The Environmental Center

Bend COTA Work Events
2022-09-15, 2022-09-22, 2022-09-29, 2022-10-06 | 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.

Author Event: Voices of Navajo Mothers and Daughters
2022-09-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Roundabout Books is pleased to present an event for Voices of Navajo Mothers and Daughters: Portraits of Beauty by Kathy Eckles Hooker and David Young-Wolff (a Central Oregon-based photographer).
Thursday, September 15, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
“In a series of intimate, revelatory personal histories, Navajo grandmothers, mothers, and daughters in twenty-one families tell their stories. They open up about how they have been shaped by powerful cultural and historical forces—and by their love for each other. In these compelling, multi-generational oral histories, collected by a former teacher with profound admiration for Navajo culture, women talk about their experiences in their own words. As they do, their faces are captured in defining portraits. Woven into the women’s stories are tales from Navajo history and culture, including Changing Woman, the coming-of-age ceremony (kinaaldá), the Long Walk, education, and the importance of sheep to Navajo lifeway.”
Register here!

Listen & Envision: Bend Vision Project Community Workshop
2022-09-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
At the virtual ‘Listen & Envision’ workshop, Bend residents will discuss community values, challenges, and ways to make Bend a better place.

About this event

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand up for the greater Bend area. With input and support from community members and partners, the Envision Bend nonprofit organization is overseeing an inclusive process to craft an Action Plan to make Bend a great place for all.
We want to make sure the Action Plan is bold and visionary — and that it represents the priorities of people in the community. This five-year Action Plan will include a vision statement, strategies, projects, and programs, as well as lead partnering organizations to see the work to fruition. The Action Plan is scheduled to be completed and released to the community in 2023.
Community input is vital to the Action Plan. As part of what is known as the Bend Vision Project, the Envision Bend organization is hosting a series of virtual “Listen & Envision” workshops to gather input on community challenges and solutions from residents, so that local priorities can be reflected in the plan. We want to make sure that the plan tackles the most pressing challenges and delivers for all of those who call the greater Bend area home.
Join a virtual event and have your voice heard. During the 1.5-hour virtual workshop, you will hear about the Bend Vision Project’s planning process and you will have the opportunity to provide input about the future of the community. The event will be led by a moderator who will help guide the conversation around a series of questions
If you cannot attend this workshop but would like to get involved in the Bend Vision Project, please visit envisionbend.org.
If you have questions, please reach out to steve@envisionbend.org.

Ride the Rim-Crater Lake
2022-09-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Crater Lake Rim Road will be closed to vehicles on these days for people to enjoy the 33-mile trek. Mostly aimed at bicyclists, the event also welcomes hikers and runners on these days.

Campout For Public Lands
2022-09-17 - 2022-09-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Celebrate National Public Lands day in style! Campout For Public Lands is a celebration of the land that we love, the winding down of camping season, and a chance to give back and have fun in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Discover Nature Festival
2022-09-17 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OR

Fermentation Class
2022-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This is an interactive pickling workshop led by Master Food Preservers from OSU extension, where you will gain the knowledge and confidence to ferment vegetables safely at home! We will explore the science, equipment, and best practices behind fermentation. Participants will watch a demonstration on making sauerkraut and then follow along and make a batch of pickles to bring home.
Get Tickets

Happy Hour in the Garden
2022-09-20 16:00 - 18:00 | The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR, 97703
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

Green Tour Kickoff: Visions for a Sustainable Central Oregon
2022-09-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
We’ve sought presenters, speakers, musicians, and artists who are working on a project or have a vision for a sustainable and just future in Central Oregon. Since the Green Tour features big, small, innovative, and practical solutions that are making a big difference in our local communities, there’s no better way to launch this event than to come together for a few hours to hear how these solutions got started, and see the possibilities of where we could go.
Join us for this new event to witness a collective vision for sustainability unfold!

Virtual Conservation Convo
2022-09-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
ONDA’s Virtual Conservation Convo will be a presentation by their Conservation Team online via Zoom. You’ll have the opportunity to meet the staff and learn about how you can further your conservation advocacy.
Register here!

ABC’s of ADUs
2022-09-21 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Thinking of building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on your property, but not sure where to start? Come attend our Lunch & Learn event at The Environmental Center on September 21st, where we will have a panel of local experts presenting a comprehensive overview of city guidelines, designing, building and financing. You will walk away with a thorough overview of the process from start to finish, as well as some healthy “do’s and don’ts” and “lessons learned”.

Climate Conversation with Sen. Ron Wyden
2022-09-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV for their virtual event, “Climate Conversation with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden” on Thursday, September 22nd, at 9:00 am PT. RSVP today to receive the Zoom link.
With exciting investments in the IRA ranging from electric vehicle infrastructure and electric transportation to incentives for consumers to ditch gas in their homes and put solar on their roofs, among many others, states like Oregon will now receive a boost in resources to assist their transition away from fossil fuels and build a future powered with clean energy.
Senator Ron Wyden will sit down with you on September 22nd at 9:00 am PT to discuss key pieces of the historic Inflation Reduction Act and answer your questions. Sign up here for the event now to receive a Zoom link once you’re registered!

Waterston Desert Writing Prize Award Ceremony
2022-09-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us for an evening of literary excellence. Kevin Fedarko, author of The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride In History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon, will speak about his current project in the Grand Canyon and his odyssey of nearly 800 miles, almost none of which involved a trail. Author Raquel Gutiérrez, the 2022 Waterson Guest Judge, will award this year’s Prize winner. And Caroline Tracey, winner of the 2022 Prize, will read from her submission “SALT LAKES.”
RSVP

Voice Your Opinion and Be Heard!
2022-09-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Forth invites customers of Pacific Power to participate in focus groups to share their suggestions with them. Your valuable insights will help shape Pacific Power’s Transportation Electrification (TE) Plan for Oregon.
Forth is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing equitable access to electric transportation. Their work focuses on delivering on-the-ground outreach and education. They work extensively with community-based organizations and policymakers to reduce pollution and barriers to electric transportation.
Location: Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond, OR 97756
Date: September 23, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Venue: Multi-purpose Room
RSVP to Forth’s Program Manager, JR Anderson at jranderson@forthmobility.org.
You can also call JR Anderson at (347) 306-0988 if you have any trouble finding the venue.
Attendees will earn a $50 gift card as a token of appreciation for their time and effort. Meals will also be provided.

Save the date for the 2022 Green Tour!
2022-09-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Save the date for the 2022 Green Tour!
We are still confirming the details of the Green Tour format for 2022. Our tentative dates are
Saturday, September 24th, 10:00-4:00
On the Green Tour, you’ll see real-world solutions that reduce energy use and increase solar production in residential and commercial buildings right here in Central Oregon. Everyday heroes across our community will open their doors so that we can learn and benefit from their journeys and experiences. Now, more than ever, it’s important for all of us to make a change under our own roofs (or on them)—no matter how big or small. We hope the Green Tour inspires you to find new ways to save energy and go solar, at home and at work.
Sign up to receive updates on the virtual/ in-person format, exact dates, event details, and/or if you’d like more information about putting a home or building on the Green Tour.

2022 Green Tour
2022-09-24 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
On the Green Tour, you’ll see real-world solutions that reduce energy use, increase solar production, and contribute to a more livable community right here in Central Oregon.
The benefits of green buildings are often invisible to consumers or feel unattainable to the average person living in Central Oregon and that’s why your neighbors, who are passionate about their projects, are opening up their doors to share their stories with you so that we can all learn about what is possible together. The Green Tour will educate and illuminate how high performance structures can be healthier, more cost effective, and more impactful building options. This event will demonstrate a range of creative solutions from a variety of local innovators, from zero energy home enthusiasts to DIYers to backyard gardeners.
This year we are offering 10 sites, including two upscale net zero homes, a handful of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), low-income community housing, and even an urban garden!
We will send you the tour map and a link to the digital guide the week of the event. Tour guides will be available in The Source from 9/15 – 9/21.
*Meet at The Environmental Center at 16 NW Kansas Ave at 1pm to visit sites via a guided bike tour with Bend Bikes!
**Also at TEC will be an e-mobility showcase, where you can learn more about and test ride the latest EVs on the market with Forth Mobility.
REGISTER TO ATTEND

Central Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit
2022-09-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Connecting Central Oregon Communities

The Central Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit brings together Central Oregon residents, transportation planners, city and county officials, and experts from around the state to review what has been accomplished and what still needs to be done to make walking, bicycling, and using transit safe, comfortable, and accessible for everyone in Central Oregon. Since the summit started in 2011 it has been held in communities all across Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties. We hope to see you there!
Topics for 2022

Community pedestrian and bicycle updates
Transportation Equity
Active transportation and community health
Safe Routes to School
e-Bikes
Safe routes between communities

Program
Available online here or by email request to bpac@deschutes.org
Lunch
There are several lunch options within a short walk from the event location
After-event Walking Tour
There will be short (~40 minutes) walking and biking tours of Redmond bike and pedestrian facilities starting at 1:40 from City Hall. Bring your walking shoes and join us.
Carpools
Want to save gas? Help the environment? Make new friends? To host or join a carpool from your location check out Get There Connect.
REGISTER

Lecture Series: Coexistence and Regeneration
2022-09-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join for the final installment of the 2022 Coexistence and Regeneration Lecture Series, presented by Pine Meadow Ranch for Arts and Agriculture and The Roundhouse Foundation. Speakers will share the transformative, regenerative and collaborative forces at play in today’s environment, specifically surrounding wildfire. Speakers include Ken van Rees, Marko Bey, Belinda Brown, Mike Hayward, and Alyssa Cudmore.
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Wild & Scenic Film Festival
2022-09-30 17:00 - 20:00 | Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Oregon Natural Desert Association presents the Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Join ONDA for an evening of short films showcasing our earth’s natural wonders and the amazing stories of activists working to conserve the environment.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will include an in-person show at the Tower Theatre as well as a virtual live-streaming show airing the same night. Join ONDA at the Tower Theatre for their lineup of the year’s best conservation films, or enjoy them streamed in HD from the comfort of your home.

Happy Hour in the Garden
2022-10-04 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
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 2023, Happy Hour in the Garden will once again run twice a month from March through October. 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.
For Spring 2023, our Happy Hours will be 4-6pm, on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month.
March & April Happy Hours sponsored by Wild Ride Brewing

March 7 & 21
April 4 & 18

May & June Happy Hours sponsored by Worthy Environmental

May 2 & 16
June 6 & 20

Stay tuned for confirmation of dates for July through October, as these might switch to the 2nd & 4th…)
Contact Denise, Garden Program Manager, if you have any questions about getting involved.

What Science is Discovering About Aging and Longevity
2022-10-04 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Longevity: the ambition of kings, super villains – and pretty much all of us who enjoy waking up each morning. It’s also become a focus for biotechnology companies interested in making a big impact on healthcare. At Dr. Jill Helms’ lab at Stanford, they are working on understanding why we age, and then translating that new knowledge into therapeutic strategies that slow the natural process. According to Dr. Helms, questions of this magnitude require “moonshot thinking” and some serious team science, both made possible by Stanford’s diverse environment.
Register here!

Fall Green Drinks
2022-10-05 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Green Drinks celebrating Latinx Heritage Month in partnership with Central Oregon Community College
Join us to learn and celebrate Latinx culture!
UPCYCLED PIÑATA MAKING WORKSHOPS In-Person Events
Wednesday, October 5, 5–7 pm. The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend
Space is limited for both in-person events, please RSVP to attend!
RSVP to latinx@cocc.edu
Join us to learn and celebrate Latinx culture!

2022 Go Clean Energy Conference
2022-10-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Live & Virtual at
Central Oregon Community College
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Individuals, businesses, & government discover opportunities in clean energy, efficiency, sustainability, electric mobility, and green jobs.

REGISTER HERE Before September 1 to get the GREAT Early Bird discount of $29!
Some business sessions have attendee restrictions (40 Max) & will be handled on a first come first served basis.

BendFilm Festival 2022
2022-10-06 - 2022-10-09 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
SAVE THE DATE! October 6-9 (in-person) and October 10-23 (virtual)
The BendFilm Festival has always been a place of connection and understanding. A place where we experience lives different from our own. Where we learn empathy, experiencing the world through others’ lives. Join BendFilm for their 19th BendFilm Festival in beautiful Bend, Oregon for four days of independent film, panel discussions, and the opportunity to connect with filmmakers and filmgoers.

Fall Green Drinks
2022-10-06 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Green Drinks celebrating Latinx Heritage Month in partnership with Central Oregon Community College
Join us to learn and celebrate Latinx culture!
UPCYCLED PIÑATA MAKING WORKSHOPS In-Person Events
Thursday, October 6, 5–7 pm. Redmond Campus Technology Education Center. 2030 SE College Loop, Redmond
Space is limited for both in-person events, please RSVP to attend!
RSVP to latinx@cocc.edu
Join us to learn and celebrate Latinx culture!

FungiFest & Mushroom Show
2022-10-08 10:00 - 15:00 | Sunriver Nature Center & Oregon Observatory, 57245 River Rd, Sunriver, OR, 97707, United States
Save the date for the 6th annual Sunriver Mushroom Show. Celebrate and learn about Oregon’s mushrooms through mushroom walks, cooking demonstrations, and hundreds of mushrooms on display. Stock up on fresh mushrooms and other edible mushroom products and check out local artists and vendors.

Bend School Garden Bike Tour
2022-10-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join The Environmental Center’s Garden for Every School program and Bend Bikes for a community bike tour visiting 3 school garden sites. We’ll start at the Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice Detention Facility to see designs and hear about their future plans for an outdoor garden. Then we will bike to Bend International School to visit their recently revamped school garden. Finally we will bike down OB Riley Road to visit Desert Sky Montessori School, where their garden committee has been working weekends building a school garden for this new school campus. We will loop back to the Juvenile Justice facility for those that need to leave a car there.
Our group ride, led by Bend Bikes, will travel at a casual pace with ride leaders at the front and back of the group so that no one is left behind! Our route will include a combination of neighborhood streets, low-traffic roads without bike lanes, and busier roads with marked bike lanes.There are sidewalks along some, but not all, the roadways. O.B. Riley is a known bike-route for recreational cyclists and has a dedicated (unprotected) bike lane but the speed limit is 35 miles per hour, which has earned it its designation as a route for riders of above-average skill. You can view the route here. Bike ride is 2.5 miles and will be limited to 25 bikers.
For those wanting to skip the bike ride and just come and hear about the school gardens, here is our tentative agenda:
2:10 – 2:25 Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice Detention Facility (15 min)
> 63360 NW Britta St, Bend, OR 97701
2:45 – 3:05 Bend International School (20 min)
> 63034 O. B. Riley Rd, Bend, OR 97703
3:20 – 3:50 Desert Sky Montessori School (30 min)
> 63175 O. B. Riley Rd, Bend, OR 97703
Bike ride limited to 25 people, register on Eventbrite by clicking the button below:
REGISTER
If you don’t have a bike, Bend Electric Bikes has offered to donate one to us for this tour.
Email denise for more details.
