The Environmental Center

TSP Steering Committee Meeting
2019-06-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This is an opportunity to learn about and provide public comment on Bend’s Transportation System Plan (TSP).
The TSP is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. It is dedicated to planning for our transportation needs over the next 20 years. The Steering Committee consists of the seven-person City Council plus a City Planning Commissioner, a County Commissioner, and a representative from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Steering Committee is the decision maker for the TSP. All meetings of the Steering Committee are open to the public and include time for public comment.
You can also submit comments via email to: tsp@bendoregon.gov.

Sagebrush Sipper
2019-06-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for Sagebrush Sippers happy hours in our office this summer. Mix and mingle, learn about new aspects of Oregon’s high desert, and find opportunities to dig deeper into our conservation work.
This month, hear about how to make the most of long summer days in Oregon’s high desert while enjoying cold beverages including beer from Immersion Brewing. Look for more Sagebrush Sippers events in Portland and Bend all summer.

Bend COTA Work Events
2019-06-20, 2019-06-27, 2019-07-04, 2019-07-11 | 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.

Family Solstice Picnic + Pull
2019-06-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Give back to the land on the longest day of the year! Join the Weed Warriors for a family-friendly evening picnic and pull!
Volunteers will help remove non-native weeds from the Land Trust’s Willow Springs Preserve. This is a great opportunity to visit a Land Trust protected property that is not open to the public! Weed a little, picnic a little, and enjoy the longest day of the year in a beautiful setting. Bring your own picnic and the Land Trust will provide the drinks and dessert.

What to bring: Gloves, snacks, water, your favorite picnic blanket, and your dinner!
Level of Difficulty: Weed Warrior work parties are rated as moderately difficult. They include hiking off-trail on uneven terrain, stooping, kneeling, and working in all weather conditions.
Please register for this Deschutes Land Trust event here.

Bend Pride 5K Run and Walk
2019-06-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Out CentralOregon presents the first ever Pride 5K Run/Walk in Bend celebrating inclusivity and expanding on the Central Oregon Pride Festival. June 22nd events include: 5K festive course, followed by a Drag Dash (a short 100-200 meter ‘dash’ of fun and silliness), Spirit awards for Costumes, and finishes with raffles of awesome prizes donated by super cool local sponsors. The 5K route is from Drake Park along the Deschutes River to Farewell Bend Park, through the Old Mill & returns to Drake Park. The course provides visibility for the LGBTQ+ Community on a day of celebration and love.

Latino Outdoors Second Outing
2019-06-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
An outing to Tumalo and Double Falls!

CARPOOL: If you would like to carpool, meet at Safeway on 3rd & Franklin at 10:30am by the west side of the parking lot. Or, meet at the start of the Tumalo Falls trailhead at 12:00 pm.
This hike is approx. 3.5 miles roundtrip. Bring good walking shoes, sunscreen and water.
RSVP here.

Central Oregon Pride
2019-06-22 12:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This is an all inclusive event where we celebrate the diversity and the beauty within our community. People come from all around the nation, as well as some from other countries, to take part in this event. This event has been here for 15 years and continues to grow. It’s the second largest pride event in the state of Oregon! Come connect with community, view awesome entertainment, and eat from amazing local food trucks.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2019-06-25, 2019-07-02, 2019-07-09, 2019-07-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This year, Happy Hour in the Garden will run from March through October. Instead of weekly, this volunteer event will be on the *1st & 3rd Tuesdays*, kicking off Tuesday, March 1st. Stop by anytime between 4-6 on the following dates to help out in the garden and enjoy a bubbly beverage. Family friendly, no experience or tools necessary.
Contact Denise Rowcroft, Garden Program Manager, if you have any questions about getting involved.

March 1 & 15 (March & April beer sponsored by Worthy Garden Club)
April 5 & 19
May 3 & 17 (May & June beer sponsored by Boneyard Beer)
June 7 & 21

Due to summer trips, please note that summer dates (July & August) are the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month!

July 12 & 26 (July & August beer sponsored by Deschutes Brewery)
*August 9 & 23* (Note, this is the 2nd & 4th Tuesday, rescheduled due to planned time off)
September 6 & 20 (Sept & Oct beer sponsored by 10 Barrel Brewing Co)
October 4 & 18

WaterWise Pollinator Gardens
2019-06-26 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Learn simple step-by-step methods to convert your yard into a beautiful and functional WaterWise landscape. Workshops are scheduled 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and include a hands-on demo segment in the Hollinshead Water-wise demonstration garden. Registration is required.

Water in the West
2019-06-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Historian Patricia Limerick, a renowned scholar, director of the Center of the American West and professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, will share her insights on issues surrounding water in our region. She’s written widely on the challenges facing Westerners today and guided discussions that seek open dialogue and problem solving around contentious topics while offering a rich historical context.
Event is $7.00 and Members receive a 20% discount. Register HERE.

Ochoco Campout
2019-06-28 - 2019-06-30 | Ochocos Wilderness Area, OR, United States
The Ochoco Campout is just a few weeks away—a weekend in the heart of the Ochoco National Forest! Experience the stillness of a ponderosa hillside, forest scents, a gurgling creek, the starry night-time sky. Hey, it’s time for a Nature recharge.
Friday evening we’ll have a brief welcome and orientation. Saturday offers different levels of hikes, including at least one to the top of iconic Lookout Mountain. That evening is a potluck group dinner in the Pavilion, a talk on the Ochoco Mountains area history and Juniper Group’s forest conservation work.
Registration is now open. Suggested donation is $22/person for the weekend to cover campground, food, equipment and expenses. Children under 18 are free. To reserve a spot please register at this Eventzilla link or mail a check made out to “Juniper Group Sierra Club” to Sierra Club, c/o Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend, OR 97703. Include email addresses of all adults so we can confirm space and send confirmation. Find more Ochoco Campout details on hikes, schedule, program, dog policy, more on our website. Questions? Email juniper.group@oregon.sierraclub.org.

Community Landfill Tour #2
2019-07-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
*Our first community landfill tour sold out, so we opened up a second opportunity! PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE.*
Did you know the Knott Landfill is 110 feet deep? Have you seen the methane flare? Do you know how long it takes a head of lettuce to decompose in the landfill?
Come join The Environmental Center and Rethink Waste Project staff in partnership with Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste for a behind-the-scenes tour of what happens to your trash after it leaves the curb. See Knott Landfill’s trash pit, check out Deschutes Recycling, tour the transfer station, and understand the composting facility. Seeing where our waste goes will impact your decisions in the future and help you think twice about purchases.
This is a unique opportunity; the landfill isn’t always open to the public for tours.
PLEASE NOTE: There is limited parking so we will ask for folks to carpool. We will meet at 9am at the Ponderosa Park parking lot near the intersection of SE 15h St and SE Virginia Rd to divide into cars. We will be back at the cars by noon at the latest.

Raft n' Brew
2019-07-03 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Sun Country Tours on Wednesday, July 3, for a super fun Big Eddy Thriller whitewater rafting trip followed by a complimentary beer tasting courtesy of Cascade Lakes Brewing Company on the Sun Country Tours patio. Even better, they’ll donate 50% of all proceeds to the The Environmental Center!
Raft n’ Brew is for guests 21 and older only. Cost is $59 per person and includes a complimentary beer tasting.

Wildflower Show & Pollinator Festival
2019-07-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory for their annual celebration of wildflowers in Oregon and the pollinators who love them. This year’s event will feature a wildflower display, botanic garden tours, educational talks and demonstrations, children’s activities, native plants for sale, local vendors, and food trucks.
Tickets will go on sale Monday, June 7 at 9am

Eco Hero Adventures Summer Camp [Session 1 CANCELED]
2019-07-08, 2019-07-09, 2019-07-10, 2019-07-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
What is sustainability and how can I live lighter? Your child can discover the answers to these questions and more while biking, swimming, and exploring our town. Campers will learn about sustainable food, renewable energy, environmental ethics, and how to bike safely around Bend.
Ages: Entering grades 4, 5 and 6
Times: 9AM – 5PM (Drop off 8:45)
Cost: $275/child or $225/child for 2+ siblings
Session 1 : July 8 – July 11, 2019 CANCELED
Session 2 : July 22 – July 25, 2019
Session 3 : August 5 – August 8, 2019
REGISTER HERE!
Scholarships may be available. Contact Jackie Wilson for more info.

Public Lands Comment Writing Workshop
2019-07-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This summer, the Bureau of Land Management is deciding how to manage 4.6 million acres of your public lands in southeastern Oregon, including the Owyhee Canyonlands. We need you to weigh in on the Draft Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan Amendment.
Join ONDA at their office office to learn about the issues and to submit a powerful comment.
If you care about public lands and want to learn more about how to effectively speak up for conservation-focused management, this is a great event for you.
Check out these resources to get prepared:

Resource Management Plan Overview
Table Comparing BLM’s Five Management Alternatives

ArtiFISHal Documentary
2019-07-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
ArtiFISHal is a film about wild rivers and wild fish that explores the high cost—ecological, financial and cultural—of our mistaken belief that engineered solutions can make up for habitat destruction. The film traces the impact of fish hatcheries, and the extraordinary amount of public money wasted on an industry that hinders wild fish recovery, pollutes our rivers and contributes to the problem it claims to solve. ArtiFISHal also dives beneath the surface of the open-water fish farm controversy, as citizens work to stop the damage done to public waters and our remaining wild salmon. Free for BendFilm members!

Pre-screening party at Patagonia Downtown – FREE! plus Special Guest Panel Following Film

Green Drinks at LOGE
2019-07-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Photo Credit: Garret Van Swearingen
The historic Lodge Entrada has a new name and a fresh look. Say hello to LOGE Camps, a hotel on a mission to inspire people to get out and explore together. From on-site gear rentals to fire pits and live music, LOGE delivers a relaxed, outdoor-focused experience at each of its five locations. The renovated Bend hotel features a new café and bar (perfect for pre and post-mountain beverages), free events, and local fundraisers – fostering connections and adventures for locals and tourists alike.
LOGE: “Live Outside, Go Explore.” (It’s pronounced “lodge.”)
Our favorite part? LOGE is committed to environmental stewardship and building community. Instead of using massive amounts of resources to build new, LOGE finds forgotten motels near popular towns and trails and brings them back to life. They re-use as much as possible (old furniture, lamps, mirrors) and donate the rest. Then they upgrade the property with low-flow bathroom fixtures, LED lights, and native landscaping.
LOGE believes that responsible use of the outdoors can inspire more people to care and fight for wild places. Each year, the company gives back 1% of top line revenue at each location to a local non-profit that promotes responsible outdoor recreation. Here in Bend, all that money benefits Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA)! In fact, folks from COTA will be at the event to chat about memberships and work projects across the region.
Bonus! LOGE is also Cog Wild’s new HQ. Not only do they provide amazing mountain bike tours, classes, and resources, they also support COTA in building and maintaining local trails.
This will be a great summer Green Drinks event! We hope you’ll join us, and please RSVP in advance.

Summer Repair Cafe at DIYcave
2019-07-17 17:30 - 19:30 | DIYcave, 444 SE 9th St., Bend, OR, 97702, United States
We’re excited to return to DIY Cave for our 2019 Summer Repair Cafe! Volunteers will be on hand to fix small appliances/electronics, outdoor gear, clothes, boots/shoes, bikes, jewelry, small furniture/household goods, and more. And it’s FREE!
If you have any questions or would like to be added to the list of volunteer fixers, please email Ani.

Talkin' Trash: Managing our Waste in Deschutes County
2019-07-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
How Do We Deal with Solid Waste in Deschutes County?
The current Deschutes County landfill will be full in 2029. This is a time-sensitive issue for the community, as plans must be made now on how to handle solid waste in Deschutes County once the landfill is full. The county has formed a Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) to explore two options: (a) developing a new landfill within Deschutes County, and, (b) hauling solid waste to a facility located outside of Deschutes County. This forum will explore the pros and cons of both options. In addition, the forum will present ways the community can be more efficient with waste management to extend the life of the landfill beyond 2029 and how to maximize its economic value.
Panelists:
Timm Schimke, Director of Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste
Denise Rowcroft, Rethink Waste Project of The Environmental Center
Moderator: Sam Albert, DJ at 101.7FM
$25 members / $45 non-members. Plated lunch is included.

Sagebrush Sippers
2019-07-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for Sagebrush Sippers happy hours in our office this summer. Mix and mingle, learn about new aspects of Oregon’s high desert, and find opportunities to dig deeper into our conservation work.
This month, hear more about how to further your conservation advocacy with ONDA’s own Corie Harlan and Gena Goodman-Campbell and enjoy cold beverages including beer from Immersion Brewing. Look for more Sagebrush Sippers events in Portland and Bend all summer.
