April 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 12
Celebrate Sunriver’s remarkable landscape
April is an exciting and active
time at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory as spring
returns to Central Oregon and
the campus comes alive.
Throughout the month, staff
members are hosting a wide
range of programs and events,
from hands-on experiences to
special community gatherings,
all designed to celebrate the
remarkable landscape as it transitions into its annual season of
growth and new life.
Intro to iNaturalist with
Think Wild: Friday, April
10, 4 to 6 p.m.
Have you ever looked at a
plant, bird or insect and wondered what it might be so you
could learn more about it?
If so, you are in luck.
The Sunriver Nature Center
has several opportunities in
April to introduce you to the
iNaturalist app, a great way
to participate in community
science data and contribute to
knowledge about your community.
Community science now
accounts for an enormous
amount of biodiversity data
collected globally. People are
observing their own corner of
the world and tracking what
they experience using apps
like iNaturalist, and you can
join them. Mareen Thompson
from Think Wild will teach
an introduction to iNaturalist.
The evening will begin with a
classroom session followed by a
guided walk where participants
can put their new skills into
practice. This event will prepare
you to use iNaturalist any time,
including for the upcoming
City Nature Challenge bioblitz.
Register for Think Wild’s class
at www.thinkwild.org.
International Dark Sky
Awareness Week: April 13-19
Beginning April 13, the
Sunriver Nature Center &
Observatory will celebrate
International Dark Sky Awareness Week. Sunriver has long
recognized the importance of
dark skies for the health of both
the community and the environment. Humans and wildlife
evolved with natural cycles of
day and night, yet darkness
is slowly disappearing. Eighty
percent of Americans can’t see
the Milky Way. The good news
is that light pollution is one
of the easiest environmental
challenges to address, and small
changes can make a big difference. This month’s Twilight
Talk on Thursday, April 16 will
feature renowned astronomer
Bob Grossfeld, who will share
insights about the night sky and
the importance of preserving it
for future generations. Register
for the Twilight Talk at www.
snco.org.
Earth Day Volunteer Work
Party: Wednesday, April 22,
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To celebrate Earth Day,
Sunriver Nature Center &
Observatory invites you roll
up your sleeves and make a
difference in your community.
SNCO will be hosting a volunteer work party to remove noxious weeds, improve wildlife
enclosures, and help prepare
the campus for the busy spring
and summer season. Sign up
for campus cleanup via the
nature center’s website calendar
at www. www.snco.org.
You can learn more about
volunteering at the website
and be sure to check out our
volunteer appreciation article
in this edition.
Spring Tree Sale and Arbor
Day Celebration: April 1925, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Don’t forget Arbor Day!
Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory’s tree sale will kick off
Sunday, April 19. Trees can be
ordered online and picked up
during the week, and visitors
are welcome to stop by and
browse available species in
person.
Purchasing trees grown by a
local nursery gives you the best
chance of success in establishing a healthy, long-lived tree in
the region's unique climate and
soils. They also have a limited
number of bare root seedlings
available for free, making is easy
for everyone to plant a living
legacy this spring.
Community BioBlitz and
City Nature Challenge:
Friday, April 24, 9:30 a.m. to
12:30p.m.
Turn to Landscape, page 13
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Page 12
APRIL 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
(458) 202-7020
