Every spring, we gear up for our annual Best of the Nest ballot issue, and this year, we can’t wait for the tally! Here’s where you voiceyour opinion s for all your faves across Central Oregon. Who’s your favorite pediatrician? Kids’ clothing store? Best summer camp? We love hearing from you, and we also love […]
Bend Nest
Bend Nest is a place to discuss, consider and laugh about all that parenting brings. A quarterly magazine produced by some of the finest writers, editors and photographers in Central Oregon, Bend Nest is smart and informed.
Posted inHealth
Self-Expression with a Touch of Caution
Navigating the world of beauty products for your tween or teen
Most parents remember that iconic moment in middle school or beyond when they were first allowed to wear make-up and finally dip their toes into the world of beauty products. Kids today have a wide range of options when it comes to choosing their look, including vibrant hair color, extensive skin cleansing products and bold […]
Posted inKids In Action
More Than a Game
Introducing kids to chess
With the popular TV show “The Queen’s Gambit,” many families are newly interested in the ancient game of chess. Recently, I brought my own chess set to a local party where it was a smash hit with the half dozen children in attendance, who were all clamoring for a turn at the board. Parents watched […]
Posted inOutdoors
Labyrinths & Bats
Discover Central Oregon’s magnificent caves and their ecosystems
Beneath our feet, Oregon is riddled with a labyrinth of natural tunnels, lava tubes and underground chambers, all shaped by fire and time and home to several species of bats. Central Oregon’s dramatic landscape was sculpted by ancient lava flows and millennia of geologic upheaval. Situated on the eastern edge of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, […]
Posted inBend Nest
Editor’s Note, Spring 2026
Spring into fun activities!
There comes a moment in every parenting journey when we pause and realize the end of a very important chapter is in sight. Graduation looms, and then comes college, a gap year or a child living on their own for the first time. For me, I remember it well as a humbling, bittersweet time.In this […]
Posted inExpert Q&A
Expert Q&A with Dr. Jocelyn Cooper
Integrative Family Medicine of Bend
Q: My eight-year-old seems to be sick all the time. She’s had several ear infections and colds this school year. How can we help her stay healthy? A: Frequent childhood illnesses are actually the immune system’s “workout”—it is the normal process of building long-term immunity. However, constant cycles of illness are exhausting for both the […]
Posted inNest News
Central Library on Target to Open This May
The new central library is in its final phase of construction
Located at the junction of 27th Street and Wilderness Way in east Bend, the new central library is in its final phase of construction and scheduled to open this May. To prepare for the move, the downtown branch will close in April and remain closed for one year while renovations are completed. Featuring three floors, […]
Posted inParenting
Search for the Future
15 Secrets to a Successful College Tour
Spring break is an ideal time to experience college life in action, allowing your child to get a sense of how each college operates on a daily basis. Signing up for the official tour is the obvious first step, but what else can parents and students do to prepare for and make the most of […]
Posted inEducation
Handwriting in a Digital World
Why Cursive Matters
As parents, many of us fondly remember learning cursive handwriting in school as children–the curly letters that looked like calligraphy, the quick dash of a pen across the page, the excitement of handwriting letters to pen pals and family. Learning cursive was both practical and enjoyable for many of us. Linking letters together and keeping […]
Posted inFamily Time
Simple Blackberry Bread Pudding
Inspired by “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”
Growing up, I was enchanted by the stories and illustrations in Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s books, like “The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck,” “The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin” and, of course, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” The stories are sweet and funny, with cheeky characters usually learning a life lesson after a mishap. The illustrations are […]