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Staff & Employment

WE'RE HIRING!

Look below to see what positions are open!

Meet KEEN's Staff!

KEEN hires dedicated, energetic, and talented individuals passionate about teaching and leading youth. Our trip leaders and camp counselors have backgrounds in wilderness medicine, backcountry survival skills, and a wide variety of educational fields such as biology, anthropology, chemistry, geology, geography, art, and music. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences and are committed to providing youth with fun and educational excursions outdoors while maximizing the safety of all campers. Let's meet this year's motley crew!

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Carlyn Saunders

Environmental Education Director
time with keen: 11 years

Holding a BA in anthropology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Carlyn focuses on connecting people with the natural world. Carlyn has worked with the Sierra Club as an outreach representative for Central Washington, encouraging residents to explore their local public lands, safely and responsibly. Through her work at her colleges’ challenge courses and as a kayak instructor and guide in the North Cascades National Park, she has instructed a wide variety of individuals including elementary students, fellow college peers, and corporate team-building groups. By creating an all-inclusive atmosphere focused on stewardship education, Carlyn educates both front-country first-timers as well as back-country veterans.

Jen Smith

lead environmental educator
time with keen: 4 years

Growing up in the Methow Valley, Jennifer was immersed in a vast, rural landscape that provided many opportunities to witness mother nature in action. As a child she experienced ice dams, flooding, fires, violent thunderstorms, impressively long winters, and massive amounts of snow. These experiences led to a constant questioning and wonder of the natural world around us. A love of nature and natural curiosity are qualities that Jennifer hopes to instill and foster in KEEN’s nature school.

Before CWU, Kids, and KEEN she spent her days behind the counter at William’s Florist where she was a floral designer. Mom to four and longtime Lincoln Elementary volunteer, she is happy to get back to her first love: children. When not at KEEN, Jennifer can be found in her garden, cooking, working on various art projects or making plans for a future sustainable off grid mountain cabin.

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Akary Itzel Buenrostro Gonzalez

Summer Camp Curriculum Intern
time with keen: 1st Year

Coming Soon!

Ashley callan

Summer Camp Counselor
time with keen:  2 years

Coming Soon!

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Ryan York

Summer Camp Adventure Counselor
time with keen: 2 years

"Hello! My name is Ryan York, I am going to be a senior at CWU next year and I am majoring in Chemistry and STEM teaching. I play tennis and love everything outdoors. I am so excited to go adventuring with KEEN again this summer and get to know the campers better!"

keri kunz

Summer Camp Counselor
time with keen:  1st year

Hi everyone! My name is Keri, I am currently a junior at CWU double majoring in Secondary Mathematics and STEM Teaching with the dream of becoming a high school math and chemistry teacher. I have playing tennis for about 7 years now and I just started learning how to golf. Another hobby of mine is photography, I have done all types of shoots to sports, to nature and more formal occasions. I am from Pendleton Oregon, so I love getting outside and exploring along with enjoying a good rodeo. I have three years of summer camp experience under my belt with one of those years being a Lead of the camp. I can’t wait to start my fourth year of summer camps here with KEEN!

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Oscar Orme

Summer Camp Counselor
time with keen: 1st year

Coming Soon!

Cesar Trejo

Summer Camp Counselor
time with keen:  1st year

Coming Soon!

Helen McCabe Park sunrise 2023 Klucking Images.jpg
Helen McCabe Park sunrise 2023 Klucking Images.jpg

Coming Soon!

Summer Camp Counselor
time with keen: 1st year

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Summer Camp Counselor
time with keen:  1st year

Coming Soon!

Helen McCabe Park sunrise 2023 Klucking Images.jpg
Employment

Apply Today to Join Our Summer Team!

We want YOU to help us make this a summer to remember for our campers!

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To apply, send your application to Camp Director Carlyn at carlynsaunders@keenetwork.org

A complete application should include a resume, cover letter, and three professional references.
Application review and interview scheduling begins in early March. Hiring decisions made in April.
Applications accepted until all positions filled.

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