Nurture a connection with the planet in honor of Earth Day

In Central Oregon, local organizations are making the observance of Earth Day as easy as slowing down and connecting with the planet.

Give Mother Earth a little love this week by participating in an upcoming event or following the earth-friendly tips below.

Honor the Earth with undivided attention

Environmental issues such as climate change, threatened biodiversity and plastic waste are a result of humans disconnecting with the earth, said Mindy Lockhart, a certified forest therapy guide.

“We cannot solve these problems, including the chaos wrought by climate change, until we feel — not just know, but sense somewhere deep in our bones — that we are in a reciprocal relationship with the earth,” Lockhart said.

Lockhart is leading a forest bathing session in Shevlin Park on Sunday. It involves a guided meditation followed by an invitation to attune with the symphony of nature.

Participants will listen to the birds, the wind in the trees in addition to employing the senses of smell, taste and touch.

Lockhart said, “We start to see that every creature, plant or object is not just something to observe but something to be in relationship with, which has a presence, a being, of its own. And we remember that we are merely a thread in this web of interconnection.”

This shift in perspective lays the groundwork for a sense of stewardship and accountability for the planet. It honors the Earth with the precious gift of our undivided attention, Lockhart said.

Earth Day Forest Bathing; 1-3 p.m. Sunday; Shevlin Park; $35; rootedpresence.com, mindy@rootedpresence.com.

Cultivate presence with mindful movement (and pick up trash)

Khyra Wilhelm, co-owner of Wildland Guiding Company, said protecting the environment starts on the individual level.

She recommends implementing small actions, such as picking up “micro trash” found on the trails in a reusable bag or biodegradable dog bag. Cigarette butts, snack wrappers, bottle caps, bullet casings and fishing line are all harmful to the environment, she said.

Wilhelm also suggests donating or volunteering with Think Wild, a nonprofit rehabilitating wildlife, or The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, which works to restore and protect the watershed.

Wilhelm invites the community to celebrate Earth Day with mindful movement in Drake Park. She’s leading an outdoor yoga class in partnership with Emily Tighe, founder of Do Yoga Outside. The one-hour flow invites practitioners to connect with the surrounding environment.

Earth Day Outdoor Yoga Class, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Drake Park, exact location shared after sign-up; Suggested donation $15-$30; wildlandguidingcompany.com, 503-888-3674

Celebrate slow fashion

Clothing Connection gives students of Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and Oregon State University-Cascades students access to gently used and new clothing to prepare them for school, work, field placements, interviews and internships.

The Clothing Connections Fashion Show puts the spotlight on sustainable fashion with two shows on Friday featuring over 40 models wearing donated clothing and accessories.

Clothing Connection Fashion Show; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Willie Hall at COCC, 2600 NW College Way, Bend; $10 general admission or free for students; cocc.edu, clothingconnection@cocc.edu.

Connect with community at the Earth Day Fair & Parade

The community is encouraged to dress in a costume representing their interpretation of Earth Day at The Environmental Center’s annual Earth Day Fair & Parade.

Participants will gather at the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Bond Street at 11 a.m. before marching through downtown Bend, preceded by 8-foot-tall puppets created by local artist Teafly Peterson.

The subsequent fair in Troy Field will include traditional African dancing and drumming by Fodeliche Syzzla and traditional Mayan drumming and dancing by Grupo Maya.

Over 60 vendors have signed up to participate said Priscilla Calleros, events and outreach manager of the nonprofit organizing the event.

One of the participating vendors is the Deschutes Land Trust, which will give away milkweed seeds, a native species that improves buttery and pollinator habitat in Central Oregon.

“We love being there every year to chat with folks in our community about our work,” said Sarah Mowry, community engagement director at the Land Trust. It’s a great opportunity for attendees to learn about local groups making a difference in conservation, she added.

Although Earth Day occupies one day on the calendar, its ethos should be carried throughout the year, Calleros said.

“Earth Day is really every day,” she said. “We should all be doing our part and

what we can to care for the Earth on a daily basis.”

Earth Day Fair & Parade; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; Parade is at Troy Field, 51 NW Louisiana Ave., Bend; Free: envirocenter.org, 541-385-8908