The Environmental Center

River of No Return Wilderness Film
2014-04-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Discover Your Forest and the Deschutes National Forest for an evening celebrating Wilderness!
US Fish & Wildlife Wolf Coordinator, John Stephenson, will discuss wolves in Oregon and their connection with the wolves in the Frank Church Wilderness in the film.
The Film, River of No Return, is set deep in the heart of Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, part of the largest roadless area left in the lower 48 states. At 2.5 million acres, it is larger than Yellowstone, yet most people have never even heard of it. Designated a federally-protected wilderness in 1980 by Congress, the region is full of deep canyons and mountain forests, rivers and abundant wildlife. Otters and elk, deer and coyotes, blue birds and bighorn sheep, and newly-restored wolf populations all thrive there. Today, nine packs of wolves roam freely through the park, each pack dependent on family – raising their young and hunting together.
Working with the Nez Perce Tribe in Central Idaho, wolf biologist Isaac Babcock spent 13 years participating in the wolf reintroduction program organized in the area. Wanting to share the raw beauty of the land and the wolves with his new wife, Bjornen, Isaac proposes spending a year there as an unconventional honeymoon, documenting their days as they go along. River of No Return tells their story, the story of a couple that took on the wilderness and all its challenges. The two have come to treasure their experience in an untamed place that, for a period of time, they called home.
$3 at the door goes towards Discover Your Forest.
Background:
The Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on September 3, 1964 after having passed through Congress with bipartisan support. The original Act created approximately 9 million acres of Wilderness in 13 states. Since its passing, 109,511,966 acres have been designated as Wilderness in 44 states and Puerto Rico.

Nature Night: Attracting Native Pollinators
2014-04-16
April Nature Night with the Deschutes Land Trust
Pollinators—especially bees!—are an indispensable part of a healthy environment and a secure food supply. One in three mouthfuls of food and beverages require the presence of a pollinator. Despite their recognized importance, bees and other pollinators are in decline across the country.
Join scientist and insect wrangler Mace Vaughan from the Xerces Society for a fascinating evening on native bees, stories about their conservation, and how you can create beautiful gardens, parks, and farms that attract and support native pollinator populations.
This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online: deschuteslandtrust.org/events.

Pints & Politics: Hybrid Mirror Pond Option
2014-04-17
The Hybrid Alternative for Mirror Pond at Pints and Politics
Can we have our cake and eat it too?
A small group is advancing the notion of a hybrid alternative for Mirror Pond. Come kick the idea around with the gang that started the ball rolling; Will Blount, Jayson Bowerman, Justin Rae, and David Blair. Come learn about the proposal, be a part of the conversation and find out how you can get involved in helping to support this vision as a viable alternative for Mirror Pond’s future.
When: Thursday, April 17th from 7-9pm
Where: Broken Top Bottle Shop, 1740 NW Pence Lane, Suite 1, Bend.
Join Us!

Fish Stick Making Workshop
2014-04-17
Come to this years Earth Day Parade prepared! Create a fish stick: People will fuse plastic bags in their own design and cut out a fish from a template. Sara can provide a design or you can create your own. We will tie the fish to a dowel with clear plastic string (monofilament) and people will wave the fish like flags at the Procession!
Call 541-420-4961 to sign up. There will be a $10 materials fee.

Wildflower Hike, Alder Springs
2014-04-18
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Carol Moorehead for a hike to Alder Springs and then beyond
to the confluence of Whychus creek and the Deschutes River. We’ll hike from the top of the
Crooked River National Grasslands through sun-warmed sagelands that give us our first spring
wildflowers. See white sand lilies, yellow bells, spring gold and more as you hike down to Alder
Springs itself. Then, follow Whychus Creek to its confluence with the Deschutes River.
Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event.
Please register online at
www.deschuteslandtrust.org/events.
Rating: Challenging, ~8 mile hike.
What to Bring: Lunch/snacks, water, sturdy hiking shoes, water sandals for creek crossing.
Dress for the weather.

Spring Gardening Seminar
2014-04-19
Perennials and Shrubs in Central Oregon taught by Holly Shafer, owner Whistle Stop Farm and Flowers
With so many plants to choose from at local garden centers it can be confusing as to what does well here in Central Oregon. I will show you some hardy perennials and shrubs that will thrive in your garden. I will also give some tips on planting and care to get them off to a great start!

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
2014-04-19
Hot on the heels of the festival held every fall in Banff, Alberta, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road, and we brought it to Bend!
On Saturday April 19th 2014, REALMS will proudly present the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at Summit High School’s Auditorium in Bend, OR.
Tickets go on sale here Saturday March 1st.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival, a program of The Banff Centre, is the largest, and one of the most prestigious, mountain festivals in the world. With stops planned in about 350 communities and 32 countries across the globe, this year’s tour features a collection of the most inspiring action, environmental, and adventure films from the festival.
Traveling to exotic landscapes and remote cultures, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports, the 2012-13 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.
From approximately 260 films entered into the annual festival, award-winning films and audience favorites are among the films chosen to travel the globe.

Earth Day Fair & Parade
2014-04-19
Join The Environmental Center for a fun and festive celebration of the natural world! Our day of festivities kicks off with a colorful, creative parade filled with children and adults costumed as their favorite plant or animal. Get ready for the parade by creating your own costume!
11:00 am: Assemble on Louisiana Avenue next to McMenamin’s
11:30am: Parade starts (about 8 blocks through downtown Bend and ends at the Earth Day Fair)
No motorized vehicles or written words allowed in the parade. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are allowed.
Following the parade, there will be live music, local businesses, a variety of food, and great hands-on activities and games for all ages. The fair takes place on Kansas Avenue in front of The Environmental Center (downtown Bend).

Ten Friends Spring Celebration
2014-04-19
The Ten Friends Spring Celebration is Saturday, April 19th from 5:30-9:00 at Aspen Hall in Bend.
Stop by for delicious food, local micro brews, wine, silent auction, live music, raffle, Nepali imports for sale, and a slide show update on Ten Friends’ work in Nepal. $12 suggested donation for the catered dinner. Proceeds go to the Ten Friends Himalayan Education Center in Nepal. Children are welcome.
Developing countries that educate girls to the same degree as they educate boys benefit from lower birth rates, longer life expectancies, lower mortality rates and higher economic growth. Women’s education is an investment that critically influences social and economic development worldwide. Empowering women and investing in their futures is a major part of our mission and reason for Ten Friends’ existence. Help us help women. We hope you’ll be there for the tenth year of good times for a good cause.

Bird Walk, Camp Polk Meadow Preserve
2014-04-21
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Bill Mitchell for a bird walk at one of Central Oregon’s birding hot spots—Camp Polk Meadow Preserve. Tune your ear and focus your binoculars as you stroll around Hindman Springs and into the meadow, watching for warblers in the willows, and woodpeckers working the pine groves. More than 160 species of birds have been observed at the Preserve, see how many you can find! Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the
event. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes.
Rating: This is a moderate, ~2 mile hike.
What to bring: Binoculars (if you have them), snacks, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the
weather.

Earth Advantage Remodeler Training
2014-04-24
The Earth Advantage Remodel Certification program provides a clear pathway for homeowners to upgrade their homes to high performance standards. Accredited EA Remodelers benefit from increased credibility and the ability to differentiate themselves in the market. Our unique scoring tool improves the opportunity to discuss green options with homeowners and sell additional services.
EA Remodel Certification begins with an evaluation of the home by an accredited EA Remodeler to determine the potential pathways to certification. The EA Remodeler works with their clients to plan a strategy to achieve certification. This enables remodelers to gain repeat business as they nurture their relationship with the homeowner.
To learn more about the EA Remodel Certification, please click here.

Geology Hike, Alder Springs
2014-04-24
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Derek Loeb for hike to Alder Springs with a focus on geology. We’ll hike down to bubbling Alder Springs and check out examples of volcanic and sedimentary rocks that tell the story of the early Cascade mountains. Learn how these ancient rocks formed the underground aquifers that much of Central Oregon depends on for water. Registration opens 1 month prior to the event.
Registration is required
– See more here

Changing Climate with Impact on Recreational Opportunities in Central Oregon
2014-04-24
Our featured speaker for the quarterly Speaker Series of the Sisters Trail Alliance will be geologist Bjarne Holm, C.P.G., R&M Consultants, Inc., speaking on the topic of climate change, both from the geologic history point of view as well as changes seen during human history. Mr. Holm will discuss factors that contribute to changes in our climate as well as recent weather patterns, such as typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, this winter’s polar vortex with record low temperatures, and the record drought in the west.

Wildflower Hike, Whychus Canyon
2014-04-25
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Jane Meissner for a spring hike at Whychus Canyon
Preserve. Explore ancient juniper groves and learn about native plants as you hike through the
grasslands towards a scenic boulder overlook. Watch for early wildflowers like spring gold and
sandlilies that bloom first on sun-warmed sagelands. Registration is required and opens 1 month
prior to the event.
Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/events.
Rating: Moderate, ~3 mile hike.
What to Bring: Snacks/lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

Boyer Hike
2014-04-25
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Ashley Lowrey for a hike around a conserved private property
in Cloverdale. We’ll hike through old-growth juniper forests taking time to explore natural wetland
seeps and intriguing geologic features. Then, we’ll hike up Fryrear Butte and stop at the summit
for a relaxed lunch to enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains and surrounding landscape.
Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register online at
www.deschuteslandtrust.org/events.
Rating: Moderate, ~3 mile hike.
What to Bring: Snacks/lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather

Bird Walk, Camp Polk Meadow
2014-04-26
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Bill Mitchell for a bird walk at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve.
Enjoy spring bird migrations to the fullest as you watch for songbirds and hummingbirds in the
willows, warblers along the restored Whychus Creek, and woodpeckers working the pine groves.
Explore this Sisters-area Preserve that is considered a birding hot spot with more than 165
species observed!
Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register
online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/events.
Rating: Moderate, ~2 mile walk.
What to Bring: Binoculars, snacks, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

Spring Garden Work Party
2014-04-26
Join us in the Kansas Avenue Learning Garden at The Environmental Center to get the garden ready for spring! We will have tasks, tools, coffee and snacks on hand. Come dressed for the weather, bring garden gloves if you have them (we have a bunch, you just might not have a matching pair 🙂 and be prepared to get dirty and get things done! This is a family friendly event, and we try to have jobs for little ones too. Contact denise if you have any further questions about the event.

Hollinshead Community Garden Opening Day
2014-04-26
Registration for a vegetable garden plot is done in-person at Hollinshead Park on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis. The line forms early and is outdoors, so dress for the weather. A waiting list will be taken as well.
Call 541-383-3905 or 541-977-7661 for more info.

Water + Wood, Skyline Forest
2014-04-26
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Leslie Olson for a historic hike in Skyline Forest. Water and
wood played an important role in the formation of Bend. Explore Bend’s early logging history by
visiting the site of a 1916 lumber mill in Skyline Forest. Then, hike along the Columbia Southern canal to learn how water and irrigation impacted early settlement.
Registration is required and
opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/events.
Rating: Moderate, ~3 mile hike.
What to Bring: Snacks/lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

NorthWest Crossing Community Garden Opening Day
2014-04-26
Registration for a raised bed garden plot is done in-person at NorthWest Crossing Community Garden on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis. The line forms early and is outdoors, so dress for the weather. A waiting list will be taken as well.
Location: Corner of NW Crossing Dr & Charbonneau St near Summit H. S., Bend
For more info, call 541-318-5759 or 541-678-5949.

Webinar: Could A Carbon Tax be Good for Oregon?
2014-04-28
Can a Carbon Tax Combat Climate Change and be Good for Oregon’s Economy?
Carbon taxes are becoming a hot topic around the country as an economically-efficient and market-driven way to combat climate change. Here in Oregon, a foundational study, “Carbon Tax and Shift: How to Make it Work for Oregon’s Economy” was published in March 2013, and just last year the Oregon Legislature passed a bipartisan study bill (SB 306) to examine how a carbon tax, or “clean air fee,” could be structured in Oregon.
On Monday, April 28, join the Citizens’ Climate Lobby of Bend for a webinar presentation and interactive discussion to address the following: Why a carbon tax? Can a carbon tax be good for Oregon’s economy? Where can jobs be gained? How many emissions can be reduced? How can revenue be used?
Whether your interest is business, the environment, politics or all three, this is an important meeting to attend for Bend, Oregon today and for the future.
Featured speakers:
Jeff Renfro, senior economist with the Northwest Economic Research Center at Portland State University, co-author of the 2013 “Carbon Tax and Shift” foundational study, and a lead researcher for the Oregon Legislature’s carbon tax study bill (SB 306), will be presenting and taking questions from his office in Portland.
Jana Gastellum, Program Director for Climate Protection with the Oregon Environmental Council, will provide a context for carbon pricing policies in Oregon.
Check-in starts at 4:30 pm; program will start promptly at 5:00 pm.
Free but RSVP is required (due to limited space) at bend@citizensclimatelobby.org.

Whychus Canyon Preserve Wander
2014-05-01
Explore your Land Trust Preserves in a whole new way: the Wander! Join Derek Loeb for a short
stroll with easy walking to learn about one of our flagship Preserves, Whychus Canyon Preserve.
Explore the Preserve’s old-growth juniper forests while you learn about the geology of its rimrock
canyon. Observe how the geography of Central Oregon has been effected by its position at the
boundary of three major geologic provinces.
Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to
the event. Please register online at www.deschuteslandtrust.org/events.
Rating: Easy, less than 1 mile.
What to Bring: Snacks/lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

Geology Hike, Alder Springs
2014-05-02
Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Derek Loeb for a hike to Alder Springs with a focus on geology. We’ll hike down to bubbling Alder Springs and check out examples of volcanic and sedimentary rocks that tell the story of the early Cascade mountains. Learn how these ancient rocks also formed the underground aquifers that much of Central Oregon depends on for water. Registration is required and opens 1 month prior to the event. Please register online at
www.deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes.
Rating: This is a challenging, 3-mile hike.
What to bring: Snacks/Lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes. Dress for the weather.

Salmon Run
2014-05-03
Each year, the mighty Salmon make an expedition of a lifetime back to their homes – traversing thousands of miles and overcoming countless obstacles on their river journeys. The Salmon juxtapose the infinite space of their ocean homes against the micro-streams of their birth in one monumental run. Their achievement is awesome in the true sense of the word.
Choose your own migratory distance – 5K, 10K or Half Marathon – and experience the awesomeness of that achievement as you complete your own Salmon Run!
Begin and end your adventure at Riverbend Park and imagine what a river journey could be like for the Salmon by running up and down the Deschutes River corridor in beautiful Bend, Oregon.
Each finisher will receive a pine sapling to plant in honor of the Salmons’ achievements and your own.
Post-race festivities, including a Salmon Haiku Contest, will certainly be worth your upstream success.
The Environmental Center is a beneficiary of the Salmon Run Race! Support us when you sign up to run this zero waste race! Register here.

Grow Your Own Tomatoes Class
2014-05-10
Learn how to successfully grow tomatoes including choosing the right variety, transplanting, staking, pruning, ongoing care and troubleshooting potential problems.
For more information click here or call 541-389-7275

Lunch with Landwatch
2014-05-12
Lunch with Landwatch at The Environmental Center. 12 noon. Topic: Fish & Flows in the Upper Deschutes Basin. Details and RSVP HERE.
Please bring your own lunch.

BoomeRaging: From LSD to OMG
2014-05-12
Political satirist Will Durst in a benefit for KPOV 88.9 fm,
presented by BIGS Hydroponics and Organics.
Monday, May 12, 2014; 7:30 pm (doors at 7)
Touring comedian Celesta Franklin will open.
Tickets: $15 in advance, $13 for KPOV members, at www.bendticket.com; $17 at the door.
Info: www.kpov.org, info@kpov.org, 541-322-0863

Wilderness & Waldo
2014-05-13
A Wilderness Ranger’s personal experiences in the wilds and the role of wilderness in our country’s legacy, celebrating wilderness and the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
Also featured, the Keep Waldo Wild campaign and its innovative approach to conserving 75,000 roadless acres in the Waldo watershed.
When: May 13, 2014 – 6:30 pm gathering, 7:00 pm program
Where: Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend
Sponsor: Sierra Club
Who: Free and open to the public
Contact: Gretchen, 541-389-0785

High Desert Food & Farm Alliance Party
2014-05-15
Join the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (formerly the Central Oregon Food Policy Council) to celebrate their new look and programs. Free live music, kombucha, and food at Humm Kombucha.

Birders Night: Sandhill Crane film
2014-05-15
May 15:“Raising Kid Colt – A Story of a Young Sandhill Crane”

Gary Ivey invites us into the exciting world of a wild Sandhill Crane couple and their parenthood adventures with a showing of the nature film “Raising Kid Colt.” The film provides viewers with remarkable footage of an Alaska Crane family’s life as well as seldom seen perspectives of raising Sandhill crane colts, and the progression of colt development over a summer. Gary Ivey has worked with wildlife for over thirty-five years including his current position with the International Crane Foundation and a fifteen-year stint working at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. More info:
