The Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN) is giving children the opportunity to experience the outdoors through its immersive summer camp, which offers a unique, no-indoor-facilities experience.
“We have an outdoor immersion summer camp, meaning there are no indoor facilities,” said Jill Scheffer, President of KEEN. The camp is hosted at Helen McCabe State Park, located just north of the Yakima River Canyon.
KEEN has worked to improve both the habitat and recreational areas of the park, which also serves as the future site for the Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center. “We’ve made several improvements there, and our summer camp takes place at this park,” Scheffer explained.
The camp focuses on environmental education for children, teaching them about the world around them. “Our curriculum is based on state science and environmental standards. We ensure the kids are learning while still having fun,” Scheffer added.
KEEN aims to make the camp accessible to all children, offering the program free of charge. A recent donation from Legends Casino will allow them to expand the program and accommodate more campers this summer. “Thanks to the donation, we can send up to 25 additional kids to camp. Some may even attend more than one week,” Scheffer said.
The camp has been running for over a decade, and for many children, the memories last a lifetime. “One of the earliest camp experiences I remember involved a child who found discarded fishing equipment,” Scheffer recalled. “They tied a string and hook to a stick and tossed it into the pond. In seconds, they caught a fish.”
The camp aims to make a positive, lasting impact on the children who attend. “Experiences like that stay with you forever,” Scheffer said. “They can shape future decisions, career paths, and how you treat the natural world.”
