its strengths and weaknesses compared to other systems in the U.S. Is it accomplishing its goals? Have there been unintended consequences? You will then move into a discussion with local representatives from the development and conservation community and Bill, focusing on what they find successful in this system, what is frustrating, and how it could be improved.

JUNETEENTH 2023
2023-06-17 - 2023-06-18 | Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration will be held at Drake Park on June 17th-18th. This fun, family-friendly event will be a festival elevating Juneteenth throughout the state of Oregon. It will feature unique entertainment, music, food, and dancing. There will be face painting for the kids, a variety of historical and educational exhibits, artistic displays, and recreation.
Saturday: 11am- 7:30pm
Sunday: 11am- 5:30pm

Plastic-Free Seas: Diving Into How Plastic Impacts Health, Climate, and Our Oceans
2023-06-22 12:00 - 13:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Healthy oceans provide vast cognitive, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual wellness Blue Mind benefits to all of us throughout our lives. The oceans cover more than three-quarters of Earth’s surface and account for 97 percent of its water, as well as much of the air we breathe. The oceans support an incredible array of life, help regulate the climate, and support life on our blue planet. Unfortunately, our oceans face significant threats from human-made pollution, particularly plastic. Experts estimate nine to 14 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, and without urgent action, that amount will only increase—projected to reach 23–37 million metric tons annually by the year 2040.

Power Hour: Induction Stoves
2023-06-22 16:30 - 18:00 | Johnson Brothers Appliances, 571 NE Azure Dr, Bend, 97701, United States
Join us for this interactive event to learn about induction stoves–everything from what pans to use, myth-busting, and the incentives available to install one in your home!
We’ll do a live cooking demonstration so you can see the magic of induction in action (yes, you’ll get to try the tasty treats) and brew up some local tea to see how fast we can boil the water (you won’t believe it until you see it!). If you are looking into options for your home, we’ll talk about the current incentives that are available and things to think about whether your are swapping out a gas or electric stove.
When we wrap up, you’ll be able to check out many different models in the Johnson Brothers Appliances showroom to see what the options are to meet your kitchen’s needs and ask any questions of their team.
Register here!

33rd Annual Wildflower Show and Pollinator Festival
2023-06-24 09:00 - 15:00 | Sunriver Nature Center & Oregon Observatory, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
This amazing festival showcases the diversity of flowering plants found throughout Central Oregon as well as vendors and partners who work with flowers or native pollinators. This is a great family event, with activities, special guest lectures, partners in education, as well as hundreds of native flowers on display.
If you are interested in volunteering or in being a vendor please e-mail info@snco.org.

Dual Fuel Heating Systems - Advantage or Compromise?
2023-07-12 12:00 - 13:30 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Dual fuel heating systems combine a gas furnace with a heat pump. Is this a short term compromise or a good solution for home comfort?

Raise the Deschutes: Fox Hollow Ranch Picnic and Farm Tour
2023-07-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Fox Hollow Ranch, 3459 SE Baldwin Drive, Madras, OR, 97741, United States
Join us on July 12 from 4-6 for a fun and informative afternoon at a family owned and operated farm, Fox Hollow Ranch.
The Richards family are junior irrigators in North Unit Irrigation District (just south of Madras) who grow hay, hybrid carrot seed, Kentucky Bluegrass seed, peppermint oil, and wheat. Learn how they have worked hard to do more with less water than other farmers in the basin and how they have remained successful despite a multi-year drought.
Register Here!

July Green Drinks: Fire and Flood film screening
2023-07-13 16:00 - 21:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Join us for July Green Drinks for a Sneak-Peek Screening of Fire and Flood: Queer Resilience in the Era of Climate Change. Queer Ecojustice Project and their fiscal host Out For Sustainability are sharing the draft sneak-peek screening of the Fire & Flood Film to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ vulnerability to climate change, encourage conversations on resilience preparedness, and to fundraise for the completion of the project.
This film tells the story of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the fires in Santa Rosa, California, two-near simultaneous climate-related disasters in the fall of 2017, through the voices of LGBTQ people who lived through them and were part of the community response.
You can expect a powerful and engaging 104-min storyline full of brilliant, insightful interviews with over 20 queer and trans people recounting their stories of disaster and resilience.
We will be offering two screenings. One with alternating English-Spanish captions for bilingual audiences, and one with English-only captions for the hearing impaired (provided by the Scottish Queer International Film Festival).
This draft film is not yet rated. It contains some complex themes, discussion of potentially triggering incidents, and infrequent mature language. It is recommended for adult audiences or for young adult audiences who have access to adult mentors for discussion and processing. Watch the Trailer.
TEC will collect voluntary donations for this event, and are providing a sliding scale that will not turn people away for lack of funds. We hope you can join us!

Get tickets here!

High Desert Garden Tour
2023-07-15 09:00 - 15:30 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The 28th Annual High Desert Garden Tour
Explore 7 gardens in Bend and Tumalo on this self-guided tour
Buy tickets here!
