KEEN, Suncadia, and the City of Ellensburg Launch “Color, Explore, Connect” Nature Coloring Contest

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The Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN), in partnership with Suncadia and the City of Ellensburg, invites locals of all ages to Color, Explore, and Connect through a new Nature Coloring Contest celebrating the landscapes of Central Washington.

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Open to all ages, the contest encourages community members to explore the natural world—then bring it to life through color. Participants will receive a coloring page featuring native plants, wildlife, and landscapes from Central Washington's shrub-steppe, forestlands, and local parks.

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But the experience doesn’t stop at the page.

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Families are encouraged to get outside and explore the places that inspire the artwork, including:

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🌿 Explore the Shrub-Steppe

• Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center – easy family-friendly walk, restored shrub-steppe habitat, bird-watching

• Umtanum Creek Recreation Area – trails, birding, and access to canyon ecology

• Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park – ancient landscapes and petrified wood

 

🌲 Explore Forestlands

• Suncadia Resort Trail System – forest walks, meadows, and family-friendly exploration

• Teanaway Community Forest – rivers, pine forests, and mountain views

• Lake Easton State Park – lakeside trails and forest habitat

 

🌳 Explore Local Parks

• Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park – river trails and open space

• Paul Rogers Wildlife Park – wetlands and bird habitat

• Mountain View Park – family-friendly green space

 

Coloring pages will be distributed through schools, available at community locations including Ellensburg City Hall, Suncadia, Ellensburg Library, at Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe and Suncadia's Springfest, and downloadable online.

 

Completed artwork will be collected and displayed by the City of Ellensburg, creating a public exhibit celebrating our community's creativity and connection to place.

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Age Categories: 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 12+

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A panel from the Ellensburg Parks & Recreation Commission and Ellensburg Library Commission will select finalists, with winners recognized by Ellensburg City Council!

 

Prizes include:

• Grand Prize 1: A free week of KEEN summer camp (for K-5th grade)

• Grand Prize 2: Suncadia

• Additional prizes from KEEN & Suncadia and partners

• Public display and recognition

 

This contest is about more than coloring—it’s about getting our community outside, exploring their surroundings, and building a lifelong connection to the natural world!

 

The contest runs through May 15, 2026. Awards announced May 29, 2026.

 

👉 Download your coloring page here: