The Environmental Center

Free Home Energy Assessment Program Community Launch
2024-05-30 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
RSVP HERE!
Do you work with a Community Organization in Central Oregon? Are you a local elected official in Central Oregon? Come learn about how your constituents can benefit from The Environmental Center’s brand new Free Home Energy Assessment Program.
We are teaming up with Energy Trust of Oregon to provide free home energy assessments to communities who have been historically underserved by Energy Trust Programs. The energy assessments will evaluate the energy efficiency of the participants’ home and then connect them with increased financial incentives and support to complete home energy upgrades to improve the comfort and affordability.
Julie Williams, the founder of Seeds for the Sol, a community organization in Corvallis, will be joining us to lead a discussion about their successful Home Energy Program and how The Environmental Center can achieve success here in Central Oregon.
If you’re interested in connecting your clients/members with the program, come to our Community Partner Launch event to learn more.

Vision Roadshow: Drake-to-Juniper Event
2024-06-01 09:00 - 11:00 | The Commons Cafe and Taproom, 875 NW BROOKS ST., Bend, OR, 97703, United States
Since the release of the five-year Vision Action Plan, Envision Bend has been working with vision lead partners to align efforts, spark action, and track collective progress. In the coming months, Envision Bend will be hosting a Summer Vision Roadshow at various coffee shops and breweries around town for the community to learn more about various strategies. The first event on June 1st focuses on the ‘Drake to Juniper Pedestrian Corridor’ vision strategy.
Meet outside the Commons Cafe at 9:00am for a 2.25-mile group bike ride in partnership with Bend Bikes to Juniper Park via the Midtown Crossings at Franklin and Greenwood. We will reconvene at 10am on the patio of the Commons Cafe to hear from the City transportation planning staff and Bend Bikes with updates on improvements to our Midtown Crossings, the Hawthorne Bridge, and the community’s shared vision to connect Drake Park to Juniper Park as outlined in the Vision Action Plan.
Stay tuned for additional Vision-themed events throughout the summer, such as ‘Railroad Safety and Redevelopment’ on June 27th at Bevel Brewing; a strategy that was created from public input to move the railroad and address safety concerns. There will also be events focused on ‘Expanding Access to Childcare’ in July, ‘Outdoors for Everyone’ in August, and ‘City of Belonging’ in September.
To register, visit envisionbend.org and sign up for the Envision Bend newsletter to stay up-to-date. Join Envision Bend on June 1st to learn more about the Vision Action Plan, meet someone new, and bring your questions to ask organizations that are taking the Lead on these vision strategies.
Envision Bend is a nonpartisan, community nonprofit organization. Its mission is to bring diverse stakeholders together to educate, engage, and empower all members of the Bend community to have a voice in our community’s future. In 2021, as the successor organization to Bend 2030, it reorganized and rebranded itself as Envision Bend. For more, please visit envisionbend.org or facebook.com/EnvisionBend.

Volunteer at Native Plant Giveaways
2024-06-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-08 09:00 - 13:00 | OR
June 1, 9:00-12:00 PM at Caldera High School (60925 SE 15th St, Bend)
June 8, 9:00-1:00 PM at Hollinshead Park (1235 NE Jones Rd, Bend)
Volunteer to hand out plants or staff the info table by completing this form. We will give away plants to 560 households this year thanks to the City of Bend, Wintercreek Nursery and Worthy Environmental. That means we need a lot of help!
Please note that there was a separate registration for plants and both dates are sold out.

SheJumps x USFS | WILD SKILLS | Junior Wildland Firefighter Day Camp | OR
2024-06-01 09:30 - 15:30 | OR
Join SheJumps & USFS Junior Wildland Firefighter for a day camp at Scout Lake Campground on Saturday, June 1st in Sisters, Oregon!

Bend Pride
2024-06-01 11:00 - 17:00 | Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join in the ongoing fight for equality and celebrate love, diversity, and resilience at Central Oregon’s largest annual 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride event! Hosting a booth at Summer Pride festival, in Drake Park, not only offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase your organization, business, or cause to a wide and targeted audience but also symbolizes your commitment to advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. With thousands of passionate attendees from diverse backgrounds, your presence will amplify the collective voice advocating for justice and inclusion. Whether you’re promoting your products, services, or advocacy initiatives, Pride provides a vital platform to connect with the community, forge alliances, and drive positive change. This is your chance to stand on the front lines of progress – sign up to host a booth today and be a part of the movement for a brighter, more equitable future

Happy Hour in the Garden
2024-06-04 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-06-18 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-07-02 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-07-16 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
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 2024, Happy Hour in the Garden will once again run twice a month from March through October on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 4-6pm. 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.

Eggshell Garden Starts at The Environmental Center's Happy Hour in the Garden
2024-06-04 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Make cute garden starts in eggshells and explore a garden!
Stop by the Environmental Center’s Happy Hour in the Garden to plant some eggshell starts, and feel free to volunteer in the Environmental Center’s learning garden afterwards (optional). This is a family friendly event – no experience or tools necessary. Beer and bubbly will be provided!
In 1989, The Environmental Center was born to inspire locals to live lighter on the planet. Their work began with a handful of people and a building in the center of Bend. Today, they’ve grown to become a regional leader in environmental education, engagement, and action. Their team works alongside people of all ages, local businesses, and elected officials to create and advocate for meaningful, lasting change.
Through unique programs and partnerships, the Environmental Center engages as many people as possible in their mission: To embed sustainability into daily life in Central Oregon.

Oregon Active Transportation Summit
2024-06-05 - 2024-06-07 | Leftbank Annex, North Weidler Street, Portland, OR, 97227, United States
This year’s Oregon Active Transportation Summit, Move Oregon Forward, will ground our community of advocates, organizers, professionals, and decision-makers in the shared belief that a better future is possible. Register today and join us June 5-7 at the Leftbank Annex in Portland, OR.
Who Should Attend?
Each year, hundreds of professionals and advocates from Oregon and SW Washington convene to discuss cutting edge transportation issues. Attendees include: state legislators; policy makers; local and national figures in the biking, walking, and active transportation movement; directors of transportation departments and community-based organizations; engineers and planners; land managers; business owners; health professionals; and community advocates. We hope you will join this wide array of leaders to share lessons and learn. Active transportation advocates and practitioners bring energy and passion for change to this event, and the result is a powerful conference that advances our shared goals.
What to Expect
We’re planning a myriad of presentations, workshops, and field trips to bring attendees together to problem-solve and build community in real time. Expect a full schedule of fun and interesting activities!

Greenwashing 2.0: Debunking Recycling Myths
2024-06-05 14:00 - 15:00 | OR
People often ask what really happens to their plastic recycling. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter where your discarded plastic is collected, whether at the end of your driveway, at your local recycling center, or in a municipal recycling bin: Most plastic items collected as recycling are not actually “recycled.” Many people are now realizing that plastic is not designed to be recycled—it’s a false solution sold to us by corporations and governments. What’s more, “plastic recycling” drives continued production and pollution of plastics and fossil fuels, and their related injustices.

Free Home Energy Assessment Community Info Session
2024-06-05 17:30 - 18:30 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
RSVP HERE!
Find out if you qualify for discounts that may cover the full cost of energy efficiency home upgrades! Homeowners and renters are welcome.
Please join us on June 5th, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm to learn about The Environmental Center’s brand new Free Home Energy Assessment Program! This new program could help you access free or low cost energy upgrades. Home upgrades like insulation, efficient heating systems, hybrid water heaters, and new windows, can increase the comfort of your home and save you money on your energy bills. This information session is a great opportunity to see if you qualify*, ask questions, chat with our program manager, and sign up to participate.
Qualification criteria:
You identify as a person of color, a person living with disabilities, a rural resident, or a person with low to moderate income
AND
You are a homeowner or renter in a single-family home, manufactured home, or multifamily residence that is an attached side-by-side unit
AND
You live in Oregon and heat your home with electricity or natural gas provided by Pacific Power or Cascade Natural Gas.

Line 3 Documentary: Stop New Gas Infrastructure in Central Oregon
2024-06-05 18:00 - 20:15 | OR
Join 350 Deschutes – We’re organizing to Stop the GTN Pipeline Gas Expansion. RSVP Now!
Speakers:
Riccardo Waites: Executive, Central Oregon Black Leaders Assembly will discuss the effects of gas expansion on vulnerable communities. Will your neighborhood be affected?
Nora Harren, 350 Deschutes, will discuss the health and environmental impacts of the compressor stations in SunRiver, and elsewhere. How can you protect yourself and your family?
Watch the award winning documentary: “LN3: Seven Teachings of the Ashinaabe Resistance,” a powerful documentary that delves into the resilience and teachings of the Ashinaabe people in the face of pipeline development in their region.
Following the screening, we will engage in a panel discussion focusing on the impacts of the GTN Xpress pipeline project on Central Oregon communities and the environment. Our panelists will explore the environmental, social, and economic implications of the project and discuss Steps we can take to stop the pipeline in our backyard.
This is more than just an event—it’s a call to action. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this vital conversation!
RSVP Now: https://actionnetwork.org/events/line-3-documentary-stop-new-gas-infrastructure-in-central-oregon
$5 donation per family appreciated, but not required.

Discover Fish Migration and Conservation Efforts: A Guided Tour of Pelton Round Butte
2024-06-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Round Butte Overlook Park, From Madras: Jct. of Belmont Lane & Hwy. 97, travel west on Belmont Lane for 6.8 miles to Mountain View Drive, turn south onto Mountain View Drive for 1.7 miles to access road and sign to Round Butte Overlook Park. Turn west onto signed access road for 0.8 mile to Round Butte Overlook Park., OR, United States
Come tour the Pelton Round Butte Fish Passage and Hatchery Facilities On this tour you’ll get to see juvenile steelhead making their way downstream to the ocean, and adult Chinook that have recently returned to the hatchery. Come learn about collaborative efforts to reintroduce anadromous fish to the upper basin and restore the habitat that their survival depends upon.
Tour Leaders:
– Bobby Brunoe, CEO & Secretary/Treasurer of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the DRC Board Chair
– Megan Hill, Hydro Environmental Manager, Portland General Electric
Space is limited to 50 tickets
GET TICKETS

Author Event: Rooted by Lyanda Haupt @ UUFCO
2024-06-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
Friday, June 7th, Lyanda Haupt will speak at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 7pm. To purchase tickets, click HERE.
Deepen your connection to the natural world with this inspiring meditation, “a path to the place where science and spirit meet” (Robin Wall Kimmerer). Award-winning writer Lyanda Lynn Haupt’s highly personal new book is a brilliant invitation to live with the earth in both simple and profound ways—from walking barefoot in the woods and reimagining our relationship with animals and trees, to examining the very language we use to describe and think about nature. She invokes rootedness as a way of being in concert with the wilderness—and wildness—that sustains humans and all of life.
In the tradition of Rachel Carson, Elizabeth Kolbert, and Mary Oliver, Haupt writes with urgency and grace, reminding us that at the crossroads of science, nature, and spirit we find true hope. Each chapter provides tools for bringing our unique gifts to the fore and transforming our sense of belonging within the magic and wonder of the natural world. Lyanda Lynn Haupt is a naturalist, ecophilosopher, and author of Mozart’s Starling, The Urban Bestiary, Crow Planet, Pilgrim on the Great Bird Continent, and Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds. Ms. Haupt is a winner of the Washington State Book Award and the Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award.
Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Addressing The Challenges of Charging at Multi-Family Housing
2024-06-11 10:00 - 11:00 | OR
This webinar will focus on identifying the best practices to address the challenges of equitable distribution, site selection, permits and policy considerations for EV charging at Multi-Family Housing.

Juneteenth Central Oregon
2024-06-15 11:00 - 2024-06-16 17:30 | Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Get ready for the 4th Annual Juneteenth Central Oregon celebration on June 15th and 16th, 2024 from 11am to 5:30pm! Rooted in education, entertainment, and fostering a vibrant and safe environment for the community, this year’s theme, “Jubilee,” marks a joyous celebration of the emancipation of African Americans. Joined by the African and Caribbean Community, our two-day event promises an immersive experience filled with authentic African, Caribbean, and African American cuisine, art, music, and education. Embrace the cultural tapestry through enlightening educational activities, captivating entertainment, and a shared culinary journey that celebrates the diverse heritage of our communities.

Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Workshop
2024-06-19 13:30 - 15:30 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
Did you know that wasted food makes up over 25% of waste at Knott Landfill by tonnage – making it the largest category of waste in the landfill? Yet, in Deschutes County, 1 in 8 people is food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. In addition, the average family of four tosses $1,800 worth of food every year ($150/mo on just wasted food!) and wasted food uses the same energy and water as 50 million homes. It’s time to rethink food waste, and we want to help you do it.
We will start with a brief presentation on why food waste matters, how to prevent food waste, and strategies for composting. Afterwards, a small group of us will walk over to the Bend Farmers Market to the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA) booth for an intro and demo to food rescue. If you’re interested in both, the presentation and the demo, be sure to select the appropriate ticket below. There are only 15 spots open for the demo, so once it is sold out, that option will no longer be available. Please reach out to kavi@envirocenter.org with any questions.
REGISTER HERE

Native Pollinator Walk with Pollinator Pathway Bend
2024-06-20 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-06-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
June 20th, Worthy Brewing
June 21st, Franklin’s Corner

City Club: How Wildfire Decisions are Made
2024-06-20 11:30 - 13:00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR, United States
The focus of this forum is to discuss how decisions are made to fight a wildfire when they start. Particularly, how decisions differ based on the area and/or type of land where they start: wilderness, urban interface, grasslands and tribal lands.

What agencies are involved and how do they coordinate?
What are decision-making points for fire managers?
Where does funding come from?
Why do some fires receive massive resources and others do not?

Speakers:

Kevin Moriarty, Deschutes County Forester
Shawn Jaca, Central Oregon Fire Management, US Forest Service
Trey Leonard, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
James Osborne, Central Oregon Fire Management, BLM

Moderated by: Jessica Neujahr, Oregon Dept of Forestry
A feature story on the topic will appear in the June 16 issue of The Bulletin.
REGISTER HERE

Wildflower Show & Pollinator Festival
2024-06-22 09:00 - 15:00 | Sunriver Nature Center & Oregon Observatory, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Wildflower Show & Pollinator Festival
Saturday, June 22, 2024, 9am – 3pm
Join Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory and the High Desert Chapter of the Native Plant Society as we celebrate the diversity of wildflowers in Oregon and the pollinators who love them. Fun for the whole family includes:

Wildflower display showcasing hundreds of native wildflowers
Guided wildflower walks in the botanic garden
Guided wildflower and pollinator walks
Educational talks and demonstrations
Children’s activities and crafts
Native plants for sale
Educational stations and resources
Local art and photography vendors

Youth Climate Action Meet-Up
2024-06-22 15:00 - 16:30 | Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Fridays for Future Bend and Deschutes Youth Climate Coalition on Saturday, June 22 in Drake Park. We want to have a conversation with any young people in town interested in climate action and getting involved!

Food Waste Prevention and Composting Workshop (Virtual)
2024-07-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Did you know that wasted food makes up over 25% of waste at Knott Landfill by tonnage – making it the largest category of waste in the landfill? Yet, in Deschutes County, 1 in 8 people is food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. In addition, the average family of four tosses $1,800 worth of food every year ($150/mo on just wasted food!) and wasted food uses the same energy and water as 50 million homes. It’s time to rethink food waste, and we want to help you do it.
This free virtual workshop will dig into why food waste matters, how to prevent food waste in the first place, and strategies for composting. We will be joined by Diane Simunek from Deschutes Recycling/Composting who will share information on food waste in our composting and answer any community questions.
RSVP HERE!

July Green Drinks
2024-07-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Open Space Event Studios, 220 NE Lafayette Ave, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This Summer, High Desert Makers is partnering with The Environmental Center, and Open Space Event Studios to bring July Green Drinks done Maker style!
This particular Makers Green Drinks event is designed to give Makers of All Ages, who are dedicated to responsible environmental stewardship, a place to show and tell (and sell) what you make and why. There are creators of all ages out there who use materials that promote a circular economy, upcycle waste-stream-diverted materials, and re-imagine uses for existing materials. Some makers create music, stories, theater, performances, and other art that requires very few material things at all.
REGISTER HERE!

AdvenTours: Scenic Hike at Smith Rock State Park
2024-07-13 08:30 - 12:30 | Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne, OR, 97760, United States
Adventure: Wanderlust Tours is excited to bring more access to the outdoors by partnering with AdvenChair to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair and the incredible team of volunteers at AdvenChair, we will enjoy the reward of stunning views and learn about the incredible geologic history of Smith Rock State Park!
Naturalist Guided Experience: Arriving at the awe-inspiring Smith Rock State Park, we. will begin our descent into the Crooked River canyon and hike along the spectacular riparian habitat. From here our options are many, from a beautiful and flat wander along the river scouting for otters and osprey to a steeper hike up a ridge for stunning views of the Cascade Mountains! Both hikes will enliven the senses and spark wonder at the fantastic geology that shapes this incredible canyon.
Learn more and register here!

Nature Journaling at Whychus Canyon Preserve
2024-07-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Whychus Canyon Preserve, Sisters, OR, 97756, United States
Interested in learning how to combine outdoor writing and sketching with your joy of exploring nature? Join Deschutes Land Trust volunteer and passionate journaler, Kolby Kirk, for a morning of learning tips and techniques for keeping a journal while exploring Whychus Canyon Preserve’s hiking trails! We’ll discuss ways of seeing and recording the landscape, explore reasons for keeping a trail journal, and learn tips for quickly sketching flora/fauna for later identification. No journaling experience needed. Registration is required.
REGISTER HERE

Tree-Mendous Victory Party
2024-07-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Worthy Brewing, 495 Northeast Bellevue Drive, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Come celebrate a momentous legal victory that preserved large and mature trees across 7 million acres of Oregon’s and Washington’s eastside forests with live reggae from Rubbah Tree and many tree-themed activities! Hosted by Worthy Brewing, featuring activities from Central Oregon LandWatch, Crag Law Center, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Greater Hells Canyon Council, Oregon Wild, Sierra Club Juniper Group, and WildEarth Guardians.
This event is free and open to all. RSVP online here or at colw.org/events
