The Environmental Center

Bend Open Streets: Old-town Bend
2018-05-13 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Bend Open Streets on Sunday, May 13th (Mother’s Day!) from noon to 4:00pm for the NEW!! Old-town – Bend route.
Bend Open Streets is an initiative of Commute Options, City of Bend, Oregon Government and Bend Park & Recreation District. Temporally closing 1 mile of streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, biking, skating, playing and more! It is free, family focused and dog friendly!
Bring your bicycle, or just your feet and explore the streets in a safe, healthy and more livable way.
Visit TEC’s Hub!
Bend Open Streets will temporally close one mile of streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, biking, skating, playing and more. The Environmental Center is an Activity Hub along the route! We’ll have live music, garden activities, a fun painting project, and short yoga classes. Plus, Un-Bag Bend needs your help to prep reusable cloth bags on-site. We’ll see you there!

Electric Vehicle Workshop-REDMOND
2018-05-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Here’s your one-stop shop to get all your electric vehicle questions answered with a short presentation and Q&A with an EV owner and the Nissan dealership. You’ll get the low-down on what it’s like to drive an EV for everyday living–yes, in the snow and ice, for adventures, and for travel.
This workshop will also cover available tax credits and rebates that total up to $13,000 right now due to our partnership with Smolich Nissan to create a great group-buy program! Learn more about electric vehicles on The Energy Challenge website.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2018-05-15, 2018-05-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us in our Kansas Avenue Learning Garden for our ongoing volunteer work party series. In 2022, volunteers contributed over 200 hours to help keep our learning garden maintained over the growing season. We couldn’t do it without you!
This event is open to all ages and gardening abilities! No experience or tools required. Beer and non-alcoholic beverages are provided for all who volunteer. Each event includes seasonal ongoing tasks as well as special projects as needed throughout the growing season. Volunteers are welcome to pop in for an hour or stay the whole time. No need to RSVP or commit ahead of time. (Pro tip – put the following dates in your phone calendar now – then when it pops up you can decide if it works out for you or not!)
In 2023, Happy Hour in the Garden will once again run twice a month from March through October. This schedule throughout the extent of the growing season offers meaningful volunteer experiences for all who come, and deeper care for the garden when it needs it.
For Spring 2023, our Happy Hours will be 4-6pm, on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month.
March & April Happy Hours sponsored by Wild Ride Brewing

March 7 & 21
April 4 & 18

May & June Happy Hours sponsored by Worthy Environmental

May 2 & 16
June 6 & 20

Stay tuned for confirmation of dates for July through October, as these might switch to the 2nd & 4th…)
Contact Denise, Garden Program Manager, if you have any questions about getting involved.

Literary Central Oregon
2018-05-15, 2018-05-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Do you love history? Literature? And Central Oregon?
REGISTER: 541- 408-4509 or email esantasiero@gmail
In this 8-week class, read and discuss some of the best fiction, nonfiction, and poetry about and inspired by our natural and cultural landscapes. Guided by the work of historic and contemporary regional writers, both long-time residents and newcomers to the region can connect more deeply with this place we all call home. Readings, discussion, questions, group facilitation, and light refreshments provided.
Oregon State University English professor Ellen Santasiero leads the group and shares her love of our region. A founding staff member of High Desert Journal and a former Writer in Residence at COCC, her writing has appeared in Northwest Review, The Sun, thestayproject, High Desert Journal, and Oregon Home, among others.

Juniper Group Program Night
2018-05-16 | 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.
People, Forests and Change, Lessons from the Pacific Northwest
Coniferous forests of the North Pacific coast of North America have an air of permanence where they remain intact, yet recent and future changes threaten their ecological integrity and human sustainability. These threats are echoed in forests and other ecosystems worldwide.
Forests collectively house most of Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity and supply vast quantities of ecosystem services. We owe much of our economic prosperity to the vast forested landscapes that cover the earth. Today’s forest management decisions will shape tomorrow’s ecosystems, and new approaches are needed to withstand emerging challenges from climate and related changes. The weighty question before us is how to foster a relationship between people and forests—the human-forest ecosystem—that honors the forest ecosystem while sustaining human communities.
The program presenter, Dede Olson, Ph.D., is a Research Ecologist on the Aquatic Ecology and Management Team of the Land & Watershed Management Research program, PNW Research Station, US Forest Service, and editor of the book People, Forests, and Change: Lessons from the Pacific Northwest.

All About ADUs
2018-05-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us for this 4-hour class intended for real estate and building industry professionals looking to increase their knowledge about ADU development in the City of Bend, OR.
This half-day course is intended to help real estate and building professionals understand the basic planning and building regulations for ADU development in the City of Bend. Participants will gain critical information to help them to respond to increasing client demand for properties with ADU potential, as well as the opportunity to earn the ‘ADU Specialist’ professional accreditation.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand what makes a property ADU-ready/eligible in Bend, OR
Learn what is involved in the process of getting approved to build an ADU
Analyze taxation, valuation and financing options for ADUs
Understand the ADU design, permitting, and building process (attached, detached, and garage conversion)
Gain access to resources to help your clients plan for their ADU (including a budget sample, contract types, development rebate programs, and more)
Gain insight on ADU regulations in the broader State of Oregon
Get answers to your ADU-specific questions

Register

Butterfly Walk, Metolius Preserve
2018-05-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Explore the delicate and beautiful world of butterflies with the Deschutes Land Trust and Amanda Egertson. We’ll search the pine forests of the Preserve for early season butterflies like Sara’s orangetips, spring azures, and the even-year emerger the Great Artic! Delight in up-close encounters with these fluttery creatures as you learn about their identification and ecology. Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event.
Free. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes
Hike Rating: This is an easy ~1-2 mile hike on dirt roads and trails.
What to Bring: Snacks/lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

BCD Initiative Party
2018-05-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Toast recent successes in building momentum and support for the Bend Central District’s transformation into a vibrant, healthy, and resilient mixed-use neighborhood with safe connections between east and west Bend.

Live Music
Hand-crafted local cocktails
Free appetizers
Learn about the BCD’s path forward.

Please RSVP.
Brought to you by: Central Oregon LandWatch
Presented by: Brooks Resources Corporation

Bend COTA Work Events
2018-05-17 | 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.

Recycle Right Community Presentation
2018-05-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Just because it has a recycling symbol on it does not mean it’s recyclable! Here in Deschutes County, we accept bottles, tubs and jugs when it comes to plastic. Come learn more about what is and isn’t recycled locally (and why), plus some tips on how to prevent waste in the first place.

History Wander, Indian Ford Meadow Preserve
2018-05-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Kelly Madden for a short stroll to learn about one of our flagship Preserves–Indian Ford Meadow. Explore the human history of the meadow, including both Native American and pioneer use. Then, learn about the history of the mountains that surround the meadow while you stroll along a gravel path through pine forest and sage meadow. Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event.
Free. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes
Hike Rating: This is an easy 1-mile walk along the Preserve trail and through a grassy meadow.
What to Bring: Snacks, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

Writing About (this) Place
2018-05-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
8-week class in place-based writing
REGISTER: 541- 408-4509 or email esantasiero@gmail
Inspired by the natural, cultural, and figurative landscapes of central Oregon and by select prose and poetry from our region, we develop and invigorate our own writing in all genres. Let’s see where an exploration of this particular place takes us as writers! Emphasis on place-based writing technique and form.
Writer Ellen Santasiero loves living, writing, and teaching right here in central Oregon. She teaches literature and creative writing at OSU-Cascades in Bend. Her writing has appeared in Northwest Review, The Sun, thestayproject, Oregon Humanities, and High Desert Journal, among others.

Bird Walk, Camp Polk Meadow Preserve
2018-05-18 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Camp Polk Meadow Preserve, Sisters, OR, 97756, United States
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Jan Rising for a bird walk at one of Central Oregon’s birding hot spots–Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. Tune your ear and focus your binoculars as you stroll around Hindman Springs and into the meadow, watching for warblers in the willows and woodpeckers working the pine groves. More than 160 species of birds have been observed at the Preserve–see how many you can find!
Hike Rating: This is a moderate ~2 mile hike. Portions will be on a gravel trail and through a grassy meadow.
Free. Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes

Upstream
2018-05-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Upstream is a community event focused on sharing the work of students and celebrating watershed education. The event is a fundraiser for The Upstream Project, our watershed education program which seeks to educate, engage and activate the next generation of environmental stewards.
Upstream is an evening filled with live and silent auctions for local art and crafts, gourmet food and beverages, and student performances that highlight the river stories, songs, and artwork they have created while participating in The Upstream Project. 100% of the proceeds from Upstream support our work to connect local students to our amazing watershed every year.

Become a Hike Leader Training
2018-05-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Prime hiking season is here and we need more hike leaders! Learn how to plan a hike and get tips for leading and managing a hike. After taking OLT101 new Outings Leaders will schedule a hike with an experienced leader as a dry run to practice what they’ve learned. This is a fun way to share outdoor experiences and to meet other people with the same enthusiasm for Nature! Whatever your pace, easy, moderate and difficult hikes appeal to a cross-section of hikers. As a leader, you decide the locale, difficulty, number of hikers and timing. Register at juniper.group@oregon.sierraclub.org or at the Meetup site, link here.

Saturday Bird Walks
2018-05-19 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.

Central Oregon Veterans Ranch Spring Plant Sale
2018-05-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Choose from a variety of flowers and vegetables, all locally grown in Bend by veterans. Stay and enjoy a tour of the property and a BBQ lunch!

Cauliflower
Kale
Sweet Peppers
Jalapenos
Tomatoes
Corn
Strawberries
Basil
Lettuce
Microgreens
Cucumbers
Zucchini
Alyssum
Petunias
Cosmos
Calendula

Building an ADU: A Class for Homeowners
2018-05-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Register for this event here.
The goal of this class is to help you build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) that will augment your property, maximize your space, and add flexibility to your life. This class will help you understand the essential elements of the ADU process from start to finish, which will result in a more beautiful space and will save you time and money.
The process of building an ADU can be complex, overwhelming and expensive and Kol is a homeowner and environmental professional with a passion for ADUs and a lot of practical information to share about them.

This is the first time that this class will be offered in Bend. You’ll walk away from the class understanding:
· The design, permitting, and building process
· Relevant green building approaches and certifications
· Financing, rebates, incentives, cost-saving design/build measures
· Resources, references, and contacts to help you design and build your ADU
Logistics
· The course cost is $145.
· The course will go from 9am – 5pm with a lunch break. The class is going to be a fast-paced course that will cover lots of material. Be prepared with questions and be ready to take notes. I will have some handouts.
· As a class, we visit a couple ADUs in the afternoon after lunch, then return to the classroom to finish up the day
· Oregon Real Estate Agency: 7 CEUs (Topic: Real estate property evaluation, appraisal, or valuation).
About Kol Peterson
· Author of Backdoor Revolution- The Definitive Guide to ADU Development
· Built a new construction ADU in NE Portland; completed in September 2011.
· Organizes Portland’s City-wide ADU Tour
· Owner of Caravan- The Tiny House Hotel.
· Teaches ADU Class for Realtors through Earth Advantage Institute.
· Editor of AccessoryDwellings.org.
· Master in Design and the Environment from the Harvard Graduate School of Design
· Sustainable Home Professional certification from the Earth Advantage Institute
Read more about ADUs at pdxadu.blogspot.com

Encouraging a Sense of Wonder, Indian Ford Meadow Preserve
2018-05-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Laurie Danahy at Indian Ford Meadow Preserve for a walk and talk workshop for adults who are parents, grandparents, caregivers, friends or relatives of very young children. Drawing from the work of Rachel Carson (A Sense of Wonder) and Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods), Laurie will share strategies for introducing the natural world to infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Learn how each of us can help the next generation explore and appreciate nature. This workshop is for adults.
Hike Rating: This is an easy 1 mile walk along the Preserve trail and through a grassy meadow.
Free. Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes

Restoration Tour, Whychus Canyon Preserve
2018-05-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Martha Lussenhop for a tour of the Whychus Creek restoration project at Whychus Canyon Preserve. Explore the first phase of a major creek and meadow restoration that is changing the face of the Preserve and creating much better habitat for fish and wildlife. See the role science plays in the modern restoration and management of private lands to benefit fish and wildlife.
Hike Rating: This is a moderate 2-3 mile hike on old roads and through grassy meadows.
Free. Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes

Will Durst - Benefit for KPOV
2018-05-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Yes, KPOV is bringing the hilarious political comic Will Durst back to Bend for the smartest side-splitting evening will you ever experience. You’re welcome.
The show is May 19 at 7:00 p.m.at The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend. Save the date and stay tuned for ticket sales in April. Then act quickly. The show is sure to sell out.
“The Durst Case Scenario” is playful and ludicrous and whimsical and droll and silly and serious and sarcastic, mischievous, incisive, trenchant, profound, and chock full of jokes. Many funny ones. A unique theatrical event delivered with stand- up timing and not less than a modicum of poetry.
In this lightning- paced 85-minute comedic tour-de-force, Will Durst analyzes where we are, how we got here and what destinations lie ahead. He chronicles the fear, the danger and all the wacky zany antics, palace intrigues, and pitfalls of polarization threatening our country and civilization in this, The New Abnormal.
Ably assisted by his trusty overhead projector and blessed with an extraordinary talent to engage his audiences with his hysterical observations and righteous exasperation, Durst mocks & scoffs & taunts in segments such as Trumpapalooza, the Bright Sides of Donald J. Trump’s Presidency, the Symptoms of PTSD & Mike Pence is the Product of Reverse Taxidermy.

Student Mental Health Wellness Event
2018-05-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Parents, Students, Community Members are all welcome
Community members are invited to learn more about ways our schools are supporting student mental health and wellness and to share feedback on this topic during a Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors community linkage meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 at Sky View Middle School.
Attendees will get the opportunity to listen to an overview about current efforts within Bend-La Pine Schools to support student mental health and wellness and will be able to attend several break-out sessions during the interactive event. The event will begin with an overview of Bend-La Pine Schools’ framework for providing mental health support from Sean Reinhart, Executive Director of Special Programs. Afterwards, participants can choose from seven different break-out sessions including:

Lines for Life
Student Threat Assessment and Support
Student Advisory Team
Latino Emotional Health
Volunteer opportunities
Listening session with members of the school board

Tri County Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit
2018-05-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Free tickets and agenda are available here.
Prineville: Leveraging Community Partnerships

Economics and Tourism
8 to 80 Communities
Infrastructure Planning & Implementation

Lunch: Catered by Meadow Lakes
Please email Kim Curley by May 16th if you are joining us for lunch and specify if you would prefer the vegetarian option. $16 per person includes morning coffee & cinnamon rolls, collected at the event. Cash, card, or check payable to Meadow
Lakes.
Carpools:
From Bend: ODOT, 63055 N Hwy 97, Park in Carpool Parking Area, Departing 8:00 a.m.
To drive or to ride, please RSVP to bpac@deschutes.org
After-event Bike Ride:
There will be a short (~30 minutes) biking tour of Prineville bike and pedestrian facilities at 2 p.m. Bring your bike!

Introduction to Electric Vehicles-BEND
2018-05-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States

Fancy Plants: Native or Not?
2018-05-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
If you’ve been wondering, “What’s that flower I’m seeing when I’m out on a trail?” then this is the talk for you.
Join botanists from the Deschutes National Forest for a flower-full discussion about native plants. Then we’ll get into the weeds and learn about species that thrive here but are invasive.
Brooks Room at Deschutes Public Library. Doors open at 6:00 pm. Free. Please register here.
Photo of Oregon Sunshine by native plant guide author, Marilynne Keyser.

Soaring Sights of Smith Rock State Park
2018-05-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Oregon State Park interpretive ranger, OSU Master Naturalist, and ONDA member David Vick for a FREE hike up the Wolf Tree Trail at Smith Rock State Park. Hikers will view nesting raptors and be treated to the sight of this spring’s eaglets. While the emphasis of the hike will be on the winged denizens of Smith Rock, David will also share his knowledge of native plants and their traditional uses and the Park’s geologic history.
Difficulty: Moderate – about 2 miles. Trail is steep and rocky in places, with moderate elevation gain. Some hikers find the use of poles or walking sticks useful for balancing on steeper sections of the trail.
Picnic lunch will be provided
ONDA Hiker information

Hikes have a very limited capacity. As such, we ask that you only register for hikes that you are certain you will attend.
Expect a phone call from us the week before the hike confirming your attendance. We will have a waitlist for each hike and will release your spot to someone on the waitlist if we are unable to confirm your attendance.
Each hiker is required to sign a liability release form at the beginning of the hike.
We love our furry friends, but your pet is not invited on this hike.
Hikers will meet at the Oregon Natural Desert Association office – 50 SW Bond St. Suite 4, Bend, OR – and carpool to the trailhead. Do you have a car you are willing to drive for the hike? Let us know how many people you can take, including yourself. If you are able and willing to drive, please come with at least half a tank of gas. If you can’t or do not wish to drive, please bring cash and plan to contribute between 5 and 10 cents per mile to the driver of your carpool. Directions will be provided for drivers.

Hike with "the Eds"
2018-05-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The first hike in the series begins with an overview of the many ways the Deschutes River is used by our community. It’s an interpretive hike along the Deschutes River in Bend, with several stops that observe changes to the river over time. Stops include the canal diversions on the northern edge of town and the hydro power station on the southern edge of town.
This is a 6-mile hike using the Deschutes River Trail. 200 feet of elevation gain. Meet near the canals on NE Division, approximately across the street from the Riverbend Brewing Sports Pub.
For more hike details, email Eddie Kula at: eddie@coalitionforthedeschutes.org
General Participant Information

Be capable of walking/hiking several hours in some cases with elevation gains of 1500 feet on uneven ground in all weather conditions
Provide your own hiking/walking pack, food, water and gear (Consider the 10 essentials.)
Sorry, humans only; no critter friends
Sign a waiver for participation
Limited spots available. Pre-registration required

Eddie Kula:
Eddie loves hiking in the Oregon Cascades and sharing his knowledge about our area. He is a former hike leader for the Seattle Mountaineers and includes Mt. Rainer, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens as his favorite climbs. Eddie is the Treasurer for the Coalition for the Deschutes. He has been coming to Bend since the 80’s and now lives here permanently.
Ed Weiser:
Ed moved to Bend in 2013 after retiring from a 35-year business career. In the 1970s, he was a sailing instructor and wilderness guide in Maine. Ed continued his outdoor trips over the years with his wife and 3 daughters, and then with friends and family in Utah, Wyoming, and Oregon. Ed now participates and teaches in Search And Rescue, provides volunteer mentoring for small businesses, and does interpretive talks for Deschutes National

Public Meeting - Regional Public Transit Advisory Committee
2018-05-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
There will be a public meeting of the Regional Public Transit Advisory Committee. Agenda topics include:

A public comment period
City of Bend planning project updates
Cascades East Transit’s (CET) proposed service modifications (effective July 1, 2018) which may result in reductions in some fixed-route services.

The agenda, meeting materials, and information about how to provide comments will be posted at http://cascadeseasttransit.com/about/rptac/
