The Environmental Center

Wild & Scenic Film Festival
2019-10-04 16:30 - 18:00, 2019-10-04 20:00 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Come see where epic adventure and environmental advocacy meet at the Oregon Natural Desert Association’s 12th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. An evening of short films showcasing our earth’s natural wonders, feats of courage and athleticism, and the amazing stories of activists working to protect our environment.
Catch one of two screenings–buy your tickets by clicking either showtime below:

Matinee: Doors 3:30pm | Show 4:30pm | $15 general admission | $11* students
Evening: Doors 7pm | Show 8pm | $17 general admission | $11* students

*Valid with student ID upon entry.
All prices listed here include the $3 Historic Theatre Preservation fee.
Come for the films, stay for the amazing raffle loaded with gear for your next adventure. Plus, ticket holders are invited to a complimentary happy hour between screenings next door at OutsideIN. All proceeds benefit the Oregon Natural Desert Association’s efforts to protect, defend, and restore Oregon’s high desert.

Fall Garden Work Party
2019-10-05 10:00 - 12:00 | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us in the garden to help with fall garden projects and some winterization work. We will have coffee, juice and snacks on hand. Tools provided, family friendly. This will also be an opportunity to pick up garden bulbs ordered with our Fall Garden Bulb Fundraiser.

Beatles Singalong with KPOV
2019-10-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join KPOV for a night of singing and dancing (yeah baby!) to The Beatles. Showcasing 6 awesome Bend bands; singalong to your favs like ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and ‘Yellow Submarine’. A unique event not to be missed. This is a fundraiser for KPOV – doors open at 6, show at 7:00pm.

Beaver Believers Documentary Viewing
2019-10-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
An enlightening documentary about the ecological importance of beavers

Join ONDA, Think Wild, and Worthy Brewing for a viewing of the award-winning documentary “Beaver Believers”, a film by Sarah Koenigsberg.
After the film, there will be a discussion on the history of beavers and their place in Oregon ecology, as well as the work being done by local nonprofits to support beaver’s return to Central and Eastern Oregon landscapes. With short presentation by ONDA’s riparian restoration expert Jefferson Jacobs.
Doors open at 3:30pm, film to begin at 4:00pm. Discussion to follow.
More info about the film can be found at https://www.thebeaverbelievers.com

Power Hour | ADUs: Getting on the path to efficiency with small footprint living
2019-10-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Power Hours are networking events with a panel of experts to ignite new conversations around energy efficiency. Please RSVP in advance.
This Power Hour will highlight why ADUs are a key answer to energy efficient living and how to get your own project started. We’ll cover topics such as:

Where can I build an ADU?
How much does it cost? Can I finance?
What are the main barriers?
What about utilities and regulatory considerations?

Schedule:
5:00 – 5:30pm: Networking
5:30 – 6:30pm: Panel Discussion, Q&A
6:30 – 7:00pm: Networking
Speakers
Scot Davidson is an ADU Specialist with GreenSavers. He is focused on understanding and advancing the benefits and opportunities created by small, efficient living spaces. He believes we are seeing a fundamental social shift and works with homeowners and policymakers to accelerate the adoption of ADUs. As VP at Enhabit , Scot created and delivered multiple programs leading to community stabilization, including affordable housing, residential energy improvement, and disaster mitigation. Prior work includes over 25 years of business management experience with many years focused on energy & sustainability issues. Key assignments include a Directorship at Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) and Director of Carbon and Sustainability Consulting at Ecova.
Indigo Teiwes lives in the ADU on her property and is a sustainability and corporate responsibility professional with over 20 years experience working on issues from climate change to social labor compliance and everything in between. Her work has spanned industries as wide ranging as finance, hospitality, retail, green building, and consumer products. When the sustainability movement was just emerging in the late 1990s, she directed the research program for the first global mutual fund that selected investments based on their integration of social AND environmental responsibility issues into their business strategies. The success of the fund during her nine-year tenure underscores the importance of good strategy and strong execution of initiatives in the sustainability and corporate responsibility realm to drive business value. Today, she leads the Corporate Responsibility program for Hydro Flask and spends as much time as possible in the Cascade Range of Central Oregon.
Thanks to our host, GreenSavers (the event will be The Environmental Center but is hosted by GreenSavers).

Public Launch of New EV Charging Stations
2019-10-09 16:30 - 17:30 | COCC Redmond, 2324 NE College Lp, Redmond, OR, 97756 , United States
Join us for appetizers, beverages, and the latest on rebates, credits and incentives on electric vehicles; view some EVs, talk with the owners, and enter the raffle to win a Black Bear Diner gift card! 350 Deschutes, the COCC Sustainability Committee and Central Oregon Community College would like to invite you to join us for the ribbon cutting on the new EV charging at the Redmond campus.This project made possible with support from Pacific Power. Come help us thank them and the COCC Sustainability Committee for this new addition to Central Oregon’s charging infrastructure!
*This will take place in the parking lot near the RTEC building

Bend COTA Work Events
2019-10-10, 2019-10-17, 2019-10-24, 2019-10-31 | 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.

There is No “Planet B”: Tracking Earth’s Changing Climate from Space
2019-10-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Fleets of NASA satellites capture images and data about Earth’s ocean, land and atmosphere. But can humans act on the powerful information we learn from them? Join oceanographer, educator and former NASA science administrator Michael Freilich to learn about the spaceborne tools that monitor our planet — from as far as a million miles away and as near as the International Space Station — and what they tell us about our changing planet.

Encourage Mason Bees to Your Landscape (Redmond)
2019-10-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Learn about the biology, life cycle, habitat needs, protein and nectar needs of mason bees.

Learn about the tools anyone can use to increase the local population of mason bees around a desired site.
View a display collection of some of the many species of mason bees we have in Central Oregon/Oregon.
Bring your questions to ask our expert, Rich Little.

Online registration deadlines is September 23rd

David Suzuki on Climate: The Future Trajectory
2019-10-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
In his truth-telling style, Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki talks Climate, capitalism, curbing growth, and where we’re headed as a species. Life creates the very things we need to survive, and our responsibility should be to protect those things—the foundation of the way we live. We don’t know enough to say it’s too late—you’ve always got to have hope. Our challenge: Use our voices and work like hell to cut our ecological footprint. You’ll be drawn in by Suzuki’s compelling energy and passion.

Free and open to the public.

Whole Foods 5% Day
2019-10-17 | Whole Foods Market, 2610 U.S. 20, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Mark your calendars to shop at Whole Foods Market on October 17th to support school gardens across Oregon! Whole Foods has designated the Oregon Farm to School & School Garden Network as the beneficiary for 5% of sales at ALL stores in Oregon on October 17th! As the Central Oregon Regional School Garden Education Hub, we are excited to support this statewide community giving. Funds they raise will go towards putting on the 2020 Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Conference, (which our staff plan to attend) and supporting the work of regional hubs – that’s us!
Multiple times a year we gather local garden educators and teachers wishing to incorporate garden based education into their work with youth. OFSSGN has funding to support 1 regional gathering a year, but we work to bring educators together in different locations for trainings, resource shares and school garden tours multiple times a year. By supporting OFSSGN you are supporting our ability to convene our local Garden Educator Network and enrich the work they do on the ground at school across Central Oregon.

Pints and Politics: Bend's Climate Action Plan
2019-10-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This fall, the City of Bend’s Climate Action Steering Committee will present a Community Climate Action Plan to the Bend City Council for approval and adoption. The plan will serve as a roadmap in supporting our community’s path to a sustainable future, in taking practical action across a wide range of sectors and activities, and in achieving the goals of Bend City Council’s adopted Resolution 3044 – a 40% decrease in fossil fuel use by 2030 and a 70% decrease by 2050.
Join OLCV, members of the Climate Action Steering Committee – Laurel Hamilton, Eric Duea, and Jamie Klopp – and City of Bend senior management analyst, Cassie Lacy, to learn about the climate action plan. Find out how the plan will help reduce GHG emissions and fossil fuel use, ask questions, and find out how you can ensure that our community moves forward with this important work.

Beginner's Bee School
2019-10-18 09:00 - 16:00, 2019-10-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Deschutes County Fair & Expo, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
Beginner’s Beekeeping Class in Central Oregon!
(FRIDAY) FIRST SESSION -18 Oct 2019, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Will cover the honey bee biology you need to know.
(SATURDAY) SECOND SESSION -19 Oct 2019, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Topics will include the life cycle of the hive, mites, how to get through the summer and winter and what you need to get started.
Each Spring new Central Oregon Beekeepers marvel at their magnificent, newly acquired honey bee colonies – and learn quickly that successful beekeeping in Central Oregon doesn’t always look like what they had initially imagined. Healthy Honey Bee management is a hands on participation activity and literally takes a village, as our ladies (the honey bees) travel far and share spaces with each other and area native species.
Dr Dewy Caron has been visiting and teaching Central Oregon Beekeepers for years. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how to be a good bee steward in our community.
Registration is FREE for COBKA membership – $20 non-member registration includes annual family membership! Free additional Guest Registration is also included & encouraged.

School's Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten
2019-10-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Make this a family night out. We’ll provide outdoor games and crafts for children ages 4 and up during the film and panel.
4:30-5:00 Arrival, food and beer for sale
5:00-6:00 Film Screening (36 minutes) followed by panel discussion / Outdoor games and crafts for children ages 4 and up
6:00-6:30 Networking and resources
Tickets Required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-schools-out-lessons-from-a-forest-kindergarten-tickets-74857993273
No classroom for these kindergarteners. In Switzerland’s Langnau am Albis, a suburb of Zurich, children 4 to 7 years of age go to kindergarten in the woods every day, no matter what the weatherman says. This eye-opening film looks into the important question of what it is that children need at that age. There is laughter, beauty and amazement in the process of finding out. Learn more about the film here: http://www.schoolsoutfilm.com
$10/adult; children are free!
Panelists:
Dr. Rebecca Hicks, Pediatrician, Mosaic Medical
Rae Alberg, Founder and Teacher, Bend Forest School
Mary Dean, Kindergarten Teacher, Elk Meadow Elementary School

Where Does Your Garbage Go?
2019-10-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
What happens to your garbage after the big truck picks it up?
AAUW (the American Association of University Women), is inviting the public to this event, at which Chad Centola will speak. Centola, Operations Manager for the County Department of Solid Waste, will explain current landfill operations, such as recycling and composting, and will present explanations of the plans for the future of solid waste management in Deschutes County. Our landfill is a vital part of the community, and it keeps our homes livable, while operating in a cost-effective manner. For more information, go to https://www.deschutes.org/solidwaste.

Redmond Repair Cafe
2019-10-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR, 97756, United States
Local volunteers will help repair your broken stuff – for FREE!
Has your blender lost its whirl? Hole in your favorite jeans? Broken clasp on your best bracelet? Bring us your small household appliances, sewing repairs, jewelry repairs, and small furniture that need a little work.
Volunteers with the Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project will come and help guide the repair of small appliances or devices that no longer function. Bring your stuff that’s not working and let’s see if we can collaborate to change that. Repair Cafe’s are a growing movement to help keep the material objects in our lives serving us longer before they head for the landfill or an alternative use.
Repair assistance is based on a first come first served basis.

Honey I Shrunk the BCD
2019-10-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Through outreach and research, the BCD Initiative has uncovered the existing beauty, diversity, culture, history, and people that make the BCD unique. They want to showcase that work and get your feedback on ideas to re imagine this area as a place that promotes people’s health, happiness, and well-being.
BCD Initiative welcomes you and your family to join us inside the Wagner Mall for a one-of-a-kind event that’s not to be missed! There will be interactive games, multimedia exhibits, food, drink, and more for all ages.

Stories of our Watershed
2019-10-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join River Restoration Northwest in celebrating our watersheds at the sixth annual Stories Of Our Watersheds film event at the McMenamins Old St. Francis School!
Stories of Our Watersheds is a series of short films that celebrate the different ways we experience, sustain and celebrate our river systems throughout the Pacific NW and beyond. For more information visit: www.rrnw.org/film2019
River Restoration Northwest is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization. Our mission is to advance the science and standards of practice of river restoration through an interdisciplinary approach.

Wilderness Workshop
2019-10-23 - 2019-10-26 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and the Society of Wilderness Stewardship, in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Bend Parks and Recreation, the Oregon Natural Desert Association, and a host of local partners, are pleased to announce the upcoming National Wilderness Workshop. The workshop will take place in the Hampton Inn and Suites and the Hilton Garden Inn, both in the Old Mill District.
The workshop will consist of general plenary and concurrent sessions all around the theme of wilderness stewardship. General sessions will provide understanding about the uniqueness of Oregon wilderness areas, the challenges of recreation use in these areas, and how they provide transformative experiences for wilderness users. Updates on national wilderness issues will also be presented. Concurrent sessions will provide more detailed presentations around wilderness science, wilderness management issues, wilderness stewardship and volunteer engagement.
Saturday Field trips will explore the many different varieties of wilderness opportunities, challenges, issues, and special places around Bend. Each field trip will have a set of specific learning objectives, a local expert to lead discussions and transportation. Lunch will be provided.
This Workshop will be a great opportunity to learn new skills, interact with seasoned field experts, and show off your own skills. Wilderness Workshop participants will learn about the latest in wilderness issues, practical strategies to engage their local audiences and tools and techniques to help them be more effective in their current stewardship roles, as well as challenge them in their wilderness stewardship efforts. Several outstanding training opportunities are being offered prior to the Workshop. These classes will provide more in-depth hands-on training on specialized topics.

The Deschutes River: A Path Forward
2019-10-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
From fish to families, kayaks to carrot seed, ecology to economy, a lot is asked of the Deschutes River. A number of activities affecting the management of the river are bubbling to the surface at the same time, making this a pivotal moment. Join panelists for a discussion of the Habitat Conservation Plan for endangered species, water conservation and irrigation modernization, and community engagement in crafting a future for the Deschutes that meets the needs of fish, farms, and families.
Free, please register here!
Panelists:

Jason Gritzner – Hydrologist, Watershed Program Manager, US Forest Service
Ron Nelson – Deschutes River Conservancy Executive Director
Bridget Moran – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bend Field Office, Field Supervisor
Craig Horrell – Chair Deschutes Basin Board of Control; Central Oregon Irrigation District, Managing Director
Mike Britton – North Unit Irrigation District, General Manager
Margi Hoffmann – Farmers Conservation Alliance, Community Relations Director

Presented by the Coalition for the Deschutes, Deschutes Redbands Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Juniper Group of Sierra Club, and League of Women Voters of Deschutes County.

Utah - Ground Zero for the Attack on Public Lands - Film and Discussion
2019-10-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Utah’s outstanding and unique public lands, including its National Monuments, National Parks and current and proposed wilderness areas are ground zero for current attacks on public lands. Learn what is happening, why it is happening, how what happens in Utah affects public lands in Oregon, and, how folks are fighting back through award winning documentary “Wild Utah: America’s Red Rock Wilderness.” A discussion and presentation on opportunities for everyone to make a difference to protect their public lands with WA-OR SUWA Field Organizer, Jenny Holmes will follow.
No charge.
Sign up on the Facebook Page of Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance’s Facebook page preferred.
For more information contact Jenny Holmes at waor@suwa.org or call 503-309-0973.

What can Indigenous Cultures Teach the Broader Public about Coping with the Climate Crisis?
2019-10-28 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Kari Marie Norgaard will share her learnings from nearly two decades of working with the Karuk tribe in Northern California’s Klamath Siskiyou region. Her new book, Salmon and Acorns Feed Our People: Colonialism, Nature and Social Action, describes the relevance of Indigenous fire science, and ethics of responsibilities for the broader public at this moment in time. What can we learn from these experiences? How can Karuk worldviews and experience of resisting colonialism and capitalism help move the broader public forward through climate trauma that challenges our self-identity, destabilizes our western way of life, and restrains us from real action on Climate Change? Are we open to a new narrative that could serve us better?

Food is What Connects Us: Immigration, Community & Activism
2019-10-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Dr. Amy Harper, Anthropology Professor at COCC discusses “Food is What Connects Us: Immigration, Community & Activism at the Dinner Table

Much of the media coverage on global events today focuses on what divides us. Increasingly the rhetoric has become one of exclusion and protectionism. By focusing on a case study of neighborhood activists in Berlin, Germany, this talk will look at ways in which we can bridge differences by coming together to share meals. We will explore ways in which food can be used to build community while celebrating diversity.

The program is FREE and OPEN to the public but we encourage you to please RSVP to reserve your seat.

Sponsored by Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund and the Associated Students of COCC.

Last Chance for the Deschutes: Tod Heisler Discusses What’s at Stake
2019-10-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join LandWatch at Worthy Brewing to hear from Tod Heisler, our Rivers Conservation Program Director, to learn about the threats to the Deschutes River Basin, the “solutions” proposed by the irrigation districts, and what we can all do to preserve the River for the next 30 years and beyond.
The biggest decision-point in our lifetimes for the future of the Deschutes River Basin was triggered last week when irrigation districts submitted a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Come learn about the plan, how it fails to address the challenges facing the River, and what you can do to help change the course of the Deschutes River Basin forever.
This is a free event with a $10 suggested donation. Please register. LandWatch members will receive a complimentary drink ticket.

Leading on Climate: Local and state policies establish leadership on climate solutions
2019-10-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Please RSVP in advance!
RSVP HERE
Join us on Wednesday, October 30th to learn about the Clean Energy Jobs Bill (HB 2020) and Bend’s Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) and hear from local climate advocates and POW (Protect Our Winters) athletes.
We are at a critical juncture with climate policies that can establish leadership on climate solutions at the state and local levels with the Clean Energy Jobs Bill (HB2020) and Bend’s Community Climate Action Plan that will be voted on in the next few months.
Meaningful action is needed at all levels of government to mitigate and adapt to climate change, protect the public trust, ensure a resilient community, and leave a healthy environment and atmosphere for future generations. Now is the time for our community and state to adopt climate-smart policies that address the impacts of climate change, complement economic development, and contribute to a thriving and livable community. Come learn how you can support these local initiatives and be an advocate for change!
We will be joined by:

Graham Zimmerman and Stephanie Violett, climate advocates with POW (Protect Our Winters), will share why they worry about more than just powder days when it comes to a changing climate and the importance of climate action. Graham is a professional alpinist who has seen the effects of climate change around the world and Stephanie is a runner, nutritionist, and coach based here in Bend.
Zach Baker will give a quick update on the 2019 Clean Energy Jobs bill (HB 2020), including the final set of amendments and the cap and invest bill that will be before the legislature in the 2020 legislative session. Zach works for Climate Solutions who has been a leading voice on Oregon climate policy and has over a decade of policy and advocacy experience focused on protecting the environment and promoting public health.
Lindsey Hardy who co-chairs Bend’s Climate Action Steering Committee (CASC), which was charged with assembling the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP), will provide an overview of the plan that will be presented to City Council for adoption this fall. Review the CCAP Executive Summary here.
