The Environmental Center

Raft n' Brew
2019-07-03 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Sun Country Tours on Wednesday, July 3, for a super fun Big Eddy Thriller whitewater rafting trip followed by a complimentary beer tasting courtesy of Cascade Lakes Brewing Company on the Sun Country Tours patio. Even better, they’ll donate 50% of all proceeds to the The Environmental Center!
Raft n’ Brew is for guests 21 and older only. Cost is $59 per person and includes a complimentary beer tasting.

Bend COTA Work Events
2019-07-04, 2019-07-11, 2019-07-18, 2019-07-25, 2019-08-01 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
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.

Wildflower Show & Pollinator Festival
2019-07-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory for their annual celebration of wildflowers in Oregon and the pollinators who love them. This year’s event will feature a wildflower display, botanic garden tours, educational talks and demonstrations, children’s activities, native plants for sale, local vendors, and food trucks.
Tickets will go on sale Monday, June 7 at 9am

Eco Hero Adventures Summer Camp [Session 1 CANCELED]
2019-07-08, 2019-07-09, 2019-07-10, 2019-07-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
What is sustainability and how can I live lighter? Your child can discover the answers to these questions and more while biking, swimming, and exploring our town. Campers will learn about sustainable food, renewable energy, environmental ethics, and how to bike safely around Bend.
Ages: Entering grades 4, 5 and 6
Times: 9AM – 5PM (Drop off 8:45)
Cost: $275/child or $225/child for 2+ siblings
Session 1 : July 8 – July 11, 2019 CANCELED
Session 2 : July 22 – July 25, 2019
Session 3 : August 5 – August 8, 2019
REGISTER HERE!
Scholarships may be available. Contact Jackie Wilson for more info.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2019-07-09, 2019-07-16, 2019-07-23, 2019-07-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
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

Public Lands Comment Writing Workshop
2019-07-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This summer, the Bureau of Land Management is deciding how to manage 4.6 million acres of your public lands in southeastern Oregon, including the Owyhee Canyonlands. We need you to weigh in on the Draft Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan Amendment.
Join ONDA at their office office to learn about the issues and to submit a powerful comment.
If you care about public lands and want to learn more about how to effectively speak up for conservation-focused management, this is a great event for you.
Check out these resources to get prepared:

Resource Management Plan Overview
Table Comparing BLM’s Five Management Alternatives

ArtiFISHal Documentary
2019-07-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
ArtiFISHal is a film about wild rivers and wild fish that explores the high cost—ecological, financial and cultural—of our mistaken belief that engineered solutions can make up for habitat destruction. The film traces the impact of fish hatcheries, and the extraordinary amount of public money wasted on an industry that hinders wild fish recovery, pollutes our rivers and contributes to the problem it claims to solve. ArtiFISHal also dives beneath the surface of the open-water fish farm controversy, as citizens work to stop the damage done to public waters and our remaining wild salmon. Free for BendFilm members!

Pre-screening party at Patagonia Downtown – FREE! plus Special Guest Panel Following Film

Green Drinks at LOGE
2019-07-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Photo Credit: Garret Van Swearingen
The historic Lodge Entrada has a new name and a fresh look. Say hello to LOGE Camps, a hotel on a mission to inspire people to get out and explore together. From on-site gear rentals to fire pits and live music, LOGE delivers a relaxed, outdoor-focused experience at each of its five locations. The renovated Bend hotel features a new café and bar (perfect for pre and post-mountain beverages), free events, and local fundraisers – fostering connections and adventures for locals and tourists alike.
LOGE: “Live Outside, Go Explore.” (It’s pronounced “lodge.”)
Our favorite part? LOGE is committed to environmental stewardship and building community. Instead of using massive amounts of resources to build new, LOGE finds forgotten motels near popular towns and trails and brings them back to life. They re-use as much as possible (old furniture, lamps, mirrors) and donate the rest. Then they upgrade the property with low-flow bathroom fixtures, LED lights, and native landscaping.
LOGE believes that responsible use of the outdoors can inspire more people to care and fight for wild places. Each year, the company gives back 1% of top line revenue at each location to a local non-profit that promotes responsible outdoor recreation. Here in Bend, all that money benefits Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA)! In fact, folks from COTA will be at the event to chat about memberships and work projects across the region.
Bonus! LOGE is also Cog Wild’s new HQ. Not only do they provide amazing mountain bike tours, classes, and resources, they also support COTA in building and maintaining local trails.
This will be a great summer Green Drinks event! We hope you’ll join us, and please RSVP in advance.

Summer Repair Cafe at DIYcave
2019-07-17 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | DIYcave, 444 SE 9th St., Bend, OR, 97702, United States
We’re excited to return to DIY Cave for our 2019 Summer Repair Cafe! Volunteers will be on hand to fix small appliances/electronics, outdoor gear, clothes, boots/shoes, bikes, jewelry, small furniture/household goods, and more. And it’s FREE!
If you have any questions or would like to be added to the list of volunteer fixers, please email Ani.

Talkin' Trash: Managing our Waste in Deschutes County
2019-07-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
How Do We Deal with Solid Waste in Deschutes County?
The current Deschutes County landfill will be full in 2029. This is a time-sensitive issue for the community, as plans must be made now on how to handle solid waste in Deschutes County once the landfill is full. The county has formed a Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) to explore two options: (a) developing a new landfill within Deschutes County, and, (b) hauling solid waste to a facility located outside of Deschutes County. This forum will explore the pros and cons of both options. In addition, the forum will present ways the community can be more efficient with waste management to extend the life of the landfill beyond 2029 and how to maximize its economic value.
Panelists:
Timm Schimke, Director of Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste
Denise Rowcroft, Rethink Waste Project of The Environmental Center
Moderator: Sam Albert, DJ at 101.7FM
$25 members / $45 non-members. Plated lunch is included.

Sagebrush Sippers
2019-07-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Oregon Natural Desert Association staff and supporters for Sagebrush Sippers happy hours in our office this summer. Mix and mingle, learn about new aspects of Oregon’s high desert, and find opportunities to dig deeper into our conservation work.
This month, hear more about how to further your conservation advocacy with ONDA’s own Corie Harlan and Gena Goodman-Campbell and enjoy cold beverages including beer from Immersion Brewing. Look for more Sagebrush Sippers events in Portland and Bend all summer.

High Desert Garden Tour
2019-07-20 09:00 - 15:30 | Madras, Madras, OR, United States
The 26th annual High Desert Garden Tour is coming up on Saturday, July 20th! This event is a self-guided tour of six beautiful gardens in the Culver and Madras area. Find new inspiration for your landscape and chat with OSU Master Gardener volunteers during this fun and educational event.
New this year there is a van pool available ($10) for those who want to relax and leave the driving to someone else. For more information, call the office at 541-548-6088.
More details will be coming soon! Check out the Facebook page for updates.

Eco Hero Adventures Summer Camp [Session 2]
2019-07-22, 2019-07-23, 2019-07-24, 2019-07-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
What is sustainability and how can I live lighter? Your child can discover the answers to these questions and more while biking, swimming, and exploring our town. Campers will learn about sustainable food, renewable energy, environmental ethics, and how to bike safely around Bend.
Ages: Entering grades 4, 5 and 6
Times: 9AM – 5PM (Drop off 8:45)
Cost: $275/child or $225/child for 2+ siblings
Session 1 : July 8 – July 11, 2019
Session 2 : July 22 – July 25, 2019
Session 3 : August 5 – August 8, 2019
REGISTER HERE!
Scholarships may be available. Contact Jackie Wilson for more info.

Geology of Central Oregon
2019-07-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The volcanic landscapes of central Oregon have been shaped by tectonic forces that are active on a global scale. In central Oregon, these forces interact to create a geologically diverse region of snow covered volcanic peaks, landscapes created by faults, and some of the largest volcanic eruptions on earth. In this presentation, Dr. Daniele McKay, geologist and Instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon, will explore recent geologic research that has changed our understanding of central Oregon landscapes.

Deschutes River Cleanup
2019-07-27 10:00 - 14:00 | Riverbend Park, Bend, OR, 97702, United States
The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council invites watershed stewards of all ages to join us for the 23nd annual Deschutes River Cleanup on Saturday, July 27, 2019!
Volunteers will meet at Riverbend Park at 10am. River clean-up activities will take place in the Deschutes River and along its riparian areas between Meadow Camp and Drake Park. Bring your paddleboard, kayak, or canoe to help Central Oregon Diving divers pull garbage out of the river, or help us pull invasive weeds and remove litter from the stream banks.

Sisters Carbon Town Hall
2019-07-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
State Senator Cliff Bentz–one of the Republican Senators who fled the state to prevent a vote on HB 2020–just announced a “Carbon Town Hall” in Sisters. OLCV invites you to show robust rural support for climate action!
Sisters Carbon Town Hall
Date: Monday, July 29th
Time: 6:00-8:30pm (PST)
Location: Five Pine Lodge & Conference Center
Sen. Benz wants to hear what his constituents want when it comes to carbon reduction and the Clean Energy Jobs bill.

Steelhead Falls Trailhead Invasive Weed Removal
2019-08-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Steelhead Falls Trail, along the Middle Deschutes River near Crooked River Ranch, is one of the most beloved spots in Central Oregon. The past several years, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area (also known as FANs of the Deschutes Canyon Area) volunteers have removed cheatgrass and other invasive weeds while planting native bunchgrasses and shrubs near the trailhead.
This restoration work has greatly improved Steelhead Falls Trailhead habitat. However, invasive weeds, including Russian thistle and foxtail barley, are growing amongst the native plants now, and they need to be removed.
We will meet at the Steelhead Falls parking lot at 8:00 a.m. We hope you can help for one or two hours. Please wear outdoor work clothes, closed-toe shoes, and work gloves. Bring a weeding tool if you have one. We will have some extra tools available. Also, please bring some water and a snack. Thank you for helping to keep the trailhead looking great!
