The Environmental Center

Life History & Conservation of N. American Trumpeter Swans
2017-01-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A Sunriver Nature Center Lecture Encore!
Lecture by Doctor Gary Ivey
$8 SNCO Members; $10 General Public
Call 541.593.4394 to reserve your tickets!

Green Drinks Expo
2017-01-26 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
**NEW THIS YEAR!** Please register for Green Drinks events in advance. You can sign up for the January event here.
We’re kicking off 2017 with a Green Drinks expo in order to feature our Green Spot businesses that don’t have the space to host alone. Join us at The Old Stone Bend and get to know a few local companies doing great things, including:

Cascade Financial Strategies
Sunlight Solar Energy
Soup Cycle
Import Performance
Angelina Organic Skin Care
Kôr Community Land Trust
Baby Cakes Diaper Service
Darksky Technologies
Elemental Energy

Come show your support for the green business community in Central Oregon! We’ll have beer on tap thanks to Boneyard Beer and some yummy snacks courtesy of Market of Choice. Please remember to carpool, bike or walk if you can… and bring your own cup!

Bend COTA Work Events
2017-01-26, 2017-02-02, 2017-02-09, 2017-02-16, 2017-02-23 | 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.

Public Lands 101
2017-01-26 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
As Central Oregonians, we love the great outdoors but how much do we know about the lands we’re playing on? Join us for an evening where we’ll learn about public lands management in Central Oregon, the organizations involved in managing and conserving those lands, and opportunities to get involved. COTA, US Forest Service, ONDA, Meissner Nordic, BLM, and more will be in attendance. We’ll have beer and giveaways too!

Energy Education with NeighborImpact
2017-01-31, 2017-02-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Save Money & Save Energy by attending a NeighborImpact Energy Education Workshop!
Each Energy Education participant will receive an Energy Toll Kit with energy savings for items for your home.
Sign up today by emailing: HomeWX@neighborimpact.org or calling: (541) 316-2034.

January Nature Night
2017-01-31 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
My life on trails—what a cougar taught me about conservation
Trails play a major role in the life of many Central Oregonians—whether in city parks or mountain wilderness. But have you ever thought about how those trails came to be? Join 27-year Deschutes National Forest trails specialist John Schubert for an evening on trails. Learn about the rich history of trails and how contemporary design, construction, and maintenance strive to minimize our impacts on nature. Finally, John, renowned trail designer and bridge builder across the country, will share tips on how people who love trails can reduce their own impacts while using them. This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online.
Nature Nights will be held January-March at the Tower Theatre. Each presentation is designed to bring the nature of Central Oregon to the community. For many of us, it bridges the winter gap in birding and hiking, for others it offers a front row seat to the wonders of the world that would otherwise never be seen. Regardless, we hope you’ll join us! All Nature Nights are free and start at 7pm at the Tower Theatre in Bend. We recommend getting your tickets early as Nature Nights tend to sell out fast!

SOLVE IT for Earth Day: Project Apps Due
2017-02-01 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
SOLVE is now accepting project applications for SOLVE IT for Earth Day 2017 on Saturday, April 22nd. Applications due February 1st.
As the number of people visiting and moving to our beautiful state continues to grow, it has become more important than ever to keep it clean and healthy! Let’s come together to make this Earth Day the largest ever, picking up litter, removing invasive plants, and planting native trees and shrubs across Oregon. Together we can make sure Oregon can remain the amazing place we all love.

Projects will take place on Saturday, April 22nd, 2017, from 9am to 1pm (times can vary by project). In additon, projects involving students will occur the week before and the week after the Saturday event.
All SOLVE projects recieve:

Project planning assistance from SOLVE staff.
Volunteer coordinator training.
Step-by-step project planning guide.
Event flyers and pre-event publicyt.
Assistance with volunteer recruitment, including online registration, confirmation and reminder e-mails, and volunteer safety waivers.
Free Cleanup supplies including litter bags, vinyl gloves, safety vests, first aid kits, and sharps containers.

As funding allows, SOLVE IT for Earth Day projects may receive a reimbursable grant of up to $100.00 for qualifying project expenses. There are a limited number of grants available, so please apply early.
For some useful tips to filling out the project application form, please check out our new how-to video which goes through the application step-by-step.
The idea of people coming together on Earth Day to take care of and celebrate our planet began more than 45 years ago and was a perfect fit for SOLVE and our volunteers. In 1990, SOLVE IT for Earth Day took root in the Greater Portland-Metro area, fusing our hands-on approach with this worldwide day of service. Since then, SOLVE IT for Earth Day has grown into Oregon’s largest Earth Day service event.
Over the past 27 years more than 112,000 volunteers have removed 15 million pounds of litter and invasive plants from illegal dumpsites, neighborhoods, and natural areas as part of this global event.

Solar for Oregon Communities Workshop
2017-02-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Solar power means cleaner air, new jobs and can even lower energy bills. But due to high up-front costs and other barriers, low- and moderate-income families and the organizations that serve them are a small fraction of Oregon solar customers.
We’re working to make sure all Oregonians can benefit from solar energy. Join us Thursday, February 2, in Redmond to learn how to connect your community to innovative state and federal programs that are bringing solar power to low- and moderate-income families.
At the workshop, you’ll get to:

Learn about new solar programs and understand how your organization and your clients can participate
Hear about the community solar program, now in development at the Oregon Public Utility Commission, that will make it possible for renters, low-income households and others to participate in solar
Develop solutions to solar challenges unique to your community
Connect with other groups interested in collaborating on solar programs or projects that can benefit low-income residents
Learn how to help shape future opportunities for solar in Oregon by sharing your organization’s perspectives and experiences

Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by 5 p.m. on Monday, January 30, to reserve a spot.

Energy Education with NeighborImpact
2017-02-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Save Money & Energy by attending a NeighborImpact Energy Education Workshop!
Each Energy Education participant will receive an energy-saving tool kit.
Sign up today by emailing: HomeWX@neighborimpact.org or calling: (541) 316-2034.

Farmer Chef Workshops
2017-02-06, 2017-02-07 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Chef workshop
On the table – developing a Chef’s Collaborative. Join the discussion!
Chef-Farmer Workshop
One-on-one time with farmers and chefs. Bring your foodie desires and price sheets. Food & Bevie included
Farmer Workshop
What’s the difference between direct and wholesale markets? From farmer’s markets to CSA and restaurant to institution, each market has distinct characteristics.
RSVP Today!

Workshops are FREE
The Mixer costs $10 and includes food and beverages. We will send you a link via PayPal to pay for the event or you can pay by check or cash at the event.

Central Oregon Pride 2017 Volunteer Kickoff
2017-02-07 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Do you want to help make Central Oregon Pride 2017 the best Pride ever? Human Dignity Coalition is looking for a core group of dedicated volunteers! At this meeting, we will be discussing ideas, plans and volunteer needs for the planning of Pride at Drake Park on June 24th, 2017.
Please come join us if you want to take an active role as a volunteer this year or if you have ideas or skills to offer in planning.

The Secret Lives of Sage Grouse
2017-02-07 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
High Desert Speaker Series Bend: Stuart Garrett- The Secret Lives of Sage Grouse
The Greater sage-grouse is an imperiled bird that lives on public lands right in our backyard. The elaborate courtship ritual and decorated plumage of this bird have captivated the minds and hearts of desert visitors throughout the western United States. But this bird has faced a number of threats in recent years that led scientists to consider its listing under the Endangered Species Act. In recent years, federal agencies have developed new protection guidelines for this bird in lieu of listing.
Local physician and conservation advocate Stuart Garrett will discuss recent attempts to protect the sage-grouse and highlight how sagebrush habitat is important to the bird’s life cycle. Don’t miss this chance to get more information on how we can protect habitat for this bird that lives on public lands in our own high desert backyard!
Join us for an evening highlighting the best of your high desert.
The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Doors will open at 6:30p.m. with the speaker beginning at 7p.m. For more information about other speakers in this series, visit ONDA.org/HighDesertSeries

The Housing Game
2017-02-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Put on your planning hats and join Central Oregon LandWatch and Stemach Design + Architecture for a free interactive event where you’ll discover what’s required to create market rate affordable housing in Bend!
First presented at the Bend Design Conference, The Housing Game is a unique hands-on activity developed and presented by local architects and designers Stacey Stemach, Rachel Stemach, ML Vidas, and Heather Crank.
This educational experience will help citizens understand challenges and potential solutions to one of Bend’s most pressing issues. We provide the legos and beer, you bring the problem-solving creativity. Can you make it work?
No experience necessary; all are welcome! RSVP Required.

Film Screening: Death by Design
2017-02-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Dirty Secret of Our Digital Addiction

Join The Environmental Center at The Old Stone for a screening of Death by Design.

What is the cost of our digital dependency?

Death by Design, a feature length documentary, explores this question and uncovers a global story of damaged lives, environmental destruction and devices that are designed to die.

Consumers love – and live on – their smartphones, tablets and laptops. But this revolution has a dark side, hidden from most consumers. From the intensely secretive factories in China, to a ravaged New York community and the high tech corridors of Silicon Valley, the film tells a story of environmental degradation, of health tragedies, and the fast approaching tipping point between consumerism and sustainability.

More about the film: http://deathbydesignfilm.com/

$5 suggested donation at door.

WWOLF at Fields Farm
2017-02-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The WWOLF program provides organized volunteer assistance in the form of volunteers, or “wwolf packs” to local farmers at their farms or ranches. In return volunteers learn where and how local food is grown while fostering an intimate connection with the food that sustains us all.
Willing Workers On Local Farms (WWOLF) WWOLF is a community program of Central Oregon Locavore Non-Profit with the goal of lending a hand to small farmers while educating the community about the true nature of local food.
How It Works You will meet the group at Fields Farm at 10am or carpool from Locavore at 9:30am sharp. After a round of introductions, we will split into groups and get to work. We will break for lunch around noon and then return to work until about 3pm.
What to Expect Good times, new friends, and a boots-on-the-ground education about local farming practices. Children are welcome with adult supervision. We love dogs, but please leave them at home for this event.
What to Bring Snacks, work gloves, closed-toe shoes, layers for the weather, water, and sunscreen. Tools and all materials needed to complete tasks will be provided by the farm. Lunch will be provided.
About Fields Farm Fields Farm is a 10 acre vegetable farm located in the middle of Bend, only a few miles from downtown. Fields is a Community Supported Agriculture Farm and has been growing on the land since 1989. Fields Farm is a sustainable farm using pesticide free, soil builiding methods. They sell their produce at Bend Farmers Market, Locavore, Agricultural Connections, and to various restaurants in the area.
Tasks at Fields Farm WWOLF tasks at Fields Farm will include mending greenhouses and prepping for the upcoming growing season. This WWOLF event is certain to be a cold one, so please dress appropriately, as we will be outside all day.

The Vocal Seniority Meet and Greet
2017-02-10 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Vocal Seniority (Raising Cane), a newly formed civil society group originating in Bend, is planning a Meet and Greet. The Vocal Seniority was formed in Bend, Oregon shortly after the presidential election by a seasoned group of concerned, senior citizens who are alarmed about the direction the country appears to be headed. As elders with a strong sense of history, The Vocal Seniority actively promotes social and economic justice and environmental sustainability.
We would like to meet fellow Vocal Seniors and talk about what we most want to accomplish going forward. If you are planning to join us there, please RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-vocal-seniority-meet-greet-tickets-31557889497.

Activist Hour: Speaking up for Public Lands
2017-02-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join ONDA, Oregon Wild and the Bitterbrush Broads for a fun and interactive training on how to speak up effectively at Town Hall Meetings and hold your elected officials accountable. We’ll gather for drinks and snacks at 5, and the training will start at 5:30.
This training will cover:
– Background on the current threats to our public lands
– Basics on how to communicate effectively with your elected officials
– Tips on crafting your comments and questions prior to a town hall meeting
– An opportunity to practice delivering your comments in front of a friendly audience
– A chance to meet and talk with other budding public lands activists in your community!

The Birds and the Bees: Love, Sex and Mating Rituals of Local Plants and Animals
2017-02-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
What better way to celebrate (or recover from) Valentine’s Day than with a nature talk about romance and reproduction in the natural world? Join local nature guide author LeeAnn Kriegh for a fun and humorous talk about some of the strange, awe-inspiring, and downright scary mating habits of Central Oregon plants and animals.
This is about romance, sex, breakups, etc. in the natural world, using photos from LeeAnn’s book, The Nature of Bend, and various research to describe the love lives of local non-human species.
LeeAnn Kriegh is a Bend-based writer who devoted much of the past two years to researching and writing The Nature of Bend. As a journalist, Ms. Kriegh has written for a variety of regional magazines and websites, as well as The Oregonian. For the past dozen years, she has run a writing and editing business called WordDoc, through which she pens everything from websites to white papers for high-tech companies including Google, Intel, and Microsoft, as well as smaller businesses and nonprofits. Visit her website at www.natureofbend.com.
6:30pm social time/snacks, 7:00 program

The Elliott State Forest and Privatization of Public Lands at Pints and Politics
2017-02-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV and Alexander Harris from Oregon Wild for a presentation about the Elliott State Forest and the privatization of public lands. Learn about the land transfer movement, from armed occupations to proposals in the Oregon legislature and at the federal level to privatize public land. Come and find out how you can play a role in the larger pro-public lands movement in the west.

COTA Movie Night
2017-02-16 20:00 - 21:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | McMenamin’s, 700 NW Bond St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
*Heads Up! Starting in February all COTA Movie Nights will start at 8PM!*
Pine Mountain Sports is bringing you a fatbike double feature! We’ve got an encore presentation of Cold Rolled and Among The Wild at COTA Movie Night on Thu Feb 16!
Cold Rolled (19 minutes) is a funny, action documentary from Clear & Cold Cinema about Marquette Michigan’s Snow Bike Route. This film explores the history and progression of winter cycling culture in this small Lake Superior harbor town.
Among The Wild – The Arrowhead 135 (29 minutes) follows one of the 50 toughest races on the planet. Some of the best winter ultra-athletes in the world come to compete and fatbike, run or ski 135 miles across Northern Minnesota along the rugged Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail. This film follows 3 competitors during their attempts at completing the Arrowhead 135.
Break out your fatty and ride it down to McMenamins on Thu Feb 16! Show starts at 8P.
$5 per person, cash only, please. Minors accompanied by parent or guardian.
Movie Night at McMenamins raises funds and awareness for Central Oregon Trail Alliance.

Emerge Oregon One-Day Training Bend
2017-02-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Emerge Oregon and the Deschutes Democrats to learn about the key components of running a successful campaign in this one-day compact training!
Emerge Oregon helps women leaders develop the tools to win public office.
Whether you want to be the candidate or on the campaign, this training can be invaluable in helping you prepare a successful run for office.
Space is limited, tickets are $40 per person
Please register at the link in advance: https://act.myngp.com/Forms/4384959483287176960

Redmond Repair Cafe
2017-02-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
A Repair Cafe is an event that pairs people with broken stuff, with people who like to fix stuff.
Our fabulous fixers will be at the Redmond Public Library on October 30th to fix your broken stuff! Small appliances and electronics, clothing and outdoor gear, small furniture, and jewelry. These repairs are free and performed on a voluntary basis. You can bring multiple items for repair, but we ask that you get one item repaired at a time.
This event marks 5 years that we have been organizing these events in our community, and it closely follows International Repair Cafe Week!
NOTE: The Source has this event listed as happening at both Bend & Redmond Libraries, but this event is ONLY at the REDMOND Public Library. Sorry for any confusion!

February Nature Night
2017-02-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Oregon spotted frog is a small amphibian that is currently having a large impact on Central Oregon. Join biologist and spotted frog expert Jay Bowerman to learn more about this native frog and its habitat. Jay will shed light on the spotted frog’s life history, ecological needs, abilities, and the challenges it face of habitat loss, invasive species, and an uncertain political climate. Jay has been observing the species in Sunriver for more than 40 years, and more recently added study sites in and near Bend.
***This event is free, but registration is required. Registration opens 1 month prior to the event.***
Jay Bowerman holds a M.S. in biology from University of Oregon where he studied salamander chromosomes. After 20 years as the executive director of the Sunriver Nature Center, Jay has returned to biological research that focuses on amphibian ecology. He is the author of more than twenty journal papers ranging from amphibian deformities to leeches. In recent years Jay has focused on mentoring young scientists while continuing studies of western toads, Oregon spotted frogs, and the impact of introduced species, especially bullfrogs, on native amphibians. In his spare time Jay and his wife Teresa stay involved in a variety of local cultural events such as the Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival and the Hoedown for Hunger at Bend’s Community Center. Most recently they have been learning to be grandparents.

The Return of the River: Film and panel discussion
2017-02-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This award-winning film tells the story of a remarkable campaign to set the Elwha River free. It is an unlikely success story for environmental and cultural restoration that offers hope and possibility for a more sustainable future. The film will be followed by a panel discussion about river restoration with the director/cinematographer and two research scientists who worked on the project.
Registration is required as we expect this program to fill. Please help us defray costs by making a suggested $10 donation at the door.
