Bend Family Loop: Week of Apr. 13-16

Hi there,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Our family ran the Bend Marathon Kids 1-mile race this morning which is always fun and super cute to be a part of. My oldest kiddo loved hearing everyone cheering each other on (and getting a medal and gummy snacks at the finish line!), my little one enjoyed her free ride in the jogging stroller 😉

In this week's Loop:

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

Walking into the Open Arts Center Teen Center for the first time, my immediate thought was: I wish this had existed when I was growing up.

The OAC Teen Center, which officially opened last week in Bend's Central District, is a bright, colorful, come-as-you-are space designed for teens ages 13–18 to make things (art, music, clothing, whatever calls to them) without grades, expectations, or the pressure to produce.

Co-founders Claire and Maija built it around a simple observation: creative exploration is everywhere in early childhood, and then it largely disappears. Often what is left in its place are high school art classes, where creativity comes with a rubric attached.

At OAC, a teen can paint over the same canvas every week while they figure out what they're trying to say. They can pick up an instrument, dig through a wall of art supplies, or sink into a beanbag chair and just exhale. The program director is on site, but there's no agenda beyond their creative curiosity.

Free Open Art Hours run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-7pm. Open Sew Hours on Mondays and rotating creative workshops are available for around $15-$25 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Their monthly Teen Open Mic Night, in partnership with Deschutes Public Library, has already launched, with the next one this Thursday, April 16th at 5pm. Registration is required for all programming (Open Hours, workshops, events) and can be done through their website.

The space is in the Bend Central District with a Route 2 bus stop right out front, and a short walk from Hawthorne Station.

If you know a teen who makes things, or wants to, this is worth passing along. A place to show up, make something, and find their people.

🎨 Learn more and see the full schedule for teens (and adults!) at theopenartscenter.org

Here’s what’s happening this week!

📚 “This Little Light” Book Launch & Storytime
10am • Ages 1-10 • More info
📍Play Theory Cafe (2221 NE 3rd St)

Local author & illustrator Tabitha Rehfeldt will be debuting her first children’s book at this storytime and book launch celebration. Storytime reading is included as part of the 10am-12pm play session Monday-Friday this week!

🌱 Backpack Explorers: Spring Impressions
10–11am • Ages 3–5 • Register
📍High Desert Museum (59800 S Hwy 97, Bend)

Little ones explore the High Desert Museums’ forest and ponds of the to learn about how plants and animals come alive as the weather warms up.

📚 Preschool Story Time
10:30–11am • Ages 3–5 • Free • More info
📍Deschutes Historical Museum (129 NW Idaho Ave, Bend)

Stories, songs, and rhymes to build early literacy skills for preschoolers.

🤸 Playmania Open Play
9–11am • Ages 0–5 • Free for under 1 • More info
📍Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy (63060 Layton Ave, Bend)

A drop-in open play session packed with climbing obstacles, push cars, trampolines, a ninja course, and access to COGA's gymnastics equipment.

🤸 Toddlers & Tots
9-11am • Ages 1–5 • More info
📍Cascade Indoor Sports (21540 Cooley Rd, Bend)

Enjoy climbing and sliding in the Bigger Play Thing without the “big kid” energy during this toddler-friendly open play time. There will also be Strider bikes, balloons, soccer balls, and more available for play.

🧵 Teen Open Sew Hours
4–7pm • Ages 13–17 • $15 • Register
📍OAC Teen Center (999 NE 2nd St, Bend)

Drop in to the Open Arts Center's teen sewing hours facilitated by Fashion Workshop. Learn how to use the machines, get help on projects, or start something new!

🍦 FREE Cone Day At Ben & Jerry's
12–8pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Ben & Jerry's (450 SW Powerhouse Dr)

Ben & Jerry's annual Free Cone Day is back! Free scoops for everyone, all day long! Partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend this year. Lines can get long, so go early (or late!).

🎨 Sensory Art Play
9:15–10:15am • Ages 9 months–2 years • Register
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

Taste-safe, sensory-rich art play for babies, supporting fine motor skills, sensory processing, and early language development. This class is wonderfully messy, definitely pack a change of clothes!

📚 Baby Story Time
10:30–10:45am • Ages 0–18 months • Free • More info
📍Deschutes Children's Foundation (2125 NE Daggett Ln)

A gentle 15-minute story time with songs, board books, and bonding time for babies 0–18 months.

🐴 Sisters Farm School Open Day
11am–12:30pm • All ages • More info
📍Sisters Farm School (between Bend and Sisters)

A fun-filled morning on the farm with animals, outdoor play, arts & crafts, and the chance to groom a pony or horse, and pony riding lessons available for ages 3–6.

🤸 Homeschool Open Play
1:30–3pm • Ages 10 months–13 • $16 • Register
📍Free Spirit (320 SW Powerhouse Dr)

A midday ninja-play session for homeschool families with climbing, obstacles, and active challenges.

🎨 Teen Open Art Hours
3–7pm • Ages 13–18 • Free • More info
📍OAC Teen Center (999 NE 2nd St, Bend)

Free drop-in creative space for teens. Art materials, musical instruments, sewing machines, and more provided. Work on whatever inspires you! Come for an hour or stay all four.

🪴 Sewing Fabric Dracaena Plant
5:30–7:30pm • Ages 6–15 • Register
📍Samara Learning Center (230 NE 9th St)

Design, sew, and craft their own fabric Dracaena plant, complete with layered leaves and a decorated pot. Learn basic sewing and soft-sculpture techniques together.

📚 Toddler Story Time
10:30–10:55am • Ages 1.5–3 • Free • More info
📍Deschutes Children's Foundation (2125 NE Daggett Ln)

An active story time with stories, songs, and movement rhymes for toddlers 18–36 months.

📚 Family Story Time
11:30–11:55am • Ages 0–5 • Free • More info
📍Deschutes Children's Foundation (2125 NE Daggett Ln,)

Interactive story time with books, songs, and rhymes for families with children 0–5.

🐰 Peter Rabbit Spring Celebration
1–2pm • Ages 6–11 • Free • More info
📍Sunriver Library (56855 Community Dr, Sunriver)

Celebrate spring with one of literature's favorite characters: Peter Rabbit! Activities and fun for elementary-aged kids.

🪼 Jellyfish & Bioluminescence
1–4pm • Ages 6–11 • Register
📍Let’s Paint! @ Tower Theater (835 NW Wall St)

Kids paint gorgeous jellyfish and make multimedia wall hangings, plus learn about bioluminescence in this early-release day “Art with a Splash of Science” class.

🎨 Art Club
1:15–3:15pm • Ages 6–12 • Register
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

After-school art club for elementary-age kids on early release Wednesday. Each week features a new creative project inspired by nature, color, and culture. No experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to create!

💃 Free Kids Line Dance Lessons
5–6pm • Ages 4–12 • Free • More info
📍The Coyote (910 NW Harriman St)

Alex of Mindful Motion leads kids in a fun line dance lesson while parents can enjoy an early dinner & a drink!

✍️ The Art Of Haiku
6–7pm • Ages 13–18 • $15 • Register
📍OAC Teen Center (999 NE 2nd St, Bend)

Learn to turn everyday moments into original haiku with journalist and storyteller Bola Gbadebo.

🤸 Toddler Time: Story Time Studio
9am-12pm • Ages 0–5 • More info
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd #150)

A weekly Thursday toddler session featuring story time, crafts, and open play time for little ones. Toddler Time is from 9am-12pm, with storytime at 10:30am.

👶 B.U.R.S.T. Sensory Development And Early Literacy
10:30–11:30am • Ages 0–3 • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond)

Sensory development and early literacy through hands-on play for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (3–36 months). A great developmental playgroup.

🍳 Family Fun In The Kitchen
4-5pm • Ages 8–12 • Register
📍Hanai Center (62430 Eagle Rd)

A seasonal cooking class where kids and a parent cook together using locally sourced ingredients. This week’s class will show you how to cook up a batch of Applesauce French Toast!

🎤 Teen Open Mic Night
5–7pm • Free • More info
📍Open Arts Center (175 NE Greenwood Ave)

Teens take the stage for poetry, music, comedy, spoken word, or whatever they want to share. A supportive, low-pressure open mic night. Register in advance to perform, but all are welcome to join to support our local teens!

💚 Kids Lounge
5:30–7pm • Ages 5–12 • Free • RSVP
📍Healing Reins (65325 Cline Falls Rd, Tumalo)

A free evening of connection for kids touched by grief, hosted by Clear Mourning. Dinner, an art project with Freckles Art, and time with farm goats, pigs, and chickens.

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