The Environmental Center

Land Trust Tree Hunt!
2014-12-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Celebrate the season at the Land Trust’s fun and festive annual Tree Hunt! Find your perfect tree while restoring the native forests of the Metolius Preserve. The Tree Hunt will take place from 10am-2pm on Saturday, December 6th.
**The Tree Hunt is held at the Land Trust’s Metolius Preserve, weather permitting. Please check our website the first week of December to see if conditions will allow the hunt!**
Find more information about the Tree Hunt.

COTA work event at Maston
2014-12-06
Temperatures are rising this weekend, and we are putting on a work event at the Maston. We’ll be working on rerouting Lost Dream Trail.
Meet at Juniper Trailhead on Cline Falls Hwy at 10am. This is a joint effort with COCC students. Sandwiches provided by New York City Sub Shop!
Please RSVP to rzimmerler@cocc.edu.

ONDA's Year-End Celebration
2014-12-05
In the throes of an endless summer, it’s hard to believe another year is coming to a close. But the the new year is on its way and it’s time to party! Mark your calendars for an evening of revelry in the name of another year of high desert conservation success.

Social Justice Center 2nd Anniversary Party & Fundraiser
2014-12-05
Celebrate 2 years of the Central Oregon Social Justice Center and join us in our mission to make our community the vibrant, welcoming, compassionate place we all want it to be. Come for great company, delicious food — Greg Delgado is gearing up!– and beverages, adult and otherwise. It’s free of charge as always and we hope you will consider making a donation to the Social Justice Center to help make sure we can keep doing what we do.
Contact: Bruce Morris, cosjc@gmail.com

Central Oregon Flyfishers Next Cast Committee
2014-12-04

Central Oregon Flyfishers Board Meeting
2014-12-04
Monthly COF Board of Directors meeting at Environmental Center at 6:30 PM.

Rethink Your Holiday: Less Is More
2014-11-28
Join the Rethink Waste Project in kicking off the holiday season with your own meaningful tradition that focuses less on stuff and more on the things that really matter – experiences, relationships, and other untangibles. Head over to the blog for 10 anti-black Friday activities to try out with your friends and family this year.

Oregon Natural Desert Association: Wild Desert Calendar Exhibit Opening
2014-11-21
The 2015 Wild Desert Calendar will debut at Sunriver Resort on Nov. 21 with a reception from 5-7:30 PM.
A collection of over a dozen images, some from this year’s calendar and others from previous years, will be on display in the resort’s Betty Gray Gallery, directly upstairs from registration in the main lodge. The exhibit will be on display through the first week in January, 2015.
Featured photographers include Greg Burke, Jim Davis, Tyson Fisher and Christof Teuscher.
Contact Name: Elisa Davis

Pine Mountain Sports Presents COTA Movie Night @ McMenamins
2014-11-20
Thursday, Nov 20
COTA MOVIE NIGHT @ McMENAMINS
TRUTH & BEAUTY in 3D!
Old. St Francis School Theater – Bend, OR
9:00 p.m. | $5 per person, cash only | 21 & over
Pine Mountain Sports brings you the mountain bike film, TRUTH & Beauty in 3D! That’s right. Amazing 3-freaking-D action and mountain biking all in the very same movie!
Nat Bartholomew and Spinteck films made the very first 3D mountain bike movie! We’ve partnered with our favorite Mac guys at Connecting Point Computers to bring you this 3D visual experience that will change the way that you watch mountain bike movies – forever! Probably. Maybe.
TRUTH and Beauty features 3D action from Rays Indoor Mountain Bike Park, Redbull Rampage, US National Championships, Whiteface 5K Race, Mt. Snow, and some of the best dirt jumps in Pennsylvania! And, did we mention that there are rad chicks riding bikes in this film? Rad, bike riding chicks – in 3D!
Free 3D glasses – yours to keep – with admission. Movie Night at McMenamins raises funds and awareness for Central Oregon Trail Alliance.
NEWSFLASH! All ages are now permitted (with an adult aged 21+) at our monthly COTA Movie Night @ McMenamins cycling films. Keep the kids up late on a school night and bring them to McMenamins!
Run time: 44 minutes…

Oregon League of Conservation Voters: Pints and Politics Celebration
2014-11-20
Join us to celebrate the results of the general election and honor the volunteers who helped make 2014 a great success for Oregon’s environment! Congratulate our newly elected Bend City Councilors, Nathan Boddie and Barb Campbell and chat with friends who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy. If you volunteered with OLCV in 2014, your first beer is on us!

When: Thursday, November 20th from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Broken Top Bottle Shop at 1740 NW Pence Ln, Bend

CANCELLED: East Cascades Audubon Society Birders Night
2014-11-20
When: Scheduled 9 times a year, 3rd Thursdays of month.
Location: Central Oregon Environmental Center, 16 N/W Kansas, Bend, Oregon 97701
Time: Social gathering time is from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Programs begin at 7:00 p.m. and usually last until 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public. You do not need to be a member of any group to attend.
Sponsors: East Cascades Audubon Society.
Contact: For more information contact Diana Roberts or Nancy Merrick.

November 20: “Mystery Birds”
Are you interested in an educational and fun evening as we study enigmatic Pacific Northwest bird photographs and attempt to answer the ubiquitous question, “Can you tell what that is?” Everybody is invited to bring a stick or cd with a few puzzling local bird photos, whether the ID is known or not, if the shot is blurred, shows only half a bird, or is obscured by foliage etc. to give everyone the fun of contemplating and perhaps even answering “What is that bird?”

Green Drinks at Gear Fix
2014-11-20
Join us at Green Drinks, the bi-monthly gathering to learn about local businesses and their sustainability efforts while enjoying an Eco-conscious drink or two! This month we’ll be learning about quality used outdoor gear at Gear Fix; 5-7pm.
You’ll learn about this great local business and the sustainable practices they follow in repairing and selling quality used outdoor gear. This will be The Gear Fix’s 6th year hosting this event, so be sure to come by for a drink, snacks, networking, and inspiration!
Enjoy a truly green drink by bringing your own cup and consider alternatives to driving alone such as carpooling, walking, biking and transit.
Questions? Please contact Sara.

Hart Mountain Mule Deer Survey Trip
2014-11-20 - 2014-11-23
Hart Mountain Mule Deer Survey Trip

When
Nov 20, 2014 02:00 PM to
Nov 23, 2014 12:00 AM

Contact Name
Nick Dobric

Contact Phone
(541) 330-2638

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BACKGROUND:
For those volunteers who have been lucky enough to have joined us on the sage-grouse lek counts, this trip will be very similar. But other than navigating to predetermined sites to watch and count birds, we will be covering a defined survey area looking for and counting mule deer in order to provide the USFWS a sex and age composition of the herd. This is a great opportunity to explore the Refuge during the quiet season and view and photograph mule deer and other wildlife.
TIMELINE:

November 20th, Thursday at 2pm. We will all gather at the Hart Mountain Headquarters. Arriving at this time is important because it allows time for the USFWS orientation, gear assignments and answering questions. We will be going to bed early in preparation for the early mornings!

November 21st, Friday. On the first day of observations, one or both of our groups of ONDA volunteers will be accompanied by a USFWS employee or an experienced volunteer observer. We will do morning and evening surveys and will have the middle part of the day for eating, hot-springs-soaking, sleeping, relaxing, hiking, etc.
November 22nd, Saturday. Same as Friday

November 23rd, Sunday. After monitoring in the morning, we will be able to clean the bunkhouse and be ready to head home by around lunch time.

THE WORK:
Participants will work in small groups of 3 either taking short hikes and/or driving some of the rough roads. In addition to safety reasons, a team approach is especially helpful since the methods require multiple counts.
This trip involves a commitment to waking up early, hiking off trail and standing in the cold/dark with wind and potentially snow.

L.Arbanas photo
CAMP:
We will be staying at a USFWS bunkhouse at Hart Mountain Refuge Headquarters. It is modern, heated and roomy, with 13 beds in 7 separate rooms, and a full modern kitchen with some utensils, and a bathroom with hot showers.

DIFFICULTY RATING: 2
Early working hours, below freezing temperatures, hiking in the dark on uneven terrain. Click HERE for a description of the trip difficulty rating system.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Participants are responsible for their own food but we will likely coordinate a group dinner or two. Sturdy off-trail ankle-high boots are recommended for this trip. This trip is offered to members free of charge.
You will need a vehicle capable of driving on graded gravel roads and possibly snowy conditions (all wheel/4wd recommended), for transportation to and from Hart Mountain.Carpooling can be arranged after registration. Transportation on Hart Mountain for the work will be in Refuge vehicles.

PROVIDED BY ONDA:
USFWS vehicles for transportation to work sites, data sheets, Rite in the Rain notebooks, pencils, GPS units, SPOT emergency beacon and USFWS radios (for medical or logistic emergencies only), first aid kit, spotting scopes and some binoculars
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This trip is led by Nick Dobric ONDA’s Hart-Sheldon Program Manager. Group size is limited to 8 participants. The trip is available free of charge.
REGISTRATION:
An ONDA registration application and medical form is required for this trip. Click HERE for the medical form. You only need to fill this form out once per year: You can join additional trips by e-mailing the trip leader directly.
You will receive a confirmation e-mail within 10 working days of submitting the form. The confirmation e-mail will provide information regarding which trips you are on the “participant list” for, and which trips are full and so your name has been placed on the “wait list”. Five weeks before the trip starts the trip leader will send out an RSVP e-mail to make sure everyone is still available to participate. Three weeks before the trip begins, the trip leader will send out an e-mail with additional information, maps, driving instructions, car-pooling options etc. However, if you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the trip leader at the e-mail address above.

FANs Survey
2014-11-20
Do you care about places like Alder Springs and Steelhead Falls? The FANs Board of Directors wants to hear from YOU!
Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) hosted two Community Input Meetings in late-September to gather input from local citizens and groups regarding their values related to the Deschutes Canyon Area and their vision for its future. A Community Input Meeting Summary was prepared to document community feedback from the meetings in Sisters and Terrebonne. A link to this summary and a link to a map of the Deschutes Canyon Area can be found here.
The FANs board is listening to public opinion about these wild lands to help shape our priorities for conservation and stewardship, and our vision for permanent protection of the Deschutes Canyon Area. If you were unable to attend one of these meetings, but would like to provide feedback, please take the survey now. The survey deadline is November 20, 2014.

InFARMation (and Beer!)
2014-11-18
Land, Soil, Water, and Farmers: The Future of Sustainable Agriculture in Central Oregon
What does it mean to be farming in the midst of climate change? Can agriculture be a part of the solution? What is the community’s role in building a sustainable food system in Oregon? InFARMation (& Beer!) tackles these questions and more! Join Friends of Family Farmers (FoFF) and Jackson’s Corner for a fun and informative night of panelists and experts in sustainable agriculture as they address land access, soil health, agritourism, and more. FoFF will also be presenting on ways that you can be involved in our work on behalf of family farmers and how you can help shape your local food systems.
Panelists for the first series event “Land, Soil, Water, and Farmers inFARMation” includes:

Linda Anspach, owner and rancher at DD Ranch in Terrebonne
Carys Wilkins, owner and farmer at Mahonia Gardens in Sisters
Clare Sullivan, agronomist and Small Farms and Community Food Systems at OSU Extension

InFARMation is an educational and community building event series created by FoFF that has taken place in locations throughout Oregon since 2009. These events connect eaters and farmers around the most important issues impacting healthy local food systems and socially responsible agriculture in Oregon. The events are always free to attend.

Social Media & Volunteerism Presentation
2014-11-18
Making Social Media Work Better for our Volunteer Programs
Presentation by Matt Hand, our Central Oregon social media and video expert
Followed by networking time
Cost:$5 per person; free for NOVA members and Volunteer Connect partners
This event is hosted by the Network of Volunteer Administrators (NOVA) and Volunteer Connect. It will be held at Bend’s Community Center.
To sign up, contact betsy@volunteerconnectnow.org

Central Oregon Trail Alliance Visitor Center Trails Work Event
2014-11-15
Join COTA for a Saturday morning work event on the new visitor center trails.
Deschutes Brewery beer will be available after working.
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.
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.

America Recycles Day
2014-11-15
A nation-wide day to celebrate recycling!
America Recycles Day aims to educate and increase the amount Americans collectively recycle. This national awareness effort is an initiative by Keep America Beautiful, an organization committed to helping citizens, businesses and governments to find solutions to preventing and reducing waste and beautifying communities.
Thousands of events take place across the country in honor of America Recycles Day! We hope you’ll participate by amping up the efforts a bit today. In Bend, the Rethink Waste Project Repair Cafe on November 14-15 would be a great event to attend. Come repair your items (for free!) instead of replacing them.
How else do you plan to participate? Check out the Rethink Waste website for ideas and resources on how to reduce waste – not just today, but all year long.

Bend Habitat for Humanity Wargo Family Home Dedication
2014-11-14
Come celebrate with us! The Wargo family home is finished- our 106th! Join us for the dedication ceremony, lunch and a tour of the home.

Summit Loop Hike, Smith Rock State Park
2014-11-14
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Eva Eagle for a hike along the Summit Loop Trail at Smith Rock State Park. This gorgeous loop follows the Burma Road up to a ridge overlooking famed crags like Monkey Face. On the descent, the Summit Loop trail crosses a private property protected by the Land Trust before joining the Park’s river trail. Enjoy fall colors and take in the sweeping views of the Cascade crest.
Hike Rating: This is a challenging 7-mile hike along the Summit Loop Trail at Smith Rock State Park.
Free. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes

2014 Sustainability Awards Ceremony
2014-11-13
The Environmental Center hosts the annual Sustainability Awards to highlight the determined and persistent change makers—in business, government, nonprofits and the community—who are essential to achieving a sustainable future. “By showcasing their commitment to a healthy environment, a vibrant economy, and an equitable society, we hope to inspire even more sustainable action in Central Oregon,” says executive director Mike Riley.

The awards ceremony will take place on November 13th, 2014 at the Cascade Culinary Institute’s Elevation Restaurant. Tickets are $20 and are now available for sale here.

Cascadia Green Building Council: Solar Ready Luncheon Learn
2014-11-13
The High Desert Collaborative and Sunlight Solar Energy will present details on how to build solar ready homes and how to receive incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon. Come join us to learn more about the benefits of solar energy!
Parking is limited so please walk/bike or carpool.
RSVP
to Kim Wilson

Solar Ready-Your Commercial Building
2014-11-13
The Cascadia Green Building Council, High Desert Branch Collective will be hosting this event over lunch on Thursday, November 13th at Sunlight Solar. Sunlight Solar will provide details of how to build solar ready and how to receive the Energy Trust of Oregon incentives. Parking is limited, so please walk/bike or carpool.
1 AIA/HSW Credit
RSVP: kim.wilson@sunlightsolar.com
Cost: Free, lunch provided

Camp Fire Central Oregon: In the Garden with The Environmental Center
2014-11-12
Join us for a little late afternoon garden preparation as we help the folks at The Environmental Center get ready for winter, and fill some of their brand new planters with fresh soil!
Gardens require a lot of love and upkeep–so let’s all bring a friend, roll up our sleeves, and get our hands a little dirty! It’s going to be a lot of fun, and a great excuse to learn a little more about what it takes to maintain a healthy garden!

Symphony of the Soil, the film
2014-11-11
If you’re like me, as a kid you made little mud cakes and set them out to dry in the sun. This requires digging up soil, throwing in some water, a handful of sandbox sand, and whipping up just the right blend so the cake won’t crack as it dries. I was learning about soil. Symphony of the Soil beautifully, lovingly, respectfully offers up this most basic source of life, the mother of nearly all plant life that in turn makes life possible for animal life, us—the soil—for a closer look. Soil is alive with microorganisms that not only feed nutrients to root structures, they capture and hold atmospheric carbon, tucking it underground where it feeds the plant its most important building block for growth, carbon. Learn more about the living skin of the earth separating biology from geology in Debra Koons Garcia’s well done, symphonically flowing, visually appealing treatment of this underappreciated natural resource and how you can nurture it.
6:30 gathering and snacks, 7:00 program.

Walking Away From the Land
2014-11-10
Walking Away from the Land
Central Oregon LandWatch is excited to announce our next speaker, Jonathan Stewart, an avid long distance hiker who spent the past decade hiking over 10,000 miles the length of the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, Great Divide, Hayduke, Long and Pacific Northwest trails.
Jon’s illustrated talk will expand on themes developed in his recent book entitled Walking Away from the Land. It focuses on the rapid cultural and climatic changes that are challenging the survival of our forests, grasslands, native wildlife, and our very civilization as seen from the crest of the American continent.
The Brooks Room
Downtown Bend Public Library
Please RSVP Here

Cascade Audubon Society Annual Fundraiser
2014-11-08
Featured speaker will be Michael Illig, Curator of Animals at the Oregon Zoo. He will be presenting on the Condor Breeding Program at the zoo. There will also be light refreshments, a silent auction and raffles, a review of ECAS programs and projects and awards presented to Volunteer and Conservationist of the year.

WaterWatch of Oregon Annual Fundraiser
2014-11-08
Please join us for the 12th Annual

Celebration of Oregon Rivers
Banquet & Auction
Benefiting WaterWatch of Oregon
Saturday, November 8, 2014
5:00pm to 9:30pm
Tiffany Center
1410 SW Morrison St, Portland

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Get discounted tickets by purchasing before September 1st
Individual Ticket: $85.00
Tables of Ten: $850.00
After September 1st tickets go to full price
Individual Ticket: $100.00
Tables of Ten: $1,000.00

We are mixing things up this year… New location, New items, New energy!
This is WaterWatch’s single largest source of funding each year. Last year, thanks to your support and generosity, we had our biggest and best year yet! Over 325 people attended the event and helped further our mission to protect and restore streamflows in Oregon rivers.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, donors, guests and friends who help make this event a success – we couldn’t do it without you!

Project Wild Thing Film Screening
2014-11-07
Celebrate the launch of the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon with a fun and inspiring evening with friends and partners. PROJECT WILD THING is the hilarious, real-life stor of one man’s determination to get children out and into the ultimate, free wonder-product: Nature. This ambitious, feature-length documentary takes a funny and accessible look at a complex issue, the increasingly fragile connection between children and nature.
Learn more at www.projectwildthing.com. Purchase tickets in advance at: www.mcmenamins.com/events.

YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip
2014-11-04
Green Team Movie Night: “YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip”.
This award-winning “docu-comedy” tells the story of a year-long adventure trip of three friends to personalize sustainability and to answer the question: “Are we doomed?” They travel to every state to interview courageous and creative innovators who are tackling our environmental threats.
Questions? Call Nancy Merrick 541-815-6504
