Bend Family Loop: Week of Apr. 20-23

Hi there,

We spotted our first goslings of the season on the Canal path this morning, and that was apparently all the permission our family we needed… we spent the afternoon planting in the garden beds. Bold move, possibly foolish, but the winter has been so mild and the spring so early that it felt wrong not to try. (Ask me how it went in a few weeks… 😅)

In this week’s Loop:

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

Celebrate Earth Week with the Environmental Center!

Grab the kids and head to Alpenglow Park this Saturday, April 25th for The Environmental Center's Earth Day Fair & Parade! From 11am to 3pm, the whole family can enjoy a nature-inspired costume parade led by stilt walkers and circus performers, live music and dance from local and indigenous artists, free face painting, a kids activity zone, and 70+ local vendors and food booths.

April 25 • 11am–3pm • Alpenglow Park (61049 SE 15th St) • Learn more

Here’s what’s happening this week!

🫟 Messy Monday Toddler Time at Mountain Air
9am–12pm • Ages 0–5 • Book now
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd.)

Toddlers-only open jump, with extra sensory and art activities woven in. Trampolines, foam pit, and the toddler zone will be open.

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

A lively storytime packed with stories, songs, and rhymes to get little ones excited about reading and build early literacy skills.

🐰 Peter Rabbit Spring Celebration
4pm–5pm • Ages 6–11 • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond)

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

✍️ Spoken Word Poetry
4pm–6pm • Ages 13–17 • Free • RSVP
📍OAC Teen Center (999 NE 2nd St.)

Open writing session for teens who want learn about spoken word poetry. Low-key, supportive space to explore voice and performance.

📚 RAB Middles Book Club
6pm–7pm • Ages 9–12 • Free • More info
📍Roundabout Books (900 NW Mt. Washington Dr.)

Drop in for Roundabout Books' middle school book club, led by Kathleen! This month the group dives into Whale Eyes by James Robinson.

🎲 Bingo With Bren Supporting Family Kitchen
6pm–8pm • All ages • More info
📍Bevel Craft Brewing (911 SE Armour Rd.)

Family-friendly Monday night bingo at Bevel with cash prizes, and card proceeds go to Family Kitchen, a local nonprofit serving meals to neighbors in need. Cash only, and you can drop in any time during the two hours.

🤸 Playmania at COGA
9am–11am • Ages 0–5 • Drop in
📍Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy (63060 Layton Ave.)

Foam pits, bars, beams, trampolines, push-cars, and obstacles. Good rainy-day energy burn & kids under the age of 1 are free!

🎨 Sensory Art Play
9:15am–10:15am • Ages 0–2 • Book now
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

Get creative with your little one in this messy, hands-on, sensory-rich art class using taste-safe, non-toxic materials.

🐴 Sisters Farm School Farm Tour + Art
11am–12:30pm • Ages 3–8 • More info
📍Sisters Farm School (Between Bend and Sisters)

Get to know the farm animals, experience a short pony ride lesson, and have fun with outdoor play and arts & crafts on the farm!

🎨 Teen Open Art Hours
3pm–7pm • Ages 13–17 • Free • Drop in
📍OAC Teen Center (999 NE 2nd St.)

Four-hour open studio window for teens to come in, make art, and hang out. Materials and staff support available. One of the best drop-in teen spaces in town.

📖 Graphic Novel Book Club
4:30pm–5:20pm • Ages 6–13 • Free • More info
📍Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market Rd.)

Book club discussion of Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi. For elementary and middle school readers who are looking for a space to talk about graphic novels.

🧚 With A Child: Outdoor Enchanted Home Craft
5:30pm–7:30pm • Ages 6–15 • Register
📍Samara Learning Center (230 NE 9th St.)

Build a weather-resistant fairy or gnome house together with your kiddo using natural and craft materials. Bring any special finds from home if you want to work them into your design.

📖 Hello! Storytime
10am–10:30am • Ages 0–5 • Free • More info
📍Roundabout Books (900 NW Mt. Washington Dr.)

Join Ms. Kathy for a fun half-hour storytime. This week's theme is "Rock Me!" Stories, movement, and a touch of music.

🐝 Spring Sensory Bins
10am • Ages 1-10 • More info
📍Play Theory Cafe (2221 NE 3rd St.)

All the fun of Play Theory along with themed sensory bins all about flowers and pollinators.

🎶 Music & Movement with Ms. Melinda
10:30am–11:30am • Ages 0–5 • Book now
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd.)

Toddler jump time with an interactive music and movement class from Ms. Melinda of OTB Arts Studio built in. Toddler jump is open from 9am-12pm.

🧘 Mom & Baby Yoga
10:45am–11:45am • Ages 0–1 • Sign up
📍Tula Movement Arts (2797 NW Clearwater Dr.)

Move, breathe, and stretch with your baby. A chance to rebuild some strength while also meeting other new parents. The class weaves in baby yoga too.

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

Bring the whole family to storytime with books, songs, and rhymes for ages 0–5. Practice listening, moving, and early literacy skills together while you sing and play along.

🎨 Let's Paint: The Magic of Color
1pm–4pm • Ages 6–11 • Book now
📍Tower Theater Encore Room ()

Art and science meet in this week’s class all about color theory and color mixing!

🛼 $8 Cheap Skate & Skatepark
2:30pm–5pm • All ages • More info
📍The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Dr.)

Discounted afternoon skate at The Pavilion with skate rental included. Roller blades, skateboards, and scooters all welcome, and the skatepark features are open too.

♻️ Trash to Treasure: Art Sculpture
3pm–5pm • Ages 13–17 • Register
📍OAC Teen Center (999 NE 2nd St.)

Teen-led sculpture making from found and recycled materials. Good for kids who like messy, open-ended projects. Timely for Earth Week.

🎨 Family Art Play
4pm–5pm • Ages 0–6 • Book now
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

Families with kids ages 9 months to 6 years are invited to explore open-ended paint and sensory stations together in this special family edition of Art Play.

⚽ Toddlers & Tots Play
9am–11am • Ages 1–5 • Register
📍Cascade Indoor Sports (20775 High Desert Ln.)

The whole facility is open for kids under 5. Climbing structure, soccer field, strider bikes, and a grab-bag of other gear.

🦘 Story Time & Art with Mrs. Meredith
10:30am–11:30am • Ages 0–5 • Book now
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd.)

Toddler Time adds story time and an arts & crafts project with Mrs. Meredith. Toddler jump is open from 9am-12pm.

🎨 Art Play
10am–11am • Ages 2–4 • Book now
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

Explore different sensory activities and art materials with your preschooler in this fun and messy hour of creative play.

🦸 SPRING Into Action! Super Heros, Super Fun!
10:30am–11:30am • All ages • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond)

Spring into action at the library with superhero-themed stretching, crafts, super science, and more, plus every kid creates their own superhero costume accessories to take outside and play!

🤱 St Charles Mommy and Me Support Group
1pm–3pm • Ages 0–1 • Free • More info
📍St. Charles (2500 NE Neff Rd)

Weekly drop-in group run by lactation consultants and nurses at St Charles. Breastfeeding, pumping, infant sleep, and general postpartum support–babies welcome.

You've driven past it a thousand times, but here's why right now is the time to actually hike up Pilot Butte: the summit road is closed to cars until May 1, which means if you’re pushing a stroller these days, you can walk the whole paved road to the top without worrying about traffic. It’s a big uphill, but you’re rewarded with 360-degree views of the town and the Cascades. The Nature Trail (dirt, steeper) is also doable for kiddos who are strong walkers, and there benches along the way if they need a break.

Good to know: Restrooms and a playground at the base. Free parking, no pass needed. It's steep no matter which way you go up, so bring water and a layer for wind at the top. The payoff is the view, so skip it if it’s overcast.

Where it is: Right off Highway 20 on the east side of town. Parking lot on NE Linnea Drive.

Make an outing of it: If the kids still have energy after the hike, the Pilot Butte Playground is right at the base with swings, slides, and climbing structures.

More info: See the trail maps on AllTrails.

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