The Environmental Center

Spring Clean up on DD Ranch
2017-03-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Come help support a Ranch that loves to give back to its community.
It is time to do some Spring Cleaning and make space for some new changes to the ranch. You may remember the windmill on our old logo… well, we are planning to erect that fallen windmill and we need some help to get ready. We also need help cleaning up after a tough winter.
Broken into 2 shifts of 3 hours each. Work suitable for ages 10 and up. Carpentry skills welcome. Sign up for one of the two shifts described below:
Shift 1: (10am-1 pm)
Jobs:

Moving 3 Fridges
Clean Brush from Circle in the middle of the circle drive – future home of the windmill!
Sweep the Barn and Dust
Clean corrals/coops
Repair/construction of corral gates/fences

Shift 2 (2-5pm)

Clean scrap wood up from behind lower chicken coop
Clean the petting zoo’s
Clean the Ticket booth
Clean corrals/coops
Repair/construction of corral gates/fences

Light Snacks, Coffee and Water Provided
Small but heartfelt token of appreciation given out to individuals who volunteer.
Contact:
Jodie Lindbo
jodie@ddranch.net
503-757-8220
Let us know your coming so we can make sure to have plenty of coffee, snacks, water and tokens of appreciation!

Discover Nature Days - Snow Explorers
2017-03-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Children’s Forest of Central Oregon has four great family programs coming up this spring! Presented by our partners, Discover Nature Days are free family events throughout Central Oregon that connect children and families to the wonder of nature. Join us for 2 hours of art, science, and play while learning about the natural world and exploring local parks.
Saturdays, March-June, 10 am-12 noon
March 18
Snow Explorers at Skyliners Lodge with Discover Your Forest. Discover winter ecology and explore the forest in winter time through hands-on science activities and games.

Other events…
April 15
Monarchs and Milkweed at Miller’s Landing Park with Discover Your Forest and Sunriver Nature Center. Learn about the incredible life cycle of the monarch butterfly through science activities, stories, and games.
May 13
The Invisible Tracker at Shevlin Park with Wildheart Nature School. Learn how to walk like an invisible fox, the science of bird language, and the art of being undetected while tracking in nature!
June 10
Fur and Feathers at Cline Falls State Park with High Desert Museum and The Environmental Center. Learn about adaptations of local birds and wildlife, try out birding and wildlife tracking, and play fun games.
Register here or call 541-383-5592.

Transportation for Oregon's Future at Pints and Politics
2017-03-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV and our friends from Commute Options, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and Oregon Environmental Council for a presentation about competing in the 21st Century with safer streets sidewalks, crosswalks and the Safe Routes to School program and find out what transit services need in order to meet increasing demand and connect communities. Join us to find out how you can take action and ensure that Oregon’s next transportation package addresses pressing urban and rural transportation needs.

Progressive “Speed Dating"
2017-03-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Network with local progressive groups who will be tabling at this event.

Contact: Jason Burge, burgejason@yahoo.com

Bend COTA Work Events
2017-03-16, 2017-03-09, 2017-03-02, 2017-02-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
When: Thursday Aug 11, Tuesday Aug 16, Tuesday Aug 23 and Tuesday Aug 30, 5:15 to Dusk
Where: Meet at the old Ray’s parking lot, NE corner of Simpson Ave and Century Drive in Bend
Worksite: Varies
There’s only one thing better than mountain biking in Bend, OR and that’s riding in Bend, knowing that you helped build and maintain the trails you love.
Please bring a hydration pack with water and a snack.
Be sure to bring appropriate layers to accommodate whatever the weather may be.
Questions? contact@cotamtb.com
All COTA trail work events require the following safety measures:
All participants are required to have the following protective clothing and equipment:

Sturdy shoes or boots
Gloves
Eye protection with clear or light colored lens
Long pants

Due to COTA’s insurance requirements and the inherent dangers of trail work, we must implement the following policy regarding children at work events:

For anyone 14 years of age or younger, we require one parent, guardian, or responsible adult for supervision of every four kids attending any COTA trail work events.
All minors under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian available to sign our waiver.

Anyone who arrives for a work event may be turned away if he/she cannot meet the above requirements.

Locavore Food School Presents: A Fresh Start
2017-03-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Locavore Food School is a monthly, on the third Thursday of each month, offering of nutrition and cooking classes taught by volunteers and community members including farmers, local food producers, nutritionists, chefs and alternative health care practitioners.
The class- A Fresh Start: The Basics of Stocking your Kitchen for Optimal Health. This class will go over revamping your pantry and shopping list to ensure that you have all you need to prepare simple and healthful meals at home. Whether you are cooking for a family of six, or just yourself, you will learn strategies that will simplify meal planning, free up time, and help prevent food waste.
The Instructor- Heather has two teenage boys and knows all about making meals work for families, as well as adapting for specific nutritional needs. She also loves working with older clients, and likes to focus on making meal prep easy and simple. For Heather, eating well is all about what is manageable and sustainable.

How Will Climate Change Affect Human Health?
2017-03-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Have you thought about how Climate Change might affect not only vegetation and animal life, but people?
As the climate changes, extremes of temperatures have created effects that are both anticipated and unpredictable. Many of these conditions are directly connected to human activity.
Specific aspects of these consequences and possible solutions will be presented by Mary Ellen Coulter, MD in collaboration with Physicians for Social Responsibility.
6:30 p.m. social time/snacks, 6:50 program.

Arbor Day Planning Meeting
2017-03-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Please join us as we plan our first Arbor Day Celebration for Bend in 10 years on April 28th. The Tree Coalition will having a booth with the Sierra Club for Earth Day on April 22nd. We are looking for helpers with planning the events, running the booth along with tree planting. We are hoping to work with Parks & Rec and the School District as well as the Deschutes Community Forest to enhance community outreach.

Living on a Few Acres Conference
2017-03-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Plan to attend this informative annual conference held on March 10, 2018 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. Improve your knowledge and acquire new skills by taking courses taught by experts in a variety of subjects. There is something for everyone, from urban gardeners and hobby farmers to ranch and farm business owners.
This educational experience, presented by the Oregon State University Extension Service, is a successful collaboration of many Central Oregon agencies, sponsors, vendors and volunteers.
Learn more about the following topics: Food safety from garden to kitchen, pressure canning, beginning beekeeping, enhancing wildlife habitat on your land, wildlife intervention strategies, weed management, soil information, pasture managment, growing hay, raising livestock and poultry, water rights, new irrigation projects from COID, use and calibration of backpack and ATV-mounted sprayers, irrigation system maintenance and cost share ideas, and many more.
Registration is now open!
Early registration deadline March 2nd – $50/person
$60/person after the deadline

Kor Community Land Trust Annual Fundraising Dinner
2017-03-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Support Affordable Housing in Bend By Attending the Kôr Community Land Trust Annual Fundraising Dinner
Is affordable, sustainable housing something you can get passionate about? If so, please join Kôr Community Land Trust for their annual fundraiser in the Tetherow Basalt Room Thursday, March 9 from 6:00 pm to 9 pm. What better way to support local affordable housing than to feast on a wonderful 3-course meal, sip your favorite beverage, and listen to some fantastic local music. The fundraiser also includes a silent auction that is sure to have something for everyone.
Kôr is a young, enthusiastic nonprofit which seeks to make homeownership attainable for Bend’s many skilled residents who find themselves priced out of the local housing market. Kôr uses the Community Land Trust model to build goal net-zero housing that will be affordable for generations.
Kôr is collaborating with other Central Oregon fair housing advocates to build Bend’s first sustainable and affordable community housing project. Due diligence for placement of Kôr’s first project is expected to be complete by this Spring, and the annual fundraiser will allow Kôr to purchase the brick and mortar items required to complete their first project.
Kôr Community Land Trust is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to develop and provide attainable conscious housing in Bend, Oregon. For more information please visit www.korlandtrust.org.
Tickets available here for $85.

Deschutes NF Volunteer Info Night
2017-03-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Discover Your Forest is hosting the Deschutes National Forest Volunteer Information Night this Thursday, March 9th. The event will be taking place at the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District Office at 63095 Deschutes Market Road from 6:00 – 7:30 PM. Come and learn about how you can get involved on the Forest, plus maybe win some really cool prizes.
The event is focused on recruiting volunteers to serve as Interpretive and Educational Volunteer Rangers, Trailhead Stewards, Special Field program assistants (i.e. in Aquatics or Botany), and much more. People interested in other volunteer opportunities on the Deschutes National Forest are encouraged to attend the event.
Please RSVP and/or for more information, contact Stacey Cochran, Discover Your Forest Community Engagement Director, at 541-383-5530 or stacey.cochran@discovernw.org.

All About ADUs
2017-03-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Earth Advantage for this 4-hour class intended for real estate and building industry professionals looking to increase their knowledge about ADU development in the City of Bend, OR.
* TEC members get a discounted registration fee.

New Hikes in Eastern Oregon
2017-03-07 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Oregon’s hiking expert will take you on a slideshow tour of a dozen new trails he found while researching the third edition of his book, “100 Hikes/Travel Guide: Eastern Oregon.” Hear about a colorful badlands on the Owyhee River, a stunning wilderness with cactus flowers on the John Day, and a viewpoint hike to a ranch at the east end of the Columbia Gorge. We’ll even explore half a dozen little-known hot springs. As always, Sullivan spices his talk with notes on the geology, wildlife and history of the land.

Inner Sustainability through Living Mindfully
2017-03-01 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Whatever our outer work, our effectiveness in it depends on how well we are sustaining ourselves on the inside. The practical tools of mindfulness help to reconnect our attention and intention with values and wisdom, that alignment that often gets watered down or lost altogether, as we face the challenges and stresses of our lives. Mindfulness is foundational to making the world a better place, by starting with yourself.
Laura Bartels, Executive Director of the Mindful Life Program based in Colorado, will talk about how developing the four key areas of mindfulness—attention, values, wisdom and an open heart—can transform your life and build resiliency. Join her on March 1st at 6 pm for this free talk entitled “Inner Sustainability through Living Mindfully” followed by a time for questions. The talk will take place at The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend.
By far, one of the biggest obstacles to finding inner peace and developing our highest potential is the inability to direct our attention where we would like, such as to our intentions for the day or to those activities that are meaningful for us. Through mindfulness, we can consciously train our mind and develop the ability to direct it where we would like and attend to what we choose to attend to. If we don’t train our mind, it can endlessly drag us from one thought to another, compulsively drawing our attention away from what we are presently doing and from what we would like to be thinking about. How much of each day are we able to actually be in the present moment? So much of our life goes by without actually being present in the moment. If we are minds aren’t in the present, then we cannot consciously bring our intention to our days. Researchers report that a wandering mind can be a detriment to being happy.
Bartels says, “Mindfulness goes well beyond individual benefits and supports positive impacts on others and our communities, creating more compassionate and equitable relationships.”
Laura Bartels will share the full MLP Mindfulness Foundations course March 3rd – 5th, which offers practical, accessible and universal skills to live a meaningful life. Learn more about this and other upcoming courses and programs at www.mindfullifeprogram.org.

Farmer Chef Mixer
2017-02-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Chef workshop
On the table – developing a Chef’s Collaborative. Join the discussion!
Chef-Farmer Workshop
One-on-one time with farmers and chefs. Bring your foodie desires and price sheets. Food & Bevie included
Farmer Workshop
What’s the difference between direct and wholesale markets? From farmer’s markets to CSA and restaurant to institution, each market has distinct characteristics.
RSVP Today!

Workshops are FREE
The Mixer costs $10 and includes food and beverages. We will send you a link via PayPal to pay for the event or you can pay by check or cash at the event.

Eagle Watch
2017-02-26 - 2017-02-27, 2017-02-25 - 2017-02-26 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The 22nd annual Eagle Watch Celebration is on February 25-26 at Round Butte Overlook Park near Madras. The celebration focuses on the eagles and other raptors that live in the Lake Billy Chinook area. This is a family-friendly event that includes live birds of prey, wild eagle viewing, raptor education, kids activities, and a special presentation of tribal drumming and dancing by The Quartz Creek Drummers and Dancers.
The event is from 10am-4pm on Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday. It is hosted by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Portland General Electric, Crooked River Grassland, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
To learn more, visit the event facebook page.

Mountainfilm on Tour: A Fundraiser for The Environmental Center
2017-02-25, 2017-02-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Mountainfilm is back for its 14th tour in Bend. As always, the event will showcase the very best of Telluride Mountainfilm Festival, an annual film festival in Colorado synonymous with the world’s finest film making.
All event proceeds benefit The Environmental Center’s mission to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon.
Stay tuned for ticket sales around mid-January, and visit our Mountainfilm webpage for updated info!

VegNet February Potluck
2017-02-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Vegetarian, vegan, or veg-curious? Join us at VegNet’s monthly potluck! Bring a vegan dish to serve 4-6 people and your own plate and utensils. Eat, socialize, and try for a prize during veggie word scramble. This is a family-friendly, alcohol-free event. Hope to see you there!

2017 COBKA Bee School
2017-02-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This year’s Bee School will be held at the Central Oregon Community College and will feature our COBKA Beekeeping 101 class as well as lectures from regional COBKA mentors on topics including but not limited to:

Equipment
Hive types
Bee Suits
Tools
Installing bees into a hive
Hive management
Reading the frame

Pest control
This event is structured to provide attendees with all the information needed to begin beekeeping in Central Oregon. Our event booklet will include the information discussed during the event as well as handy local supplier contacts, advice on local plant varieties to encourage pollinators and much more.
We will have breaks between lectures to visit with mentors and see different types of hives and beekeeping supplies. There will be a lunch break with some snacks provided – please bring a sack lunch if you choose.
We are working towards reducing waste created by our events: Please bring a water bottle and/or your beverage of choice as we will not be providing beverages in disposable packaging.

The Return of the River: Film and panel discussion
2017-02-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This award-winning film tells the story of a remarkable campaign to set the Elwha River free. It is an unlikely success story for environmental and cultural restoration that offers hope and possibility for a more sustainable future. The film will be followed by a panel discussion about river restoration with the director/cinematographer and two research scientists who worked on the project.
Registration is required as we expect this program to fill. Please help us defray costs by making a suggested $10 donation at the door.

February Nature Night
2017-02-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Oregon spotted frog is a small amphibian that is currently having a large impact on Central Oregon. Join biologist and spotted frog expert Jay Bowerman to learn more about this native frog and its habitat. Jay will shed light on the spotted frog’s life history, ecological needs, abilities, and the challenges it face of habitat loss, invasive species, and an uncertain political climate. Jay has been observing the species in Sunriver for more than 40 years, and more recently added study sites in and near Bend.
***This event is free, but registration is required. Registration opens 1 month prior to the event.***
Jay Bowerman holds a M.S. in biology from University of Oregon where he studied salamander chromosomes. After 20 years as the executive director of the Sunriver Nature Center, Jay has returned to biological research that focuses on amphibian ecology. He is the author of more than twenty journal papers ranging from amphibian deformities to leeches. In recent years Jay has focused on mentoring young scientists while continuing studies of western toads, Oregon spotted frogs, and the impact of introduced species, especially bullfrogs, on native amphibians. In his spare time Jay and his wife Teresa stay involved in a variety of local cultural events such as the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival and the Hoedown for Hunger at Bend’s Community Center. Most recently they have been learning to be grandparents.

Redmond Repair Cafe
2017-02-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A Repair Cafe is an event that pairs people with broken stuff, with people who like to fix stuff.
Our fabulous fixers will be at the Redmond Public Library on October 30th to fix your broken stuff! Small appliances and electronics, clothing and outdoor gear, small furniture, and jewelry. These repairs are free and performed on a voluntary basis. You can bring multiple items for repair, but we ask that you get one item repaired at a time.
This event marks 5 years that we have been organizing these events in our community, and it closely follows International Repair Cafe Week!
NOTE: The Source has this event listed as happening at both Bend & Redmond Libraries, but this event is ONLY at the REDMOND Public Library. Sorry for any confusion!

Emerge Oregon One-Day Training Bend
2017-02-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Emerge Oregon and the Deschutes Democrats to learn about the key components of running a successful campaign in this one-day compact training!
Emerge Oregon helps women leaders develop the tools to win public office.
Whether you want to be the candidate or on the campaign, this training can be invaluable in helping you prepare a successful run for office.
Space is limited, tickets are $40 per person
Please register at the link in advance: https://act.myngp.com/Forms/4384959483287176960

COTA Movie Night
2017-02-16 20:00 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | McMenamin’s, 700 NW Bond St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
*Heads Up! Starting in February all COTA Movie Nights will start at 8PM!*
Pine Mountain Sports is bringing you a fatbike double feature! We’ve got an encore presentation of Cold Rolled and Among The Wild at COTA Movie Night on Thu Feb 16!
Cold Rolled (19 minutes) is a funny, action documentary from Clear & Cold Cinema about Marquette Michigan’s Snow Bike Route. This film explores the history and progression of winter cycling culture in this small Lake Superior harbor town.
Among The Wild – The Arrowhead 135 (29 minutes) follows one of the 50 toughest races on the planet. Some of the best winter ultra-athletes in the world come to compete and fatbike, run or ski 135 miles across Northern Minnesota along the rugged Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail. This film follows 3 competitors during their attempts at completing the Arrowhead 135.
Break out your fatty and ride it down to McMenamins on Thu Feb 16! Show starts at 8P.
$5 per person, cash only, please. Minors accompanied by parent or guardian.
Movie Night at McMenamins raises funds and awareness for Central Oregon Trail Alliance.

The Elliott State Forest and Privatization of Public Lands at Pints and Politics
2017-02-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV and Alexander Harris from Oregon Wild for a presentation about the Elliott State Forest and the privatization of public lands. Learn about the land transfer movement, from armed occupations to proposals in the Oregon legislature and at the federal level to privatize public land. Come and find out how you can play a role in the larger pro-public lands movement in the west.
