The Environmental Center

Bend COTA Work Events
2019-02-28, 2019-02-21, 2019-02-14, 2019-02-07, 2019-01-31 | 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.

Power Hour: Demystifying the Cost of Building a Zero Energy Home
2019-02-28 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Please RSVP in advance – space is limited.
Join the Environmental Center and Earth Advantage for our February Power Hour!
Building a home that produces as much energy as it needs is no longer a dream or distant goal. We often see hyper-efficiency in custom luxury homes, but there are builders today (in our own community) that can build market rate zero energy homes.
Whether you’re a curious homeowner or building professional, join us on February 28th for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion around big picture concepts and specific, prioritized building techniques for a zero energy project – and the dollars-and-cents of such an undertaking.
Come learn about the many benefits of building zero energy from day one of design, and how this approach will make your home more comfortable, quieter, and healthier for decades to come.
Speakers:

Bruce Sullivan, owner of Base zero, has been helping people improve energy efficiency for more than 30 years. He has a passion to make sustainable building the norm for new construction.
Dave and Tina Cady started Performance Homes to make a difference in home building. Their passion stems from previous jobs as home performance contractors, which led them to refine their own construction process. In 2018, they earned Earth Advantage’s “Home Builder of the Year” as well as “Lowest EPS Score” awards.

Agenda:

Networking: 5:00 to 5:30 pm
Presentation + Q&A: 5:30 to 6:30
Networking and mingling with speakers: 6:30 to 7:00

Thank you sponsors: Worthy Brewing and Energy Trust of Oregon.

[CANCELLED] Nature Night: Recreation for Everyone
2019-02-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This event has been canceled due to snow and will be rescheduled.
Photo: Tyler Roemer
As the second in its winter Nature Nights series, the Land Trust is offering a free presentation on the impacts of outdoor recreation.
Recent surveys show that over half of all Americans participate in some form of outdoor recreation. However, despite public lands being for everyone, the demographics of outdoor recreationists do not often reflect the diversity that we see in our country. Join Dr. Ashley D’Antonio as we discuss who is recreating on our public lands, who is missing from these outdoor spaces, and what science can, and can’t, tell us about issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor recreation. The talk will highlight some of the great work being done in the Pacific Northwest, and around the United States, to promote inclusivity and diversity in the outdoors and suggest ways that you can get involved.
This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online.

InFARMation (and Beer!)
2019-02-27 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Jackson’s Corner – East, 1500 NE Cushings Dr. #100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
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.

Mountainfilm on Tour
2019-02-23, 2019-02-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A fundraiser for The Environmental Center
Mountainfilm on Tour brings a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado.
We’re hosting two nights of films that will inspire you to create a better world, with different playlists each evening. MORE INFO about this event can be found here.
Tickets are on sale! Purchase tickets online or at the Tower Theatre box office.

Tickets for Friday, February 22
Tickets for Saturday, February 23

$22/night in advance | $25 at door | $40 in advance for both nights
Doors 6 p.m. and films 7 p.m. This event will sell out!

A Plastic Ocean Movie
2019-02-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A highly acclaimed film winner of multiple awards!
“Directors Choice: Sedona Film Festival 2017”
“Best Environmental Film Sedona International Film Festival
“2017 Best of Festival at Blue Ocean”
The film charts a voyage for a blue whale and what is seen along the way. This film may change the way you feel about single use plastics. It will take a wave of action, and Bend can start today. Come experience the majesty of the wonderful blue whale and learn what you can do to help them. Suitable for the entire family
RSVP appreciated. Please share with friends.
Kombucha and snack provided for $5 suggested donation.

Sly as a Fox: Montane Red Foxes in Central Oregon
2019-02-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Sierra Nevada Red Fox is one of our most imperiled mammals, and recent field studies reveal Central Oregon’s wild places are habitat for these highly intelligent critters, often, quite surprisingly, at lower elevations than expected. Learn about the fox’s denning and foraging habits gathered from fresh GPS collaring data, remote motion-triggered cameras, and thousands of hours of observation efforts, including by our speaker, ODFW Wildlife Technician and Bend resident Jamie Bowles.
Program is free! 6:30pm gathering/snacks, 6:50pm program.

Know Less Waste
2019-02-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Learn more about why less matters.
Know Less Waste explores how the stuff we buy, use and get rid of everyday, is impacting our world. From furniture to food, our purchasing decisions and behaviors are where we have the most impact, both positively and negatively. We all know the 3 R’s: Reduce Reuse and Recycle, but while most people focus on the 3rd R, – Recycling – it’s Reduce that is the most important. Join staff from The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project to learn more about why stuff matters, globally and here in Deschutes County, and leave with hands on tips to do something about it.
Denise Rowcroft and Ani Kasch are Sustainability Educators with The Environmental Center, a local non-profit organization working to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. Denise has managed their Rethink Waste Project and Learning Garden since 2011, and enjoys creatively repurposing leftover and found materials. Ani has been coordinating our LED light bulb installations since 2016 and this past spring kicked off our community Rethink Food Waste Challenge. She is an avid bike commuter and loves cooking meals only with things found in her kitchen.
Two other events in this series:

February 7 @ 6:00 pm – 6:55 pm – East Bend Library
February 8 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Sunriver Library

Hart Mountain Revealed
2019-02-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The 2019 Bend High Desert Speaker Series continues with a presentation from ONDA’s own Hart-Sheldon Coordinator, Jeremy Austin. From unique wildlife and stunning night skies to opportunities for recreation and solitude, Hart Mountain is a high desert treasure worth exploring. Learn about what makes Hart Mountain so spectacular, get tips for planning your next adventure and discover the vital conservation initiatives you can support to mitigate current threats and ensure that this region stays wild.
About the speaker:
A native Oregonian, Jeremy has followed his passion for biology by working on various projects with birds, trees and plants across the state. Beginning in 2012, Jeremy spent two summers with ONDA conducting aspen inventories at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and surveying for invasive plant species, after which he joined the team full-time to manage our work in the Greater Hart-Sheldon Region. When he is not out enjoying the natural world, Jeremy enjoys playing music with friends and family, backcountry skiing, hiking, and working in the yard.
Event notes:
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7 p.m. The presentation will be held in Worthy Brewing’s Hop Mahal room, located in the far right corner of the main restaurant. You are welcome to have dinner and drinks in the restaurant prior to doors opening. This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration opens one month prior to the event.

Backcountry Film Festival - Sisters
2019-02-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Discover Your Forest, the local non-profit partner of the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grasslands for the 15th Annual Backcountry Film Festival. Produced by the Winter Wildlands Alliance, Backcountry Film Festival is a renowned production featuring professional and grassroots filmmakers from all corners of the globe. With screenings in more than 100 cities worldwide, the festival serves to unite communities in celebrating winter, sharing passion for adventure, and spreading awareness about the latest environmental conservation initiatives.
This year’s line up is highly anticipated, so be sure to purchase your tickets early. Tickets cost $15 and proceeds raised for Discover Your Forest go to Project SNOW (Studying Nature Outdoors in Winter), a program dedicated to providing free outdoor education experiences for over 2,000 kids in Central Oregon.
Three screenings:

February 16th, 6PM and 9:30PM at Volcanic Theatre Pub
February 17th, 7PM at Sisters Movie House

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Raffle prizes, auction items, and more will be up for grabs.

Backcountry Film Festival - Bend
2019-02-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States

Know Less Waste
2019-02-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Learn more about why less matters.
Know Less Waste explores how the stuff we buy, use and get rid of everyday, is impacting our world. From furniture to food, our purchasing decisions and behaviors are where we have the most impact, both positively and negatively. We all know the 3 R’s: Reduce Reuse and Recycle, but while most people focus on the 3rd R, – Recycling – it’s Reduce that is the most important. Join staff from The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project to learn more about why stuff matters, globally and here in Deschutes County, and leave with hands on tips to do something about it.
Denise Rowcroft and Ani Kasch are Sustainability Educators with The Environmental Center, a local non-profit organization working to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. Denise has managed their Rethink Waste Project and Learning Garden since 2011, and enjoys creatively repurposing leftover and found materials. Ani has been coordinating our LED light bulb installations since 2016 and this past spring kicked off our community Rethink Food Waste Challenge. She is an avid bike commuter and loves cooking meals only with things found in her kitchen.
Two other events in this series:

February 7 @ 6:00 pm – 6:55 pm – East Bend Library
February 20 @ 12:00 PM – 12:55 PM – Sisters Library

Know Less Waste
2019-02-07 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Learn more about why less matters.
Know Less Waste explores how the stuff we buy, use and get rid of everyday, is impacting our world. From furniture to food, our purchasing decisions and behaviors are where we have the most impact, both positively and negatively. We all know the 3 R’s: Reduce Reuse and Recycle, but while most people focus on the 3rd R, – Recycling – it’s Reduce that is the most important. Join staff from The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project to learn more about why stuff matters, globally and here in Deschutes County, and leave with hands on tips to do something about it.
Denise Rowcroft and Ani Kasch are Sustainability Educators with The Environmental Center, a local non-profit organization working to embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon. Denise has managed their Rethink Waste Project and Learning Garden since 2011, and enjoys creatively repurposing leftover and found materials. Ani has been coordinating our LED light bulb installations since 2016 and this past spring kicked off our community Rethink Food Waste Challenge. She is an avid bike commuter and loves cooking meals only with things found in her kitchen.
Two other events in this series:

February 8 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Sunriver Library
February 20 @ 12:00 PM – 12:55 PM – Sisters Library

Clean Energy Jobs Lobby Day
2019-02-06 09:00 - 16:00 | Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. SE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Lobby days give you the chance to meet with your legislators and make a lasting impact on them; an opportunity to tell your story, and to urge them to make the environment a priority during the legislative session.
Clean Energy Jobs Lobby Day – February 6th (Focusing only on this climate bill)
The day includes best practices for meeting with your legislators, lunch, a march and rally on the Capitol steps, and then meetings with your legislators.
Register here.
Carpools will leave from several locations throughout the state. OLCV will be sending out all the information via email so you can catch a ride to Salem. Can you drive others? Register as a carpool driver. Can’t drive and need a ride down to Salem? Sign up to join a carpool near you.

Recreation and Rivers
2019-02-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Dr. Lisa Machnik will take us for a journey into the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: the historical context, the fundamentals of the Act, how rivers are managed, and:
The Wild and Scenic Rivers of Central Oregon – how lucky we are to have these resources in our backyard!
Beer by Boneyard. Presented by the Coalition for the Deschutes and Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe.
Door at 5:00 pm, program begins at 7:00 pm RSVP here. Suggested donation: $5/person at the door
More about Lisa Machnik:
Dr. Machnik is the Recreation, Heritage, Lands, and Partnerships staff officer on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland. An avid backpacker, canoeist, trail runner and skier, Lisa worked as a backcountry guide in Canada and New Zealand before completing her Ph.D. at Clemson University, where she also worked with the National Park Service in their Interpretive Development Program. She joined the Forest Service as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2007.
After working on the Sawtooth and Salmon-Challis National Forests, and in the Intermountain Regional Office, Lisa spent 5 years as the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest‘s Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Congressionally Designated Areas Program Manager. Lisa has worked on ecotourism development projects around the world, including Dominica, Brazil, Gabon, Mali, and Madagascar.
She considers herself incredibly lucky to work and live in Central Oregon with people who share a passion for trails, wilderness, rivers, and outdoor adventures.

Bend's Transportation Plan: Neighborhood Workshop 5
2019-01-31 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The City of Bend will host five 2 1/2-hour long workshops in January 2019. The workshops are for you to share:

How you’d like transportation to work in your neighborhood.
What you need in your neighborhood for you to be able to get around.

This workshop is targeted to people in the Core Area of Bend – downtown, Box Factory, Old Mill, Maker’s District, Midtown, Galveston, Newport and 14th Street – but anyone is welcome to attend.
The City will use this information to help create a list of neighborhood projects and programs. The City will also share progress on Bend’s Transportation Plan. The first half hour of the workshop you can review work that has been done on the transportation plan to date. The following two hours will be an active workshop where attendees will work together in small groups to provide input on neighborhood transportation needs. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire workshop, if possible, to contribute to all of the workshop activities.

The Future of Solid Waste: Disposal Options
2019-01-31 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The County’s Board of Commissioners and Solid Waste Advisory Committee continue to discuss the future of solid waste disposal in Deschutes County. At this community meeting, we’ll provide an update on potential future disposal options.

White Fragility
2019-01-31 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This program is presented by Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program at COCC Foundation and COCC’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion as part of the 2019 Season of Nonviolence.
Join us for a workshop with Dr. DiAngelo about what she has termed “White Fragility.” White Fragility is a state in which even a minimal challenge to the white position becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive responses. This workshop will provide an overview of the socialization that instills white fragility and give the perspectives and skills needed to build racial stamina and develop more equitable racial practices.
FREE and OPEN to the public but we ask that you RSVP here to reserve your seat. Location is Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center at COCC.
About DiAngelo
Dr. DiAngelo is a lecturer, author, and has been a consultant and trainer on issues of racial and social justice for more than twenty years. She received her PhD in Multicultural Education from the University of Washington. Her area of research is in Whiteness Studies and Critical Discourse Analysis, explicating how Whiteness is reproduced in everyday narratives.

Bend's Transportation Plan: Neighborhood Workshop 4
2019-01-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The City of Bend will host five 2 1/2-hour long workshops in January 2019. The workshops are for you to share:

How you’d like transportation to work in your neighborhood.
What you need in your neighborhood for you to be able to get around.

This workshop is targeted to people in the Larkspur, Old Farm District and Southeast Bend neighborhoods, but anyone is welcome to attend.
The City will use this information to help create a list of neighborhood projects and programs. The City will also share progress on Bend’s Transportation Plan. The first half hour of the workshop you can review work that has been done on the transportation plan to date. The following two hours will be an active workshop where attendees will work together in small groups to provide input on neighborhood transportation needs. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire workshop, if possible, to contribute to all of the workshop activities.

Nature Nights: Magnificent Monarch
2019-01-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
As the first in its winter Nature Nights series, the Land Trust is offering a free presentation on the monarch butterflies. Central Oregon is rich with numerous species of native butterflies including the magnificent monarch butterfly. Join Deschutes Land Trust ecologist Amanda Egertson for a colorful tour to learn more about our region’s butterflies, with a special focus on the king of the butterfly world: the mighty monarch. All ages are encouraged to attend this family-friendly event where you will learn more about the amazing butterfly life cycle, incredible monarch migrations, and discover ways that you can help them survive and thrive in our high desert.
This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online.
Photo: Jay Mather

Bend's Transportation Plan: Neighborhood Workshop 3
2019-01-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The City of Bend will host five 2 1/2-hour long workshops in January 2019. The workshops are for you to share:

How you’d like transportation to work in your neighborhood.
What you need in your neighborhood for you to be able to get around.

This workshop is targeted to people in the Awbrey Butte, Summit West and River West neighborhoods, but anyone is welcome to attend.
The City will use this information to help create a list of neighborhood projects and programs. The City will also share progress on Bend’s Transportation Plan. The first half hour of the workshop you can review work that has been done on the transportation plan to date. The following two hours will be an active workshop where attendees will work together in small groups to provide input on neighborhood transportation needs. Attendees are asked to stay for the entire workshop, if possible, to contribute to all of the workshop activities.

A Clean Energy Future for Bend—Two Paths to 100% Renewable
2019-01-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Bend is developing a community climate action plan to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. That means taking a hard look at new sources of energy, since the majority of the energy we use today is generated by burning fossil fuels.
Join us on January 29th for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion about two options that our community could use to rapidly transition to a low-carbon, 100% renewable energy future.
RSVP here—space is limited!
Community Choice Aggregation is a tool available in California and several other states that allows a whole community to choose to buy their energy directly from renewable sources and have their utility deliver it. Recently, Pacific Power has developed its own pathway for communities it serves to purchase renewable electricity directly from the utility. We’ll learn about both models, the pros and the cons and the uncertainties for a community like Bend, and give you a chance to ask your questions.
Speakers:

Shawn Marshall, Executive Director, LEAN Energy US
Matthew Chancellor, Regional Business Manager, Pacific Power

Agenda:

Networking: 5:00 to 5:30 pm
Presentation + Q&A: 5:30 to 6:30
Networking and mingling with speakers: 6:30 to 7:00

A big thanks to our sponsor, Worthy Brewing.

Regional Transit Master Plan: Community Open House
2019-01-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Help shape the future of public transportation! Weigh in on future public transportation services at a Community Open House.
Cascades East Transit (CET) is developing a Regional Transit Master Plan to identify future transit service priorities over the next 25 years and we need your input. Drop by one of our Community Open Houses in January between 4:30 and 6:30 pm to discuss the future vision, goals, and near-term priorities for public transportation in Central Oregon. Light refreshments and activities for children will be provided.
Community Open House Events:

La Pine: Tuesday, January 15 at the La Pine Public Library (16425 1st St.)
Madras: Thursday, January 17 at the Rodriguez Jefferson Library Annex (134 SE E St.)
Redmond: Tuesday, January 22 at the Redmond City Hall, Room 208 (411 SW 9th St.)
Warm Springs: Wednesday, January 23 at the Warm Springs Community Center (2200 Hollywood Blvd.)
Prineville: Thursday, January 24 at the Crook County Library, Broughton Room (175 NW Meadow Lakes Dr.)
Bend: Tuesday, January 29 at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Brooks Hall (469 NW Wall St.)

Public comments can also be submitted through February 3, 2019 via an online open house at CETTransitPlan.com.
To request information in an alternative format or different language, please email Rachel Zakem or call 541-504-3310 five days prior to the meeting.

Film Screening: The Evolution of Organic
2019-01-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Do your New Year’s resolutions include eating healthier, making more responsible purchasing decisions, or lessening your footprint on the planet? Do you want one simple step to achieving all of your resolutions? Eat local! Locavore is pleased to screen: The Evolution of Organic, the history of organic agriculture, told by those who built the movement that rejected chemical farming and set out to explore organic alternatives with a vision of sustainability. View trailer HERE.

Schedule:

4:00-4:30 – CSA info and sign-ups available; food from The People’s Pies foodcart

4:30 – Movie starts (86 minutes)

6:00 – Q&A with Tom Elliot, a retired organic farmer from Montana and board member of The Environmental Center

6:15 – 6:45 – CSA Info and sign-up available again

Before and after the screening, please visit with our local farmers and learn about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) options! The most crucial way a community member can help strengthen the food system and help contribute to small local farms is through purchasing a CSA share. CSA shares are a subscription to a season’s worth of sustainable, locally-grown produce that is distributed to members throughout the harvesting season. Peoples Pies will be there offering delicious, organic, savory pies. Beverages will be available.
Seating is limited, reserve your seat now. This is a free event, but donations are gratefully accepted.
