YMCA Camp Wapomeo welcomes new director

“I was told that it never snows, but it looks like there’s been a lot of snow since I got here,” laughed the new director of Camp Wapomeo and youth at the YMCA.

Keen, who arrived on Jan. 28 to assume his new position, says he’s anticipating the summer but not because of the warmer weather. As the year progresses, his workload will increase.

“I’m more of an outdoors person, an active person, not a sit-behind-the-desk-person. I’m looking forward to the summer, even though I know it will be busy,” he said.

He has a degree in recreation and leisure management from the University of West Florida in Pensacola and has worked at

Dogwood Acres (Florida) and Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing (Virginia) in the past.

The latter facility was an adventure summer camp as well as a group retreat center based on adventure activities like rock climbing, caving, white-water kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, and riding a 900-foot zipline.

Keen says his favorite sports are rock-climbing, backpacking, bike riding, triathlon, and the marathon.

This fall he says he’d like to introduce more new programs for youth ages 13-18.