26th Annual Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe & Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest
May 8–10, 2026
Rattlesnakes, sagebrush, and lazuli buntings… oh my!
Join the Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN) for the 27th Annual Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe & Yakima River Canyon Bird Fest, taking place May 8–10, 2026, at the Yakima Canyon Interpretive Center (YCIC) at Helen McCabe Park.
This exciting, family-friendly event celebrates the unique shrub-steppe habitat and the Yakima River watershed with expert-led field trips, hands-on science activities, and educational exhibits for all ages.
A Weekend of Exploration & Discovery
Friday: Kick off the weekend with an evening social gathering.
Saturday: Choose from a variety of presentations/talks and expert-guided field trips covering birding, geology, reptiles, fish and aquatic insects, river floats, local history, and more. Visit the educational booths from 9 AM – 1 PM at YCIC, featuring live reptiles, live raptors, birding for youth, and nearly 20 booths from environmental and natural resource organizations across the state. The evening wraps up with a keynote presentation catered dinner.
Sunday: Continue the adventure with additional speakers and guided field trips into the shrub-steppe habitat.
Get Involved!
Weekend registration is just $25, granting access to field trips and activities throughout the event. Visitors can stop by the free educational booths on Saturday without registration.
Explore the Yakima River Canyon with local scientists, naturalists, and conservationists as they share their expertise on beavers, birds, geology, plants, and more. Whether you're hopping, soaring, swimming, or slithering, there’s something for everyone at this one-of-a-kind celebration of Central Washington’s shrub-steppe ecosystem!
Find full event details and register at ycic.org/giss
We hope to see you there!
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