The Environmental Center

Wednesday Birders
2016-02-17 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-02-24 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-03-02 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-03-09 07:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Nancy P’s, 1054 Milwaukee, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Meet up with others in our intrepid group for local birding. We meet at Nancy P’s Bakery on Newport Avenue just east of Newport Market in Bend. From there we depart on weekly half day or full day trips to venues in our area. Meet-up times are usually 7AM in the Spring and Summer and 8AM in Fall and Winter. Trip plans are posted on COBOL each week prior to the trip.
Transportation is via carpool depending on who can drive and individual schedules. Dress for the weather; be prepared with food, sunscreen, etc; and bring a pair of binoculars; spotting scopes are helpful on many trips.
Feb 10 early start, all day to Willamette Valley refuge
Feb 17, Shevlin trails, River trails Bend
Feb 24, Cold Springs, Suttle Lake, Santiam Pass
March 2, Skyliner area
March 9, Wastewater ponds, Hatfield, Redmond, etc
March 16, Sunriver and south where open water can be found
March 23, Lower Bridge, includes knapweed digging
March 30, Fort Rock, all day
April 6, Calliope Crossing, Green Ridge
April 13, Desert east of Bend, EARLY start
April 20, Cline Falls SP, Twin Bridges, Tumalo State Park,
April 27, Shevlin Park ***Change****
May 4 Shorebirds, wastewater ponds Bend, Redmond, Prineville
May 11 River trails Bend and Tumalo for migrants
May 18, GI Ranch, east of Bend. Birding all day, bring lunch, scopes.
May 25, shorebirds, location TBD
June1, Malheur, all day
June 8 Glaze Meadow, Black Butte Swamp, Calliope Crossing
June 15, woodpeckers, varied locations
June 22 Cabin Lake, Fort Rock and Summer Lake, all day, bring lunch
June 29, Gilchrist, Crescent, Norther Waterthrush
July 6, Three Creeks, Park Meadow trail, other trails
July 13 Hatfield, walk 3 miles
July 20 Calliope Crossing, Jack Lake
July 27,Green Ridge springs
August 3 High Lakes, shorebirds, waterfowl
August 10 Skyliner and Tumalo Falls morning and again evening
August 17, a.m. Millican Valley, return in evening, over night optional at Pine Mountain
August 24 Calliope Crossing, Black Butte Swamp
August 31, shorebirds
Sept 7 Wickiup, Crane Prairie, Vaux’s Swifts evening, Bend
Sept 14, Malheur all day
Sept 21 Green Ridge raptors, grouse, woodpeckers, all day birding
Sept 28, Fort Rock and Summer Lake, all day
Oct 5, high lakes, Crane Prairie and Wickiup
Oct 12 Hatfield ponds, Alfalfa
Oct 19 coastal birding, 2 or 3 days, seawatching a.m., passerines and land PMs.
Oct 26 Mill Creek, Ochocos area

Behind The Emerald Curtain
2016-02-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A documentary from Shane Anderson in collaboration with Pacific Rivers. The film examines logging practices in Oregon–especially the hidden impacts of industrial style clearcutting, road building and pesticide application, all of which are largely hidden behind propaganda and beauty strips.
We will screen the video and then have a conversation with Chris Smith, our Conservation Program Coordinator for State Forests and with staff from Pacific Rivers. This promises to be an eye-opening look at forestry in Oregon. Click here to watch the trailer.

WATER MANAGEMENT LESSONS - What Can We Learn From the Land of Oz?
2016-02-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Annual fish kills, loss of frog habitat, and competing demands by irrigators, municipalities, and river users have created the perfect storm for conflict in the Deschutes Basin. In a quest for possible solutions, City Club will look beyond the Basin to earth’s driest inhabited continent, Australia.
Keynote speaker, Brent Walton will examine how a 17-year Aussie drought led to innovations in water markets, conservation efforts, and collaboration. Could those innovations work here? In short, what can we learn from Oz?
Keynote Speaker:
Brett Walton – A reporter for Circle of Blue, for whom he writes about agriculture, energy, and the politics and economics of water throughout the world.
Panelists:
David Pilz – A water law and policy analyst for Ecosystem Economics, a firm that specializes in developing water markets worldwide. David has studied and written extensively on the Australian experience.
John DeVoe – The executive director for WaterWatch of Oregon, a state-wide nonprofit whose mission is to protect and restore flows in our rivers and to sustain the native fish, wildlife, and people who depend on healthy rivers.
Moderator:
Ryan Houston – Executive Director of the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council.
Numerous other water experts, stakeholders, and collaborators will also be present. Join the conversation!
$25 for members; $40 for non-members. Plated lunch included. Registration fees must be paid in advance of the forum. Registration closes at noon on Monday, February 15.

Kôr Community Land Trust Fundraising Dinner
2016-02-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A night of delicious food, libations and festivities, which will help support Kôr Community Land Trust. The evening will feature a hand-crafted menu created by Tetherow’s Executive Chef Zac Hoffman. There will also be a variety of silent auction items and a raffle. Tickets are $75, which includes dinner and two glasses of wine. To purchase tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com and search for Kor Community Land Trust Fundraising Dinner.

How Public Lands Can Help Unite Oregonians at Pints and Politics
2016-02-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV and special guests from Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Oregon Natural Desert Association, and Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for an evening of thought provoking presentations and discussion about the recent takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and the larger questions of how best to manage our public lands.

Souper Supper
2016-02-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Sustainable SOUPER Supper fundraiser for 350Deschutes. There will be great local food and prizes from local businesses. Have fun playing our Climate Game. Money will be used to support climate education in Central Oregon.There is no ticket fee but donations will be requested. Please RSVP at actnowforclimate@gmail.com

High Desert Design Council Hosts Ask an Expert Expo
2016-02-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The High Dessert Design Council (HDDC) is hosting the first annual Ask an Expert Expo event February 20 from 12-2pm at The Environmental Center, at 16 NW Kansas St., in downtown Bend.
The HDDC offers this free event for residents of Central Oregon to get one-on-one guidance and feedback from local professionals in the design and construction industry.
A minimum of one representative from a variety of professions including architecture, interior design, remodeling, stone fabrication, painting, tile installation, artwork and more will participate. Attendees will have approximately 15 minutes to spend with the professionals and the opportunity to schedule additional appointments.
If you are planning a project for 2016, bring your blueprints and get the help you need to make it a success.
Visit the HDDC website at www.thehddc.org or contact dp1@bendbroadband to reserve your time slot with one of the experts today. Sign up will be on first-come, first-served basis.

Cheers to Landwatch!
2016-02-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Our hard work is paying off – since the new year we have racked up several significant wins! To briefly highlight and celebrate these exciting victories, we’d like to invite you to grab a local brew with us at one of Bend’s original breweries on Monday, February 22nd.

Facing Climate Change
2016-02-22, 2016-02-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The apocalyptic story of the current climate crisis is nothing new. What is new is the research emerging on why we have failed to act. Social psychologists have recently identified some of the reasons behind the inertia caused by fear, guilt, anger, despair and helplessness. These are the emotions experienced by the very individuals ⎯you and I⎯ in whose hands it lies to make the necessary changes that will enrich our lives, make us more resilient, restore self-‐identity, strengthen our communities, and ensure a livable planet both for ourselves and our more-‐than-‐human relatives. Join us on Monday nights to share and contribute towards this critical shift in consciousness.
Based on Living Systems Theory, “The Work That Reconnects,” Deep Ecology and ancient spiritual traditions, the class is guided by long-‐time activist/filmmaker/yoga instructor, Vanessa Schulz.

February Nature Night: Lichens --The extreme fungi
2016-02-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
**Registration for this Nature Night will open January 24th!**
Have you ever wondered what the neon tufts growing on our local junipers are? Then, join us for an illuminating evening about lichens! That neon green is actually a lichen: a fungus growing together with an alga to make a specialized growth form.
Lichenologist Daphne Stone will take us on a tour of lichens: what they are, how they survive in diverse and often extreme habitats, and how they are different from other fungi. Then we will take a tour of interesting lichens around the Pacific Northwest, including lush lichens in coastal Oregon, lichens that fix nitrogen from the air in the Cascades, brilliant crustose lichens on rocks in dry areas, and delicate soil crust lichens that protect the deserts of eastern Oregon.

SNCO Lectures: Natural History & Conservation of N. American Swans
2016-02-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join environmental scientist and swan expert doctor Gary Ivey for an overview of swans of North America and discussion of populations of Tundra and Trumpeter Swans that use the Pacific Flyway. He will also cover conservation and restoration needs of Trumpeter Swans in the West and the Oregon Trumpeter Swan Restoration Project.
Learn where local swan celebrities Sir (Chuck) Charles and Gracie began their story!
This is a FREE lecture, but donations are always welcome.
Space is limited, so call for reservations at 541.593.4394.

Eagle Watch Celebration in Culver
2016-02-27, 2016-02-28, 2016-02-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Eagle Watch – A “Culver Tradition”!
Eagle Watch is a free, family fun event, at Round Butte Overlook Park. It will be held on February 27 & 28, 2016. 10 – 4 on Saturday, 10- 3:30 on Sunday. This is the peak time to see resident and migrating eagles soar over the picturesque cliffs of Lake Billy Chinook and we will have professional birders, and binoculars, there to help spot the eagles. The Sunriver Nature Center will bring several live birds of prey so you are guaranteed to see a live bird! Especially fun and not to be missed is the Cultural Program on Sunday at 2 pm, where the Quartz Creek Drummers and Dancers come from Warm Springs to share their native dances.

Fuels tax factual information open house
2016-02-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The City of Bend invites the community to a fuels tax informational Open House from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, February 29, at Council Chambers in City Hall, 710 NW Wall Street.
City Manager Eric King will present an overview of City finances and their connection to streets maintenance at 6 p.m.
Following that, residents can visit with the City Manager, the Finance Director and the Streets & Operations Director who can answer questions about how the City manages finances, how streets are maintained, how street conditions have deteriorated and what the plans and proposed solutions are for making Bend’s roads better.
Information about the fuels tax: www.bendoregon.gov/streetsfunding

Bend Central Westside Plan Open Houses
2016-03-02, 2016-03-03 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
See what the future might look like for Bend’s central westside neighborhoods!
Bend’s central Westside is rapidly changing. After more than a year of community input, the City of Bend has developed a preferred land use concept. Now, the City needs your input about how the transportation system might change to support this future land use vision.
The city is holding two open houses to present the preferred scenario and gather input on the transportation improvements:
Northern Area Open House
5-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Kingston School, 1101 NW 12th Street
Southern Area Open House
5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, 2016
Riverbend Community Room, 799 SW Columbia
This open house is your chance to explore the city’s proposed preferred land use concept and provide input about how transportation decisions could shape these neighborhoods. The Northern Area Open House will focus on Newport Avenue, Galveston Avenue, and 14th Street corridors. The Southern Area Open House will focus on the university area and industrial area. All materials will be available at both open houses.
Can’t attend a meeting? You can also participate online from March 1-15, 2016. Visit the project website at www.bendoregon.gov/westsideplan!
For any questions about the open house or the Central Westside Plan, please contact Karen Swirsky at kswirsky@bendoregon.gov

The Children's Forest Volunteer Training
2016-03-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Children’s Forest is offering our first ever volunteer training for community members interested in working with environmental education and family programs. The training will provide skills for leading effective outdoor activities, group management in the outdoors, and natural history skills. Volunteers will learn about several education programs offered through Children’s Forest partners which provide ongoing volunteer opportunities this spring and beyond.
Interested volunteers should:

Have an interest and passion for working with youth outdoors
Be able to attend all days of the training
Be able to commit to leading at least 5 field days with youth this school year (mainly occur on weekdays)
No experience necessary!

Dates:

March 2, 6-8pm, The Environmental Center
March 5, 9am-3:30pm, Skyliners Lodge
March 9, 6-8pm, The Environmental Center
March 12, 9am-3:30pm, locations TBD

Questions? Contact Katie Chipko at katie@childrensforestco.org. To register, please complete our online registration.

Home Repair and Weatherization Event
2016-03-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join NeighborImpact and Sisters Habitat for Humanity to learn more about services offered to qualified individuals including:

Free Weatherization Services
Free Home Energy Audits
No Cost or Low-Cost Home Repair
0% Loans for Home or Septic Repairs

If your home is in need of repair, your septic system in need of improvement, or you are interested in learning more about our free weatherization and energy savings programs, we can help you:
• Save Money
• Connect with safe home & septic repair and improvement loans
• Save money on heating and utility bills

First Friday House Party at SJC
2016-03-04 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
You are invited! First Friday House Party
The Social Justice Center will be welcoming our newest arrivals. Our community is growing and we are fortunate to have great folks like these who are active in the community for social justice.
Kor Community Land Trust
Bend Immigration Group
Lourdes Sanchez Law Group
We will be gathering for fun food and conversation. Also, for those of you who want to take action, we will also coordinate teams to go downtown to gather signatures for IP 28 (totally optional)
Other allies in attendance: Jobs with Justice, Human Dignity Coalition, Oregon Strong Voice, SEIU, OSEA, ONA, AFSCME, CAUSA.

Bloom Project Giveback Night @ Portello Winecafe
2016-03-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
You are invited to come support The Bloom Project by stopping by for a glass of wine, appetizers or dinner at Portello Winecafe in Northwest Crossing.
A portion of the proceeds from the evening will be donated to The Bloom Project to support our mission.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Fruit Tree Pruning Class
2016-03-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Two hour class on fruit tree pruning in the field – the same class will be offered at two different locations. Morning class will be in Madras from 9:30-11:30 am. Afternoon class will be held in Prineville from 2:00-4:00 pm. Class size will be limited, so pre-registration is required. Cost is $15 per person. Location of classes will be emailed to registered participants. For more information or to register, call the Deschutes County Extension Service at (541) 548-6088.

ReStore's Furniture Flip Application Due
2016-03-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This competition is designed to raise funds for Bend Area Habitat for Humanity and to raise awareness of creative reuse by demonstrating the unlimited possibilities of donated ReStore items.
If approved to be a designer, you’ll be challenged to redesign one to three pieces of furniture/home accessories using items found at the Bend Habitat ReStore, following three design themes (one for each piece). You’ll be able to choose which themes you wish to address. Keep in mind that the more items you complete, the more award categories you’ll be eligible to enter.
You’ll receive ReStore dollars to shop the store. The transformed pieces will be sold at our Furniture Flip event, with all proceeds benefiting Bend Area Habitat for Humanity. The challenge will test your creativity and ability to “upcycle” everyday household goods into imaginative home decor.
To submit an application, fill out the form below and email one to three photos* of your past work that best demonstrates your design aesthetic (.jpg or PDF format, please, including a caption where necessary) to restorebend@gmail.com.
*To be considered for the design competition, photos are required. (Previous participants are waived from this requirement.)
Timeline:
Deadline for application is Friday, March 11 by 5 pm.
You will receive an email on March 17 regarding your entry.
On March 23 at 5:30, there will be a designer meeting, where you’ll receive the competition guidelines and design themes, along with ReStore dollars. There will be an exclusive after-hours shopping spree from 6:30–7:30 pm to get you started.

Adopt-A-Trail Training (Bend)
2016-03-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
COTA’s trail adoption program has been revised and we are pleased to offer training sessions to everyone interested in learning more about the work that goes into building and maintain the trails we all ride. This will be the second of four sessions available over the next several months. We will outline the adoption process and go over the basics of trail maintenance. Topics include: Land Managers, multiple use trails, identifying causes of and sustainable practices for controlling erosion, drainage, sight-lines, soil composition, USFS and COTA Trail Standards, safety, tools and more. If you would like to participate please send an email to adopt@cotamtb.com and visit our website – cotamtb.com/trails/adopt-a-trail/.
*Current adopters please note that the guidelines and requirements have changed. Please visit the link above and familiarize yourself with the changes.
All COTA trail work events require the following safety measures:
All participants must sign a waiver.
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 these requirements.

Discover Nature Day
2016-03-12 | 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.
Birds of Prey: Experience an up close encounter with a raptor, learn about its amazing adaptations, and play a game about bird migration.

Forest Service Presents Climate Change Information
2016-03-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
BEND– In mid-March a nationally known forest researcher with the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station and a researcher with the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington jointly will present their recent assessments of the impact of climate change on national forests in South-Central Oregon in Bend, Ore.
Dr. Dave Peterson. Senior Research Biologist with the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Dr. Jessica Halofsky, Research Ecologist with the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, will discuss their studies on the impacts of climate change in South-Central Oregon on Monday, March 14, 2016 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Willie Hall at Central Oregon Community College’s Coats Campus Center, 2600 NW College Way. The presentation is free and open to the public.
Dr. Peterson is a well-known researcher on climate change and shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr. Halofsky coordinated the climate change vulnerability studies on the national forests in Oregon. Following their presentation the public will be able to discuss the information with the researchers.
For the past year, scientists and local resource managers worked together to assess how climate change may affect water resources, fisheries, vegetation, wildlife and recreation on public lands of the Deschutes, Ochoco and Fremont-Winema National Forests, the Crooked River National Grassland and Crater Lake National Park. In addition to this research, these same public agencies formed the South-Central Oregon Adaptation Partnership (SCOAP) to seek solutions for coping with the effects of a warmer climate on public lands.
Preliminary findings of the assessment also are being shared during a Climate Change workshop with researchers and land managers in Redmond, Ore. on March 15-16, 2016. Workshop participants will develop adaptation strategies, which may be used to minimize negative impacts from climate change.
Following the workshop, the final assessment will be peer reviewed and published by the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. The results will be available to federal agencies, other landowners, and the general public. For more information about the SCOAP assessment, see http://adaptationpartners.org/scoap.
