Our Story KEEN was established as a 501(c)3 in 2000 and have been operating in Kittitas County as an all-volunteer organization for the past 16 years. Our mission is to Connect Community to Nature following the principles of environmental education; teaching people ‘how’ to think, not ‘what’ to think. Our primary goal is to establish (design, construct and operate) the Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center near Ellensburg, WA. The Interpretive Center will serve as the gathering place for our community, for visitors to our community, and for engaging and connecting to nature in Central Washington. As the gateway to the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway, the Interpretive Center will invite lifelong learners to become active informed citizens, and provide a sense of place to this land we love. KEEN believes in lifelong-learning and provides informal educational opportunities for kids, adults and seniors. KEEN hosts the annual Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe event; a series of expert-led field trips, lectures and educational booths that highlight the surrounding endangered landscape, plant and animal communities, weather and geology that together create such a strong sense of place for Central Washington. KEEN also hosts the annual e3 Winter Fair; an environmental farmers market that celebrates the intersection of environment, education and economy. Additionally KEEN convenes informal environmental educators and their organizations in our area to plan our annual event calendars, share best practices and connect volunteers with opportunities to volunteer. KEEN consists of a Board of Directors of highly committed individuals, and several active committees that focus on specific tasks/projects (40+ people). Geographically KEEN focuses our work on Kittitas County, but KEEN is active in partnering with groups that expand down the Yakima River Valley through Yakima and Benton Counties.