The Environmental Center

The Children's Forest Volunteer Training
2016-03-02 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
The Children’s Forest is offering our first ever volunteer training for community members interested in working with environmental education and family programs. The training will provide skills for leading effective outdoor activities, group management in the outdoors, and natural history skills. Volunteers will learn about several education programs offered through Children’s Forest partners which provide ongoing volunteer opportunities this spring and beyond.
Interested volunteers should:

Have an interest and passion for working with youth outdoors
Be able to attend all days of the training
Be able to commit to leading at least 5 field days with youth this school year (mainly occur on weekdays)
No experience necessary!

Dates:

March 2, 6-8pm, The Environmental Center
March 5, 9am-3:30pm, Skyliners Lodge
March 9, 6-8pm, The Environmental Center
March 12, 9am-3:30pm, locations TBD

Questions? Contact Katie Chipko at katie@childrensforestco.org. To register, please complete our online registration.

Bend Central Westside Plan open houses
2016-03-03 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
See what the future might look like for Bend’s central westside neighborhoods!
Bend’s central Westside is rapidly changing. After more than a year of community input, the City of Bend has developed a preferred land use concept. Now, the City needs your input about how the transportation system might change to support this future land use vision.
The city is holding two open houses to present the preferred scenario and gather input on the transportation improvements:
Northern Area Open House
5-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Kingston School, 1101 NW 12th Street
Southern Area Open House
5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, 2016
Riverbend Community Room, 799 SW Columbia
This open house is your chance to explore the city’s proposed preferred land use concept and provide input about how transportation decisions could shape these neighborhoods. The Northern Area Open House will focus on Newport Avenue, Galveston Avenue, and 14th Street corridors. The Southern Area Open House will focus on the university area and industrial area. All materials will be available at both open houses.
Can’t attend a meeting? You can also participate online from March 1-15, 2016. Visit the project website at www.bendoregon.gov/westsideplan!
For any questions about the open house or the Central Westside Plan, please contact Karen Swirsky at kswirsky@bendoregon.gov

First Friday House Party at SJC
2016-03-04 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
You are invited! First Friday House Party
The Social Justice Center will be welcoming our newest arrivals. Our community is growing and we are fortunate to have great folks like these who are active in the community for social justice.
Kor Community Land Trust
Bend Immigration Group
Lourdes Sanchez Law Group
We will be gathering for fun food and conversation. Also, for those of you who want to take action, we will also coordinate teams to go downtown to gather signatures for IP 28 (totally optional)
Other allies in attendance: Jobs with Justice, Human Dignity Coalition, Oregon Strong Voice, SEIU, OSEA, ONA, AFSCME, CAUSA.

Bloom Project Giveback Night @ Portello Winecafe
2016-03-08 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
You are invited to come support The Bloom Project by stopping by for a glass of wine, appetizers or dinner at Portello Winecafe in Northwest Crossing.
A portion of the proceeds from the evening will be donated to The Bloom Project to support our mission.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Wednesday Birders
2016-03-09 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-03-16 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-03-23 07:00 - 12:00, 2016-03-30 07:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Nancy P’s, 1054 Milwaukee, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Meet up with others in our intrepid group for local birding. We meet at Nancy P’s Bakery on Newport Avenue just east of Newport Market in Bend. From there we depart on weekly half day or full day trips to venues in our area. Meet-up times are usually 7AM in the Spring and Summer and 8AM in Fall and Winter. Trip plans are posted on COBOL each week prior to the trip.
Transportation is via carpool depending on who can drive and individual schedules. Dress for the weather; be prepared with food, sunscreen, etc; and bring a pair of binoculars; spotting scopes are helpful on many trips.
Feb 10 early start, all day to Willamette Valley refuge
Feb 17, Shevlin trails, River trails Bend
Feb 24, Cold Springs, Suttle Lake, Santiam Pass
March 2, Skyliner area
March 9, Wastewater ponds, Hatfield, Redmond, etc
March 16, Sunriver and south where open water can be found
March 23, Lower Bridge, includes knapweed digging
March 30, Fort Rock, all day
April 6, Calliope Crossing, Green Ridge
April 13, Desert east of Bend, EARLY start
April 20, Cline Falls SP, Twin Bridges, Tumalo State Park,
April 27, Shevlin Park ***Change****
May 4 Shorebirds, wastewater ponds Bend, Redmond, Prineville
May 11 River trails Bend and Tumalo for migrants
May 18, GI Ranch, east of Bend. Birding all day, bring lunch, scopes.
May 25, shorebirds, location TBD
June1, Malheur, all day
June 8 Glaze Meadow, Black Butte Swamp, Calliope Crossing
June 15, woodpeckers, varied locations
June 22 Cabin Lake, Fort Rock and Summer Lake, all day, bring lunch
June 29, Gilchrist, Crescent, Norther Waterthrush
July 6, Three Creeks, Park Meadow trail, other trails
July 13 Hatfield, walk 3 miles
July 20 Calliope Crossing, Jack Lake
July 27,Green Ridge springs
August 3 High Lakes, shorebirds, waterfowl
August 10 Skyliner and Tumalo Falls morning and again evening
August 17, a.m. Millican Valley, return in evening, over night optional at Pine Mountain
August 24 Calliope Crossing, Black Butte Swamp
August 31, shorebirds
Sept 7 Wickiup, Crane Prairie, Vaux’s Swifts evening, Bend
Sept 14, Malheur all day
Sept 21 Green Ridge raptors, grouse, woodpeckers, all day birding
Sept 28, Fort Rock and Summer Lake, all day
Oct 5, high lakes, Crane Prairie and Wickiup
Oct 12 Hatfield ponds, Alfalfa
Oct 19 coastal birding, 2 or 3 days, seawatching a.m., passerines and land PMs.
Oct 26 Mill Creek, Ochocos area

Fruit Tree Pruning Class
2016-03-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Two hour class on fruit tree pruning in the field – the same class will be offered at two different locations. Morning class will be in Madras from 9:30-11:30 am. Afternoon class will be held in Prineville from 2:00-4:00 pm. Class size will be limited, so pre-registration is required. Cost is $15 per person. Location of classes will be emailed to registered participants. For more information or to register, call the Deschutes County Extension Service at (541) 548-6088.

ReStore's Furniture Flip Application Due
2016-03-11 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
This competition is designed to raise funds for Bend Area Habitat for Humanity and to raise awareness of creative reuse by demonstrating the unlimited possibilities of donated ReStore items.
If approved to be a designer, you’ll be challenged to redesign one to three pieces of furniture/home accessories using items found at the Bend Habitat ReStore, following three design themes (one for each piece). You’ll be able to choose which themes you wish to address. Keep in mind that the more items you complete, the more award categories you’ll be eligible to enter.
You’ll receive ReStore dollars to shop the store. The transformed pieces will be sold at our Furniture Flip event, with all proceeds benefiting Bend Area Habitat for Humanity. The challenge will test your creativity and ability to “upcycle” everyday household goods into imaginative home decor.
To submit an application, fill out the form below and email one to three photos* of your past work that best demonstrates your design aesthetic (.jpg or PDF format, please, including a caption where necessary) to restorebend@gmail.com.
*To be considered for the design competition, photos are required. (Previous participants are waived from this requirement.)
Timeline:
Deadline for application is Friday, March 11 by 5 pm.
You will receive an email on March 17 regarding your entry.
On March 23 at 5:30, there will be a designer meeting, where you’ll receive the competition guidelines and design themes, along with ReStore dollars. There will be an exclusive after-hours shopping spree from 6:30–7:30 pm to get you started.

Adopt-A-Trail Training (Bend)
2016-03-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
COTA’s trail adoption program has been revised and we are pleased to offer training sessions to everyone interested in learning more about the work that goes into building and maintain the trails we all ride. This will be the second of four sessions available over the next several months. We will outline the adoption process and go over the basics of trail maintenance. Topics include: Land Managers, multiple use trails, identifying causes of and sustainable practices for controlling erosion, drainage, sight-lines, soil composition, USFS and COTA Trail Standards, safety, tools and more. If you would like to participate please send an email to adopt@cotamtb.com and visit our website – cotamtb.com/trails/adopt-a-trail/.
*Current adopters please note that the guidelines and requirements have changed. Please visit the link above and familiarize yourself with the changes.
All COTA trail work events require the following safety measures:
All participants must sign a waiver.
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 these requirements.

Discover Nature Day
2016-03-12 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Presented by the Children’s Forest of Central Oregon partners, Discover Nature Days are free family events throughout Central Oregon that connect children and families to the wonder of nature.
Birds of Prey: Experience an up close encounter with a raptor, learn about its amazing adaptations, and play a game about bird migration.

Forest Service Presents Climate Change Information
2016-03-14 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
BEND– In mid-March a nationally known forest researcher with the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station and a researcher with the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington jointly will present their recent assessments of the impact of climate change on national forests in South-Central Oregon in Bend, Ore.
Dr. Dave Peterson. Senior Research Biologist with the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Dr. Jessica Halofsky, Research Ecologist with the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, will discuss their studies on the impacts of climate change in South-Central Oregon on Monday, March 14, 2016 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Willie Hall at Central Oregon Community College’s Coats Campus Center, 2600 NW College Way. The presentation is free and open to the public.
Dr. Peterson is a well-known researcher on climate change and shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr. Halofsky coordinated the climate change vulnerability studies on the national forests in Oregon. Following their presentation the public will be able to discuss the information with the researchers.
For the past year, scientists and local resource managers worked together to assess how climate change may affect water resources, fisheries, vegetation, wildlife and recreation on public lands of the Deschutes, Ochoco and Fremont-Winema National Forests, the Crooked River National Grassland and Crater Lake National Park. In addition to this research, these same public agencies formed the South-Central Oregon Adaptation Partnership (SCOAP) to seek solutions for coping with the effects of a warmer climate on public lands.
Preliminary findings of the assessment also are being shared during a Climate Change workshop with researchers and land managers in Redmond, Ore. on March 15-16, 2016. Workshop participants will develop adaptation strategies, which may be used to minimize negative impacts from climate change.
Following the workshop, the final assessment will be peer reviewed and published by the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station. The results will be available to federal agencies, other landowners, and the general public. For more information about the SCOAP assessment, see http://adaptationpartners.org/scoap.

Chuck Gates: Birds of Oregon's High Desert
2016-03-15 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
In the third installment of the Bend edition of ONDA’s High Desert Speaker Series, local birding expert Chuck Gates shares about the amazing birds of Oregon’s high desert.
He’ll highlight the threats these amazing creatures face, as well as recent successes that have saved many lives.
You’ll leave inspired by these majestic birds, with everything you need to go find them yourself!
Many thanks to the East Cascade Audubon Society for their generous support of this presentation.
The event will take place at Bend’s Old Stone Church, 157 NW Franklin Ave. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The event is free. Space is limited.
Registration for this event will open in February.

Native Bee Block Workshop
2016-03-16 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
We know honey bees are in trouble, but native wild pollinators are also vital in pollinating our flowers, vegetables, fruit and nut trees. Their natural habitat is disappearing and these bee blocks will help the critters by providing homes. Join us for this native bee block building workshop, everyone welcome. We’ll provide blank wood pieces cut to size, hardware, and some of the tools. Please bring a hammer, electric or battery drill, 1/4 or 3/8 inch drill bit, and/or sandpaper if you have any of them. We’ve been selling native bee blocks for four years and you can buy one while supporting our Keep Waldo Wild campaign.
Special offer for workshop helpers, $3 discount off the regular price of $18. Learn more about native bee blocks and how to order them at our Native Bee Block web page.

Pints & Politics
2016-03-17 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join OLCV, friends and community members to hear from local candidates who care about protecting Oregon’s natural legacy.

Meet candidates for Bend City Council, Gena Goodman-Campbell and Barb Campbell, and candidate for Bend Mayor, Sally Russell. Learn why Gena, Barb and Sally are running, ask questions, and find out how you can ensure the Bend City Council continues to value our environment.

Earth Hour @ Deschutes Brewery
2016-03-19 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Join the Bend Energy Challenge as Deschutes Brewery Pub powers down and turns off the lights from 8:30 – 9:30 on Saturday, March 19th in honor of Earth Hour — or host an event of your own!

KPOV Youth Radio Camp
2016-03-21, 2016-03-22, 2016-03-23, 2016-03-24, 2016-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Want to learn how to create a radio show at a radio station and have a blast making it happen? At the KPOV Youth Radio Camp, KPOV will teach participants how to be a DJ, interview a friend, talk live on the radio, and tell a story with sound effects, music, and humor. They will produce a one-hour radio show that will be broadcast on KPOV 88.9. At the Bend Parks and Recreation registration page, run a keyword search for KPOV.
Who: Youth ages 10-14
When: The week of June 26-30 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Registration: Bend Parks and Recreation — https://register.bendparksandrec.org//wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/wbsplash.html?wbp=1. This is a free camp.
Contact – 541-322-0863; bruce@kpov.org

Spring Break Youth Radio Camp
2016-03-21, 2016-03-22, 2016-03-23, 2016-03-24, 2016-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Want to learn how to create a radio show and have some fun making it happen? KPOV will be holding our Youth Radio Camp again this Spring Break!

The camp will be held March 21-25 in the KPOV studio, at 501 NW Bond Street in Bend.
The camp is for youth grades 4-7, ages 9-13, and will be held from 9:00 a.m to Noon each day.
In this camp, KPOV will teach you how to be a DJ, interview a friend, talk live on the air, and tell a story with sound effects, music, and humor. Your group will produce a one-hour radio show that will be broadcast on KPOV 88.9. You’ll also get a copy on CD to take home!
Find enrollment information at the Bend Park and Recreation Website. Do a keyword search for KPOV. KPOV thanks Bend Park and Recreation District for their long term partnership in our Youth Radio Camps!

LED Lighting Fair
2016-03-23 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Discount LED light bulbs available at The Environmental Center!
Products for sale will include the following below, and some limits will apply (2 Energy Savings packs + 10 other bulbs, 1 Energy Savings Pack + 11 other bulbs, or 12 other individual bulbs):

Energy Savings Packs with 6 LED lamp bulbs (A19) and one low-flow shower head – $10 (Retail: bulbs $3-8, shower head $10)
Energy Savings Pack with 6 LED (A19) lamp bulbs – $10
A21 General Purpose (75w equivalent) – $8 (Retail $12 – 15)
A21 General Purpose (100w equivalent) – $10 (Retail $14-25)
3-way bulbs – $12 (Retail $15 – 25)
BR30 (2.5″ diameter)- $5 each (Retail $8 – 10)
BR40 (5″ diameter) – $10 each (Retail Retail $8 – 10)
Par38 Outdoor Flood – $10 ($15-25)
G25 Globe – $5 (Retail $
Candelabras (E12 base) – $5 (Retail $7-17)

Bulb discounts provided by the Energy Trust of Oregon.

Spring Break Garden Work Party
2016-03-25 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
Swing by the Kansas Avenue Learning Garden to help with various garden tasks any time between 10am – 3pm! We’ll be busy preparing the garden for our growing season. Help us complete our vertical growing sitting area, prep garden beds for planting, and get the garden ready for spring. This is an open work day, stop by anytime from 10-3. We’ll provide tools, coffee, juice and snacks. Family friendly, open to the public. Thank you for helping us take care of the garden!

March Nature Night: Cougar Conservation in the 21st Century
2016-03-30 | Deschutes Brewery Public House, 1044 NW Bond St, Bend, OR, 97701, United States
**Registration for this Nature Night will open February 29!**
Our relationship with predators, particularly large predators, is driven by a fascination and curiosity that is primal. Cougars are one such species where human/predator interactions seem dramatic, but are nonetheless extremely rare. Join biologist Rick Hopkins to learn more about cougars and the conservation efforts needed to provide both habitat and connectivity for the species. Rick will explore the biology and ecology of cougars, the history of predator management and conservation including myths that are often perpetuated, and suggest a framework for modernizing predator management that promotes conservation.
