Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe

Join the Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN) for the 27th annual Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe (GISS)—a community event celebrating the rare and endangered shrub-steppe habitat of Central Washington. Immerse yourself in the wild beauty of the Yakima River Canyon! From breathtaking birding field trips to live adult lamprey releases, you’ll experience the intricate connections between land, water, and wildlife. Explore the landscape with expert guides on hikes highlighting wildflowers, raptors, geology, reptiles, and river ecology, or visit educational booths featuring live animals and conservation groups from across the state. ? Pre-registration is required for field trips and lectures/presentations. A $25 per person (or $40 for a family of four or more) registration fee covers all events during the weekend. Anyone can attend the hands-on science booths at YCIC on Saturday from 9am-1pm (no pre-registration required for the science booths).