The Greater Bend Environment & Sustainability Committee officially started in early 2022 to jump into RI’s 7th Focus area–protecting the environment.
Being an outdoor town, Bend already has many active organizations in many areas of interest, so we decided to leverage their current efforts and make them more impactful. The Bend Environmental Center’s Garden in Every School Program has been very instrumental in our work with school gardens. The Upper Deschutes River Conservancy’s Deschutes River Clean-up we have stepped in to lead the effort for the First Street Rapids portion of the cleanup.
We have supported international sustainability projects and the environmental projects of other Rotary clubs. Recently, we have expanded into a local effort of RI plastic film recycling effort partnering NexTrex with a local elementary school.
If you love Central Oregon environment join us in keeping it the special place it is and making it even better. Many hands make light work.
School Gardens:
- Stein’s Pillar – New Garden Shed Assembly (Our first project!!)
- Desert Sky Montessori School Garden
- COIC Juvenile Justice Center Peace Garden (still in process)
- Bear Creek Elementary School (see the thank-you notes from the students here)
Deschutes River Clean-up:
- Lead the First Street Rapids Park cleanup
NexTrex Plastic Film Recycling:
- We are supporting Elk Meadows Elementary School by adding our collection to their efforts to collect 1,000 lbs. in a single year to earn a Trex bench for their school.
Remote projects we support:
- Cumbaya Nutritional Forest, Ecuadorian Amazon – Rotary eClub of the State of Jefferson – watch the video
- Newport Beach Microplastics Clean-up, Newport Beach Oregon – Rotary Club of Newport Beach
Bear Creek Elementary School Project:
COIC Juvenile Justice Peace Garden Project:
Desert Sky Montessori Garden Project:
Deschutes River Cleanup Project:
