The Environmental Center

Discover Nature Festival
2018-09-09 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Riverbend Park, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
Discover Nature Festival is a fun and action-packed event that engages families in outdoor recreation and learning. The 4th Annual Discover Nature Festival is a free community event to be held on Sunday, September 9th, 2018 at Riverbend Park in Bend, Oregon. The event will feature:

Over 35 hands-on outdoor activities presented by more than 20 organizations
Recreation activities including climbing wall, archery, fly casting practice, Leave No Trace activities, survival skills, and a bike rodeo
Nature education activities including birding, wildlife tracking, live birds, and volcano demonstrations
Health and wellness activities highlighting the benefits of staying active, getting outdoors, and healthy eating

Discover Nature Festival provides kids and families a fun day to try new outdoor activities, learn about the natural world, challenge themselves, and spend time together!

Electric Tailgate Party
2018-09-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join electric vehicle drivers and enthusiasts for an “Electric Tailgate” party hosted by Midstate Electric Cooperative to highlight the clean-air benefits and cost-savings of electric cars. Plug-in vehicles will be on display for attendees to “kick the tires” and find out more about electric transportation.
This FREE event is part of the fifth annual National Drive Electric Week.

Friends & Family Night at McMenamins
2018-09-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Bring everyone you know out for burgers, beers, wine, cocktails, salads, sandwiches, tater tots, and more – because at the end of the night, 50% of the evening’s total sales are donated to The Environmental Center! The more you order, the more is earned to support our work in Central Oregon.

National Drive Electric Week Event - Bend
2018-09-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Interested in owning an electric car?
Got questions about home charging, maintenance, costs, energy savings, and winter driving? Come see, and ask the owners questions about these electric vehicles:

Kia Soul Electric
Nissan Leaf
BMW i3
VW e-Golf
Chevrolet Bolt
Arcimoto SRK
Tesla Model 3, Model S, and Model X
Zero FXS Electric Motorcycle

The event is part of National Drive Electric Week. Find out more at DriveElectricWeek.org.

Green Drinks at Evolutionary Medicine
2018-09-13 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Please register in advance.
REGISTER
Evolutionary Medicine is an alternative healthcare clinic that recently opened in Bend’s Midtown, and they’re inviting us to take a look around! The clinic offers Chinese Medicine, Naturopathic Medicine, and Massage Therapy. They focus on treating traumatic injury and musculoskeletal pain, in addition to many other common ailments: insomnia, digestive disorders, pre- and post-surgery, fertility, and women’s & men’s health.
As a business, Evolutionary Medicine is dedicated to helping all their patients strive to the highest and healthiest potential as humans.
“We understand that humanity is in the midst of a crisis of global proportion and strive to be a positive influence in this world,” said their Practitioner.
As such, they have woven their own values and sustainability practices into their clinic. They work to be not only an example of better resource management, but of better business practices, which they believe is not only good for their employees, but for the community and Earth as a whole.
“We love Bend and all that it has to offer! We serve the community in which we live, by offering affordable & effective healthcare, available at a discounted rate to those most in need.”
Bring your own cup to enjoy a drink, big thanks of Crux!

Bend COTA Work Events
2018-09-13, 2018-09-20 | 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.

Welcome Week Launch Celebration
2018-09-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
As a Welcoming City, we join other welcoming communities around the country in celebrating Welcoming Week, Sept. 14-23, 2018. Welcoming Week is a series of events in our community that raise awareness about our status as a Welcoming City and the benefits of welcoming everyone in Bend.
Hear from community members and City staff, view Borderless Stories and watch the documentary film Harvest of Empire. Snack and drinks are provided.
View the full list of events here.

Saturday Bird Walks
2018-09-15 08:30 - 11:00, 2018-09-22 08:30 - 11:00 | Sunriver Nature Center & Oregon Observatory, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Join Tom Lawler, expert local birder and nature photographer, to discover the rich bird habitats of Sunriver. With Tom’s keen eye and guidance, you will spot and learn to identify a variety of species found in the wetlands, meadows, and forests surrounding the Nature Center. Whether you are new to birding or an experienced birder, there is always something exciting to see through your binoculars!
Early registration is strongly encouraged and participation is limited to 12 birders. Expect to walk approximately three to four miles along various trails. Please no strollers or dogs. Wear sturdy and water-resistant footwear and bring a bottle of water and a pair of binoculars with you. Bird walks are geared toward adults, however children with a serious interest in birding are welcome with a parent/guardian.

Latino Fest
2018-09-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A community celebration honoring the heritages of our immigrant Latinx friends and neighbors with music, dance, food, education, community resources and kids activities. Featuring live mariachi music.

DREAMERS: Story and Art
2018-09-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us for a very special Welcoming Week Story Time at Roundabout Books! We will be reading Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. Following the story, we will talk about our own dreams, and use paint to create a collage of our own dreams on a canvas banner. Event is open to kids of all ages, though the target age for the book is probably Pre-K – Grade 3. Parents are very welcome to come help with the art project.

Second Annual Fall Harvest Feast
2018-09-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Central Oregon Locavore proudly presents the Second Annual Fall Harvest Feast
Please join us for this ever-popular event that will tickle your palate and delight your senses. From the beautiful views of Smith Rock, alluring scent of fall in the air, and the delicious taste of the 6 course fall harvest feast featuring the best of Central Oregon fare. Your senses will thank you!
This year we are adding what we believe will become a famous tradition. The great Pig Kiss! There will be a donation fund for each nominee, and she/he who has the most donations must kiss a pig at meals end. Com’on folks! Who doesn’t love to see a big ol smooch?
This event directly benefits Central Oregon Locavore and all of our tireless work to bring you fresh, nutrient dense, locally grown and raised food.
Wagonrides begin at 4pm, courtesy of Farmer Jeff of DD Ranch. Dinner begins at 5pm.

Solidarity Celebration & Vespers
2018-09-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Representatives of faith communities in Bend will lead us in a public gathering of celebration of immigrants and refugees in our community and prayers for peace and justice in our neighborhoods and world. People of all faith backgrounds and perspectives warmly welcomed. Attendees are invited to bring signs expressing welcome, peace and justice. Upon conclusion, all are welcome to participate in Allyship in Action.

Allyship in Action
2018-09-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
In these uncertain times, communities of color, immigrants, and other marginalized groups need support they can count on. But how can well-meaning folks move from good intentions to concrete actions of solidarity? This workshop — facilitated by a diverse group of equity facilitators including liliana cabrera, Kerani Mitchell, and Erin Rook — will explore the social systems that shape how we interact with race and other differences; engage participants in meaningful reflection on how they interact with these systems; and provide tools and strategies for supporting people of color, immigrants, and others with marginalized identities.
This workshop is designed for those who have already engaged in some education and/reflection on racism, but all are welcome. Donations accepted to offset materials, preparation, and food costs. Suggested donation $5-$50.

Fall Garden Educator Network
2018-09-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Our local Garden Educator Network will be convening in September to learn, share resources and ideas, and kick off another year of garden based education. These events are open to anyone who works, supports, or wants to help youth connect to food and nature through garden and farm based education inside and outside of the classroom.
Our September event will include a training provided by OSU Extension Nutrition Educators, followed by a networking opportunity outside in our Kansas Avenue Learning Garden.
4:30 – 5:30 – Building Capacity with a School Garden Committee
Setting the stage for a successful school garden committee requires school administrative support, communication and the ability to conduct an effective meeting. The purpose of this workshop is for attendees to learn how to create a meeting agenda, facilitate a meeting and participate in a storyboard visioning activity focusing on defining future committee goals. Participants will be involved in a mock interactive school garden committee meeting that will highlight typical behaviors from committee members. Facilitators will demonstrate strategies to overcome meeting barriers. This workshop will also describe the critical community building steps completed before the first meeting as outlined in Conducting Effective Meetings (The Cispus Institute). At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to describe steps leading to the first school garden committee meeting, create a meeting agenda, facilitate a school garden committee meeting using techniques discussed and practiced in this session, and generate a visioning activity. A cohesive garden committee with a shared vision and mission built from knowledge and skills obtained during this workshop will create sustainability within your school community.
This workshop is appropriate wherever you are on the spectrum of having a garden committee!
5:30 – 6:30 – Networking in the Garden
We’ll adjourn to the garden with snacks and beverages to share ideas to utilize a fall school garden – or garden based activities- in and out of the classroom.

The Environmental Center is recognized as a Regional Education Hub Lead for the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network for Central Oregon. In this role, we’ll provide region specific resources and ongoing responsive technical assistance, work to address region-specific challenges and networking opportunities including Regional Gatherings.

The Garden Educator Network is for anyone – teachers, parents, volunteers, non-formal educators – in Central Oregon wanting to incorporate garden based learning into their work with youth. This is one of our four strategies to support a Garden For Every School in Central Oregon. Read more about the other 3 strategies: Garden Grants, FoodCorps, and District Support.

Know "DREAMS"
2018-09-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
DACA and the Rocky Road to the American Dream: Attorneys from Bend Immigration Group discuss immigration policy.
We are in a critical time in history in which immigration policy is at the forefront of public debate. The future of DREAMers hangs in the balance between federal court decisions, changing administrative policies, and congressional action. This discussion will break down the legal obstacles and challenges many individuals face when seeking the American Dream.

National Security & Climate Change: A Free Presentation
2018-09-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Fleeing from Wildfire Smoke? Most people can go indoors. But some don’t have it that easy. Professor Mick McCann will provide a FREE presentation on how water and food shortages, rising temperatures and other climate impacts will cause migrations that may affect all of us, even our national security.
6:00 to 7:00 PM – Planning Local Actions
7:00 to 8:00 PM – Presentation by Mick McCann, COCC Professor of Geography
Please RSVP!

Wild Wednesday - Celebrating the 50th of the Wild and Scenic Act
2018-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Later this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, which has protected 59 sections of our incredible Oregon rivers for recreation, fish and wildlife, clean water, scenic beauty, and cultural significance.
On September 19th, noted conservationist Andy Kerr will present a lively history of the congressional and local politics of the inclusion of 59 Oregon stream segments, totaling 1,908 miles, in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System from the enactment of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 until today. He’ll also give details on potential new protections for ~250 additional miles of Oregon streams pending in Congress.
Andy Kerr is the Czar of the Larch Company and consults on environmental and conservation issues. Kerr has been closely involved with the establishment or expansion of 46 Wilderness Areas and 47 Wild and Scenic Rivers, 13 congressionally legislated special management areas, 15 Oregon Scenic Waterways and one proclaimed national monument. Andy is best known for his two decades with Oregon Wild and is an instrumental part of Oregon’s conservation history.

Juniper Group Program Night
2018-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Social 6:30, Program 7:00
An informative program about environmental issues, every third Wednesday of the month.

Reinventing Power
2018-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Reinventing Power: America’s Clean Energy Boom takes us across the country to hear directly from the people making our clean energy future achievable. These individuals are working to rebuild what’s broken, rethink what’s possible, and revitalize communities.
Their stories are proof that America does not need to choose between keeping our lights on and protecting our communities.
Over the film’s 50 minutes, you will meet people in eight states whose lives were changed by the renewable energy industry while exploring various aspects of the clean energy industry from innovation to installation.
Critically, Reinventing Power underscores the notion that we don’t have to sacrifice jobs for a clean environment. Supporting a clean energy future means building a better, more prosperous future for everyone.
Presented by Juniper Group of the Oregon Sierra Club
Suggested Donation $5.00
Free Snacks and Mingling at 6:30; Program to begin at 6:50 PM.

Immigration Policy, Past and Present
2018-09-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Alonso Oliveros, Community Education Coordinator for Causa, will give a presentation entitled “Keep the Dream Alive: Preserving Fairness, Equality, and Safety for All Oregonians.” He will discuss U.S. and Oregon immigration policy history and give an overview of what it means to be an immigrant in Oregon today. There will be a Q&A session after the presentation.

Pints & Politics
2018-09-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Broken Top Bottle Shop, 1740 NW Pence Ln #1, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV, friends and community members to hear from local candidates who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy.

Meet candidates for Bend City Council, Gena Goodman-Campbell and Barb Campbell, and candidate for Bend Mayor, Sally Russell. Learn why Gena, Barb and Sally are running, ask questions, and find out how you can ensure the Bend City Council continues to value our environment.

Celebration of the North American Bison
2018-09-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A journey through 21 years of resistance on behalf of the last wild buffalo. Storytelling & Video by Buffalo Field Campaign of Montana. Indigenous Soul Music by Goodshield Aguilar & Mignon Geli.
Soulful ethnic music Between 6:30 and 7pm
Program starts at 7pm.
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/road-show#road-show-events

Mountain Clean Up Day
2018-09-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Mountain Clean Up Day will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018 starting at 11:00 a.m. Mt B will provide the trash bags and offer all participants a free ride up the Pine Marten lift. From there, you will be assigned an area to hike back down to West Village while collecting litter along the way. After you turn in your trash back at the bottom, you’re more than welcome to take another trip up the lift and see the sights, enjoy lunch, or grab a cold drink. As a token of appreciation, the first 250 people will receive a FREE 2018-19 Winter Lift Ticket (blackout dates apply). Tickets are limited and will be distributed at the end of clean up day when participants turn in trash bags.
Proper footwear, gloves, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, layers and a pack with water and snacks are strongly recommended for this fun and sustainable day of high alpine adventure.

Campout for Public Lands 2018
2018-09-22 - 2018-09-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Celebrate National Public Lands Day with Discover Your Forest, 10 Barrel Brewing Co, and REI!
In celebration of National Public Lands Day, we invite you to join us for a grown-up campout like no other. Spend the night at the Newberry Group Campsite on beautiful Paulina Lake and take in everything our national public lands have to offer. Enjoy impeccable cuisine and craft beers from 10 Barrel Brewing Co.! Chill out lakeside or take part in a variety of outdoor activities provided by REI. Wind down with a live concert under the stars, and wake up with morning yoga and a hot breakfast. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate our amazing public lands and learn about how you can support them. ALL TICKET SALES WILL GO TOWARDS SUPPORTING DISCOVER YOUR FOREST!What’s Included?
Ticket price will include all of the following, and is all inclusive of your drinks, meals, and tent spot…
10 Barrel Basecamp featuring exclusive beers, and a party under the stars
A top-notch swag bag with rad outdoor products including a custom insulated cup to keep your brews cold all weekend
Water activities, hiking explorations and interactive games provided by REI, Inc.
Public Land Stewarship Project with Discover Your Forest
Live fireside concert
Late night s’mores and tasty Sunday breakfast
. . . and much, much more!

Local Food Challenge
2018-09-23 - 2018-09-29
4th Annual Local Food Challenge brought to you by High Desert Food & Farm Alliance
How to participate: Every day from Sept 24-29th, HDFFA will send you daily mini-challenges. These are fun opportunities to try new flavors, interact with your community, and learn about farmers, ranchers and the Central Oregon food landscape. The more challenges you do, the more points you rack up. The more points you earn, the closer you get to the Grand Prize!
What you’ll win: Every day, HDFFA will draw a new winner to receive $15 to spend on local food. So what’s the Grand Prize? $75 worth of local fresh local food, a local food gift basket and a chef’s knife. It’s the ultimate foodie’s dream come true!
Are you ready for the challenge? Sign up today!

The Waters and Lands of The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
2018-09-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
On Monday, September 24, come to the Museum to hear about the natural resource management of the Waters and Lands of The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and the plan to manage those precious resources through the 21st century.
We will be joined by Josh Newton, a Bend attorney focused on natural resource dispute resolution, representing the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Robert Brunoe, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the general manager of the Branch of Natural Resources. As a member of the Wasco Tribe, Brunoe will speak to the deep ties to the Columbia River and fishing culture.

Wasted: The Story of Food Waste (Film Screening)
2018-09-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
You can reserve tickets in advance here. (Not required, but suggested.)
WASTED! THE STORY OF FOOD WASTE aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food. Through the the eyes of chef-heroes like Anthony Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Massimo Bottura, and Danny Bowien, audiences will see how the world’s most influential chefs make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system. WASTED! exposes the criminality of food waste and how it’s directly contributing to climate change and shows us how each of us can make small changes – all of them delicious – to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st Century.
Watch the trailer for the film, then mark your calendars to come see it at Volcanic Theater Pub on September 24th, and learn more about how we are trying to reduce and prevent food waste here in our own community, and how you can too!
$10 per person suggested donation. Doors at 6:30, film showing at 7pm, short panel discussion to follow the movie with industry and community experts.

2017 Net Zero Fellowship Research: Approaching Net Zero for Today's Buildings
2018-09-26 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Energy Trust of Oregon’s annual Net Zero Fellowship research grant aims to uncover potential barriers slowing the widespread adoption of net zero commercial building design while growing the community constructing these remarkable buildings.
Shilpa Surana of Brightworks Sustainability was selected for the inaugural Net Zero Fellowship, with supporting input from partners at Skanska and Gerding Edlen. Shilpa studied two real buildings in the city of Portland – one midrise multifamily and one midrise office – to identify how these same structures could be built today to approach net zero energy consumption.
Relatively little research exists on net zero energy strategies for midrise office and multifamily buildings, despite these types making up a significant percentage of the real estate market. Over the last 18 months, Shilpa aimed to identify the most cost-effective energy improvements for these buildings to explore paths toward net zero energy performance. The research pairs her energy modeling outcomes with construction cost premiums and development proformas to create a greater understanding of barriers and opportunities.
While Shipla’s research does not aim to demonstrate cost parity between net zero and conventional buildings, her approach used multiple iterations of systems and costs to hone in on some of the most cost-effective strategies. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about Shipla’s research exercise and design considerations for maximizing energy efficiency.
RSVP for this event.

Presenters:
Shilpa Surana, Energy Analyst, LEED Ap BD+C, CPHC, Brightworks Sustainability, Energy Trust 2017 Net Zero Fellow
Steve Clem, Vice President of Pre-Construction, Skanska
About the 2017 Net Zero Fellow:
Shilpa has over 7 years of experience providing energy analysis and energy modeling services for high-performance building design and projects pursuing sustainability frameworks. She is a former LEED energy model reviewer who helps design teams set energy performance targets, identify energy efficiency measures, simulate results, and make expert recommendations based on the relative and absolute impacts of various strategies. Her modeling career includes diverse project experience including offices, restaurants, warehouses, medical facilities, schools, stadiums and campuses. She has experience modeling advanced strategies such as displacement ventilation, absorption chillers, thermal storage, geothermal heat pumps, and radiant heating and cooling systems.
PROFESSIONALS TAKING THIS TRAINING IN-PERSON IN BEND, OR ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 1 CCB OR 1 AIA/LU CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT.
LIGHT REFESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED. A TEMPORARY PARKING PERMIT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR ATTENDEES.
