KEEN Nature Academy
Program Overview
KEEN Nature Academy is a hands-on, year-long nature exploration program for children ages 8–11. Meeting weekly on Tuesdays from 9:00–11:30 AM, Nature Academy gives young people the opportunity to spend consistent, meaningful time outdoors while developing curiosity, confidence, observation skills, and a lasting connection to the natural world.
Based at the Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center and Pond to Pines Outdoor Learning Campus, Nature Academy uses the canyon, shrub-steppe, wetlands, ponds, trails, and surrounding landscapes as a living classroom.
Rather than treating each week as a stand-alone nature lesson, Nature Academy is organized around three long-term, interconnected projects that unfold throughout the school year. Each season brings new opportunities to explore plants, animals, weather, habitats, and the changing landscape.
Through these projects, children will learn to slow down, notice the details around them, ask questions, make discoveries, and develop a sense of belonging in the natural world.
Nature Academy is designed to help children build the foundation for a lifelong relationship with nature. As students grow, they can continue their journey through KEEN Outdoor Fridays, EcoExplorers, Adventure Club, stewardship projects, summer camps, and specialized outdoor experiences.
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A Journey Into the Natural World
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:30 AM
Ages 8–11
Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center & Pond to Pines Outdoor Learning Campus
What happens when children have the chance to spend time outdoors every week—not just learning about nature, but getting to know it?
They notice.
They wonder.
They explore.
They begin to understand the plants, animals, and landscapes around them—and discover that they are part of the natural world, too.
KEEN Nature Academy is a hands-on, year-long outdoor learning program for children ages 8–11. Based at the Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center and Pond to Pines Outdoor Learning Campus, Nature Academy uses the canyon, shrub-steppe, wetlands, ponds, trails, and surrounding landscapes as a living classroom.
Children learn through direct experience, exploration, observation, play, and discovery.
Nature Academy is organized around three interconnected, year-long projects that help children build a deeper relationship with the natural world.
The Seasons of the Canyon
Nature changes constantly—and children will have the opportunity to see those changes firsthand. By returning to familiar places throughout the year, students observe seasonal changes in plants, animals, weather, water, and the landscape.
Activities may include:
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Nature journaling
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Seasonal observations
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Weather exploration
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Plant and animal observations
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Exploring seasonal changes in wetlands and ponds
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Creating nature maps
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Tracking changes over time
Students will create a Seasonal Field Journal documenting their observations and discoveries throughout the year.
The Nature Neighbors Project
The Yakima Canyon is home to an incredible variety of plants and animals. Through the Nature Neighbors Project, students will learn to recognize and understand the living things they encounter—from birds and mammals to wildflowers, insects, pollinators, and native plants.
Activities may include:
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Bird watching
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Wildlife observation
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Plant identification
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Track and sign identification
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Pollinator observation
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Nature scavenger hunts
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Nature sketching
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Habitat exploration
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Wildlife listening activities
Together, students will create a growing KEEN Nature Academy Nature Neighbors Guide featuring the plants and animals they discover.
The Young Naturalist Project
Being a naturalist means learning how to observe the world with curiosity and care. Students will build foundational outdoor skills while learning how to explore responsibly and confidently.
Activities may include:
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Nature observation challenges
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Map and compass basics
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Orienteering
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Outdoor exploration
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Nature-based art
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Leave No Trace principles
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Habitat care
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Outdoor safety
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Guided and independent exploration
Each student will build a Young Naturalist Portfolio throughout the year, documenting their discoveries, outdoor skills, questions, artwork, and experiences.
Our Approach
Nature Academy is not a traditional classroom program. We believe children learn best when they have the opportunity to experience the natural world firsthand.
Our approach encourages children to:
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NOTICE
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Slow down and pay attention to the world around them.
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DISCOVER
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Ask questions and investigate what they find.
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CONNECT
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Build relationships with places, plants, animals, and people.
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CARE
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Learn how their actions can help protect the natural world.
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BELONG
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Recognize that they are part of the ecosystem, too.
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What Children Gain
Through Nature Academy, children develop:
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A deeper connection to nature
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Confidence and comfort outdoors
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Observation and curiosity
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Nature literacy
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Foundational outdoor skills
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An understanding of local ecosystems
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Appreciation for plants and wildlife
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Stewardship and Leave No Trace practices
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Opportunities to build friendships
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A sense of belonging in the natural world