The Environmental Center

Living in Peace: An Islamic Perspective
2016-02-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Misunderstandings regarding Islam are common within our culture. This is an opportunity to learn about Islam and what its practitioners actually believe and desire. Speaker Dr. Wanly holds a Ph.D. in the sciences of narration, along with other advanced degrees. He is an instructor with the Islamic Online University and Al-Huda University. He is also associated with the Muslim Educational Trust in Portland. Event includes a question-and-response session. Free to the public.

Wednesday Birders
2016-02-10 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-02-17 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-02-24 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-03-02 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

How Much Inequality is Acceptable?
2016-02-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Some economists have recently suggested that Americans are now living with the largest income gap in the history of the world. This conversation will explore our beliefs and values around income inequality. Is it an incentive for hard work and invention, an acceptable part of community life, or does this narrative no longer make sense? At what point, if ever, is the gap too large? Julia Hammond, owner of Folklala and Oregon Humanities’ Conversation Project Leader, will lead a conversation around these questions.
Where: Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Campus
Check out a full schedule of events for COCC’s Season of Nonviolence – Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, and Chief Wilma Mankiller.

Political Comic Will Durst
2016-02-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Political comic Will Durst brings his new show “Elect to Laugh: 2016” to Bend Friday, February 12, 2016, in a benefit performance for KPOV, 88.9 fm. The show will start at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, west of Bend just off Skyliners Road.
KPOV is offering event sponsorship opportunities to local businesses, organizations and individuals who want to support High Desert Community Radio in the new year. Contact KPOV Development Director Bruce Morris at 541-322-0863 or bruce@kpov.org for information. The sponsorship deadline is January 20.
Elect to Laugh: 2016 is Durst’s comic look at the political season as it unfolds.
“I am working with some of the best joke writers around,” says Durst. “Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Rand Paul, Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, Bernie Sanders, and Barack Obama, ably assisted by the 535 hard working satirists in Congress.” He promises that “every political stance will be taken to task” in his bipartisan 80-minute performance.
KPOV has brought Durst to Bend twice before to sell-out crowds and rave reviews. Tickets to the February 12 show will go on sale in mid-January.
The Oregonian calls Durst “the thinking man’s comic.” The New Yorker magazine says,
“He’s perfected a verbal jitterbug of comedy, taking on politics and war and rhetoric.” Fox News calls Durst, “A great political satirist. One of the funniest guys around.”
KPOV is a listener-supported, volunteer-powered, nonprofit community radio station that broadcasts at 88.9 FM and live on the web at kpov.org. High Desert Community Radio offers locally-produced programs not heard on any other radio stations in the area, including civic affairs, election coverage, and the most diverse music programming in Central Oregon.

SOLVE IT for Earth Day Applications Due
2016-02-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Be a part of the largest Earth Day event in Oregon! We are now accepting project applications for the annual statewide SOLVE IT for Earth Day event that matches local non-profits with volunteers for two days of community service in celebration of Earth Day. Projects will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 22 & 23, 2016.
We support projects that engage volunteers in cleaning up litter and illegal dump sites, invasive plant removal, planting of native trees and shrubs, urban beautification projects, and watershed maintenance and monitoring activities. (See attached guidelines.)
To apply, click on the link below to complete SOLVE’s online project application and request volunteers for your project by February 15.

http://www.solveoregon.org/leader-resources/forms/project-application
To learn more about last year’s SOLVE IT event in central Oregon, visit volunteerconnectnow.org and click on the SOLVE IT button.
Detailed support provided by Volunteer Connect and SOLVE for approved community volunteer projects:

Project planning assistance
Project Planning Reference Guide (step-by-step guide to coordinating a project).
Event flyers and pre-event publicity
Assistance with volunteer recruitment and placement, including online registration, confirmation emails to all online registrants, and volunteer registration/waiver forms
Free materials such as litter bags, vinyl gloves, safety vests, first aid kits, and sharps containers.

In addition, projects may receive a maximum reimbursement of up to $100 from SOLVE to cover qualifying project expenses. There are a limited number of grants available, so please apply early using the attached form. Access more project coordinator resources and small grant info here.
This is your opportunity to host a SOLVE IT for Earth Day project and get a lot of work done with the help of volunteer power!

Facing Climate Change
2016-02-15, 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.

Waking in Oak Creek - Film and discussion
2016-02-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
As the Sikh community in Oak Creek, Wisconsin prepares for Sunday prayers, a deadly hate attack shatters their lives, but not their resilience. This film was produced in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office as part of the Not in Our Town: Working Together for Safe, Inclusive Communities Initiative. There will be another showing on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 4 – 5:30 pm, 306, Building 3, Redmond Campus
Check out the full schedule of COCC’s Season of Nonviolence events.

Affordable Housing Forum
2016-02-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Deschutes Public Library and Deschutes County League of Women Voters will be hosting an Affordable Housing Forum. Officials from the City of Bend, Housing Works and the Central Oregon Builders Association will discuss and offer insight into possible solutions to Bend’s affordable housing crunch.

Dr. Dennis Jenkins: 14,000 years of Human History in Oregon's High Desert
2016-02-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
In this second installment of ONDA’s High Desert Speaker Series in Bend, renowned archaeologist Dr. Dennis Jenkins will take you on a journey through through time.
Native Americans have occupied Oregon’s High Desert for more than 14,000 years. Dr. Jenkins’ lecture interprets the results of the University of Oregon’s nearly 80 years of archaeological investigations seeking to understand the culture history of the region. It walks the audience through the development of cultures in central Oregon from the earliest known occupants at Paisley Caves through to the Northern Paiutes who observed the coming of European immigrants intent on taking their land.
Colorful photos accompanying the lecture illustrate the artifacts and natural materials representative of each time period, starting with the human feces, extinct animal remains, and earliest artifacts of the Paisley period and ending with the Paiute and Klamath-Modoc artifacts of the historic period.

The event will take place at Bend’s Old Stone Church, 157 NW Franklin Ave. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The event is free. Space is limited.
Registration for this event will open in January.

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.

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 | 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
