Touchmark Sponsors First Free Day for Seniors at the High
Desert Museum April 30
First free day for seniors - anyone age 60 and older - offers
special, enriching programs featuring wildlife and living
history, with free transportation.
Bend, Ore. - The first free day for seniors (ages 60 and older)
at the High Desert Museum is set for April 30 - an event made
possible by Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village, Central Oregon's
resort retirement community located along the Deschutes River
across from the Athletic Club of Bend.
The day will be filled with special programming, from a sneak
preview of rehearsals for the summer wildlife show, to living
history performances and expert talks about wildlife and
insects that area gardeners should know. "It is important
for the Museum to reach out to our growing community of
seniors," said Museum President Janeanne A. Upp. "This special
day has so much to offer seniors who are passionate about
lifelong learning and enriching fun. Education is at the core
of what we do, and that is as valuable to seniors as it is to
the rest of our community."Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village
shares those values. "Our Full Life Wellness and Life
Enrichment Program is built around working with people to help
fulfill their passions, needs, and abilities," says Melanie
Snow, Touchmark Life Enrichment/Wellness Director. "Sponsoring
the Free Day for Seniors at the High Desert Museum provides
another opportunity to expand people's knowledge while
experiencing a local treasure."Touchmark is offering
complimentary, private bus transportation to and from the
Museum, every hour on the hour, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and
complimentary refreshments at Touchmark's Terrace Lodge. To
take advantage of this transportation, people should plan to
arrive at the Terrace Lodge 20 minutes prior to the planned
departure. Special programs for the day include:
10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wildlife Show
Rehearsals
A sneak peek at wildlife experts working with animals to
display their natural behaviors in the summer show "Desert
Dwellers."
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - 1880 High Desert Homestead
Ranch
Go back in time and meet the residents of the 1880
High Desert Homestead Ranch through these fascinating live
portrayals. Join the homesteaders in tending to daily chores
about the cabin, cooking supper, or panning for gold. Lend a
hand and experience life 125 years ago.
11:30 a.m. Wolves in the High Desert
Take a closer look at the history of human
interactions with wolves and current efforts to reintroduce
wolves back to the High Desert.
12 p.m. Insects: Friends of Foes of the
Garden?
Join Dr. Ralph Berry for Entomology 101 and explore the insect
world. Find out which insects are allies, and which are foes as
we get ready for the gardening season. Discover the species
present in the High Desert, and examine specimens from Dr.
Berry's personal collection.
12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Exhibit Tour
A guided tour of Spirit of the West, with a journey through 100
years of High Desert history.
2 p.m. Otter Talk
Learn about the amazing world of the river otter and meet the
Museum's river otter, Thomas!
About the Museum
The High Desert Museum is nationally acclaimed for inspiring
stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of the High
Desert. It offers close-up wildlife encounters, living history
performances, Native American and Western art, music, nature
trails, tours and classes for all ages. It is on 135 acres in a
pristine forest, just 10 minutes from downtown Bend on South
Highway 97.
High Desert Museum 541.382.4754, www.highdesertmuseum.org
About Touchmark
Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village offers resort retirement
living and a range of homes and lifestyle options. The second
phase, composed of the Cliff Lodge and Terrace Lodge, with
numerous amenities and services, was completed last summer.
Touchmark received a Platinum Award from the National
Association of Home Builders recognizing the creative design of
the phase-one River Lodge.
