The Environmental Center

Frankly Mule Deer (and Elk), We Do Give a Damn
2015-08-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
It’s easy to think that deer and elk in Central Oregon are doing just fine when you see them munching your garden or crossing your street. However, their numbers have declined sharply in recent years, and their migration patterns have been altered. What’s causing this? What can you do to help local wildlife survive?
What: A panel of experts will discuss mule deer and elk life cycle and habitat needs, and the impacts of urbanization and recreation.
When: Wednesday, August 12th, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Get the midday munchies? You’re welcome to bring your lunch.)
Where: The Environmental Center
Why: Because we care about mule deer, elk, and other critters that also call Central Oregon home.
Panelists:

Sara Gregory, Wildlife Habitat Biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W)
Corey Heath, District Wildlife Biologist, Deschutes Wildlife District, ODF&W
Amy Stuart, former Deschutes Basin Manager for ODF&W
Matt Shinderman, OSU-Cascades, Senior Instructor, Natural Resources and Sustainability
Register here.

KEEN's Live Monumental Tour comes to Bend
2015-08-13 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join KEEN Footwear and the Owyhee Coalition for two parties with a purpose!
KEEN’s Live Monumental Campaign is coming to Oregon to raise awareness for preserving public lands and to have fun while doing it. Join us in Bend on Thursday, August 13th. KEEN’s 28-foot, bright yellow RV will pull up, and an event featuring beverages, games, and more will begin. Come sign the petition to protect some of the nation’s most amazing places, including the
Owyhee Canyonlands.
Thursday, August 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Crow’s Feet Commons, 875 NW Brooks St., (Mirror Pond Plaza area)

Volunteers Needed: Stream Sampling Day
2015-08-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Volunteers Needed: Stream Sampling Day
Creekside City Park, Sisters, OR
Join Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to collect macroinvertebrates – the aquatic life stage of bugs like mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies – in Whychus Creek. Volunteers learn sampling protocols and visit rimrock, meadow and floodplain reaches of Whychus to collect samples that contribute to our understanding of how habitat restoration is changing stream conditions for native fish. This event is a great opportunity for community members to get involved as stewards of a local watershed and learn first-hand about one of the streams in our backyard.
For information or to sign up, contact Lauren Mork at (541) 382-6103 x39 or lmork@restorethedeschutes.org

Stream Sampling Day
2015-08-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to collect macroinvertebrates – the aquatic life stage of bugs like mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies – in Whychus Creek. Volunteers visit rimrock, meadow, and floodplain reaches of Whychus to collect samples that contribute to our understanding of how habitat restoration is changing stream conditions for native fish. This event is a great opportunity for community members to get involved as stewards of a local watershed and learn first-hand about one of the streams in our backyard.
Whychus Creek
Creekside City Park, Sisters, OR
For information or to sign up, contact Lauren Mork at (541) 382-6103 x39 or lmork@restorethedeschutes.org.

Class - It's Not Over Yet! Harvesting and Replanting
2015-08-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Information from OSU Master Gardeners™ about vegetables to grow at the end of the summer to increase your harvest.

Medicinal Plant Workshop
2015-08-15 - 2015-08-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Growing, identifying and using native flora.
August 15th & 16th, 2015
10am- 4pm
at the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, 57245 River Road, Sunriver, OR 97707
Join “Herbal Goddess” Holly Hutton for two days of exploration into the medicinal uses of local Central Oregon herbs. Learn to make salves, tinctures, syrups, elixers and teas. Gain the confidence to identify, grow, and use herbs in your daily life!
A simple lunch is provided on Saturday. Please bring your own lunch on Sunday.
Click here or call 541-593-4394 for specific information about the event.
Pre-registration is required by August 12th.

Field Investigations and Stewardship
2015-08-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Dates: August 18-19
Grade Level: 9-12
Location: Skyliners Lodge with field trips additional locations
Join the Children’s Forest and spend two days learning about land use issues in Central Oregon, engaging in stewardship activities, and connecting with natural resource experts and fellow educators at Skyliners Lodge. This workshop is designed to empower high school teachers to get students outside and to get involved with real community partners to build opportunities for students to engage in field investigations and stewardship activities on their National Forest. Activities will focus on NGSS standards for High School and will integrate Project Learning Tree’s secondary modules. Graduate credits and PDUs will be available. Register here.

Is Your Beefsteak Destroying the Planet?
2015-08-18 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Please join Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads and Central Oregon Landwatch for this informative presentation: Is your beefsteak destroying the planet? Linkages between land use, climate change and wetland ecosystems will be discussed by Boone Kauffman, Professor, Ecosystems & Habitat Ecology, OSU.
When: Tuesday, August 18th 7pm-8:30pm
Where: The Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas Ave, Bend, OR
RSVP: Click Here

Birders' Night
2015-08-19, 2015-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Scheduled 9 times a year, 3rd Thursdays of month. 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.
March 19:
“Bird Friendly Native Landscaping.” Birders Karen Theodore and Rick Martinson of WinterCreek Restoration will share identify native plants, and share tips about landscaping, designed to transform any yard into a bird friendly sanctuary.
April 16:
“Birding Every Corner of Alaska” Crooked River Ranch locals John and Marilynne Keyser recount their Alaska birding trip with stories and photographs from St. Paul Island (a part of the Pribilofs,) Nome, Barrow, the Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park. Highlights of the trip were seeing thirteen alcid species and all four eiders. Close encounters with a northern hawk owl, a “flaming” ruff and a huge polar bear were magical moments!
May 21:
“Oregon 2020: A Benchmark Survey of Our Birds”
Douglas Robinson, Mace Professor of Watchable Wildlife at OSU and Director of the Oregon 2020 birds project, will discuss this collaboration of professionals and citizen scientists who are dedicated to compiling a high quality, state-wide measurement of the abundance and distribution of Oregon’s birds and their response to habitat change. Doug will talk about how local birders can be involved in this landmark study, which promises to leave a legacy for future generations. Website: http://oregon2020.com/
June 18:
“Where the Heck are the Falcons? Phylogenies and Changing Field Guides: An Evolutionary Tale.” COCC Biology Professor Jim Moodie will entertain us with some up to date science about bird phylogenies (read: relationship trees) and how they have changed (e.g. Falcons are now grouped with Parrots!) and why they have changed (e.g. DNA and genome comparisons.)
October 15
“Nerdfest III” A hands-on program for Birders’ Night participants to share and experience an array of the latest birding technology and media opportunities including websites, software and apps such as eBird, COBOL, I Bird Pro, and ABA. A sequel to Nerdfest I and Nerdfest II this interactive program will further explore how birders are using technology to enhance the enjoyment of birding.
November 19
“eBird” Tom Crabtree provides hands on instruction on how to use eBird, Cornell University’s Laboratory of Ornithology’s online data base program which has revolutionized the way that birders maintain and access information about birds, track bird sightings and contribute to science and conservation. Tom will walk you through setting up an account, entering sightings and using the data in eBird to enhance your birding experiences.

Getting Bend on Bikes at Pints and Politics
2015-08-20 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV, Bend Bikes and fellow community members who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy for Pints and Politics.
Bend Bikes is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) grassroots organization working to promote bicycling and improve bicycling conditions in Bend. Bend Bikes works in partnership with citizens, businesses, community groups, government agencies, and elected officials to enhance bicycling infrastructure and promote a culture that not only loves to bike, but also feels safe and comfortable while doing so.
Join a panel of Bend Bikes’ Board Members to learn more about the organization and how they plan to achieve their mission of Getting Bend on Bikes. Learn about the exciting projects they are working on and how you can get involved.
When: Thursday, August 20, from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Broken Top Bottle Shop at 1740 NW Pence Ln, Bend
Event URL: http://olcv.org/content/getting-bend-bikes-pints-and-politics
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1128623323820766/

Class - Winter Underground
2015-08-22 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Information from OSU Master Gardeners™ on Fall planting of garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks for harvest in June or July.

Community Pints
2015-08-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Raise a glass to sustainability!
Every Tuesday in September, Deschutes Brewery will donate $1 of every pint sold to The Environmental Center.
We’ve partnered with Deschutes Brewery for Community Pints during the month of August. Gather at the Bend Public House or Tasting Room for a pint of tasty beer and some good old fashioned community cheer! An easy and fun way to show your support. Thank you!

Cog Wild mountain bike shuttle for the Land Trust
2015-08-26 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Take the Cog Wild mountain bike Bend trailhead shuttle and raise funds for Deschutes Land Trust!
Reserve your seat in the Cog Wild van ahead of time to shuttle from town to Wanoga or Swampy Sno-Park on August 26th. Shuttles will leave Cog Wild at 5:30pm, so arrive early to let the driver know your riding drop-off spot and load your bike on the van. Invite your friends, bring a map, or connect with others in the shuttle van. Once you arrive at the trailhead you’re free to ride any awesome way back to town.
The best part is knowing you’ve helped preserve our local forests and creeks with 100% of your shuttle fee going to Deschutes Land Trust. The shuttle is $20, but larger donations will be accepted.

Farm to Table
2015-08-27 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join us for a FARM TO TABLE DINNER fundraiser at Broken Top Bottle Shop!
5 courses paired with spirits from Oregon Spirit Distillers!
~greens & vodka~
~pork & rum~
~fowl & gin~
~beef & whiskey~
~sweets & absinthe~
featuring food & spirit from HDFFA Members & Farmers:
Savory Spice Shop Bend, The Next Season Farm, Rainshadow Organics,Juniper Jungle Permaculture Farm, Gunpowder Roasting Ranch, and Dancing Cow Farm!
We are proud to annouce that the dinner will be created by Guest Chef Ingrid Rohrer. You may know her as the former Executive Chef at 10 Below at the Oxford Hotel or maybe you took one of her culinary tours with the Well Traveled Fork. She has been living in Oregon for several years, but hails from California. She was formerly an Executive Chef for Bon Appetit, and prior to that was the Chef de Cuisine at the Organic Kitchen of the well-known Earthbound Farm and Executive Chef of the Daily Planet. She is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, now Le Cordon Bleu, in San Francisco. Chef Ingrid describes her food as high-end comfort food with an ethnic twist and is thrilled to bring her years of experience cooking farm-to-table to BTBS and HDFFA for this exciting event!

Waldo Lake Campout
2015-08-28 - 2015-08-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Spend a few days exploring Waldo Lake. One of the most beautiful places in Oregon, Waldo Lake is motor-free and remains beautiful because of it. From our group camp we will take day hikes to explore the surrounding the area, and provide information about the geology and natural systems that keep this lake pristine. Kayaks and canoes are welcome!
Watch for details on the Juniper Group web site: http://bit.ly/junipergroup

10th Annual Hollinshead Community Garden Open House
2015-08-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Plan to join us Saturday, August 29th from 10 am -2 pm at the 10th annual Hollinshead Community Garden Open House.
There will be free classes taught by OSU certified Master Gardeners starting at 10:15. Tomato tasting, artists in the garden and other fun activities will be offered. If you’ve wanted to tour the 90 plot community garden, hear from the gardeners about their successes, and see the demonstration beds, now is your chance.
The Hollinshead Homestead House and Barn will also be open for tours.
Hollinshead Community Garden is located in Hollinshead Park, 1235 NE Jones Road, Bend

Meet the Makers
2015-08-29 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join 20+ local vendors to celebrate and taste Central Oregon products. There will be fun kids activities, grilling, and music that transform the parking lot into a street fair. If you’re as excited as we are to celebrate, we would love to see you there!

Building a Better Nest
2015-09-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
For 15 years, Evelyn Hess and her husband lived in a tent a trailer, without electricity or running water, on 20 acres of wild land in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. When they decided to build a “real” house at long last, they knew it would have to respect the lessons of simple living that they learned while living their camping life. “We also knew we could not do it alone,” says Hess. Her book,” Building a Better Nest,” chronicles the experience of seeking a model for sustainable living as they constructed a tiny house of their own. In this talk, Hess will discuss sustainable living, living off the grid and her own adventures in “building a better nest.”

Backyard Farm Tour
2015-09-12 08:00 - 2015-09-13 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 375 SW Powerhouse Dr Suite 100, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The 6th rendition of the BackyardFarmTour will take place the weekend following Labor day, Sept. 12-13. Still to be determined is if it will be 1 or 2 days. As always we will seek out some new places and revisit some of our old favorites. The BYFT is largely self selecting, so let me know if you are interested in participating this year. I also appreciate any other other ideas or input you may have. Of course the key part of putting the BYFT together is finding the farms and gardens to be on it. I appreciate any and all leads. Even if it is just a place you drove by that looks good.
Volunteers on the organizational side are sought, too.
We are having another fabulous year for gardening in Central Oregon, so how could we not have another fabulous BackyardFarmTour?
Follow BYFT developments on at http://backyardfarmtour.com where you can get our RSS feed, subscribe to our email list or at our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/Backyardfarmtour.

C.R.O.P. Farm Tours: Smudgie Goose Farm
2015-09-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Crooked River Open Pastures (C.R.O.P) Events are ways for you and your family or friends to experience the farm and ranch life in Central Oregon. The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance along with a dedicated group of farmers and community members in Crook County are offering these FREE farm tours and rotating Farmer’s Market throughout the summer. Each farm host will have vendors from 10am-2pm on the listed dates and offering free tours and other family friendly activities.
Saturday’s 10am-2pm
Join for the Fall Fantastical Harvest Gala!
Smudgie Goose Farm – See Address

Deadline: Oregon Wild Outdoor Photo Contest
2015-09-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
For over a decade, the Oregon Wild Outdoor Photo Contest has been a platform for stunning portraits of the state we call home. Amateur and professional photographers alike have submitted incredible images of mountainscapes, rivers, and elusive creatures that embody our ideal Oregon. In 2015, we’re expanding the contest aesthetic to include Oregon’s dark side – giving a face to the issues we must address to keep our state pristine and wild. Nature photographers are conservation photographers, so we’re calling on you and your superior eye to capture it all. Send us the scenic and the tragic; the light and the dark – the full Oregon spectrum.
Enter your photos in the 11th annual Outdoor Photo Contest’s four main categories:

Wildlands
Wildlife
Waters
Endangered Places (this year subtitled Oregon: high-contrast, featuring the state and private logging practices that currently harm and continue to threaten our landscape.)

An entry fee of just $5 enables you to submit up to five total photos to any of the four main categories, and enters you into the chance to win exciting prizes from our outstanding sponsors, including:

$250 gift certificate to Pro Photo Supply
More prizes to come…

For all submissions:
Before you send in your images, please review the contest Rules and Submission Guidelines for complete details, including an explanation of the categories. All submissions must be accompanied by a completed entry form.
Finalists are announced after an initial round of judging in September. Oregon Wild supporters will vote online for the grand prize winners in each category. We will announce the winners at our annual benefit, Call of the Wild, to be held in Portland on the night of October 16, 2015.
Please note: The Oregon Wild staff work tirelessly to protect the wildlands, wildlife, and waters that are the focus of this contest. We are unable to take phone calls regarding this contest and urge you to utilize the maps, detailed submission guidelines, and additional resources provided on our website to the best of your ability. Thank you for understanding, and best of luck!

Volcanoes and Hydrology, Water in Central Oregon
2015-09-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
VOLCANOES AND HYDROLOGY, WATER IN CENTRAL OREGON

Open to the Public
Contact: Gretchen Valido, 541-389-0785
What do volcanoes have to do with your water supply? The volcanic landscapes of Central Oregon have shaped the hydrology of this area in surprising ways, giving us one of the most unique groundwater systems in the western U.S. Spring-fed rivers and streams in Central Oregon are directly connected to groundwater systems, which provide steady flows and cool water temperatures year-round. How have volcanoes created this special connection between groundwater and surface water? And what does this connection tell us about water use in Central Oregon and the impacts of withdrawing groundwater for development? Presented by Daniele McKay, Ph.D., Vulcanologist and Adjunct Instructor at OSU Cascades.

Urban Growth Boundary Scenarios at Pints and Politics
2015-09-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Special guests: Brian Rankin and Mike Riley present the proposed UGB boundary scenarios.
In late September and early October the City of Bend will launch a public survey and hold three public meetings related to the Urban Growth Boundary Remand. City of Bend Principal Planner Brian Rankin and Mike Riley from the UGB Boundary and Growth Scenarios Technical Advisory Committee will discuss the proposed locations for redevelopment as Bend grows. Join us to learn about the process, ask questions and find out how you can offer feedback on the proposed scenarios.
Join OLCV and fellow community members who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy for Pints and Politics on the third Thursday of the month.

Days of Caring
2015-09-18 - 2015-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Volunteer Connect and United Way of Deschutes County are teaming up to organize and present the 2015 Days of Caring on Sept. 18 & 19, an event that brings together volunteers from local businesses to provide project-focused volunteer service to non-profit and public organizations.
Help nonprofits across Central Oregon this year by signing up your business team for one of nearly 30 volunteer projects. Whether you paint, plant, clean, or rake leaves, this is your chance to lend a hand, get connected, and Live United! Sign up online at volunteerconnectnow.org or call 541-385-8977.
Hosted by Volunteer Connect and United Way

2015 Free Appliance Recycling Event
2015-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The annual appliance recycling event will be held Saturday, September 19 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Knott Landfill Recycling & Transfer Facility, 61050 SE 27th St. in Bend. Residents are encouraged to recycle their own used appliances and appliances that have been dumped on or around their property.
Only the items listed below will be accepted at the appliance event:

Stoves
Ovens
Washers
Air conditioners
Dishwashers
Dryers
Refrigerators*
Trash Compactors*
Freezers*
Water heaters
Furnaces
Heat Pumps

* These items will not be accepted if they contain food or food residue

KPOV's Fall DJ Class
2015-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Are you interested in learning more about radio? Thinking about hosting a show on KPOV? Love music? Want to get involved in your community?
KPOV’s Fall DJ class, coming up on September 19, is your answer! You’ll learn non-profit radio dos and don’ts on the 19th at COCC, and then get hands-on studio sessions at KPOV.
Check out all the details about the adult and teen classes at kpov.org.
Click here to register online now. Or you may sign up by phone by calling COCC at 541-383-7270.
We offer this 3-session class twice a year through COCC community education. All students attend a common informational class Saturday, September 19 from 9am-12noon at COCC, followed by two hands-on studio sessions at KPOV.
The informational class will be Saturday, September 19, 9:00 am-12 noon at COCC Boyle Education Center, room 152.
The studio sessions, here at the KPOV station, are as follows:
Studio Session 1: Sat/Sun, September 19 & 20, 6-9pm
Studio Session 2: Mon/Tues, September 21 & 22, 6-9pm
Teen Session: As scheduled on an individual basis

Green Lakes Hike, Three Sisters Wilderness
2015-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 8.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
Leader: Pam Hardy
Location: Three Sisters Wilderness (carpools depart from Bend)
A classic Central Cascades hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness, this trail passes waterfalls, wildflowers, and large old trees en route to a set of gorgeous alpine lakes. We’ll have lunch at the lakes, possibly take a swim if it’s warm, and head back down.
RSVP here!
**Due to the popularity of our hikes we urge you to only sign up if you are sure you will be attending. If you do not have access to e-mail please contact Pam Hardy with any questions: (541) 382-2616 or ph@oregonwild.org. If signing up more than one person, please use the guest feature on the next page. Minors must be accompanied by adults. Hike leaders will provide more details as the hike date approaches.
Help Oregon Wild continue to provide high-quality, guided hikes into Oregon’s spectacular wildlands by making a small donation with your hike sign-up. Your support helps offset the costs of our hikes program, and ensures we can all continue to explore and enjoy Oregon’s natural heritage. Suggested donation of $5 (Oregon Wild members) and $10 (non members). If you are unsure if your Oregon Wild membership is current, please call 503.283.6343 x 200. To join, please click here.

C.R.O.P. Farm Tours: Brasada Ranch
2015-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Crooked River Open Pastures (C.R.O.P) Events are ways for you and your family or friends to experience the farm and ranch life in Central Oregon. The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance along with a dedicated group of farmers and community members in Crook County are offering these FREE farm tours and rotating Farmer’s Market throughout the summer. Each farm host will have vendors from 10am-2pm on the listed dates and offering free tours and other family friendly activities.
Saturday’s 10am-2pm
Haven’t been to Brasada before? Now’s your chance to see this award winning resort.
Brasada Ranch – See Address

Class - End of the Season Gardening Issues
2015-09-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Information from OSU Master Gardeners™ about composting, seed saving, dividing plants, mulching, pruning and care of bulbs.
