Healing the Big River
2021-05-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Thirteen years ago he embarked on a self-assignment to tell the story of the Columbia River Treaty between the U.S and Canada, and its impact on first nations, tribes, and salmon along the entire 1,250 Columbia River. The original treaty in 1964 excluded participation and input from indigenous communities. The end result of this labor of love was the independently produced photo essay book, Healing The Big River – Salmon Dreams and the Columbia River Treaty. Peter invited leaders from first nations, tribes, and salmon restoration advocates to contribute powerful guest essays about their connection to the river, their hopes for a modernized treaty (now being re-negotiated), and their hopes to see one of the greatest salmon runs that ever existed on the planet restored, from the ocean to the headwaters near Canal Flats BC. The Grand Coulee Dam in eastern WA State has blocked the salmon returning home to the headwaters.
Peter Marbach has been a professional photographer for 25 years, published 6 photo essay books, and had previous assignment work with numerous conservation groups, U.S Forest Service, and outdoor travel editorial work. In October 2014, Peter was featured in an episode of Oregon Field Guide. His current professional focus is as a visual storyteller using his photography to address important environmental and indigenous justice issues.

Farm Kids Spring 2021
2021-05-28, 2021-06-04
Farm Kids! is an educational program that collaborates with teachers to educate school-aged children about where their food comes from through experiential, curriculum-based activities including field-trips to local farms and classroom presentations.

Spring Field Trips will be held at Windy Acres Dairy in Prineville, DD Ranch in Terrebonne, and Golden Eagle Organics and Juniper Jungle Farm in Bend
Farm Kids is geared toward students in kindergarten through second grade
Students will be in pods of 10 with a dedicated educator leading them through learning stations at the farm

Happy Girls Run 2021
2021-05-29
Grab your bestie and take in the beauty of Central Oregon as you embark on a tour of majestic scenery. You’ll be well-supported with multiple aid stations, medics and helpful event staff to make your day all about you and achieving your personal goals. Register now

Watershed Warriors
2021-05-29, 2021-06-05
Our local watershed is a vital part of our everyday life and a treasured natural resource we want to help preserve. During this program, you and your family will learn all about the importance of watersheds and how to be good stewards for our waterways. From examining water and macroinvertebrate samples in the field, to performing real-time pollution experiments using a watershed model, you will become experts in pollution prevention and watershed stewardship in no time!
This is a family program designed for families with children ages 6 to 10 years old. Capacity for this program is limited. This program takes place fully outdoors and masks are required for participants.
This program is free for Central Oregon families thanks to special support from Children’s Forest of Central Oregon.

CULTIVATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES (a Virtual Conference): Confronting Health Threats, Climate Disasters, and Biodiversity Collapse with a Toxic-Free Future
2021-06-01, 2021-06-08
Virtual Conference—May 25, June 1, June 8 and June 15, 2021

Scientific understanding. Collective action. Systemic change. A toxic-free future. Organic transition. The serious and existential environmental and health challenges that we face bring an urgency to the focus of this Forum and the work that is going on in communities around the U.S. and the world. Central to the solution is the elimination of petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers in exchange for regenerative organic land management and nontoxic materials that stop the harm from toxic chemical production, use, and disposal. We recognize that this is the only way to protect our children and families, those in workplaces, pets, pollinators, and the rich diversity of organisms essential to life.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2021-06-01, 2021-06-08
This year, Happy Hour in the Garden will run from March through October. Instead of weekly, this volunteer event will be on the *1st & 3rd Tuesdays*, kicking off Tuesday, March 1st. Stop by anytime between 4-6 on the following dates to help out in the garden and enjoy a bubbly beverage. Family friendly, no experience or tools necessary.
Contact Denise Rowcroft, Garden Program Manager, if you have any questions about getting involved.

March 1 & 15 (March & April beer sponsored by Worthy Garden Club)
April 5 & 19
May 3 & 17 (May & June beer sponsored by Boneyard Beer)
June 7 & 21

Due to summer trips, please note that summer dates (July & August) are the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month!

*July 12 & 26* (July & August beer sponsored by Deschutes Brewery)
*August 9 & 23* (Note, this is the 2nd & 4th Tuesday, rescheduled due to planned time off)
September 6 & 20 (Sept & Oct beer sponsored by 10 Barrel Brewing Co)
October 4 & 18

COTA Crook County Chapter Meeting
2021-06-01
The local Crook County chapter COTA meeting happens the first Tuesday of every month. Now meeting at Good Bike Co., the monthly meeting takes place outdoors following OR Covid restrictions.

Growing Vegetables in Central Oregon-Virtual Q&A session
2021-06-02
The Central Oregon Chapter of OSU Master Gardeners (COMGA) presents a Virtual Q&A Session to discuss your questions on Growing Vegetables in Central Oregon. Registered attendees will be sent a link to a pre-recorded class. Watch the video and bring your questions to this Virtual Q&A Session.
Growing Vegetables in Central Oregon video course – https://media.oregonstate.edu/media/t/1_45m9pklu

Networking 2.0 - Gearing up to go live!
2021-06-03
Come spend an hour with Julie Harrelson, Managing Director at Cascade Seed Fund, for a refreshing conversation about networking (especially while we’re still in a global pandemic).

Virtual Town Hall w/ Sen. Ron Wyden
2021-06-03
This week, Wyden will be holding a virtual town hall. It’s a key time to let him know you want to see our wild public lands and waters – including Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands – protected, forever.
The link to watch this virtual town hall is here.
The link to submit questions for Senator Wyden is here.
All topics welcome!

Bend COTA Work Events
2021-06-03, 2021-06-10
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.

OLCV Virtual Phone Bank for 100% Clean Energy
2021-06-03
We’re in the final stretch of the 2021 Legislative Session, so we’re taking our advocacy to the next level in support of the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign, which includes the 100% Clean Energy for All Bill.
OLCV is making calls on Thursday, June 3rd from 5:30 – 8:00 PM, and we would love for you to join to help pass these crucial bills– RSVP today!
Agenda:
– 5:30 PM- Training
– 6:00 PM- Make Calls!
– 7:45 PM- Debrief
– 8:00 PM- END
Together, we’ll be calling constituents in key legislative districts to ask them to get involved in the campaign by contacting their legislator. This is a great opportunity to roll up your sleeves and help us win the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign to pass justice-centered energy policy this legislative session. Even if you’ve never phonebanked before or are feeling rusty, we’ll start off with a training on how to phonebank and will provide talking points on the bills.
We need our power to work for our communities and our climate future, not for corporations who avoid protecting our families and environment.

OLCV Virtual Town Hall with Senator Ron Wyden
2021-06-04
Learn about the American Jobs Plan and Senator Wyden’s Clean Energy for America Act.
At the Town Hall Senator Wyden will share how the American Jobs Plan will put millions of people to work by making major investments in infrastructure, while also speeding up our transition to clean energy. Creating family-wage paying jobs and prioritizing environmental justice are at the heart of this historic policy.

National Trails Day- Take Action for Trails!
2021-06-05
Saturday, June 5th is National Trails Day: One Way to Celebrate! (in addition to getting out on the trail)
Contact your congressperson and ask them to support HR 1864, the Recreational Trails Program Full Funding Act. RTP is such an important funding source for all kinds of Oregon trails, and requests outstrip available funds 4 to 1! Thanks to everyone who signed on to our letter last week. Now let’s make sure Oregon’s congressional delegation hears directly from Oregonians about the value of local trails and this funding program. See who else supports HR 1864!

Screening & Discussion of “Kiss the Ground”
2021-06-05 - 2021-06-07
With less than 10 years left to shift the path of our planet and combat climate change, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration calls to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.
On World Environment Day, join the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to mark the launch of the UN Decade by viewing an exclusive screening of the critically-acclaimed environmental feature documentary, “Kiss the Ground,” and joining a virtual discussion about the film.
You are invited to watch the documentary between June 5-7 and tune into the interactive panel discussion with experts and featured guests from the film on Monday, June 7 from 11 am – 12 PM EST. This session will highlight innovative ways regenerative agriculture is reviving ecosystems around the world and how you can be part of the movement.

Join the discussion

Central Oregon Pride Month! June 2021
2021-06-05 - 2021-06-19
Pride Month is here! Join all month long for events throughout Central Oregon; including:

– City of Bend Pride Proclamation
– LGBTQ+ Film Screenings with BendFilm
– Pride edition of ‘Oh Yess’ @Dogwood
– Cult of Tuck Drag Show returns!
– LGBTQ+ Rock Climbing
– Pride Night Fridays @Bos
– Bend Your Wrist Vogue Dance
– Drag Brunch!… and many more

Details, dates, and locations to be announced on OUTCentralOregon page.

Unique Winter Vegetables to Grow
2021-06-08
Take a deep dive into some of the more underappreciated winter vegetables! You’ll cover garlic, radicchio (a form of leaf chicory) celeriac, or celery root, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, winter squash and purple sprouting broccoli, to name a few. Basic winter gardening techniques to add these delectable veggies to your plates in winter will also be covered.

High Desert Wonders
2021-06-08
Whether you’re a new member of the desert conservation community, or want to be introduced to the vast beauty of Central and eastern Oregon, you’re invited to join Oregon Natural Desert Asssociation to get to know the High Desert Wonders. Their team will share stunning imagery, tips to plan your next visit, and provide ways to advocate for this special landscape.

Pressure Canning Preserve-Along
2021-06-09
Practice or review pressure canning steps and tips in this hands-on interactive session. Session guides will be sent by email on Friday, June 4 prior to this workshop with ingredients, supplies and steps to take in advance.
PLEASE NOTE: Payments are non-refundable if you find you cannot attend

Virtual Event: A Guide to Restoring the Little Things That Run the World
2021-06-09
Join Dr. Doug Tallamy, entomologist and author of Nature’s Best Hope, for this lively discussion. A recent UN report predicts that as many as 1 million species will disappear from planet earth because of human activities. Many of these are insects and nearly all species at risk rely on insects. Insects have already declined 45% since 1974. How do we create beautiful landscapes brimming with life; landscapes that support the pollinators, herbivores, detritivores, predators and parasitoids that run the ecosystems on which we depend? Tallamy will remind us of the many essential roles insects play, and describe the simple changes we must make to keep insects on the ground, in the air and yes, on our plants. Also learn about the Native Plant Society of Oregon: High Desert Chapter, the Bend Pollinator Pathway, and how you can get involved. What can we plant and what actions can we take to support native pollinators in Central Oregon?
This virtual event is FREE but registration is required.

Summer Bees & Plants
2021-06-09
Join Beyond Toxics for a webinar to learn about native bees and attend a virtual native plant tour! August Jackson (Mount Pisgah Arboretum) will give a brief look at some of Oregon’s bee species that thrive in the heat of summer, and discuss what you can do to support them in your area. Then Kelsey Irvine (City of Eugene) will take you on a virtual tour of the Native Plant Nursery in Alton Baker Park and show you some blooming native pollinator plants to support these heat-loving summer bees! There will be time for q&a at the end. All are welcome!

Bend YP DevLabs: Persuasive Communication – Accomplish Your Goals
2021-06-10
We all have to give a persuasive speech sometime. Whether that be in asking for a raise or a promotion, in a job interview, giving a presentation to your team, or selling someone on your product or service. In this development lab, you will learn from public speaking coach Joanne Matthews how to understand your audience and custom tailor a persuasive message to them that will meet your goals.

Whychus Creek at Pine Meadow Ranch Weed Pull
2021-06-11
Join Pine Meadow Ranch and Coalition for the Deschutes to pull knapweed and other invasive weeds along Whychus Creek as it flows through the ranch.
Where: Pine Meadow Ranch, Sisters
For more information and to register, send an email to Inge@CoalitionfortheDeschutes.org
You’ll start each of the weed pulls with an overview of logistics and safety protocols and talk about the what and why of pulling invasive plants. Participants will be required to sign a release waiver. Covid-19 protocols will be observed.
Why pull invasive weeds:

Noxious weeds invade a variety of habitats, including wildlands such as the National Forest and Deschutes River corridor.
They displace and compete with native vegetation, thus reducing wildlife forage, erosion control, and overall watershed health.
The Bend/Ft. Rock District of the Deschutes National Forest has documented approximately 2,300 acres of infestations. Some of these infestations are in our favorite places to recreate.
We need your help with controlling noxious weeds so we can continue to enjoy these special places!

National Get Outdoors Day
2021-06-12
Saturday, June 12 is National Get Outdoors day and sites managed by the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will be fee-free! Popular areas include the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Newberry Volcanic Monument, and National Forests for the US Forest Service and Alsea Falls and Shotgun Creek BLM day-use areas.
National get outdoors day is held on the second Saturday of June annually and is part of National Great Outdoors month. It is coordinated by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and US Forest Service. It began as a way to encourage first-time participants and families with kids to get outdoors and enjoy nearby recreation areas.
Find out more about other USFS fee-free days on the US Forest Service Region 6 website.

2021 Dirty Half
2021-06-13
Registration for the 2021 Dirty Half is open!
This year the run takes place on Sunday, June 13th starting at 7am. Proceeds will benefit the Land Trust. A local’s favorite, the 2021 Dirty Half is extra special because it’s turning 20 years old! To celebrate, this year’s Dirty Half will be bigger and better than ever with awesome branded packet pickup gear, a special Hydro Flask finisher prize, great raffle prizes, delicious food, and live music!
