The Environmental Center

Summit Loop Hike, Smith Rock State Park
2014-11-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Eva Eagle for a hike along the Summit Loop Trail at Smith Rock State Park. This gorgeous loop follows the Burma Road up to a ridge overlooking famed crags like Monkey Face. On the descent, the Summit Loop trail crosses a private property protected by the Land Trust before joining the Park’s river trail. Enjoy fall colors and take in the sweeping views of the Cascade crest.
Hike Rating: This is a challenging 7-mile hike along the Summit Loop Trail at Smith Rock State Park.
Free. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes

Bend Habitat for Humanity Wargo Family Home Dedication
2014-11-14
Come celebrate with us! The Wargo family home is finished- our 106th! Join us for the dedication ceremony, lunch and a tour of the home.

America Recycles Day
2014-11-15
A nation-wide day to celebrate recycling!
America Recycles Day aims to educate and increase the amount Americans collectively recycle. This national awareness effort is an initiative by Keep America Beautiful, an organization committed to helping citizens, businesses and governments to find solutions to preventing and reducing waste and beautifying communities.
Thousands of events take place across the country in honor of America Recycles Day! We hope you’ll participate by amping up the efforts a bit today. In Bend, the Rethink Waste Project Repair Cafe on November 14-15 would be a great event to attend. Come repair your items (for free!) instead of replacing them.
How else do you plan to participate? Check out the Rethink Waste website for ideas and resources on how to reduce waste – not just today, but all year long.

Central Oregon Trail Alliance Visitor Center Trails Work Event
2014-11-15
Join COTA for a Saturday morning work event on the new visitor center trails.
Deschutes Brewery beer will be available after working.
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.
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.

Social Media & Volunteerism Presentation
2014-11-18
Making Social Media Work Better for our Volunteer Programs
Presentation by Matt Hand, our Central Oregon social media and video expert
Followed by networking time
Cost:$5 per person; free for NOVA members and Volunteer Connect partners
This event is hosted by the Network of Volunteer Administrators (NOVA) and Volunteer Connect. It will be held at Bend’s Community Center.
To sign up, contact betsy@volunteerconnectnow.org

InFARMation (and Beer!)
2014-11-18
Land, Soil, Water, and Farmers: The Future of Sustainable Agriculture in Central Oregon
What does it mean to be farming in the midst of climate change? Can agriculture be a part of the solution? What is the community’s role in building a sustainable food system in Oregon? InFARMation (& Beer!) tackles these questions and more! Join Friends of Family Farmers (FoFF) and Jackson’s Corner for a fun and informative night of panelists and experts in sustainable agriculture as they address land access, soil health, agritourism, and more. FoFF will also be presenting on ways that you can be involved in our work on behalf of family farmers and how you can help shape your local food systems.
Panelists for the first series event “Land, Soil, Water, and Farmers inFARMation” includes:

Linda Anspach, owner and rancher at DD Ranch in Terrebonne
Carys Wilkins, owner and farmer at Mahonia Gardens in Sisters
Clare Sullivan, agronomist and Small Farms and Community Food Systems at OSU Extension

InFARMation is an educational and community building event series created by FoFF that has taken place in locations throughout Oregon since 2009. These events connect eaters and farmers around the most important issues impacting healthy local food systems and socially responsible agriculture in Oregon. The events are always free to attend.

FANs Survey
2014-11-20
Do you care about places like Alder Springs and Steelhead Falls? The FANs Board of Directors wants to hear from YOU!
Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (FANs) hosted two Community Input Meetings in late-September to gather input from local citizens and groups regarding their values related to the Deschutes Canyon Area and their vision for its future. A Community Input Meeting Summary was prepared to document community feedback from the meetings in Sisters and Terrebonne. A link to this summary and a link to a map of the Deschutes Canyon Area can be found here.
The FANs board is listening to public opinion about these wild lands to help shape our priorities for conservation and stewardship, and our vision for permanent protection of the Deschutes Canyon Area. If you were unable to attend one of these meetings, but would like to provide feedback, please take the survey now. The survey deadline is November 20, 2014.

Hart Mountain Mule Deer Survey Trip
2014-11-20 - 2014-11-23
Hart Mountain Mule Deer Survey Trip

When
Nov 20, 2014 02:00 PM to
Nov 23, 2014 12:00 AM

Contact Name
Nick Dobric

Contact Phone
(541) 330-2638

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BACKGROUND:
For those volunteers who have been lucky enough to have joined us on the sage-grouse lek counts, this trip will be very similar. But other than navigating to predetermined sites to watch and count birds, we will be covering a defined survey area looking for and counting mule deer in order to provide the USFWS a sex and age composition of the herd. This is a great opportunity to explore the Refuge during the quiet season and view and photograph mule deer and other wildlife.
TIMELINE:

November 20th, Thursday at 2pm. We will all gather at the Hart Mountain Headquarters. Arriving at this time is important because it allows time for the USFWS orientation, gear assignments and answering questions. We will be going to bed early in preparation for the early mornings!

November 21st, Friday. On the first day of observations, one or both of our groups of ONDA volunteers will be accompanied by a USFWS employee or an experienced volunteer observer. We will do morning and evening surveys and will have the middle part of the day for eating, hot-springs-soaking, sleeping, relaxing, hiking, etc.
November 22nd, Saturday. Same as Friday

November 23rd, Sunday. After monitoring in the morning, we will be able to clean the bunkhouse and be ready to head home by around lunch time.

THE WORK:
Participants will work in small groups of 3 either taking short hikes and/or driving some of the rough roads. In addition to safety reasons, a team approach is especially helpful since the methods require multiple counts.
This trip involves a commitment to waking up early, hiking off trail and standing in the cold/dark with wind and potentially snow.

L.Arbanas photo
CAMP:
We will be staying at a USFWS bunkhouse at Hart Mountain Refuge Headquarters. It is modern, heated and roomy, with 13 beds in 7 separate rooms, and a full modern kitchen with some utensils, and a bathroom with hot showers.

DIFFICULTY RATING: 2
Early working hours, below freezing temperatures, hiking in the dark on uneven terrain. Click HERE for a description of the trip difficulty rating system.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Participants are responsible for their own food but we will likely coordinate a group dinner or two. Sturdy off-trail ankle-high boots are recommended for this trip. This trip is offered to members free of charge.
You will need a vehicle capable of driving on graded gravel roads and possibly snowy conditions (all wheel/4wd recommended), for transportation to and from Hart Mountain.Carpooling can be arranged after registration. Transportation on Hart Mountain for the work will be in Refuge vehicles.

PROVIDED BY ONDA:
USFWS vehicles for transportation to work sites, data sheets, Rite in the Rain notebooks, pencils, GPS units, SPOT emergency beacon and USFWS radios (for medical or logistic emergencies only), first aid kit, spotting scopes and some binoculars
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
This trip is led by Nick Dobric ONDA’s Hart-Sheldon Program Manager. Group size is limited to 8 participants. The trip is available free of charge.
REGISTRATION:
An ONDA registration application and medical form is required for this trip. Click HERE for the medical form. You only need to fill this form out once per year: You can join additional trips by e-mailing the trip leader directly.
You will receive a confirmation e-mail within 10 working days of submitting the form. The confirmation e-mail will provide information regarding which trips you are on the “participant list” for, and which trips are full and so your name has been placed on the “wait list”. Five weeks before the trip starts the trip leader will send out an RSVP e-mail to make sure everyone is still available to participate. Three weeks before the trip begins, the trip leader will send out an e-mail with additional information, maps, driving instructions, car-pooling options etc. However, if you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the trip leader at the e-mail address above.

Green Drinks at Gear Fix
2014-11-20
Join us at Green Drinks, the bi-monthly gathering to learn about local businesses and their sustainability efforts while enjoying an Eco-conscious drink or two! This month we’ll be learning about quality used outdoor gear at Gear Fix; 5-7pm.
You’ll learn about this great local business and the sustainable practices they follow in repairing and selling quality used outdoor gear. This will be The Gear Fix’s 6th year hosting this event, so be sure to come by for a drink, snacks, networking, and inspiration!
Enjoy a truly green drink by bringing your own cup and consider alternatives to driving alone such as carpooling, walking, biking and transit.
Questions? Please contact Sara.

CANCELLED: East Cascades Audubon Society Birders Night
2014-11-20
When: Scheduled 9 times a year, 3rd Thursdays of month.
Location: Central Oregon Environmental Center, 16 N/W Kansas, Bend, Oregon 97701
Time: Social gathering time is from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Programs begin at 7:00 p.m. and usually last until 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public. You do not need to be a member of any group to attend.
Sponsors: East Cascades Audubon Society.
Contact: For more information contact Diana Roberts or Nancy Merrick.

November 20: “Mystery Birds”
Are you interested in an educational and fun evening as we study enigmatic Pacific Northwest bird photographs and attempt to answer the ubiquitous question, “Can you tell what that is?” Everybody is invited to bring a stick or cd with a few puzzling local bird photos, whether the ID is known or not, if the shot is blurred, shows only half a bird, or is obscured by foliage etc. to give everyone the fun of contemplating and perhaps even answering “What is that bird?”

Oregon League of Conservation Voters: Pints and Politics Celebration
2014-11-20
Join us to celebrate the results of the general election and honor the volunteers who helped make 2014 a great success for Oregon’s environment! Congratulate our newly elected Bend City Councilors, Nathan Boddie and Barb Campbell and chat with friends who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy. If you volunteered with OLCV in 2014, your first beer is on us!

When: Thursday, November 20th from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Broken Top Bottle Shop at 1740 NW Pence Ln, Bend

Pine Mountain Sports Presents COTA Movie Night @ McMenamins
2014-11-20
Thursday, Nov 20
COTA MOVIE NIGHT @ McMENAMINS
TRUTH & BEAUTY in 3D!
Old. St Francis School Theater – Bend, OR
9:00 p.m. | $5 per person, cash only | 21 & over
Pine Mountain Sports brings you the mountain bike film, TRUTH & Beauty in 3D! That’s right. Amazing 3-freaking-D action and mountain biking all in the very same movie!
Nat Bartholomew and Spinteck films made the very first 3D mountain bike movie! We’ve partnered with our favorite Mac guys at Connecting Point Computers to bring you this 3D visual experience that will change the way that you watch mountain bike movies – forever! Probably. Maybe.
TRUTH and Beauty features 3D action from Rays Indoor Mountain Bike Park, Redbull Rampage, US National Championships, Whiteface 5K Race, Mt. Snow, and some of the best dirt jumps in Pennsylvania! And, did we mention that there are rad chicks riding bikes in this film? Rad, bike riding chicks – in 3D!
Free 3D glasses – yours to keep – with admission. Movie Night at McMenamins raises funds and awareness for Central Oregon Trail Alliance.
NEWSFLASH! All ages are now permitted (with an adult aged 21+) at our monthly COTA Movie Night @ McMenamins cycling films. Keep the kids up late on a school night and bring them to McMenamins!
Run time: 44 minutes…

Oregon Natural Desert Association: Wild Desert Calendar Exhibit Opening
2014-11-21
The 2015 Wild Desert Calendar will debut at Sunriver Resort on Nov. 21 with a reception from 5-7:30 PM.
A collection of over a dozen images, some from this year’s calendar and others from previous years, will be on display in the resort’s Betty Gray Gallery, directly upstairs from registration in the main lodge. The exhibit will be on display through the first week in January, 2015.
Featured photographers include Greg Burke, Jim Davis, Tyson Fisher and Christof Teuscher.
Contact Name: Elisa Davis

Rethink Your Holiday: Less Is More
2014-11-28
Join the Rethink Waste Project in kicking off the holiday season with your own meaningful tradition that focuses less on stuff and more on the things that really matter – experiences, relationships, and other untangibles. Head over to the blog for 10 anti-black Friday activities to try out with your friends and family this year.

Central Oregon Flyfishers Board Meeting
2014-12-04
Monthly COF Board of Directors meeting at Environmental Center at 6:30 PM.

Central Oregon Flyfishers Next Cast Committee
2014-12-04

Social Justice Center 2nd Anniversary Party & Fundraiser
2014-12-05
Celebrate 2 years of the Central Oregon Social Justice Center and join us in our mission to make our community the vibrant, welcoming, compassionate place we all want it to be. Come for great company, delicious food — Greg Delgado is gearing up!– and beverages, adult and otherwise. It’s free of charge as always and we hope you will consider making a donation to the Social Justice Center to help make sure we can keep doing what we do.
Contact: Bruce Morris, cosjc@gmail.com

ONDA's Year-End Celebration
2014-12-05
In the throes of an endless summer, it’s hard to believe another year is coming to a close. But the the new year is on its way and it’s time to party! Mark your calendars for an evening of revelry in the name of another year of high desert conservation success.

COTA work event at Maston
2014-12-06
Temperatures are rising this weekend, and we are putting on a work event at the Maston. We’ll be working on rerouting Lost Dream Trail.
Meet at Juniper Trailhead on Cline Falls Hwy at 10am. This is a joint effort with COCC students. Sandwiches provided by New York City Sub Shop!
Please RSVP to rzimmerler@cocc.edu.

Land Trust Tree Hunt!
2014-12-06
Celebrate the season at the Land Trust’s fun and festive annual Tree Hunt! Find your perfect tree while restoring the native forests of the Metolius Preserve. The Tree Hunt will take place from 10am-2pm on Saturday, December 6th.
**The Tree Hunt is held at the Land Trust’s Metolius Preserve, weather permitting. Please check our website the first week of December to see if conditions will allow the hunt!**
Find more information about the Tree Hunt.

Toy Sale!
2014-12-06
The children and youth of the First United Methodist Church (downtown Bend) are hosting a Toy Sale on Saturday, December 6th & Sunday, December 7th. We are collecting gently used toys, games, and books. All proceeds from the sale will go to two great causes: The First United Methodist Church Special Project: Imagine No Malaria and The Backdoor Cafe- A free Wednesday morning breakfast for our community located at the First United Methodist Church. This has been a successful event for the past two years, and we hope to make this year’s sale the biggest yet! Thank you to all of you who made donations or supported the sale last year. We are excited about our 3rd Annual Toy Sale! Please stop by the sale and say hello before or after the annual Christmas parade downtown!
If you have any gently used toys, games, or children’s books that you would like to donate to this sale, it would be greatly appreciated! Toys can be dropped off at The First United Methodist Church, 680 NW Bond Street, during office hours (Mon-Thurs: 8:00am-3:00pm and Fridays 9:00am-12:00pm). Contact Beth for more information.

ReStore Grand Opening
2014-12-09
Bend Area Habitat for Humanity is celebrating their 25th Anniversary by moving our ReStore to a new location, 224 NE Thurston Ave. Join us for a week of Grand Opening Festivities Dec 9-13. Our Ribbon Cutting, Habitat style, will take place Dec 9 at 8:45 a.m. ReStore is an incredible way to purchase needed items such as building materials, furniture and appliances AND help Habitat serve more families through homeownership and home repair. Proceeds from ReStore benefit Bend Area Habitat for Humanity.

Peer Exchange Call: Combining Solar & Home Performance Services
2014-12-11
REGISTER: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/759015944
Join the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Better Buildings Residential Network on Thursday, December 11, from 3:00-4:30 PM Eastern Time for a peer exchange call on the topic of Combining Solar and Home Performance Services. The call will explore how to deliver cost-effective solutions for homeowners to increase comfort and reduce energy bills. For background on this topic, refer to the article “The Struggle to Combine Energy Efficiency and Solar Power,” which describes how programs have structured services and incentives that helped customers make cost-effective choices about energy efficiency measures and solar technology. According to the article, “Programs for solar and efficiency are in separate silos. Installers do not collaborate as effectively as they could. When solar companies do not address energy efficiency in tandem with solar power, systems can be oversized – increasing costs for homeowners.”
We’ll hear from representatives of two organizations profiled in the article who will discuss their knowledge and experience about combining solar and home performance services:
• Tim Harvey, Austin Energy
• Ria Langheim, Center for Sustainable Energy

Locavore Holiday Gift Faire
2014-12-13
The 5th annual Locavore Holiday Gift Faire to help make your holidays local. Crafts, foods, clothing, and more.

Stand Out! Social Media & Websites
2014-12-13
From our member group, the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, learn how social media and websites can draw in customers, and get the word out about your farm, product or business. We will provide basic and advanced concepts to meet everyone’s needs.
Please visit the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance website for more information on the entire Agricultural Business Workshop Series.
More information about this workshop:
Turn your agricultural business into a more profitable enterprise. If you need help organizing your paperwork, or just evaluating whether or not you are running your farming business efficiently, one or more of these workshops may be just what you need!
The purpose of this workshop series is to increase the viability of small to medium producers to supply specialty crop and meat products to the Central Oregon marketplace. The goal is to provide resources for producers to:
Determine how a wholesale food hub model will benefit producers
Determine if wholesale crop production works for them
Develop and implement wholesale crop and livestock planning
Learn, develop and write annual production cost forecasts and benchmarks
Mitigate on-farm risks through business planning and financial analysis
Learn and develop farm-specific branding
Cost: $10/farm per session – or sign up for all of them for only $100
Location: COCC’s Redmond Technology Education Center, 2030 SE College Loop, Redmond
on the corner of Veterans Way and Salmon Drive, across from the Redmond Airport.
To Register: https://agbiz.eventbrite.com or email kvandis@coic.org or call Tim Deboodt at 541-447-6228
For additional information contact:
Tim Deboodt at OSU Extension 541-447-6228
Katrina Van Dis at COIC kvandis@coic.org
These Ag Business Workshops are a joint effort of Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, the Small Business Development Center at COCC and OSU Extension, along with rancher Billie Estridge of Timber Creek Farm, providing education, advising and assistance to small agricultural businesses in the Central Oregon region.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2012-49200-20030.Funding for this project was provided by the Washington State University Western Extension Risk Management Education Center, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), US Small Business Administration, State of Oregon, and Central Oregon Community College.

Outdoor School Statewide Public Engagement Gatherings
2014-12-13
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) and the Oregon Outdoor Education Coalition (OOEC) are hosting a series of vibrant community discussions across the state to hear what YOU think about Outdoor School and how it can best serve the needs of your community and children.
Oregon’s outdoor school programs have a rich history dating back to the late 1950s. But today, less than half Oregon students get to participate in the program. Help shape education in Oregon by telling OFRI and OOEC what you think Outdoor School should look like moving forward.

To register, go here. Space is limited, so please register by November 28th for LaGrande and December 5th for Bend.Read about the initiative & sign up for news updates here.
For additional information, contact Jennifer Robare, Project Assistant for the Friends of Outdoor Schools or call her at 541-316-5686.

These events are organized by Oregon Outdoor Education Coalition, and in LaGrande, the event is co-hosted by Boise Cascade and Wallowa Resources, Bend’s event is co-hosted by Brent Fenty of the Oregon Natural Desert Association and Kirin Stryker of The Environmental Center.

Himalayan Holiday!
2014-12-13
Remember the annual Ten Friends Himalayan Holiday on Saturday, December 13th at the Belfry in Sisters. You’ll find unique holiday gifts for friends and family, or for yourself! Shopping begins at 2:00. Also live music from Brad Tisdel and a slide show highlighting the scenery of Nepal and Ten Friends’ projects. We’ll have a fantastic meal catered by Taj Palace.
Dinner is at 6:00 for a $12 donation. Proceeds will go to the Himalayan Education Center. For more information see www.tenfriends.org. Children are welcome. We hope to see you there. Thanks for your support!

Lower 66 Ride with COTA
2014-12-15
Ride, Root Beer, Beer, Raffle and Movies
Our Crook County Chapter, along with Good Bike Co. and Solstice Brewing, is hosting a Lower 66 ride, root beer social and movie night. Come check out Prineville’s very first community trail, have a beverage, win a raffle prize and watch a few short films.
Meet at Good Bike Co.
Check it out here!

Habitat Information Session
2014-12-16
Are you tired of renting? Owning your own home is possible!
Bend Area Habitat for Humanity in Crook County is looking for families to apply for our partnership program. Attend an information session to learn more. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory to receive a partnership program application!
See Habitat’s Partnership Questionnaire here (under Programs and Services) for more information.
For more information, contact DeeDee Johnson or Julia Barry at the Bend Area Habitat for Humanity. 541-385-5387

Meeting Demand & Selling Your Values
2014-12-18
From our member group, the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance, learn what changes need to be made on your farm or ranch for direct and wholesale market development. We will help you determine this as well as what values set you apart from others and what consumers are looking for in a brand and product.

Please visit the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance website for more information on the entire Agricultural Business Workshop Series.

More information about this workshop:
Turn your agricultural business into a more profitable enterprise. If you need help organizing your paperwork, or just evaluating whether or not you are running your farming business efficiently, one or more of these workshops may be just what you need!
The purpose of this workshop series is to increase the viability of small to medium producers to supply specialty crop and meat products to the Central Oregon marketplace. The goal is to provide resources for producers to:
Determine how a wholesale food hub model will benefit producers
Determine if wholesale crop production works for them
Develop and implement wholesale crop and livestock planning
Learn, develop and write annual production cost forecasts and benchmarks
Mitigate on-farm risks through business planning and financial analysis
Learn and develop farm-specific branding
Cost: $10/farm per session – or sign up for all of them for only $100
Location: COCC’s Redmond Technology Education Center, 2030 SE College Loop, Redmond
on the corner of Veterans Way and Salmon Drive, across from the Redmond Airport.
To Register: https://agbiz.eventbrite.com or email kvandis@coic.org or call Tim Deboodt at 541-447-6228
For additional information contact:
Tim Deboodt at OSU Extension 541-447-6228
Katrina Van Dis at COIC kvandis@coic.org
These Ag Business Workshops are a joint effort of Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, the Small Business Development Center at COCC and OSU Extension, along with rancher Billie Estridge of Timber Creek Farm, providing education, advising and assistance to small agricultural businesses in the Central Oregon region.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2012-49200-20030.Funding for this project was provided by the Washington State University Western Extension Risk Management Education Center, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), US Small Business Administration, State of Oregon, and Central Oregon Community College.
