The Environmental Center

Summer Discover Nature Days - Bend
2017-08-03, 2017-08-10, 2017-08-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Presented by the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon partners, Discover Nature Days are free family events throughout Central Oregon that connect children and families to the wonder of nature.
Bring your family to a different park each week for an interactive experience and learn, play and have fun in nature! Recommended for ages 5-10, with family, but all ages are welcome. Free!
Bend Events
Thursdays, July 13-August 17, 11 am – 12 noon

July 13: Hillside Park
Special Ops Survivors presented by Wildheart Nature School. Learn to navigate the world of unpredictability while playing team games and practicing survival skills in nature.
July 20: Ponderosa Park
What’s all the BUZZ About? presented by Discover Your Forest. Meet and greet the local buzzing, burrowing, and creeping bugs of our forests through science activities, stories, and games.
July 27: Pine Ridge Park
Birds of Prey presented by High Desert Museum. Experience an up close encounter with a raptor, learn about its amazing adaptations, and play a game about bird migration.
August 3: Larkspur Park
Predators and Prey with The Environmental Center. Have fun learning about the diverse animals that call Central Oregon home through exciting games and interactive science activities!
August 10: Shevlin Park
Watery Wonders presented by Upper Deschutes Watershed Council. Explore the watery wonders of Tumalo Creek, collect and identify stream critters, and learn about what makes a healthy stream.
August 17: Sawyer Park
Amphibious Adventure! presented by Sunriver Nature Center. Jump into the wet and wild world of your favorite amphibian! We’ll explore the life of frogs and their relationship with wetland ecosystems.

Bend COTA Work Events
2017-08-03, 2017-08-10, 2017-08-17, 2017-08-24, 2017-08-31 | 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.

Discover Nature Day - Redmond
2017-08-04 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Presented by the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon partners, Discover Nature Days are free family events throughout Central Oregon that connect children and families to the wonder of nature.
Bring your family to a different park each week for an interactive experience and learn, play and have fun in nature! Recommended for ages 5-10, with family, but all ages are welcome. Free!
This event:
Predators and Prey with The Environmental Center. Have fun learning about the diverse animals that call Central Oregon home through exciting games and interactive science activities!

Discover Nature Day - Madras
2017-08-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Presented by the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon partners, Discover Nature Days are free family events throughout Central Oregon that connect children and families to the wonder of nature.
Bring your family to a different park each week for an interactive experience and learn, play and have fun in nature! Recommended for ages 5-10, with family, but all ages are welcome. Free!
This event:
Birds of Prey presented by High Desert Museum. Experience an up close encounter with a raptor, learn about its amazing adaptations, and play a game about bird migration.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2017-08-08, 2017-08-15, 2017-08-22, 2017-08-29 | 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

Mazamas Smith Rock Public Hearing
2017-08-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Mazamas, a Portland based climbing organization who are committed to education, stewardship, and the protection of natural environments, recently purchased property directly across from Smith Rock (2.5 acres) and are applying for a conditional use permit with Deschutes County in hopes to develop a bed and breakfast inn and campground for the climbing community. The county is holding a hearing in Bend Tuesday, August 8th, at 6pm.
This development will bring a bed and breakfast with 3 rooms as well as a campground with 6 campsites that holds 24 guests. There will be indoor/outdoor gathering areas, 4 restrooms with showers, food storage and water bottle fill stations, Wifi, compost toilet, and 17 parking spaces along with landscape restoration and enhancements.
When: Tuesday, August 8th @ 6pm
Where: Deschutes Services Center- Barns and Sawyer Room, 300 NW Wall St. Bend
What: Public Hearing for Mazamas Development

Electric Vehicle Workshop: Get Plugged In – Bend
2017-08-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
You’re invited to join The Energy Challenge, a program of The Environmental Center, to demystify electric vehicles and have a conversation about how a zero emissions vehicle might fit into your life. Come get all your EV questions answered and learn about Central Oregon’s new Electric Vehicle Group Buy Program that can help you save up to $17,500 off the cost of a new all-electric car. You can even come by early to take a Nissan LEAF for a spin.

How far can you really go?
How long do the batteries last?
Are they fast?
Can I charge at home?
How much will it cost to charge it?
Can I still take a road trip?
Can I fit my whole family in the car?
Can I power my car with solar?

You bring the questions–we’ll bring the answers, beer, and kombucha!

Stars Over Newberry
2017-08-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
On Friday, August 10th, 2018, Discover Your Forest will play host to hundreds of guests at the 4th Annual Stars Over Newberry fundraiser. The event will take place atop Lava Butte in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument and will feature stargazing with Worthy Garden Club and Sisters Astronomy Club, live music by Blackstrap Bluegrass, a silent auction, delicious Worthy Brewing beers, wine from Volcano Vineyards and creative bites by Wild Oregon Foods.
This event will raise much needed funds for conservation education programs which connect over 9,000 kids annually with their public lands on free field trips. This event will sell out so get your tickets early. Patron tickets are available for those who want to provide additional support for these important programs.

Picture This: The Nature of the Deschutes River
2017-08-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
One of the best ways to get to know the Deschutes River and the plant and animal species that depend upon it is to photograph them.
Join Coalition board president and amazing photographer Kim Elton and the celebrated nature guide author LeeAnn Kriegh for a short walk along the First Street Rapids trail near downtown Bend. Bring your camera because we’ll be learning how to take better photographs of specific species and the broader landscape. The trail is mostly flat. Total distance walked will be no more than 2.5 miles round trip.
Registration required. $10

Stream Sampling on Whychus Creek
2017-08-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Sampling benthic macroinvertebrates, the aquatic life form of insects including mayflies and stoneflies, provides important insights into the health of Whychus Creek. Volunteers will meet at Creekside Park in Sisters for a sampling training, then, in teams of two to four, collect macroinvertebrate samples from sites along Whychus. This event is a great opportunity to learn about restoration and reintroduction of steelhead and salmon on Whychus Creek, see less-visited reaches of the creek, and contribute to knowledge about how restoration actions are changing stream conditions.

KPOV Summer Bash
2017-08-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love (along with KPOV’s 12th anniversary). Join us for outdoor live music from great local bands playing tunes from the summer of love.
KPOV DJs who were there for the Summer of Love will share their fascinating stories! Refreshments, cake, games, and a Tie-Dyed T-shirt contest will make your day too.
Here are the great local performers who will regale you with 60s and 60s-like tunes (stay tuned for the order of performers):

John Batdorf
Bill Valenti
For What it’s Worth
Leo & Simone
Rich Taelour

Bike the Bridges
2017-08-13 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The 2019 edition of Bike the Bridges will be held on Sunday, August 18th. Check-in starts at 4:00pm with the ride kicking off around 4:30pm. This fun and family-friendly bicycle ride showcases many of the beautiful vistas you get when crossing the Deschutes River as it passes through Bend. Let this be your excuse to get a little exercise, make friends, and discover new bike routes to commute around town.
The event is free but registration is required.

Community Conversation About Climate
2017-08-13 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Al Gore’s new movie, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is opening in Bend on Friday, August 11.
The Community Conversation About Climate will take place on Sunday, August 13th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Brooks Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church, 469 NW Wall St., Bend. This event is free and open to the public.
The movie will show several times before the day of the Community Conversation. Please see the movie first ath the REGAL CINEMA, then come join the discussion on Sunday where a panel will lead the discussion.
You may also purchase the book at locally owned Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe at 135 NW Minnesota.
The Conversation is supported by member organizations of the Central Oregon Climate Change Coalition and others, including the Juniper Group of the Sierra Club, the Bitterbrush Broads Chapter of Great Old Broads for Wilderness, 350Deschutes, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon’s Social Justice Committee, the Vocal Seniority, Citizens Climate Lobby, Oregon League of Conservation Voters and Indivisible Bend.

Discover Nature Day - Prineville
2017-08-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Presented by the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon partners, Discover Nature Days are free family events throughout Central Oregon that connect children and families to the wonder of nature.
Bring your family to a different park each week for an interactive experience and learn, play and have fun in nature! Recommended for ages 5-10, with family, but all ages are welcome. Free!
This event:
Watery Wonders with Discover Your Forest. Check out stream critters, learn about what makes a healthy stream, and get your hands dirty designing the perfect stream.

Electric Vehicle Workshop: Get Plugged In
2017-08-16 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
We all still have a lot of questions about electric vehicles. They’re really cool, but still a mystery to most of us.

How far can you really go?
How long do the batteries last?
Are they fast?
Can I charge at home?
How much will it cost to charge it?
Can I still take a road trip?
Can I fit my whole family in the car?
Can I power my car with solar?

We invite you to join us so we can demystify EVs and have a conversation about how a zero emissions vehicle might fit into your life. Come get all your EV questions answered and learn about Central Oregon’s new Electric Vehicle Group Buy Program that can help you save up to $17,500 off the cost of a new all-electric car.

Pints, Politics and Postcards
2017-08-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
MINGLE WITH OLCV’S LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AT PINTS AND POLITICS

Join OLCV and fellow community members, who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy, for a fun and informal night of action. Meet members of OLCV’s Leadership Committee and learn about Central Oregon Conservation Network’s priorities to protect Whychus-Deschutes and Implement the Bend Climate Action Resolution. Stop by and write a postcard in support of public lands and action on climate!

VegNet Summer Speaker Potluck
2017-08-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us for our third and final summer speaker at VegNet’s monthly potluck! Meet Central Oregon’s veg community, eat, and learn.
Please bring a vegan dish (no animal products, including honey) to serve 6-8 people, a card listing ingredients, and your own cup, plate, and utensils.
This is a family-friendly event. Suggested donation $2-5 to help cover room rental. See you soon!

Waldo Lake Campout
2017-08-25 - 2017-08-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Spend a few days exploring Waldo Lake. One of the most beautiful places in Oregon, Waldo Lake is motor-free and remains beautiful because of it. From our group camp we will take day hikes to explore the surrounding the area, and provide information about the geology and natural systems that keep this lake pristine. Kayaks and canoes are welcome!

Climate Change: The Science, Solutions, and How to be an Agent of Change
2017-08-28 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Learn more about climate change and how we can work together to achieve a more sustainable future for our planet. Bend resident, Caroline Skidmore, who was trained by Al Gore as a Climate Leader will be giving a presentation on the science behind climate change, the global impacts, how it affects the Pacific Northwest, renewable energy, public lands, and how we all can be agents of change.

Electric Vehicle Workshop: Get Plugged In – Bend
2017-08-30 17:30 - 18:30 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703

Whole Foods 5% Day
2017-08-31 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
We are partnering with Whole Foods Market for their upcoming Community Support Day on Thursday, July 26th!
What it is…
Whole Foods Market Community Support Days take place four times per year to help raise funds for a local non-profit organization.
How it works…
5% of Whole Foods Market Bend’s net sales on July 26, 2018 will be donated to support the Environmental Center.
Why it’s important…
The Environmental Center will be using the funds raised from Whole Foods Market’s Community support day to help fund our vision of A Garden for Every School in Central Oregon. You can learn more about this initiative here.
Support local school gardens by shopping at Whole Foods Market Bend on Thursday, July 26th!
Whole Foods Market Bend is located at the Forum Shopping Center on Highway 20 and 27th Avenue in Bend.
