Toward the end of the most productive rearing season yet, partners of the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly program
visited one of the butterfly’s release sites and saw native Salish lowlands prairie first-hand. Butterfly technicians andEvergreen and WA Corrections staff learned more about the prairie from the Washington State Dept. of Fish andWildlife biologist who supports the program. Just as wonderful, they got to see adult checkerspots in flight in theirnative habitat! Photo by Keegan Curry.

Sustainability in Prisons Project
Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

The Sustainable Practices Lab at Washington State Penitentiary houses dozens of shops that reclaim
materials and turn them into items of value. Photo by Bethany Shepler.

Contents
Executive Summary: Sustainability in Prisons Project, FY19 ........................................................................ 4
1. Background Information ........................................................................................................................... 6
SPP Mission ............................................................................................................................................... 6
SPP Vision .................................................................................................................................................. 6
SPP Staff and Organization Chart .............................................................................................................. 6
Advisory Panel ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Staff Development: training, safety and security ..................................................................................... 8
2. Partnerships .............................................................................................................................................. 9Emerging Partnerships .............................................................................................................................. 9
SPP Alignment with WA Corrections’ Mission & Vision .......................................................................... 12
SPP Alignment with Evergreen’s Five Foci .............................................................................................. 12

3. Budget ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
4. Environmental Education Programs ....................................................................................................... 16
Academic Credit & Certifications ............................................................................................................ 16
Community College Courses ................................................................................................................... 17
Environmental Engagement Workshop Series ....................................................................................... 18
WSDOT Workshop Series ........................................................................................................................ 21
Roots of Success ...................................................................................................................................... 22
New Educational Programming .............................................................................................................. 23
5. Conservation Programs ........................................................................................................................... 26
Biological Science Programs at LCC and CCCC: Western Pond Turtles, Woodpecker Nest Monitoring,and Aquaponics ....................................................................................................................................... 26
Sheep Conservation Program ................................................................................................................. 29
Prairie Conservation Nursery Programs.................................................................................................. 30
Emergent Pre-Vegetated Mat (EVM) Production ................................................................................... 32
All Conservation Nurseries, Training and Education............................................................................... 33
Animal Feed Programs ............................................................................................................................ 36
CRCC Native and Pollinator Plants .......................................................................................................... 36
Pacific Northwest Monarch Butterfly Program ...................................................................................... 37
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Program ................................................................................................. 37
Wildlife Habitat Programs ....................................................................................................................... 39
Honeybee Programs................................................................................................................................ 41
Composting with “Bugs” ......................................................................................................................... 43
6. Restorative Nature Programs ................................................................................................................. 45
7. Community Contribution Programs ........................................................................................................ 47
Dog and Cat Programs ............................................................................................................................ 47
Reclaim, Repurpose or Restore, and Donate Programs ......................................................................... 49
Community Work Crews ......................................................................................................................... 54
8. Sustainable Operations ........................................................................................................................... 56
Energy ..................................................................................................................................................... 56
Waste ...................................................................................................................................................... 57
Water ...................................................................................................................................................... 59
9. Sustainability Job Programs .................................................................................................................... 61
10. Research and Evaluation ....................................................................................................................... 63
Quality Assessment Surveys for Conservation Technicians and Workshop students ............................ 63
Demographics and Recidivism for Incarcerated Participants ................................................................. 63
Quality Assessment Surveys for Nature Imagery and Roots of Success Programs................................. 65
Future Graduate Student Thesis Projects Involving Human Subjects..................................................... 66
Research with External Partners ............................................................................................................. 66
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report2Student Theses ........................................................................................................................................ 67
11. SPP Network.......................................................................................................................................... 69
SPP in Washington State ......................................................................................................................... 69
SPP Nationally and Internationally.......................................................................................................... 69
12. Dissemination ....................................................................................................................................... 73
Presentations .......................................................................................................................................... 73
SPP Tours................................................................................................................................................. 74
Academic Publications, Projects, and Internships .................................................................................. 75
Media Coverage ...................................................................................................................................... 76
Outreach ................................................................................................................................................. 78
Awards .................................................................................................................................................... 81
Appendix 1. SPP Programs in Washington State Prisons FY19 ................................................................... 82
Appendix 2. SPP Partners and Allies in Washington State Prisons ............................................................. 88
Appendix 3. Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... 94
Year in Photos ............................................................................................................................................. 96

Partners in the prairie plant seed nursery at Washington Corrections Center pose for a photo following apresentation. Photo by Erin Lynam.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report3

Executive Summary: Sustainability in Prisons Project, FY19
Fiscal year 2019 (FY19, July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019) was another successful year for the Sustainability in
Prisons Project (SPP). The SPP partnership was founded by Washington Department of Corrections (WACorrections) and The Evergreen State College (Evergreen) in 2003, and has grown to include manycollaborators. The full SPP annual report aims to acknowledge all contributing partners and describe allscience, environmental education, and sustainability programs in WA prisons. This year, SPP partners
reported 212 programs and 198 partner organizations statewide. Our executive summary highlights
select FY19 programs, partnerships, and developments plus goals for FY20 (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020).
Gardening curriculum: In partnership with three community organizations, corrections staff andincarcerated individuals at MCC and SCCC developed a new, peer-led gardening course. A new graduate
student position, funded entirely by foundation donors, coordinated the highly collaborative endeavor.
Butterfly program expansion: With funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, partners constructed asecond, 12’ x 28’ greenhouse at MCCCW. The custom-designed structure doubles capacity to breed andraise federally-endangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies for release onto Salish lowland prairies.
New science and sustainability education materials: To increase science education in existing programs,
SPP-Evergreen staff designed and developed new learning guides to be accessible, informative, andempowering. Guides include topics such as butterfly husbandry and scientific illustration. Staff alsoorganized all existing SPP-Evergreen education materials to maximize access and use.
Water Conservation Pilot: WA Corrections piloted new domestic water valves and controllers at the
Washington State Penitentiary. The result was an overall water savings of 81.5%. Projected project
return on investment is only 1.52 years.
WSDOT workshop series: WSDOT and SPP partners presented on education and employment pathways
at multiple conferences and piloted a workshop series at MCCCW and CCCC. Workshop topics included
wetland ecology, restoration, stormwater careers, and competing for state employment.
Reentry pathways: SPP-Evergreen staff advocated for resources and helped secure an Education
Navigator position at The Evergreen State College. WA Corrections and the State Board of Community
and Technical Colleges fund the position, the first to be hosted by a four-year college.
Partnership with Pacific National Laboratory and Department of Commerce: WA Corrections met withlegislators and stakeholders across the agency to develop WA Corrections Facilities Energy and Water
Strategy.
Call for writing in prison: SPP partners stewarded a “call for writing” at eight WA prisons—requesting
writings from incarcerated people on science in prisons—and 44 writers responded. SPP-Evergreen
combined excerpts and submitted for the volume STEM Education in US Prisons, to be in print fall 2020.
Increased seed production: Partners in prairie conservation programs at WCCW and WCC are making
sizable contributions to regional restoration ecology. Incarcerated technicians received education andtraining to support their efforts to raise seeds for rare flowering plants.
Empowering incarcerated expertise and leadership: Numerous incarcerated partners provided
expertise, guidance, and leadership; they contributed to research projects, events, presentations, andSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report4

planning meetings. For example: co-MCing SCCC/SPP Reentry event, presenting MCC’s compost
program at an international conference, and co-authoring chapters for the new gardening course.
Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants: WA Corrections was awarded grant funds to assist with an energy
conservation project at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center.
Evergreen Coalition Building: SPP-Evergreen staff continued to support development of the Evergreen
Education Coalition for Justice Involved Students, which includes faculty, students, and staff from
Tacoma and Olympia campuses. SPP supported several events over the past year: first annual Coalition
meeting, numerous planning meetings, the SCCC/SPP Reentry event, and conference presentations.
Beekeeping educational materials: SPP-Evergreen and Washington State Beekeepers Association(WASBA) formalized our partnership this year, creating a strong foundation for SPP bee programs.
WASBA published upgraded educational curricula for three levels of beekeepers, which Evergreen
distributes. Both partners are committed to high quality bee education and certifications statewide.

Anticipated Programs Highlights, FY20
Program/Project
Short film project

Partners and facility
Formerly incarcerated SPP
participants

Enhanced curricula

All facilities, incarcerated
students, staff sponsors andexperts
NASA, U of UT, AZ State U andincarcerated authors

Book and Article
Publications
Increased operationsalignment

All facilities

WSDOT education,
training & employment

WSDOT; all facilities

Increased connection toprograms in other states

Network contacts (mostly
national)

Certifications andacademic credit

All facilities and academic partners

Planned outcomes
Phase 1 of short film describing experiences in
SPP programs; more interview subjects
included in next phase of project
Piloted gardening curriculum; draftedstatewide compost curriculum; publishedmore learning guides
Contributed to peer-reviewed journal article
on astrobiology lectures; published chapter in
STEM education in prisons volume
Shared agreements, plans, and processes
adopted by WA Corrections, SPP-Evergreen,and program partners, increasing efficiency
Broadened partner participation; increased
outreach to incarcerated individuals; added
education and training
Presentations at Higher Ed in PrisonsConference, Ecological Prison Programs
Conference; potential collaboration on
national program inventoryAward academic credit to currently
incarcerated SPP certificated internshipstudents

Conclusion

We are grateful to the many people who have contributed to the collective accomplishments describedthroughout this report. Our partnerships among incarcerated people, corrections staff, scientists,
students, and program partners are impactful, innovative, challenging, and successful. We are dedicatedto continuous improvement. We remain committed to addressing all stakeholders’ needs, fostering aculture of mutual respect, combining resources to increase capacity, and prioritizing initiatives bestaligned with SPP goals. Together we are increasing access to science and sustainability education andopportunities to participate in the environmental movement.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report51. Background Information
When you bring in education, dogs, gardening, and other sustainable programs you get involved inthose, instead of prison life.
~ incarcerated partner Kieth Parkins
This report provides information on Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) activities during Washington
State fiscal year 2019 (FY19) which includes the period from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019.
Washington Department of Corrections (WA Corrections) considers all sustainability initiatives in
Washington (WA) prisons to be part of the SPP partnership regardless of which partner(s) leads andoperates the program. The primary objective of this document is to update all collaborators andstakeholders on SPP programs and activities. This report represents the most complete information
available with current reporting mechanisms.
Scientists, incarcerated people, students, prison staff, and community partners in all 12 Washington
prisons work together to change lives and make positive contributions to people and the environment.
For FY19, partners reported 212 programs and 198 partner organizations. Working lists of all SPP-WA
programs (Appendix 1) and partners (Appendix 2) are included to recognize the impressive diversity andnumber of opportunities offered. Appendix 3 lists common abbreviations.

SPP Mission
The Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) is a partnership founded by WA Corrections and The
Evergreen State College (Evergreen). Our mission is to empower sustainable change by bringing nature,science, and environmental education into prisons.

SPP Vision
In response to the dual crises of ecological degradation and mass incarceration, we aim to reduce
recidivism while improving human well-being and ecosystem health. SPP brings together incarcerated
individuals, scientists, corrections staff, students, and program partners to promote education, conserve
biodiversity, practice sustainability, and help build healthy communities. Together, we reduce theenvironmental, economic, and human costs of prisons.

SPP Staff and Organization Chart
The organization chart in Figure 1 includes staff as of July 2019. This chart is limited to core staff at WA
Corrections and Evergreen (SPP-Evergreen), only hinting at the many corrections staff involved; there
are many more corrections, academic, conservation, and community organization staff contributing toprogram success. During this reporting period, SPP continued to be co-directed by Kelli Bush from
Evergreen and Steve Sinclair from WA Corrections. Rob Herzog, Assistant Secretary for the Prisons
Division, serves as an advisor to Evergreen on corrections operations. SPP leadership meets quarterly.
Program Coordinator positions are staffed by Evergreen graduate students working 20 hours per week.
Student-staff are typically recruited from the Evergreen Master of Environmental Studies and Master of
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report6

Public Administration graduate programs, and work for two-year terms. Each summer several students
complete their work with SPP and train new students to take over their positions. During the reporting
period, 13 Program Coordinators worked for SPP: Alexandra James, Bethany Shepler, Keegan Curry,
Jacob Meyers, Amanda Mintz, Erin Lynam, Jessica Brown, Marisa Pushee, Graham Klag, Anna Duron,
Erica Benoit, Carly Rose and Allison Campbell.

Figure 1. SPP Organizational Chart

Advisory PanelIn FY19, SPP’s Advisory Panel was comprised of fourteen participants including SPP’s two co-directors.
Panel members represent formerly incarcerated partners, corrections staff, conservation specialists, andeducation professionals. The Advisory Panel provides expertise, creative thinking, advice, and assistancewith SPP initiatives and program development. Members of the Advisory Panel in FY19 were:
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−

Steve Sinclair, SPP-DOC Co-Director, Secretary Washington State DOC
Kelli Bush, SPP-Evergreen Co-Director, The Evergreen State College
Carri LeRoy, Member of the Faculty at Evergreen, Senior Science Advisor
Kevin Francis, Master of Environmental Studies (MES) Program Director, Member of the Faculty at
The Evergreen State College (Evergreen)
Carolina Landa, Master of Public Administration at Evergreen, Assistant to the Director for theReentry Council, former SPP Butterfly Technician
Jim Lynch, Biologist, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Fish and Wildlife
Sadie Gilliom, MES alum, former Turtle Conservation Program Coordinator
Fawn Harris, MES alum, former Prairie Conservation Nursery Program Coordinator

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

7

−
−
−
−
−
−

David McAvity, Academic Dean, Evergreen
Bill Anglemyer, Evergreen Student and former SPP Turtle Technician
Mike Obenland, Superintendent, Monroe Correctional Complex, Washington State DOC
Robert Herzog, Director of Prisons, Washington State DOC
Reed Schuler, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate and Sustainability, Governor’s Office
Liz Louie, Culinary Program Manager, Fare Start, former SPP Butterfly Technician

Staff Development: training, safety and security
Programs are operated in compliance with WA Corrections safety and security rules, SPP-Evergreen
protocols for working in the prison environment, and partner protocols for work with plants andanimals. All SPP-Evergreen staff complete required WA Corrections training. Security is a topic included
on every SPP-Evergreen staff meeting agenda, which are held every two weeks. SPP-Evergreen staff
have maintained our commitment to be adaptable to changing security needs including information
technology, research, and facility operations.

A prairie nursery technician collects seeds from the violet beds at WCCW. Photo by Jacob Meyers.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report82. Partnerships
Partnerships and collaboration are an essential component of SPP efforts and nearly every SPP program.
We continually work to identify new partners and mutually beneficial programs. A working list of SPP
partnerships is included as Appendix 2; during FY19 more than 192 different organizations contributed
to SPP programs in WA.
At the program level, the founding partners are often joined by one or more additional partners whobring vital expertise, resources, and/or skills to the program. We aim to recognize each partner for theirrole and the program is co-owned by all. Figure 2 offers an illustration.

Figure 2. SPP generalized program structure.
Roles played by each partner vary to fit the program focus and needs. In general, WA Corrections andpartner organizations provide primary leadership for Sustainable Operations and Community
Contribution programs, and Evergreen takes the lead on Environmental Education and EcologicalConservation programs. However, input and expertise from all stakeholders is critical to program
success, and those communications are ever-present and ongoing.

Emerging Partnerships
In the past few years, SPP has invested in two new partnerships. Already they have delivered important
programmatic impacts, and stand to be increasingly productive going forward.
Washington State Department of Transportation:
Over the past two years, representatives from WA State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and
SPP have identified education, training, and outreach opportunities to support post-release employment
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report9for formerly incarcerated people. This partnership is aligned with Governor’s Executive Order 16-05:
Building Safe and Strong Communities through Successful Reentry, WSDOT workforce development andequity and inclusion goals, and the missions of both SPP and WA Corrections as a stand-alone agency.
Options for education andemployment pathway development
include a broad variety of
disciplines. Based on available
expertise, a sub-committee ofpartner organization
representatives narrowed theirfocus on development ofenvironmental career pathways.
Pathways for other disciplines will
be developed as resources,
expertise, and capacity are
identified.

WSDOT wetland biologist and former SPP staff, Amanda Mintz, provides aworkshop on environmental careers at MCCCW. Photo by Allison Campbell.

To build capacity and raiseawareness of environmental career opportunities, partners engaged in multiple meetings, tours, andpresentations. In winter 2019, the group prioritized development and delivery of an environmental
career workshop series for two minimum security prisons. The results are detailed in WSDOT Workshop
Series; in general, the workshops were well-received and environmental sub-committee members aredefining next steps to advance the partnership in the new fiscal year.
Evergreen Education Coalition for Justice Involved Students (EECJIS) and Justice Involved Student
Group (JISG)
During the reporting period,
SPP-Evergreen continued tostrengthen connections with
Evergreen faculty, students andstaff. We helped build theEvergreen Education Coalition
for Justice Involved Students(EECJIS), a group of partners
representing Evergreen’s
Olympia and Tacoma campuses.
With SPP foundation donations,
we funded the first day-longgathering of EECJIS partners.
Coalition members also held
several planning meetings andjointly presented at a

The Evergreen Education Coalition for Justice Involved Students heard from apanel of formerly incarcerated students at its first meeting. Photo by KeeganCurry.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report10conference this year. We’re continuing to build the coalition to better support justice involved students,
both on our campuses and in our extended campus communities.
SPP-Evergreen staff regularly attend and participate in Justice Involved Student Group (JISG) meetings.
Our staff contribute time and resources to support currently and previously incarcerated students. Overthe past year we have provided funding support for justice involved students to share their experienceand expertise at various events with audiences inside and outside of prisons. For instance, JISG coorganized and led the Pathways to Reentry event with SPP at SCCC this past spring.
SPP-Evergreen advocated for and provided support for the newly established Evergreen Education
Navigator position. This staff position provides comprehensive support for currently and previously
incarcerated students pursuing education in Thurston County.
Legislative proposal
Over the past year SPP-Evergreen
staff worked with stakeholders
and allies to identify and remove
barriers to granting credit during
incarceration for certificatedinternships (more detail under
Education). This is SPP’s toppriority. To advance efforts, SPPEvergreen’s staff have developed
briefing materials, sought
consultation from experts,
confirmed support fromstakeholders, identified relevant
legal language, and coordinatedand participated in numerous
meetings.

Rudy Madrigal receives his Composting Specialist certificate from SPP CoDirector Kelli Bush. Photo by Erica Benoit.

Current Revised Code of Washington (RCW) appears to prohibit four-year, public academic institutions
from granting credit for education programs without also collecting tuition for each student. Educational
expenses for SPP programs are satisfied by multiple grants, contracts, donations, and associated indirect
funds secured by SPP-Evergreen. In addition, incarcerated students served by these programs do notincur typical faculty or physical plant expenses associated with tuition. Given the financial support
already provided to Evergreen through these non-tuition resources and the lack of typical education
expenses for these students, charging full tuition for these credits is largely redundant. SPP-Evergreen is
prepared to fully fund the minor administrative expenses associated with granting credit forcertifications which have pre-determined credit value.
SPP aims to remove barriers to granting credit by pursuing policy or legislative changes. In the past year,
we have secured support for developing a legislative proposal from leaders in the following
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report11organizations:
•
•
•
•
•
•

WA Corrections
Evergreen
Statewide Reentry Council
University Beyond Bars
Evergreen Justice Involved Student GroupState Board of Community and Technical Colleges

SPP Alignment with WA Corrections’ Mission & Vision
From WA Corrections’ website:
Mission: To improve public safety by positively changing lives
Vision: Working together for safer communities
The Department of Corrections iscommitted to operating a safe andhumane corrections system andpartnering with others to transform
lives for a better Washington. A key
value of WA Corrections is supporting
people's success: understanding
individuals, instilling hope, embracingchange, and providing opportunities.
Through the SPP partnership, WA
Corrections brings science, nature, andenvironmental education into thestate’s correctional facilities. These
programs create a safer and more
WA Corrections staff members Susan Biller, Sergeant La Munyon, andhumane correctional environment,
Officer Swan are champions of MCC’s world-class composting program.
Photo by Kelli Bush.
provide opportunities for incarcerated
individuals to achieve academic and vocational goals, and contribute to their successful reentry to ourcommunities.

SPP Alignment with Evergreen’s Five Foci
Evergreen’s approach to education is best illustrated by The Five Foci of Learning:
1. Interdisciplinary Study: Students learn to pull together ideas and concepts from many subject
areas, which enables them to tackle real-world issues in all their complexity.
2. Collaborative Learning: Students develop knowledge and skills through shared learning,rather than learning in isolation and in competition with others.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report123. Learning Across Significant Differences: Students learn to recognize, respect, and bridge
differences—critical skills in an increasingly diverse world.
4. Personal Engagement: Students develop their capacities to judge, speak, and act on the basisof their own reasoned beliefs.
5. Linking Theory with Practical Applications: Students understand abstract theories by applying
them to projects and activities and by putting them into practice in real-world situations.
SPP engages incarcerated students and technicians, enrolled Evergreen students, faculty, corrections
staff, and non-profit organizations in collaborative, interdisciplinary learning across differences. Ourscience and sustainability education programs are aligned with the social justice, diversity,
environmental stewardship, and public service elements of Evergreen’s mission.
SPP’s Environmental Education and Conservation programs are coordinated by Evergreen graduate
students whose experiences encompass and exemplify all five foci. Since 2009, SPP-Evergreen has
employed 50 Evergreen students in long-term positions and provided honoraria or internship stipends
to dozens more. Through SPP, the incarcerated participants of education and conservation programs
also gain access to the Evergreen learning model, thus sharing in the benefits of this innovativeinterdisciplinary approach. An increasing number of former SPP program participants are attending
Evergreen post-release—contributing their valuable experiences, assets, and skills directly to thecampus’ learning community.

At the Pathways to Reentry event at SCCC, a student considers Evergreen's campus map; many event
participants asked about attending Evergreen post-release. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report13

3. Budget
This section of the report addresses budget resources available via the SPP team at The Evergreen State
College (SPP-Evergreen). The Washington Department of Corrections (WA Corrections) dedicates
additional, substantial personnel time, funding, and materials support for SPP programs—those criticalcontributions are not detailed here. While Evergreen does not provide direct funding for SPP, they makeimportant contributions by providing office space, payroll processing, access to students and faculty,
human resource services, and budget management support.
In FY19, SPP had more than $550,000 in funds available from 17 sources. Available funding included twocontracts with WA Corrections that were spent on WA prison programs in accordance with contract
requirements. Other funding sources include state and federal contracts, grants, foundation and private
donations. Following a pattern of annual giving, SPP-Evergreen received another generous contribution
from an anonymous donor at the Seattle Foundation in FY19. The donated funds have been awarded for
SPP’s general use initiatives and they make a significant difference in the programming, outreach, andeducation available. In addition, SPP received and applied donations from The Herb Alpert Foundation
to develop a peer-led gardening course and other education materials, and from Lamb Weston toestablish pollinator resources and native plants at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC).
The percentage of funding provided by individual sources varies from month to month as sources
become available or close throughout the year. SPP staff continuously seek new funding and close out
existing grants and contracts. In FY19, SPP-Evergreen staff were responsible for stewarding funds fromthe sources described below (see Table 1).
Table 1. SPP FY19 Grant and Contract Funding Requests (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
SourceProgram Area

Funding TypeJBLM Plant Production 2017/2018
JBLM Wetland Production 2017/2018
JBLM Wetland & Prairie Plant Production 2018/2019
Samish Nation
Center for Natural Lands Management
WA Dept. Fish & Wildlife
DOC General Operating 2018/2019

Conservation Nursery
Conservation Nursery
Conservation nursery
Emergent Veg. Mats
Conservation nursery
Conservation nursery
SPP Generalcontract
contract
contract
contract
contract
contract
contract

DOC Green Track 2018/2019

Roots & Beekeeping

contract

WA Dept. of Transportation
Blue Marble Space Grant
WA Dept. Fish & Wildlife Taylor's Checkerspot 2018
WA Dept. Fish & Wildlife Taylor's Checkerspot 2019
USFWS Taylor’s Checkerspot
Seattle Foundation
Herb Alpert Foundation
Foundation Donations

Ed./Reentry
Astrobiology Ed.
Butterfly Operation
Butterfly Operation
Butterfly Expansion
SPP General
Gardening ed.
SPP Generalcontract
grant
contract
contract
grant
donation
donation
donation

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report14

Lamb Weston - SPP

Native plants

donation

The majority of SPP-WA’s budget is dedicated to personnel expenses. A smaller but significant portion
goes to program materials such as education supplies, small infrastructure projects, scientificequipment, printed outreach, and prison libraries.

SPP Co-Director Steve Sinclair offers a Taylor's checkerspot butterfly to Evergreen President George Bridges. Photo
by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report15

4. Environmental Education Programs
Education is an integral part of SPP’s programs. SPP-Evergreen works to make the most of both formal
and informal education opportunities and to offer new knowledge and new practice to incarcerated
students, staff, and partners. While our goal is to provide education in every program, education andtraining in conservation and environmental education programs (described in this section) are SPPEvergreen’s central focus. This section also describes science and sustainability programs led anddelivered by other academic organizations, such as community colleges.

Academic Credit & Certifications
This past year, pursuing the ability to grant academic credit toincarcerated participants continued to be a primary objective for
SPP-Evergreen. We have a reliable mechanism for awarding up to
15 transfer credits to certificate holders who enroll at Evergreen,
and in FY19, Evergreen Academic Deans reviewed SPP
certifications and pre-determined their credit value—a modest
but very welcome improvement.
The larger issue is that this benefit is accessible to relatively few
and doesn’t recognize the full potential of developing educational
pathways. Certificate recipients have emphasized that credits
A butterfly technician shows off her
awarded during incarceration would provide important benefits,certificate award to leadership from
including encouragement and support for pursuing additional
Evergreen and WA Corrections. Photoeducation post-release. This shift would recognize existing, wellby Ricky Osborne.
developed programming, require no funding from Evergreen, andwould result in increased student enrollment at Evergreen and other academic institutions. SPP remains
committed to working with all partners to identify a mechanism for awarding credit for these valuable
education programs during incarceration (see Legislative proposal for more).
In FY19, we awarded 82 SPP certificates that warrant consideration for college credit at Evergreen.
Additional “recognition” awards—not eligible for credit evaluation—are not included in this summary.
Table 2. SPP Certificate Awards, all facilities, FY19AwardedFY19

Academic
hours

Vocationalhours

30 hours of class time

31

30

0

Conservation Nursery Technician

8

30

270

Conservation Nursery Specialist

17

60

740

Western Pond Turtle Care

Rehabilitation & Research Specialist

4

200

800

Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly

Rearing & Research Specialist

3

540

960

Composting with “Bugs”

Vermiculture and CompostingSpecialist

10

200

800

ProgramCertificate

Environmental Workshop Series
Conservation Nurseries

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report16

Roots of Success (Instructors)

Teaching Practicum

9

Total Certificates Awarded FY1982

Total Certificates 2016 - 2019

308

150

0

SPP facilitates certificate awards from outside organizations in two additional programs:• Beekeepers are certified by Washington State Beekeepers Association• Roots of Success students are certified by the organization Roots of Success.

Community College Courses
Recent legislation changes afforded Washington
State community colleges more flexibility inproviding two-year Associate degrees toincarcerated students. Their top priorities are
adult basic education and vocational education.
In FY19, CCCC, OCC, WCC, and WCCW offeredvocational horticultural classes. Those students
gained access to classroom instruction andhands-on work in extensive gardens. At CCCC,
students receive instruction from Centralia
College. Horticulture graduates from that
program may be hired as Teaching Assistants
who largely oversee the greenhouses,
aquaponics program, and vegetable and fruit
production areas. At WCC, students withcognitive challenges received horticulture andliteracy education provided by a Centralia
College instructor. They also participated in
SPP’s prairie conservation nursery, producing
seeds of a prairie violet essential to rare andendangered butterflies in the region. This
OCC's gardens and greenhouses thrive with attention fromprogram has been discontinued. WCCW’s
Peninsula College's instructor and students. Photos by Bethany
students are provided education and training by
Shepler.
Tacoma Community College. These students
have access to diverse specialties such as flower arranging, cultivating house plants, and farming. OCC’s
students receive education from Peninsula College to gain skills and knowledge working through avariety of stations such as aquaponics, container gardens, and grafting.
OCC’s Green Building and Carpentry program, also a partnership with Peninsula College, came to an end
this past year.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report17

Environmental Engagement Workshop Series
Since 2009, we have offered at least 312 lectures and workshops in nine prisons from at least 250
scientists and practitioners representing 140 agencies, businesses, and schools. We have recorded
attendance from 3,107 individual incarcerated students from the three main sites: 1,484 from SCCC,
1,393 from WCCW, and 230 from WCC. Adding known students from other facilities and years, weestimate at least 4,000 incarcerated students have attended the workshop series in the past decade.
Most of those students have attended multiple presentations.
Fiscal Year 2019 highlights include:•

Pathways to Reentry:
SCCC hosted a day-longevent including sixteen
education and workforce
development
organizations and open
to the general
population (mostreentry events limit
attendance toindividuals close torelease). The program
was both inspiring andpractical. Currently andformerly incarcerated
individuals played key
Emerico Garcia was a Master of Ceremonies at the day-long Pathways to Reentry eventroles in presenting andat SCCC. Photo by Ricky Osborne.
informing the event. Evergreen’s Justice Involved Student Group and SPP staff co-organized thesymposium with SCCC’s Kelly Peterson.

•

Seminars at SCCC: In January 2019, SCCC’s workshop series expanded by adding follow-up
seminars on select workshop topics. Four times in the past year, students signed up to attend aseminar to further discuss and engage in the chosen topic. About half of the workshop students
opted in and appeared to appreciate and enjoy the deeper discussions with their peers.
Workshop Series Coordinator Erica Benoit led the first 3 sessions, introducing students toEvergreen’s seminar model and supporting formulation of a working agreement (ground rules)
for seminar conduct. Incarcerated students have led the seminars since. We count seminar
hours toward program certifications.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report18•

Era of Megafires
Screenings: The
workshop series
partnered with North
40 Productions LLC tooffer screenings of thefilm Era of Megafires, amulti-media
presentation toeducate the public onmegafires and researchfrom Dr. Paul Hessburgof Pacific Northwest
Research Station, U.S.
Forest Service. We
offered film screenings
WCC had the largest attendance of all the film screenings, with 30 students and 23
at four prisons: SCCC,
staff members enjoying the film together. Photo by Erica Benoit.
WCC, MCCCW, and
CCCC. Attendance ofboth incarcerated individuals and staff members totaled 168 people.

FY19 attendance of the Workshop/Lecture Series steadily grew at WCC, remained strong at SCCC, andincreased greatly at WCCW since last year. Specific attendance and topics are detailed in Table 3.
Table 3. Workshop series attendance statewide FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
Workshop Series at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)
Date

Presenter(s)TopicAttendance

7/19/2018

Joslyn Rose Trivett and Erin LynamFeedback Session

54

8/16/2018

Erin LynamDogs: Predator to Companion

58

9/20/201810/18/2018

Amanda Mintz, Graham Klag, andincarcerated technicians
Bethany Shepler

11/15/2018

Intro to Aquaponics

67

Importance of Education

54

Chris Montero and Cindy Irwin

Wolves of Washington

69

12/20/2018

Kathayoon Khalil and Darcie Larson

Fostering Empathy for Animals

62

1/17/2019

Marley Jarvis

Early Childhood Brain Development

77

2/21/2019

Liliana Caughman

Building Climate Resilient Cities

69

4/18/2019

Forest Shomer and Howard Sprouse

Native Plant Foraging

49

5/16/2019

Joslyn Rose Trivett and Rory Brown

MCC’s Composting Program57

6/20/2019

Bethany Shepler

Loggers’ Environmental Attitudes

55

Total

671

Workshop Series - Seminars at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)
Date

Presenter(s)Title/topic

Attendance

1/8/2019

Seminar: facilitated group discussion

Empathy32

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report19

2/28/2019

Seminar: facilitated group discussion

Resilience34

4/29/2019

Seminar: facilitated group discussion

Wildfires/Native plants25

6/25/2019

Seminar: facilitated group discussion

Composting/Logging

26

Total

117

Workshop Series at Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW)
Date

Presenter(s)TopicAttendance

7/3/2018

Leann Andrews

Green Infrastructure42

8/14/2018

Bonnie Becker

Shellfish Larvae

26

9/4/2018

Joslyn Rose Trivett and Erin LynamFeedback Session

22

10/2/2018

Chris Montero, Wolf Haven International

Wolves of Washington

45

11/6/2018

Jeanne Dodds

Illustrating Birds

22

12/4/2018

Kiirsten Flynn

Marine Mammals

23

2/5/2019

Barb Toews

Valuing Nature18

3/5/2019

Rachel Easton and Stena Troyer

Beach Biology

38

4/2/2019

Daniel Winterbottom and UW grad students

Landscape Design at WCCW

73

5/7/2019

Emily Grason

Marine Snails

57

6/4/2019

Renee Curtiss, WCCW Roots Instructor

Sample Roots of Success Lesson

78

Total

444

Workshop Series at Washington Corrections Center (WCC)
Date

Presenter

Topic

Attendance

7/25/2018

Alexandra James and WCC technicians

WCC Prairie Conservation

24

9/26/2018

Scott Morgan

Tiny Homes

41

10/24/2018

Bethany Shepler

Elwha Dam Removal

20

11/28/2018

Kiirsten Flynn

Marine Mammals

44

12/26/2019

Nick Bond

Climate Change and Salmon

39

1/23/2019

Erica Benoit

Film Screening of Chasing Ice

45

2/27/2019

Keegan Curry

Butterfly Conservation46

3/27/2019

Matthew Tuller

Goats

46

5/22/2019

Ben Alexander

Restoring Puget Sound Shoreline29

6/26/2019

Julianne Gale

Peer Support in Climate Crisis

37

Total

371

Special Events
Date

Topic

Location

Attendance

3/21/20193/28/2019

Film Screenings of Era of Megafires
Film Screenings of Era of Megafires

SCCC

74

WCC

53

4/16/2019

Pathways to Re-Entry

SCCC

81

4/24/2019

Film Screenings of Era of Megafires

CCCC

24

5/29/2019

Film Screenings of Era of Megafires

MCCCW

17

Total

168

Total Attendance Statewide FY19

1771 !

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

20

The series offers three levels of certification.
Students are awarded recognitions for completing 7
and 15 hours of workshops—these are called Level 1
and Level 2. Thirty hours of class time garners a Level
3 certificate that is recognized as transfer credit for
admitted students at Evergreen (30 hours of collegelevel study is equivalent to one college credit).
Recognitions and certificates awarded since 2014 andin FY19 are detailed below.

Table 4. Students Eligible for Lecture Series
Certification FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)Awarded since2014Awarded FY19

Level 1 – 7 hours

378

54

Level 2 – 15 hours

184

32

Level 3 – 30 hours

80

*26

Level 1 – 7 hours

180

24

Level 2 – 15 hours

36

1

Level 3 – 30 hours

12

3

Level 1 – 7 hours

33

33

Level 2 – 15 hours

13

13

Level 3 – 30 hours

2

2

918

188

Facility

Certificate

SCCC

WCCW

WCC

Students at WCCW talk with University of Washington
graduate students about their landscape design proposals
for the WCCW campus. Photo by Erica Benoit.

Total*includes 2 DOC staff members

WSDOT Workshop Series
Building on their nascent partnership and identified needs, SPP-Evergreen, WA Corrections, and WA
Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) environmental sub-committee members developed and delivered athree-part workshop series on environmental careers at two prisons. Workshops were designed to
inform participants of WSDOT as a second chance employer, provide tips for applying and competing forstate employment, and describe state environmental careers and their respective education andemployment pathways. Workshops were delivered at CCCC and MCCCW. Each facility houses
incarcerated people serving four years or less of their remaining sentence and already hosts
complementary science, sustainability, and trades education programs; they are great sites to offer
workshops on career pathway topics.
Table 5. WSDOT Workshops offered at CCCC and MCCCW FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
Workshop title

Description

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

Presenters

Dates

Alvina Mao
Robyn Lovely

5/10,
5/20

Number of
Attendees
CCCC: 35
21

Competing forState Agency
Employment
Wetland andRestoration
Ecology

Tips for writing resumes and cover letters,interviewing, and pursing career opportunities withinstate agencies
Introduction to Washington wetland and restoration
ecology; three presenters/workshop; WSDOT
wetland and restoration work and related training
and career opportunities

Stormwater
Management
and Impacts

Introduction to stormwater management, including
causes, impacts, and prevention strategies. Overview
of stormwater careers and training opportunities

MCCCW: 50
Tony Bush
Erika Redzinak
Amanda Mintz
Kristen Andrews
Jamie Butler

6/7,
6/10

CCCC: 20

Jeannie McCully
Mindi English

6/17,
6/21

CCCC: 35

MCCCW: 45

MCCCW: 20

Roots of Success
Roots of Success is an environmental curriculum developed by Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes, Professor of
Urban Studies & Planning at San Francisco State University (more at rootsofsuccess.org). WA Corrections
began offering the program in July 2013 and content has been well-received.
Certified incarcerated instructors deliver the program, a model we have found effective and satisfying
among students, instructors, and staff sponsors. We have five incarcerated Roots of Success Master
Trainer instructors certified by Dr. Pinderhughes to train and award certification to other program
instructors. Highlights and challenges from the previous year:
Instructor trainings: The year-long drought ended with three instructor trainings this year. SPPEvergreen staff will continue to promote further trainings sufficient to meet program needs.
Multimedia content quality: This year we heard multiple concerns from programs about visualand audio video quality. In response, Roots of Success has updated videos. However, receiving
the new content will require purchase of new instructor and student workbooks. As a result,some programs will not receive improved content until they are able to invest in updated
curriculum workbooks.
Partner agreement: While Roots has been offered in WA Corrections facilities since 2013, wehave not had a clear agreement among WA Corrections, SPP-Evergreen and Roots of Successpartners for operating the program. With the aim of adding clarity, SPP-Evergreen drafted athree-party Memorandum of Understanding. Agreement review is in process.
During the reporting period, we coordinated 8 full-curriculum Roots of Success programs: AHCC, CBCC,
CRCC, LCC, MCC-WSRU, SCCC, WCC, WCCW, and WSP. Currently there are no active condensed
curriculum program for incarcerated individuals involved with CI. Since the start of the program in2013, 1411 students have received certification for all ten modules of the curriculum, and 176 CI
students have been certified for the condensed curriculum. Details for FY19 are shown in the following
tables and highlights.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report22

Table 6. Summary of Roots of Success Graduates of full curriculum FY19. (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations)PrisonNumberofcohorts

Graduates

AHCC

1

12

ActiveLiaison described current class as “best class yet.”

CBCC

0

0

ActiveClass in session and interest in the program continues

CRCC

1

6

ActiveTrained new instructors in December 2018 and planningon training 3-4 more

LCC

3

13

ActiveTrained 3 instructors in August 2018 and graduated 2classes this quarter.

MCCWSRU

2

9

ActiveGraduated fifth class on April 2nd, 2019 with 5 students

MCCCW

1

9

Inactive

Graduated second Roots class in January 2019 and havecontinued interest; need new instructors

Status at end
of FY19

Highlights

SCCC

3

36

ActiveGraduated 23rd class on May 17th, 2019; hosted Dr.
Pinderhughes for a visit June 12-14; held instructor
training in November 2018; working on training minimum
security level eligible graduates as instructors; working onoffering curriculum in IMU.

WCC

1

8

ActiveGraduated 3rd class on April 15th, 2019 and hosted Dr.
Pinderhughes in June.

WCCW

0

0

ActiveAfter several years working to re-start Roots program,classes stared in April, then cancelled; working on new
plan

WSPBAR

1

12

Inactive?

Graduated first class on October 16th, 2018 with 12
students

23

Programstalled;determining
how topurchase newworkbooks

WSPSPL1

Graduated 23rd class on August 15th, 2018

New Educational Programming
With the increased focus on SPP certification, SPP partners have invested in enhancing
existing curricula and creating new ones. This past year, SPP-Evergreen made this work an even greaterpriority. New funding from foundation donors was pivotal; the increased resources supported a new
graduate student position whose sole focus is developing and publishing educational materials.
Gardening Curriculum
For as long as SPP-Evergreen has visited gardens in Washington State prisons, we have heard
incarcerated gardeners ask for more gardening education and a gardening certification. A few WA
facilities boast excellent horticulture instruction from Centralia, Peninsula, or Tacoma Community
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report23College, and/or volunteers from Master Gardeners or other non-profit organizations. Still, the demandfar exceeds the supply, and we have long wanted to address this need.
Throughout the reporting period SPPEvergreen worked closely with anarray of partners to develop agardening curriculum titledFoundations in Gardening. This effort
was catalyzed by an agreement with
Oregon Food Bank that allows SPPEvergreen to adapt their Seed toSupper curricula for learning andapplication within corrections
environments. Additional interest andinputs came from Institute for Applied
Ecology, many WA Corrections staff,
expert gardeners from Stafford Creek
Gardening course writers and reviewers take a group photo at SCCC. Photo
Corrections Center and Monroe
by Kelly Peterson.
Correctional Complex – Washington
State Reformatory Unit, and University Beyond Bars.
Authors have created or contributed to modules on “Advanced Topics”, which covers concepts beyond
Seed to Supper content. Some of these additional chapters include Naming and Classifying Plants,
Mathematics for Horticulture, Vermicomposting & Bokashi Composting, Soil Science, the Soil Food Web,
Planting and Harvesting Vegetables in Prison, Seed Saving, Aquaponics, and more. Many of the authors
are incarcerated gardeners with specialty knowledge about their topic. Some authors have helped
review and adapt Seed to Supper to better fit a corrections environment.
The gardening curriculum will be a classroom-based, peer-led, certificated program. Students will havethe opportunity to earn academic recognition and credit hours applicable to a degree at The Evergreen
State College. The first draft of this curricula will be finished by December 2019. SPP plans to partnerwith at least two Washington State facilities to pilot this program. Longer term, SPP intends for the
curricula to be made applicable and available to all U.S. correctional facilities.
Educational Library and New Materials
To increase science education in existing programs, SPP-Evergreen staff developed several new learning
guides. The guides are designed to be highly accessible and informative, empowering incarcerated
technicians’ and students’ knowledge on a range of topics such as the Endangered Species Act, butterfly
husbandry, and scientific illustration. Primary distribution has been to ecological conservation programs,
where we have requested review and improvements by program technicians. Many more guides are indevelopment and will be similarly wide ranging; examples include climate change, presentation
preparation and delivery, collecting and analyzing data, and developing program ground rules.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report24

At the same time, we have organized and indexed the team’s existing library of education materials.
Some of the best resources have been made available in an online folder for DOC staff to peruse anddownload for program use. These more formal and handy libraries will be an enormous asset to current
and future program coordinators and liaisons as they deliver and empower education.

A sample SPP Learning Guide (additional content on backside).

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report25

5. Conservation Programs
SPP’s conservation programs encompass a huge range of activities and topics but share three things incommon.
1. The program focus is conservation and associated education and training: preserving andprotecting something valuable, such as a species, landscape, and/or other natural resources.
2. These programs depend on strong collaborations with expert partners; incarcerated people,
corrections staff, students, SPP staff, scientists, and community partners sharing theirknowledge, resources, and enthusiasms.
3. Incarcerated program partners are both students and technicians; they receive formal educationand training plus hands-on experience. These are college-level internships, and technicians areawarded SPP certificates as they complete certification requirements.
Conservation program success is dependent on each partner contributing their expertise and time.
Programs are designed to maximize benefits to each collaborator.

Biological Science Programs at LCC and CCCC: Western Pond Turtles, Woodpecker Nest
Monitoring, and Aquaponics
During the past year, SPP-Evergreen focused on expanding
educational opportunities for incarcerated students at LCC
and CCCC. SPP piloted a workshop series at LCC, bolstering
educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals. This
workshop series included five site visits and was delivered bycurrent and former SPP-Evergreen Program Coordinators on
a range of topics from “Amazing Amphibians” to scientificillustration. Unfortunately the workshops were not successful
and as a result they have been discontinued. Additionally,
SPP expanded educational programming at CCCC throughassigned readings, writing workshops, and seminars. These
efforts have been well-received and are continuing in the
new fiscal year.
Education and training for each program are described
below. Participants completing program requirements are
eligible for a certificate worth college credit at Evergreen
post-release. Since the program started, 17 certificates havebeen awarded to technicians (Table 9), seven graduate
students have provided program coordination, and eightcorrections staff have served as liaisons.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

Turtle technician Taylour Eldridge wasrecognized by SPP as a Western Pond Turtle
Rehabilitation and Research Specialist. Photoby Jessica Brown.

26

Western Pond Turtle Program
The western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) is a state-listed endangered species and federal speciesof concern. Led by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), partners have been working
toward species recovery since the late 1990s. At the start of recovery efforts, approximately 150 turtles
remained in the wild in Washington.
In 2013, SPP joined the effort specifically to assist with the rehabilitation of turtles afflicted with a “shelldisease.” Partners for these programs include WDFW, PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Woodland
Park Zoo (WPZ), and Oregon Zoo (OR Zoo). Affected turtles require a period of acute care provided byveterinarians. After receiving veterinarycare, some turtles from the Salish lowland
population are moved to Cedar Creek
Corrections Center (CCCC, 2013) andsome turtles from the Columbia Gorge
population are moved to Larch
Corrections Center (LCC, 2015). Turtles at
CCCC and LCC receive extended careprovided by trained incarcerated
technicians. As each turtle heals, they canbe released back into the wild (Tables 7 &8) where they are monitored by WDFW.
Turtles at LCC unexpectedly laid eggs lastseason which were incubated at the
Oregon Zoo. Some of those eggs hatched An Oregon Zoo vet technician holds an adult western pond turtle, providing
and will help contribute to the head start a turtle checkup before release. Photo by Marisa Pushee
program at the zoo.
Table 7. Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation at CCCC, August 2013 - September 2019Year

Turtles Received

Turtles Released

2013

8

2

2014

28

28

2015

ii

8

6

2016

9

5

2017

4

10

2018

9

9

2019

10

10

Total

76

70v

i

Notes

iii
iv

i Differs from reported 2016 totals due to the addition of previously missing dataii 7 of 8 turtles were being re-treatediii One of these was humanely euthanized due to a neurological abnormalityiv 3 of 4 turtles were being re-treatedv 4 turtles were sent back to PAWs for exams and 1 was euthanized

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report27

Table 8. Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation at LCC, December 2015- September 2019
Turtles Received

Turtles Released

5
11

0
9

2017

5

12

2018

11

11

2019

10

10

Total

42

42

Year
2015
2016

Woodpecker Nest Monitoring ProjectIn 2017, SPP began a woodpecker nest monitoring project with biologists from the U.S. Forest Service at
CCCC. Other participants in this project include enrolled college students at several academic
institutions. The primary goal of the research program is to learn more about a keystone species ofwoodpecker nesting in the western U.S. The program involves monitoring video footage of activity at 85
woodpecker nesting sites. Since 2014, biologists have collected about 32,000 hours of video footagethat requires review through human observation to document woodpecker nesting ecology, behavior,and potential predator activity. Information will help state and federal landowners along withresearchers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California to identify actions that may increase
woodpecker nesting opportunities and contribute to forest health.
Biologists with the U.S. Forest Service train program technicians on video monitoring, bird and mammal
identification, and forest health issues. Technicians incorporate a few hours of woodpecker nest video
review into their daily routine. Their observational data has been an integral part of the woodpecker
research study and provides valuable education and training.
Aquaponics Program
The aquaponics program at CCCC
offers a small-scale demonstrationof “closed-loop” systems byrecycling water and converting
nutrients from fish waste andbacterial respiration into a richgrowing environment. The system
was developed through partnershipwith Symbiotic Cycles, SPPEvergreen, and WA Corrections. The
goal of the aquaponics project is toteach technicians the value ofsustainable food systems as well as
provide nutrient-rich leafy greens to
SPP Biological Technician Lorenzo Stewart tests the aquaponics system’s
the CCCC kitchen. Students in thewater nitrate levels. Photo by Marisa Pushee.
program learn about sustainable
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report28

food systems, soil chemistry, the decline of vital nutrients in most industrial crops, and wasteful overuseof freshwater resources. During this reporting period SPP-Evergreen coordinated and funded several site
visits for Symbiotic Cycles to deliver training for current and new technicians.
Table 9. Program Education FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
Session (30-90 minutes)
CCCC
Woodpecker Nest Monitoring Training
Science Journal Readings
Academic Writing Guide Readings
Science Article Discussions
Aquaponics Training
Western Pond Turtle Care Training
Turtle Field Work Field Trip
Academic Books Assigned
LCC
Workshop
Science Journal Readings
Science Article Discussions
Turtle Field Work Field Trip
Total education sessions
Certificates Awarded
Rehabilitation and Research Specialist, over
1,000 hours

Numberof
Sessions

Incarcerated
Attendees

WA Corrections
Staff Attendees

SPP Staff
Attendees

1
24
3
12
10
1
1
2

4
4
4
4
2
4
3
5

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

1-4
1
1
1

1-2
1
1
1

5
3-13
5
3
3
3
1
2
68
Number of Recipients
4

Sheep Conservation Program
Historically, bighorn sheep werewidespread in western North America.
By the turn of the 20th century
populations had dwindled to near
extinction, and recovery efforts wereneeded to return them from the brink.
Today, the biggest threat to bighorn
sheep is pneumonia triggered by abacteria called Mycoplasma
ovipneumoniae, or M. ovi for short. The
bacteria are commonly carried bydomestic sheep and goats. Raising M.
ovi-free domestic sheep can protect wild
bighorn sheep from the devastating
pathogen. Currently, there are no private A sheep technician poses with two lambs in the spring of 2019.
domestic sheep breeders that specialize Photo by Jarod Sumerlin.
in raising M. ovi-free animals.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report29

In 2015, WDFW introduced to SPP leadership the idea of a pilot program to breed M. ovi-free domestic
sheep. Spring 2018 was the program’s inaugural season. Program partners include WDFW, local sheep
husbandry experts, and SPP partners at WA Corrections and Evergreen. All animals in the flock were
tested for pathogen prior to arrival and multiple times throughout each season. Washington State
University provides pathogen testing and other program guidance. Program findings and protocols will
be shared broadly as they are developed, including with privately-operated breeders who may join theeffort.
In spring 2018, the Suffolk ewes in the program gave birth to 28 lambs; 9 females and 19 males. Spring
2019, 9 Suffolk ewes produced 18 lambs; 10 female and 8 male. Two ewes did not produce lambs. One
male lamb died shortly after birth. One male and one female lamb were determined to be “bummer”
lambs requiring human intervention for care and feeding which was provided by program technicians.
Throughout the year, technicians provided general care and feeding for the entire sheep flock, treatedthe animals with vaccines, installed ear tags, assisted ewe mothers in the birthing process and cared forlambs. Each care task has been recorded in order to document education, experience, and skills gainedby program participants. In addition to hands-on learning, program participants received a “lambing
basics” workshop and observed the wool shearing process.
We are still developing protocols, educational materials, program certificates, and refining practices todevelop a viable source of M. ovi-free animals available to domestic small flock managers. All partners
are playing key roles in making this collaboration a success.

Prairie Conservation Nursery Programs
Primary funding support for the Prairie Conservation Nurseries comes from Joint Base Lewis-McChord(JBLM), WA Dept. of Fish andWildlife (WDFW), Center for NaturalLands Management (CNLM), andWA Corrections. Plant materials
produced by SPP’s prairie
conservation nurseries are used bystate and federal agencies andconservation organizations
including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFW), JBLM, WDFW, WA
Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR),
and CNLM. Our nurseries curate andsupply plant material from Oregon
to southern British Columbia.
Plug production at WCCW includes growing native strawberries for prairie
restoration; in this photo, technician Ashley McElhenie shows off the
strawberries ’impressive runners. Photo by Jacob Meyers.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report30Prairie Plant-Plug Production
The SPP nursery sites have an annual combined sowing capacity of 400,000 plugs, and can produce up to200,000 viable plant-plugs annually. Fall 2018, the nursery delivered 145,583 plant plugs of 47 species
for Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly recovery and lowland prairie restoration. Plug production focuses on
species that do not establish well from seed when planted in Taylor’s checkerspot recovery sites. The
technicians have excelled at producing both Puget balsamroot and Virginia strawberry in quantities
necessary to enhance the butterfly’s habitat; see Table 10 for a summary of production in the past year.
Cumulatively, the nurseries have delivered more than 2.7 million plant-plugs since 2009.
Plant-plug production remains a vital component of the regional recovery plan for Taylor’s checkerspot
butterflies. However, direct seeding has become the primary method of habitat restoration. Starting in
2016, the majority of SPP plant-plug production was to supply seed nurseries. Because of reduced plug
production, production was concentrated at the facilities with greatest educational opportunities forincarcerated technicians, WCC, SCCC and WCCW.
Table 10. Conservation Nursery Regional Plug Summary, delivered FY19 (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations)
Total SCCC
Total WCCW
Total Delivered
Total Requested
Percent Delivered ofRequested# of species
34
13
47

Plants63,822
81,671
145,58351

127,694
114%

Prairie Seed Gardens
SPP cultivated plants for seed at
WCC and WCCW. Corrections
based nurseries have beensuccessful at producing seeds for
species not easily harvested via
mechanical agriculture equipment.
The seed production gardens at
WCC produced over 8 lbs. of earlyblue violet (Viola adunca) seed and2 lbs. of Viola howellii from 1,664
sq. ft. of cultivated area; theirhand-collected harvest rate
remains superior to othermethods. WCC technicians sowed
The Viola praemorsa beds at WCCW in full bloom are gorgeous! Photo by Jacoband planted out new species from Meyers.
wild collections. These include
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report31

Hieracium scouleri, Silene douglasii, Silene scouleri, Agoseris grandiflora var. leptophylla, Violapraemorsa, and the state-listed threatened Puget groundsel, Packera macounii.
In 2018, SPP began serving a restoration efforts in new geographically region, the Oregon Coast. The
nursery technicians planted 8 garden beds in 2017 and 2018 with early blue violet (Viola adunca) seedstock from Oregon coast. We followed improved planting protocols for an early spring plant-out,
resulting in more vigorous plant establishment. WCCW had its first harvest of Viola adunca seed forsilverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) recovery on the Oregon coast in 2018. Harvest from thisfirst year production topped 4 lbs. from 1,000 square feet of bed space.
The continued success of the seed gardens presents an excellent opportunity for WA Corrections tocontribute to conservation. Education programming for prairie nursery technicians is detailed in the
EVM description below.

Emergent Pre-Vegetated Mat (EVM) Production
The EVM program is acollaboration among CNLM,
United States Fish andWildlife Service, WDFW, andJBLM that began with theprimary objective to restore
habitat for the Oregon
spotted frog. Key funding
support was provided by
JBLM, WA Corrections, and
SPP-Evergreen’s Foundation
donations. The program is anambitious pilot to cultivate
pre-vegetated mats(blankets of coconut fiber) of
wetland plant species forTechnician Joseph Oddo works with SPP program coordinators Graham Klag andAnna Duron. Photo by Shauna Bittle.
habitat restoration
benefiting the Oregon spotted frog (subject of a past rearing program) and salmon species. The mats areintended to suppress weeds and enhance establishment of native vegetation.
In FY19, we delivered 36 mats to JBLM and 10,000 plugs. The pre-vegetated mats were installed
alongside mats planted with plugs in the field. Monitoring for plant establishment and weed suppression
will occur over a 4-year period to compare the effectiveness of the two methods. Results of the first two
years of trials suggest two improvements to planning and site preparations: 1) optimizing mat
placement, informed by multi-year data on water levels; 2) investing more time/resources in reducing
reed canarygrass coverage prior to mat installation.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report32

At SCCC, the EVM team includes incarcerated technicians, Stafford Creek Corrections Center
maintenance staff, SPP-Evergreen program coordinators and managers. Supporting partners periodically
visit the facility. All have done an amazing job meeting the challenges of the innovative program’s
technical demands. Education programming for the technicians is detailed below.

All Conservation Nurseries, Training and Education
SPP’s Conservation Nursery Program Coordinators provide regular guidance and education to
incarcerated technicians. They serve as the primary point of contact for all partners, including the WA
Corrections staff that supervise and counsel the technicians. In FY19, the students focused on providing
unique and relevant education for the programs and their efforts had superb results. Lectures andworkshops offered within the conservation nursery programs are detailed in Table 11.
Table 11. Prairie Conservation Nursery Education and Certification FY19 (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations)
Sessions(30-90 minutes)
SCCC Conservation NurseryWorkshop: Wetland Graminoids
Intro to Prairies
Viola and Silverspot
PNW Prairie Plants
Aquaponics
Water quality tests for Aquaponics
SowingViola mat research
Soil Science
Germination counts
Cold Stratification
Soul of soil
Plant Evolution
Soil Sampling
Island biogeography
Soil Science
Camas and traditional foods
SPP Programs Overview
Plant propagation and germination
countsPlant evolution and biogeography
SCCC Prairie sub-total
SCCC EVM
PNW prairie plants
Aquaponics for food production
Water quality tests for aquaponics
SowingNumber of
Sessions

Attendees

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

9
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
11
11
11
11
14
14
15
15
14

1

13

1
20

12

1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report33Viola mat research
Whale evolution
Germination counts
Issues with salmon aquaculture
IPM overview
Fire ecology papers
PNW geology
Island biogeography
Wetland soils and ecology
Wetland plants, traditional foods
SPP programs overview
Oregon spotted frog ecology
Plant evolution
SCCC EVM sub-total
WCCW Conservation Nursery
Silverspot butterfly and habitat
lectureReentry Planning workshop
Soil workshops
Nematode lecture
Writing workshop
The power of r (regression) toconvey data workshop
Plant I.D. and ecology workshops
Botany and ecology workshops
Drip Irrigation workshop
Prairie plant sowing and care
Oak woodlands seminar, workshop,
and lecture
New Forestry paper and seminar
Harvesting seed workshops
Fungi and mycorrhizal application
workshop and lecture
WCCW CvN sub-total
WCC Prairie Seed Garden
Weed control workshop
Soil Management Series part 4
Soil Management Series part 3
Cold-stratification hands-on
Scientific Illustrations Part 3
Soil Management Series part 2
Scientific Illustrations Part 2
Soil Management Series part 1
Scientific Illustrations Part 1
How To Give a Presentation
Library Access & Resources

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
17

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

1
1
5
1
1

3
2
13
2
2

1
3
9
1
4

2
8
28
4
11

5
1
3

17
3
11

2
38

8

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

3
8
11
3
10
10
9
11
8
11
9

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report34

Recording Keeping Skills
Sowing VIOPRA with C. Elliott
Nursery Bed Repair
Nursery Protocol Review
Plant Workshop VIOPRA
Plant Workshop PACMAC
Plant Workshop VIOADU
Prairie Plant ID
TotalsTotal education sessions
Certificates Awarded
SCCC Prairie Conservation Nursery
SCCC Emergent Vegetated Mats
WCCW Prairie Conservation Nursery
WCC Prairie Seed Garden
Certificate Totals

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
19
94
Technician 400 hrs
1
0
0
7
8

7
5
11
11
8
7
9
10

Specialist 800 hrs
7
3
4
3
17

The prairie conservation nursery crew checks on the early blue violet (Viola adunca) rooting, in an experimental trial
led by program coordinator Graham Klag. Photo by Shauna Bittle.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report35

Animal Feed Programs
Several prisons raise high quality feed for animals in the care of zoos and SPP programs. The mostprominent of these are the Plantain Programs. Narrow leaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata) beds at
MCCCW and at LCC provided larval food for Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly rearing programs at OR Zoo
and MCCCW. Technicians cultivate and harvest plantain leaves during the growing season. LCC shipped atotal of 37,000 leaves of plantain to the OR Zoo for Taylor's checkerspot rearing in 2019. Plantainharvested at MCCCW was used for the butterfly program on site.
A summary of animal feed programs is provided below.
Table 12. SPP programs providing food for captive animals FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
Food source

Facilities

Recipients

Mealworms

CCCC

Western pond turtles and koi in prison facilities

Plantain

LCC

OR Zoo’s Taylor's checkerspot rearing program

Plantain & Nectar Plants

MCCCW

Taylor’s checkerspot rearing program at MCCCW

CRCC Native and Pollinator Plants
Sustainability in Prisons Project
was granted funding from
Lamb Weston’s Pasco facility.
The Lamb Weston staff earneda sustainability award for theirwork and as a result won the
chance to fund the project of
their choice. Lucky for us, they
opted to provide support for a
SPP project in central or
eastern Washington. In
response to the offer, Coyote
Ridge swiftly developed a plan
to make good use of the
support. With the funding they
are planting nectar plants fornative pollinators andPlants beneficial to pollinating insects glow in a garden at CRCC. Photo by Joslyn Rose
Trivett.
honeybees and growing
drought tolerant plants for a heritage garden at the prison and for planting along the City of Connell art
walk path. Funding was used to purchase seeds, soil, rock, and some container plants. To support the
program, staff have provided incarcerated participants with education on topics such as seedgermination. Incarcerated individuals are contributing to garden design, sowing seeds, and caring forplants.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report36

Pacific Northwest Monarch Butterfly Program
The BAR (Baker, Adams, Rainier) Unit Monarch Butterfly
Program at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) is a
joint research project with Washington State University(WSU). Program technicians are in a social skills group inwhich mental health and protective custodyincarcerated individuals work together to raise and carefor Monarch butterflies.
Summer 2018 was the seventh season for the program.
Technicians raised 580 butterflies from egg to adult.
They tagged each individual with a sticker that allows
scientific tracking and reporting. WSU receives reportsightings from the field, usually from California
overwintering sites. Offspring of these butterflies begin
the migration back north in the spring.
Post fromwww.facebook.com/MonarchButterfliesInThePacificNorthwest/

Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Program

Our flagship pollinator program is rearing and releasing Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies (Euphydryaseditha taylori), a federally-endangered species that once flourished from southern British Columbia tocentral Oregon. Only a few small, isolated populations of the butterfly remain. The SPP rearing facility at
MCCCW adds to the scope and resilience of recovery efforts and bolsters the original rearing program at
the Oregon Zoo. The end of FY19 marks the completion of the program’s eighth rearing season. Program
partners include WDFW, USFWS, JBLM/DoD, Oregon Zoo, and CNLM.
Since 2011, program participants have reared more than 24,500 caterpillars and adult butterflies forrelease onto south Salish lowland prairies. More than 32 incarcerated technicians have received
training, five graduate students have coordinated the program, and seven WA Corrections staff have
served as liaisons. Since 2013, SPP has issued 18 certificates for incarcerated technicians completing
training in the program. Rearing and breeding outcomes for this reporting period are summarized inTable 13. Percent survival by life stage is presented in Table 14.
Table 13. Taylor’s Checkerspot Rearing and Adult Breeding at MCCCW, FY19
Caterpillars
Into Diapause
July 2018

Caterpillars
Released
Post-Diapause
March 2019

Caterpillars
Retained for
Breeding
March 2019

Egg-Laying
Butterflies
May/June2019

Est. # of Eggs
Produced
May/June
2019

Caterpillars
Released
Pre-Diapause
June 2019

Wild

2,893

2,218

644

20

3,541

0

CaptiveReared

1,716

1,650

0

40

7,697

2,556

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report37MultiDiapause
Unknown
Origin (QC)
Totals

105

15

24

2

232

0

85

82

0

N/A

N/A

20

4,799

3,965

668

62

1,1236

2,576

Table 14. Number of individuals and percent survival by life stage for wild and captive-reared Taylor’s
checkerspot butterflies at MCCCW FY19
Life Stage
Diapause to wake-up
Wake-up to release
Breeding colony
Returned to diapause
Caterpillar to pupae
Pupae to adults
Est. # eggs
Eggs to hatch
Caterpillars released pre-diapause
Hatch to diapause

Rearing & Breeding Totals#% Survival
4727
0.985
4638
0.981
668
--168
--405
0.810
364
0.899
11236
--83870.746
2576--58110.999

Program expansion
In FY19, partners designed, planned andconstructed a second butterfly rearing
greenhouse at MCCCW with grantfunding from the USFWS. WA Corrections
staff from SCCC, MCCCW, and Capital
Planning & Development (CPD) led
construction of the new custom
structure. With the completion of thisproject, MCCCW now has double thebutterfly rearing capacity. Testing andadapting to work in the new greenhouserequired substantial problem solving by
WA Corrections and Evergreen partners;
both the typical off-season and thebreeding season were unusually busy as
For a few months the original butterfly rearing greenhouse at MCCCW
a result. By all measures, our efforts
sat next to a construction site as a new, second facility was built. Now
fully operational, the new structure doubles both the number ofseem to have paid off: technicians
caterpillars the program can raise and the number of technicians able
successfully reared 364 adult butterflies
to participate in this highly successful education and training program..
for breeding—a 62% increase over FY18
Expansion was funded by USFWS and built by WA Corrections staff.
and double the program average. They
retained 5,811 caterpillars for the summer, the highest number the program has ever reared into
diapause. The number of technician positions also increased.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report38Additional FY19 program highlights include:• 3 butterfly technicians delivered a 15-minute presentation for over 30 conservation
professionals at the annual Taylor’s checkerspot working group meeting in Olympia.
• MCCCW hosted a program
tour for Evergreen and WA
Corrections leadership
including President
George Bridges andSecretary Steven Sinclair.
• WDFW hosted 6
technicians and 2 WA
Corrections staff at a
Taylor’s checkerspot
release site in Thurston
County; technicians wereable to see adultbutterflies in the field.
• Program Coordinator
During a tour in May 2019, Butterfly Technicians talk with visitors about the
program. Photo by Ricky Osborne.
Keegan Curry completed
his MES Thesis on Taylor’s checkerspot using 10-years of egg laying data collected by techniciansin the MCCCW and Oregon Zoo butterfly labs.
• MCCCW sent roughly 6,500 total caterpillars (spring + summer releases) to WDFW in 2019, an
all-time annual record for the program
Table 15. Education and Certification, Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Program FY19
Education Sessions(30-90 minutes)
MCCCW
Edith’s checkerspot novel host plant adaptation
Introduction to conservation
Conservation of Prairie-Oak butterflies in Oregon and Washington
Recent policy changes and their effect on conservation
Monarch butterfly conservation and ecology
The science of metamorphosis
Total education sessions
Certificates Awarded
Butterfly Rearing and Research Specialist, 1500 hours

Sessions

Attendees

1
1
1
1
1
1
6

6
6
6
6
6
6
6

Recipients3

Wildlife Habitat Programs
Several facilities have installed structures or plantings to benefit wildlife. A summary follows.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report39

Table 16. New and ongoing efforts to provide wildlife habitat and forage FY19 (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations)PrisonPrograms

ProgramPartners

AHCC

Pollinator forage& habitat

MillerHomestead LLC

CCCC

Pollinator forage

CRCC

Heritage and bee
gardens

CRCC

Plant and Animal
Habitat

CRCC

Land Restoration

Lamb Weston

CRCC
Minimum

Pollinator garden

Lamb Weston

LCC

Bird feeders

MCC-TRUMCCWSRU

Gardens

MCC
MCCCW
OCC
SCCC
SCCC
WCC

Bird habitat
Flower gardens,
boxes, baskets
Bird boxes
Pollinator-friendly
plantings
Pollinatorplantings
Bird houses
Bird boxes

WCCW

Pollinatorplantings

WSP Green
Zone

Gardens

Highlights
Pollinator-friendly plantings throughout the main & minimum
areas: flowers, herbs, pussy willow. Large woody debris andshrubby habitat in pond area.
~15,000 Pollinator Friendly Annual flowers planted aroundgrounds each year; need to add more to support honeybees
on siteSeveral pockets of native and pollinator-specific plants. Two
Heritage Gardens, incarcerated designers honored the culturaland natural heritage of our local area, native plants andchunks of columnar basalt.
Bird boxes, owl box, and pollinator box in garden; built 8 beeboxes in past year
Restoring native vegetation outside the fence; planted ~200
sagebrush plants and ~3 lbs of blanket flower seeds
4 acre garden for bees and other pollinators!
Feeders throughout the facility; rehome baby birds that fallfrom nests~4000 ft2 of gardens; lots of flower and pollinator plantings
Multiple bird houses and hummingbird feeders around
Education and Gate 7
Flower gardens to attract bees to pollinate the vegetables
20 bird boxes, 2 bird feeders
All greenhouse plants selected to benefit pollinators, in past
year increased plantings for pollinators, including natives
Pollinator plants in every garden and next to greenhouses;
new garden adjacent to bee hives
More than 40 houses
Hanging baskets, perennial and annual flowers throughout the
grounds, selected to be beneficial to pollinators; other wildlife
also attracted, such as frogs, rabbits, and birds of prey
2019, planted 4,000 seeds of more than 100 varieties offlowers for pollinators
Flowering plants in prisons
can be a rare source ofpesticide-free forage forpollinators. This sunflower
is WCCW. Photo by Joslyn
Rose Trivett.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report40

Honeybee Programs
Honeybee programs are an ongoingpriority for SPP. These programs
provide meaningful education andtherapeutic activities forincarcerated and WA Corrections
staff beekeepers, contribute tohoneybee conservation andrestoration, and have the potential
to create and contribute related
goods (hives, honey, beeswax
products) to nearby communities.
We currently support 12 active
beekeeping programs: AHCC, CCCCProgram Coordinator Bethany Shepler took this photo of LCC's hives in the fall
McNeil Island, CBCC, CRCC, LCC,
of 2018.
MCC-SOU, MCC-TRU, MCCCW,
SCCC, WCC, WCCW, WSP. These programs partner with 8 local bee clubs. With the exception of WCCW’s
program, certification is overseen by Washington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA). Since CCCC’s
pilot in 2015, 11 prison programs have used the WASBA curriculum to certify 86 Beginner Beekeepers,
329 Apprentice Beekeepers, and 17 Journeyman Beekeepers. A subset of certified beekeepers serve as
beekeeping technicians or instructors, and some of those are represented in Sustainability Job
Programs. Highlights for the past year include:
•

•
•

•

WASBA program support and planning are vastly improved. Vice President and other new board
members have updated all materials and processes. The new curricula and associated materials
are very high quality.
SPP-Evergreen and WASBA signed a Memorandum of Understanding that serves well to
describe each organization’s roles and responsibilities.
All program partners contributed to “How-to” documents describing administrative
expectations and practices for three roles: host facilities, expert beekeepers, and program
liaison (DOC staff sponsor). Prisons Division Assistant Secretary reviewed and approved the set.
Program participants continued to show a high level of engagement. A few programs areworking on their education and certification plans, but all are understandably proud andenthusiastic about their bee programs.

Details for FY19 are shown in the following tables and highlights.
Table 17. Beekeeping Program Overview by Institution FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)Prison

Hives

AHCC

8

Partners
Millers Homestead,West Plains Beekeepers
Association,

Status/Highlights
17 incarcerated beekeepers passed Journeyman-level testing andco-authored WASBA's Journeyman curriculum; AHCC incarcerated
beekeepers club plans new initiatives with great staff support, for

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

41

CCCCMcNeil
Island2

CCCC-on site

0

CBCC

3

CRCC

3

LCC

4

MCC-SOU

2

MCC-TRU

4

MCCCW

2

SCCC

5

WCC

6

WCCW

3

WSP

9

Total

51

Washington State
Beekeepers Association(WASBA)
Correctional Industries,
Department of Natural
Resources, community
beekeepers
Olympia Beekeepers
Association, WASBA
North Olympic
Peninsula Beekeepers
Association, WASBA
Mid- Columbia
Beekeepers, WASBA
Clark County
Beekeepers, WASBA
Northwest District
Beekeepers
Association, WASBA
Northwest District
Beekeepers
Association, WASBA
West Sound
Beekeepers, WASBA
Expert community
beekeeper, WASBA
Olympia Beekeepers
Association, WASBA
Mother Earth FarmWest Plains Beekeepers
Association, CI, WASBA

example: breeding queens, participating in USDA pest survey,
building beekeeping equipment; certified 83 Beginner, Apprentice,and Journeyman beekeepers overall, including 11 staff members
Team started program in May 2018; in 2019, CCCC beekeepers visit
island program 2x month; program and partnership thriving.
Discontinued on-site program. Graduated two Beginner Beekeeping
Classes to support the McNeil Bee Project.
29 certified beekeepers so far; adding scientific education,dissecting and examining dead bees; one beekeeper wrote
supplemental curriculum
No bee classes in 2019; graduated 19 Beginners previously; 2 hives;
former SPP program manager donated to the program
3 classes, 24 Beginner beekeepers so far
Graduated 9 incarcerated beekeepers so far; great staff support
Graduated 2nd Beginner course July 2019 and immediately started
next class; captured two wild swarms; entered their honey at theEvergreen State Fair and won first place
No classes 2019; graduated 20 incarcerated Beginners previously;
this year, harvested 39 pounds of honey; carpentry program built
the covers for the hives.
Graduated two Beginner Beekeeper classes this quarter; 93
Beginner/Apprentice beekeepers so far!!
Graduated 6 incarcerated and 3 staff beekeepers in last year
Education program on hold44 Beginner certified beekeepers so far; two classes are in session
now – a Beginner course with 7 incarcerated students and 2 staff
members and a Journeyman course with 7 incarcerated students!
Tried a new mite treatment this Spring that has worked well for
their bees.

The queen bee is marked by beekeepers, both so she canbe found more easily, and to signify her age--different
years are marked with different colors. Photo by RachelFriederich.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report42Beekeepers at
MCC-SOU show off
their certificates.
Photo by Bethany
Shepler.

Table 18. Incarcerated Beekeeper certification issued in FY19 and total certifications awarded since 2015(see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)Prison
AHCC
CCCC
CBCC
CRCC
LCC
MCC-WSR
MCC-SOU
MCC-TRU
MCCCW
OCC
SCCC
WCC
WCCW
WSP
Total

Curricul
a
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WASBA
WMB
WASBA

Incarcerated Beginners
certified
FY19
20
18

IncarceratedApprentices certified
FY19

IncarceratedJourneymen certified
FY19
17

12

IncarceratedApprentices* certified
since 2015
29
57
29
32
12

8

4
8

Incarcerated
Beginners
certifiedsince 2015
20
18

16
12

8

4
8

IncarceratedJourneymen certified
since 2015
17

21
26

84

27
6
13
74

26

17

84

58
14
8
37
301*

17

*Previous to 2019, Apprentice Certification was awarded for the class that has been renamed Beginner.

Composting with “Bugs”
The composting program housed by the Washington State Reformatory Unit (WSRU) at Monroe
Correctional Complex is like none other. The program was founded in 2010 by two incarcerated men.
Nine years later, the program has grown enormously and partners with multiple non-profits and schools.
The program is internationally recognized as a model and is still led and operated by incarcerated
technicians and teaching assistants.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

43

The program currently processes 20,000 lbs of food waste every month. To transform waste into
valuable resources, technicians work with three kinds of “bugs”:
1. Worms (also known as red wigglers and the “vermi” in vermicomposting): Worms consume
discarded grains, vegetables, and fruits. Their droppings are called castings, and worm castings
are highly prized as fertilizer and soil amendment.
2. Bokashi: Specialist bacteria can ferment/pre-process citrus, dairy, and meats that the worms
cannot.
3. Black soldier flies: Larvae of a stingless wasp (looks like a fly) can consume all kinds of foodwaste; they turn it into more larvae that are prized as high-quality animal feed
These approaches to composting represent relatively new technologies. Building on earlier studies, the
WSRU program has developed, tested, and improved their methods. Their current focus is multiple
small-batch trials with black soldier flies – cutting edge research that stands to change how we deal withhuman food waste and feed domestic and ocean food stocks.
From the beginning,members of WSRU’sstaff have supported
and championed theprogram. The program
has provided starterkits for otherresidential facilities,
including the sizable
worm farmin Washington State
Penitentiary‘s
Sustainable Practices
Lab (SPL). The program
worked with
incarcerated
Sergeant La Munyon and compost technicians work together at the table where theytechnicians andextract red wigglers from finished worm castings. Photo by Kelli Bush.
instructors,
Seattle’s Tilth Alliance and SPP-Evergreen to create a program certification. University Beyond Bars, hasprovided the vital support for peer-led course instruction and two classes have graduated so far.
Scientists, corrections specialists, professors, students, and entrepreneurs have visited and toured thefacility. Technicians created a virtual tour, presented at the International Conference on Sustainability in
2019. In 2018 and ’19, graduate students from University of Washington (UW) visited the program to
conduct research on soil amendments’ effects on vegetable growing; compost technicians advised on
and supported those studies. For more information see section 10 Research and Evaluation.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report44

6. Restorative Nature Programs
SPP brings nature inside prisonswith the motivation to relieve thestress of prison environments.
Scientific literature shows thatwhen nature is available within
institutional and urban
environments, inhabitants
experience many positive,
therapeutic benefits. The Nature
Imagery in Prisons (NIPP) team, led
by SPP co-founder Nalini Nadkarni,
has conducted research on“vicarious” nature exposure, (inthe form of nature videos) in a
maximum security prison they
Garden boxes are available for rent at WSP. Photo by Bethany Shepler.
found beneficial results forincarcerated individuals and staff in the area.
Less formally, the therapeutic values of SPP’s programs have been recognized widely and consistently byboth incarcerated and staff partners. While all SPP programs are intended to offer positive contact withnature, the programs detailed below include enjoying nature as their primary function. Since SPPEvergreen had reduced influence on nature imagery programs during the reporting period, we represent
them as an informal offering here.
Table 19. Informal Restorative Nature Programs, new and ongoing, FY19 (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations)
ProgramPartners

PrisonPrograms

AHCC

Flowergardens

Flowers throughout the prison for human & wildlife well-being

AHCC

Diversity
GardenCultural groups grow food and flowers for their special events,
e.g., 4 rows for native American programs: lavender, sage andsweet grass

AHCC
CBCC
CCCC
CRCC

Natureimagery
Flowergardens
Flowergardens
Heritage andflower gardens

Highlights

Individuals in maximum security area have access to nature videos
Planted 500 perennials this year; ornamental gardens in courtyard,
access breezeway, MSC light yards
Flower gardens throughout the grounds
Incarcerated individuals designed garden, which honors culturaland natural heritage of area, native plants minimize water needs

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

45

LCC
MCCWSRUMCCWSRU
MCC-SOU
MCC-TRU
MCCCW
MCCCW
OCC
OCC
SCCC

House plants
House plants
Flowergardens
Flowergardens
Flowergardens
House plants
FlowergardensWaterfeatures
Flowergardens,boxes, baskets
Flowergardens

SCCC

Lifer garden

WCC

NatureImagery

WCC

House plants

WCC
WCCW

Flowergardens
Flowergardens

Only known prison that allows houseplants in residents’ dormrooms; last year were nearly 300 plants for 480 residents!
New houseplants propagated and potted, three large carts full, for
4th floor/hospital area; decorative wood planters for some.
Flowers gardens to benefit human and wildlife well-being
Flowers planted by SOU staff and incarcerated residents
In 4,000 ft2 of gardens, lots of flowers
All living units have houseplants and numerous staff have plants intheir officers
New flower gardens for every living unit
2 living units have fish ponds; the other has a fountain and basin
Each living unit has several garden beds planted and maintained byresidents; hanging baskets and flowering beds throughout thefacility for both staff and incarcerated people
Flowers throughout the grounds for human & wildlife well-being; 2more gardens outside the fence
Large garden space dedicated incarcerated men not eligible forparole2 Nature Imagery rooms in Cedar Hall; hosted documentary filmmakers and 2 information nights focused on program
Plants in all shared and staff areas, provided and maintained by
Grounds Maintenance crew
Flower plantings throughout the campus
Flower plantings throughout the campus

WSP-SPL

House plants

Propagate and care for plants for indoor spaces; also grew 100+lavender plants for outdoor beautification and good smells

WSP-South
Complex +MSU

Rental garden
boxes

48+38 raised bed garden boxes available to individual renters for
personal use; all rented

WSP-MHU

Horticulture

WSP-MSU

Flowergardens

Five flower plots dedicated to members of mental healthprogramming
Two flowers gardens, 10 flower boxes and 26 hanging flower
baskets

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report46

7. Community Contribution Programs
Community contribution programs directly provide services and/or goods to nearby communities. They
train pets for adoption or service and donate crafts and products (firewood, quilts) derived fromreclaimed materials. Other community contribution programs provide services such as habitat
restoration and thinning trees.
Typically, these programs are partnerships between prisons and community organizations that helporganizations increase capacity and provide incarcerated individuals with opportunities to contribute to
the world outside the fence. Most of these programs predate the formal SPP partnership; SPPEvergreen’s role is to acknowledge and support these productive partnerships and provide acomprehensive overview of activities taking place statewide.
SPP’s conservation and sustainable operations programs also make community contributions; forexample, the Conservation Nurseries provide hundreds of thousands of plants to regional restoration,and Sustainable Operations programs contribute by reducing prisons’ environmental footprint andsaving taxpayer dollars. See those sections for details.

Dog and Cat ProgramsDog and cat programs are common inprisons across Washington State. Nearly allof Washington’s prisons have one or morepartnerships with community nonprofits
for pet programs. Incarcerated individuals
receive education and support from thosepartner organizations to provide excellent
animal care and obedience training, and—in a few cases—service or therapy training.
We have heard from incarcerated
participants and staff that pet programs
are a benefit to all directly involved, and to
the larger prison community as well.
Sometimes, participants of these programs
say that working with dogs or cats wastransformational.
In FY19, more than 770 dogs and cats werecared for and trained in WA prison
programs. In the past year, CRCC added a
A social media post from the Pawsitive dog training program hosted bysmall service dog program, while WCC
AHCC.
suspended theirs. SCCC’s Freedom Tails
ended early in 2019, and the prison is seeking a new partner. Further details are shown in the following
table.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report47

Table 20. New and ongoing Dog and Cat Programs FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)PrisonProgram

Program Partners

AHCC

Pawsitive dog
training

Diamonds in the Ruff,
SpokAnimal, Spokane
Humane Society

CBCC

Dog training andadoption

Welfare for Animals
Guild (WAG!)

CBCC

Cat program

CCCC

Training dogs
for veterans

CRCC

Ridge Dogs

CRCC

Service dogs forveterans

LCC

Dog Adoption
ProgramLCC

Cat Adoption
Program

MCCSOUMCCTRU
MCCCW
OCC

Welfare for Animals
Guild (WAG!)
Brigadoon Service
Dogs
Benton Franklin
Humane, AdamCounty Pet Rescue
Brigadoon Service
Dogs
Humane Society forSouthwest
Washington
West Columbia Gorge
Humane Society,
Humane Society forSouthwest WA

Cat program

Purrfect Pals

Dog training andadoption
Pawsitive Prison
Project
OCC Dog
Program

Summit Assistance
Dogs
Kitsap Humane
Society
Olympia Peninsula
Humane Society
Harbor Assn of
Volunteers for
Animals (HAVA)Brigadoon Service
Dogs

SCCC

Freedom Tails

SCCC

Service dogs forveterans

Highlights
More staff and incarcerated participation this past year;
ended 24th session in June with cumulative total of 175
dog graduates; dog re-union event brings together dog,
new owners, and former handlers; program is 100% selfsustainable by community donations and fundraisingwith art and crafts projects donated to Spokane Humane
Society.
Since beginning of program trained more than 200 dogs
and puppies, 35 in past year; 99% adoption rate!
Continue to host reunions for adoptive families andincarcerated trainers
Hosted by two units in close custody; 23 cats in the
program so far, 4 in past year
4 dogs trained and 1 graduation ceremony in past year
131 dogs graduated from the program in past year!
New: Set up video conferencing with Brigadoon;currently training 2 dogs
Weekly classes and one-on-one training with handlers;
42 dogs and puppies in the program in past year
Education and training every 2nd week; 42 kittens andcats adopted in past year
900 cats adopted since 2006
9 dogs this year with 3 graduations
22 cats in the 4th year of the program
Adopted out 35-40 dogs this past year; adoption rate is92%; 207 dogs since start of program in 2010
7 dogs graduated, 1 graduation ceremony; this program
ended early in 2019, planning restart with new partner
8 dogs trained to the needs of individual veterans in pastyear

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

48

WCCW

Prison Pet
PartnershipWSP

BAR Units kitten
program

WSPMSU

Dog Program

Self-supportingBlue Mountain
Humane Society
Walla Walla Humane
SocietyFirst in-prison pet program in the country! In past year,
35 dogs in training, 17 adopted as pets, 6 as service
animals, 25 incarcerated employees; 2 found pet careindustry employment post-release
125 kittens and cats (mostly kittens) in the past year,socialized and raised for adoption
20 incarcerated individuals served 2,632 hours as
handlers and walkers

A dog handler and Koa, a "very loving St Bernard," in
CRCC's Ridge Dog program. Photo fromhttps://www.facebook.com/Ridge-Dogs219301358080610/

Reclaim, Repurpose or Restore, and Donate Programs
Consistent with the earliest days of SPP programs, WA prisons strive to “throw nothing away,” totransform potential refuse into something of value. In some cases, these programs’ creations directly
meet an organization’s need: donating quilts to a homeless shelter, refurbished computers for schools,
and growing produce for food banks. In other cases, programs donate handmade or restored creations
for organizations’ fundraising events. The productivity and generosity of these programs are best
illustrated by statewide numbers (below).
Table 21. Reported total for 12 prisons statewide, new and ongoing Community Contribution Programs
FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
Item
Garden area
Produce grown
Crafts & furnishings fromreclaimed materials
Refurbished bicycles andwheelchairs
Refurbished computers
FirewoodStatewide totals reported (approximations)22.0 acres cultivated
246,700+ lbs. to food banks & prison
kitchens
Nearly 24,000 items donatedHighest Impact Facility
WSP institutional garden: 10.5 acres
WSP institutional garden: 110,000 lbs.

1,144 donated

WSP’s Sustainable Practices Lab (SPL):
19,000MCC-WSRU: 820 items

3,984 at-cost for School District
929 cords donated

AHCC: All
AHCC: 739 cords

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report49Institutional/agency
contributions$637,877.00 cost savings

Custom fairgrounds furniture created by WSP's
Sustainable Practices Lab WA Corrections
photo.

WSP Institutional garden: $272,677

Loading refurbished wheelchairs forinternational shipment; this program is at
MCC-WSRU, coordinated by Joni and Friends’
Wheels for the World. WA Corrections photo

Table 22. New and Ongoing Community Contribution Programs to Reclaim, Repurpose, Restore, orDonate FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)PrisonAHCC

Programs
SPL: Quilting

Program Partners
22 cats in the 4th year of the
program

AHCC

Computers 4 Kids

Office of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, WA
Department of Enterprise
Services

AHCC

Firewood donation

SNAP Spokane

CBCC

Vegetable gardens

Donations to Peninsula College
culinary program

CBCC

Ozette potato
program

CCCC

Gardens

Centralia Community College,
Littlerock School District

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

Highlights
Repurposing fabric to create donation quilts; 95
quilts this year! 3 quilts went to terminally ill
incarcerated individuals at AHCC. Remaining 92 quilts
were split between Hope House Women’s Shelter,
Crosswalk (teen shelter) and Catholic Charities(homeless outreach and shelter services)
Past year, refurbished 3,984 for schools plus 11,252
to surplus; incarcerated technicians learn basic
diagnostics and can test for certification, plus learn
office skills (excel, access) and shipping skills (e.g.,
forklift experience)
739 cords donated July 2018 - July 2019!; DNR
provides wildland fire trainings and prison staff
provide firewood and chipper trainings~1,200 lbs. of produce grown: ~43 lbs. to culinary
program, 1,075 to the kitchen, 84 lbs. to area foodbanks.
Growing Ozette and Peruvian Purple seed potatoes
for donation to local tribe to help replenish cultural
staples
40,000 sq. ft. of gardens, grew ~8,500 lbs. of produce
for prison kitchen in 2018; grew pumpkins for prison
family events
50

CCCC

Construction: tiny
homes,

CRCCMSU
CRCCMain
CRCC

Gardens, Minimum

CRCC

Teddy bears fromreclaimed materials

LCC

Wood craft
donations
Gardens

MCCSOUMCCTRUMCCTRU

Centralia CC

Gardens, Main
Toys for Tots

Tri-Cities Toys for Tots, Shriners
Hospital for Children
Hospitals, API events held at
CRCC, ARC of Tri-Cities, Franklin
County Sheriff’s OfficeNon-profits

Gardens
Community Aide
Coalition: quilting,crochet, textile arts

MCCWSRUMCCWSRUMCCWSRU

City of Monroe
public flowers
Vegetable gardens

MCCWSRU

SPL Wheelchair
programMCCWSRU

SPL Wood Craft 4
Charity

SPL Bicycles fromHeavenBuilt 6 tiny homes for homeless community last year;
this year working on larger "tiny cottages" to housefamilies
3,000 sq. ft. of gardens produced more than 5,000
lbs. in 2017
Half vegetables harvested to food bank and half tokitchenDonated 150 toys and crafts in the in past year.
Donated 600 teddy bears to partners and benefit
eventsCreated and donated 75 picture frames, 16 jewelryboxes, 4 signs, 1 display cabinet, 1 plaqueGrew 213 lbs. of vegetables and herbs
Grew ~2700 lbs. for prison kitchenOver the Rainbow Fabrics, Dolly
Haakenson, clothing and textile
advisors of Snohomish County
donate materials; crafts
donated to Interfaith Family
Shelter, Westlake Shelter, HopeCrew, Swedish, Evergreen,
Seattle Children’s andProvidence Hospitals, Rainbow
Center, Evergreen Hospice, Little
Bit Therapeutic Riding Center,
Summit Assistance Dogs, Holy
Rosary Church, Rotary First
Harvest, East Count and Monroe
Senior Center, +many, many
more.
City of Monroe donates seeds
and soil
CI Food Services donated seeds
Bikes donated by Snohomish
County Sheriff, Monroe PD,
Marysville PD, Everett PD;
donated to Snohomish County
Boys & Girls Club and the City of
Sultan for National Night Out
Wheels for the World
Scrap wood donated by Canyon
Creek Cabinet Company; donate
to Childrens Hospital, YWCA,
Domestic Violence Services of
Snohomish County, Women’s
Shelter of Monroe

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual ReportCreated 140 quilts and over 400 knitted hats andscarves this year;

Grew 1,392 begonias for City flower beds
Grew 2,913 lbs. for prison kitchen, vegetables andherbs
In 2018, restored 202, donated 162,
recycled/scrapped 36

In 2018, restored 454 wheelchairs, donated 658(including some walkers and sets of crutches),
recycled/scrapped 54
In 2018, created and donated 300 wooden toys andcrafts51

MCCCW

GRACE (Gardening
for Restoration andConservation
Education) Project

Kitsap Conservation District,
Central Kitsap Foodbank

MCCCW

Vegetable gardens

North Mason Food Bank

OCC

Wood shop

OCC

Firewood

OCC

Vegetable gardens

Quileute High School
scholarships, Cherish ourChildren, Forks Lions Club, CASA,
Quillayute Valley School District,
Relay for Life, Forks Chamber ofCommerce, Timber Museum,
Olympic Anglers, Calm Waters
and Forks Soroptimists; woodfrom Westport Shipyard and
OCC Community Crews (DNR)
Olycap, Quillayute Valley
Scholarship Auction, Lake
Quinault Fire Department, OCC
Community Crews (Departmentof Natural Resources)

SCCC

Gardens andgreenhouses

Coastal Harvest Food Bank,
Harvest Now

SCCC

Food bankfundraisers

SCCC
SCCC
SCCC

Bicycle Repair
Wheelchair Repair
Toy Time

Giving Tree, Coastal Community
Action Senior Center,
Community Youth Services, Set
Free Christian Fellowship,
Coastal Harvest Food Bank,
Unidos Por Puerto Rico
Lions Club
Wheels for the World
Christmas for Kids, Correctional
Industries

WCC

Plant starts

Hoodsport Kiwanis

WCC

Vegetable gardens

WCC

Construction: busstops, andNeighborhood
Pantries

Thurston County Food Bank, The
Saint’s Pantry Food Bank, The
City Reach Food Bank, The
Shelton Community Kitchen,
Harvest Now
Centralia College, Hoodsport
Kiwanis, Hoodsport School
District

Peninsula College

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

Kitsap Conservation District 1/4-acre garden tended
by MCCCW crew, produced more than ~11,000 lbs. infirst season! 10,800 donated to 4 food banks; 200 lbs.
fresh produce to the prison kitchen; mid-October,food bank patrons can bring their kids to pumpkin
patch (pie and jack-o-lantern varieties)
2018, grew 1,300 lbs. of produce for prison kitchen
and food bank
Every year OCC donates outdoor furniture, wood toysand games, and other crafts to Quillayute Valley
School District Scholarship auction; 2019 donated 78
items raising $16,970 for scholarships

Cut and donated 190 cords of firewood in past year;
donation to Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction
raised nearly $6,000
2018, donated 850 lbs. of vegetables, edible flowers,
and herbs to daycare’s summer meal program(students voted to choose recipient)
To food bank in 2018: 36,036 lbs.; Harvest Now
informed them they reported the most donatedproduce out of the 85 partner prisons nationwide.
Incarcerated individuals and staff raised anddonated~$9,730 to non-profits listed

193 bikes repaired and donated in past year.
147 wheelchairs repaired and donated in past year.
Started by 2 incarcerated individuals 15 years ago
and has grown to 21 people last year; materials comefrom furniture shop scraps and community
donations; crafts donated for holiday season
Grew 2,782 starts for 2019 Hood Canal Kiwanis Spring
Plant Sale; donated 800 plants to Saints Pantry Food
Bank; gave away 1,503 to staff and incarcerated
individuals' families at various events
2018, grew 41,840 lbs.; Harvest Now donatedvegetable seeds worth $250; donated 23,000 to 5
community org’s to increase production for foodbanks; 2,942 plants for WCC special events (e.g.
Mother’s Day baskets)
Built and donated 3 bus stops in past year, built 9
pantry boxes for Kitsap neighborhood food sharing

52

WCC

Shoe and clothing
repurposing

CI

WCCW

Gardens andgreenhouses
Mother Earth Farm

Tacoma CC, WSU Extension,
Pierce County
Mother Earth Farm, Real Food
Network, Tacoma CC

WCCW

Sisters of Charity:
quilts, fabric crafts,
wildlife rescue

WSP

Gardens andgreenhouses:
Institutional
Sustainability
GardenOverview; since SPL
holds 27 programs,
only some detailed
below

Community members donate
supplies; LIHI and multiple nonprofits/charities receive
donations
Donate to Blue Mountain Action
Council and Christian Aid Center

WCCW

WSPSPLWSPSPL

SPL: Wood Shop

WSPSPLWSPSPL

SPL: Wood Carving

WSPSPL

SPL: Sign shop

WSPSPL

SPL: Aquacultureand Aquaponics

WSPSPL

SPL: Parole-A-Bear

WSPSPL

SPL: Quilting

SPL: Furniture
RepairReceive materials donations
from partners; donated to 550
charities since start of SPL 2012
Lumber Products, WSP
Employees Veterans’Committee, Hard Headz, Walla
Walla Foundry, Habitat for
Humanity, Humane Society,
Fallen Outdoors, Salmon for
Soldiers, other non-profit groups
Simpli-Home Furniture LLC.;
donations to Habitat for
Humanity, The Humane Society,
Veterans Housing Project,
Women and Children Rescue
Mission, Christian Charities
Mission, and Teen Aid

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

DOC facilities send used clothes to WCC for reuse andrecycling; processed 22,760 lbs. of t-shirt, boxer
shorts, and socks in past year, with cost savings of~$165,200
Summer of 2018 grew 11,620 lbs. of produce for
prison kitchen — herbs, vegetables, and strawberries
Offsite crew of 9 organic farm students growvegetables for donation to 16 food pantries(quantities not available for 2019)
In past year, created and donated 3,111 items! Hats,
pillowcases, quilts, stockings, pottery, dog beds (forPPP), and curtains for tiny houses
2018 grew ~110,000 lbs. of produce, donated 2,471
lbs.; remainder to prison kitchen, saving $175,937

27 programs in past year donated 19,000+ items to
non-profits; provided 8,500+ items for State use;estimate $200,000 savings for DOC annually; 250
tours provided; all technicians receive education andtraining programsMore than 250 projects in past year; built custom
wood signs, special furniture items, and carvings for
donations; also create and repair institutional
furniture resulting in DOC cost savings

Hand-carved 96 items for auctions this past year; fourindividuals received one-on-one training
Sort and salvage donated materials; create "custom
furniture solutions" for 40+ charities; instruction on
safety and tool use.

Recycle materials, produce 2,000+ signs and banners,
provide vocational training to 6 sign makers; thisshop focuses on cost savings for taxpayers(discontinued work for outside charities)
800lbs. of lettuce for prison kitchen; new outdoor
tilapia pond and improved inside program structures;
technicians train and practice in fish breeding
SPL’s most productive shop by # of items, annuallycreating ~more than 15,000 stuffed bears and otheritems for charities; also repair for institutional
clothing and created 300 holiday stockings for
donation
Using donated or cast-off fabric and thread,
constructed 350+ lap quilts, quilts and blankets forcharity53

WSPSPL

SPL: Special Projects

WSPSPLWSPBAR

SPL: Water
treatment systems
Crochet Program

Made 3,000+ products for DOC institutional use, suchas staff duty belt items (such as OC dispenser holsters(MK4 & MK9), cuff cases, radio cases, bags for special
needs, PREA shower curtains, incarcerated
individuals' property bags, and more
Constructed water-filtrations systems as ordered by
Project 41; optimized assembly methods
Partnership with SPL, creating donation items

Project 41

Community Work Crews
Many incarcerated residents of minimum
security prisons (LCC, OCC, MCCCW, and
CCCC) and units (Minimum Security Unit =“MSU”) may join offsite crews working on
public lands and community organizationsites. The work can allow positive
reconnection with outside communities,
providing exposure to, and experience
with the world outside the fence.
These crews employed 1,709 incarcerated
A member of MCCCW's community crew works at a Kitsap
individuals this fiscal year. With so many
Conservation District revegetation site. Photo by Rachel Friedrich.
participants at hundreds of sites
statewide, we still have much to learn about these programs, including how well each does and does not
fit the SPP model. Reported details are shown in the table below.
Table 23. Community Work Crews, Special Projects FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)PrisonPrograms

Program Partners

AHCC

Forestry

CCCC

Forestry

CCCC

Community
work

Multiple agencies

LCC

Forestry

Department of Natural
Resources, other agencies

Department of Natural
Resources
Department of Natural
Resources

Highlights
Forest thinning produces logs for firewood program
Off-site crews trained in and practice reforestation,
wood-cutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting andfire prevention
Cedar Creek provides community service crews that
perform thousands of hours of work each year for local,
county, non-profit and state agencies
Off-site crews trained in and practice reforestation,
wood-cutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting andfire prevention; 120 crew members have been certified as
Firefighter 2

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

54

LCC

Community
work

Multiple agencies

MCCCW

Conservation
crews

Kitsap Conservation
District, Great Peninsula
Conservancy, Jefferson
Land Trust, WSDOT,
WDFW, Suquamish Tribe
Fisheries
Kitsap Conservation
District,Central Kitsap Foodbank
Department of Natural
Resources, other agencies

MCCCW

GRACE Project

OCC

Community
Crew

OCC

Forestry

WCCW

Mother Earth
Farm

WSPMSU

Communitycrew

Department of Natural
Resources, other agencies

Mother Earth Farm, Real
Food Network, Tacoma
CC
City/County of Walla
Walla, Veterans
Administration, Port ofWalla Walla, Walla Walla
Fairgrounds, Walla Walla
Landfill, Walla WallaCounty Private Properties,
and local Cities and/orCounties such as
Waitsburg, Dayton,
College Place, PrescottServices include farming, reforestation, wood-cutting,brush and debris clearing, general landscaping,processing vegetables at food pantry, salmon habitat
restoration, watershed improvement, development ofparks and recreational areas, and other work to conserve
natural resources

Planting projects, invasive weed removal, creek andestuary flood control

Rotating crew growing vegetables for foodbank donation
Lawn and grounds care, trail improvements, brushcutting, fire-wood cutting, weed removal, storm debris
clean up, stream restoration, fence construction, green
house construction, snow removal; also some painting
and construction
Off-site crews trained in and practice reforestation,
wood-cutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting andfire prevention; more than 100 hours of wildland firetraining
Offsite crew of 9 organic farm student-workers

Landscaping, mowing, trimming, brush removal, cleaningout creeks, tree and shrub planting for fish and wildlife
habitat, and pumpkin harvest

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report55

8. Sustainable Operations
Sustainable Operations programs are led by the Washington State Department of Corrections (WACorrections). This section of the annual report is authored by WA Corrections’ Sustainable Operations
Manager. While other programs included in this report are also led by WA Corrections or other outside
partners, Sustainable Operations programs statewide are unique as they are managed by a dedicated
WA Corrections staff position; this position was created by WA Corrections to monitor and reduce theenvironmental, economic, and human costs of prisons. Major sustainable operations initiatives include
greenhouse gas emissions, energy, waste, and potable water use reductions.
Executive order 18-01, State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP) was signed by Governor
Inslee on January 16, 2018. This order further solidified the Governor’s commitment to reducing
greenhouse gasses and toxics in the state’s products, processes and business. This demonstration of theGovernors commitment and expectations further enables the Department to achieve its goals related toreduction in the use of toxics and energy and the production of waste and greenhouse gases. As an
agency committed to the SEEP Executive order, the Department meets regularly with other stateagencies to establish processes to identify the most cost-effective opportunities for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering carbon, and reducing exposure to toxics.
12 prison facilities are responsible for the vast majority of WA Corrections’ greenhouse gas emissions,
resource consumption, and waste generation. In June of 2019, these facilities occupied over 7 million
square feet of conditioned space and housed a population of 16,781 incarcerated individuals. Prison age
and design range from the 130-year-old first territorial prison in Walla Walla, the first US Green Building
Council Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold prison campus in the world, and the
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, WA. Facilities provide health and dental care, treatment
programs, educational and employment training, laundry, and food services.

EnergyEnergy costs associated with the operations of correctional facilities are significant. Reducing energy
consumption is an ongoing priority for WA Corrections. The facilities with the support of the Capital
Planning & Development (CPD) division are constantly engaged in evaluating and facilitating energy
reduction measures such as:

•
•
•
•
•

Facility and systems maintenance
Energy Audits and resulting upgrades
High performance construction
Alternative energy investments
Promoting conservation behaviors

WA Corrections has been aggressive in reducing energy use in its prison facilities succeeding in reducing
energy use by 24% since 2009. Contributing strategies include the completion of 20 energy savings
performance contracts, the certification of the first LEED Gold prison campus in the world, andmanagement of more LEED-certified square footage than any other prison facility in the United States.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report56

Energy use/incarcerated person/day showed a slight decrease of from FY18, as illustrated in the tablebelow.
Table 24. Energy data, 12 active prison facilities, FY16 to FY19
Fiscal Year
FY16
FY17
FY18
FY19

Kwh per incarcerated resident
per day
47.36
49.19
48.67
47.97

This data represents power demands needed to operate facility conditioned spaces, perimeter lighting,food service, laundry, health care and industrial operations. Power sources include: electricity, naturalgas, propane and fuel oil. Consumption records for each facility for each power source are converted toequivalent kWh hours and divided by the number of incarcerated people.
Activities and initiatives
•
•
•

•

Lighting retrofits – Prison facilities continue to use operational funds and utility incentives madeavailable for LED lighting projects, resulting in significant energy savings.
Training for staff – Facility managers engaged in energy conservation and building management
training
Energy project funding – WA Corrections received special funding through the Department ofCommerce for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to conduct detailed energy use
studies, develop an Energy Master Plan for the department and recommend best energy
conservation strategies and projects.
Renewable power contracting: WA Corrections contracted to purchase 1.2 million kilowatt
hours of green power annually through Avista’s Solar Select program.

Waste
The primary focus of WA Corrections’ waste reduction strategies includes appropriate management ofwaste streams and environmentally preferable purchasing. Managing waste streams includes separating
and shuttling waste to its next, most appropriate destination such as a recycle center, compost facility,
waste to energy plant, reuse/redistribution operation, or if no better option exists, to a landfill.
WA Corrections is successfully decreasing the amount of waste generated and sent to the landfills: since2011, landfill waste had been reduced by 20%. Much of this progress is due to the diversion of foodwaste to composting operations. Sorting and diverting recyclable items is the second largest contributor
to landfill waste reduction.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report57

Attention to environmentally preferable
purchase choices also plays a large part inwaste reduction. Replacing disposable itemswith durable, reusable alternatives has been a
consistent strategy. Durable medical
equipment repair programs refurbish
equipment to make it functional for use at thefacility or to be donated through community
partnerships. The program is an example ofsaving items from the landfill and sparing
facilities replacement costs. Challenges overthe past year in reaching further landfill
reductions include the loss of cost-effective
Thanks to the composting program's ongoing innovations andrecycling opportunities for footwear, textiles, expansions, MCC-WSRU was able to cancel their contract with anmattresses, and plastics.
external composter in the fall of 2019. Photo by Erica Benoit.
Waste sent to the landfill has remained fairly consistent over the last four years, as illustrated in thetable below.
Table 25. Waste data, 12 active prison facilities, FY16 to FY19
Fiscal Year (FY)Lbs. of landfilled waste perincarcerated resident per day
FY16
1.2
FY17
1.3
FY18
1.2
FY19
1.2
Data represents the amount of landfill or incinerator waste generated by facilities that was not diverted
to better solutions. These rates do not include wastes diverted to composting, recycling, and hazardous
and universal wastes, such as electronics and light tubes, which are captured and managed specially.
Activities and initiatives
•

•
•

•

Medication waste diversion – Random waste stream reviews over the past year revealed theabsence of any pharmaceutical or over-the-counter medications in the waste stream indicatingthat the diversion process for any unused or expired medications is effective.
Food waste composting and recycling – All facilities are expected to have recycle and foodwaste diversion programs.
Sustainable Purchasing – The Department is a member of and working closely with the SEEP
Toxics Reduction and Preferable Purchasing working group to identify and implement waste
reductions strategies and improve sustainable purchasing.
Education and training for incarcerated residents: Educational signage, training in sustainability
work programs, and resource conservation education in SPP programs (e.g., Roots of Successand Environmental Workshop Series)

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report58

Table 26. Waste diversion, state-wide totals reported by 12 prisons, FY19
Target of Diversion
State-wide total
Lead facility
Commodities (e.g., metals,
2.359 million pounds SCCC: 560,000 lbs. (280 tons) to recycling in
cardboard, plastics)*(1,179 tons)*
FY19.
Organics (e.g., food waste,
2.132 million pounds WSP: 403,195 lbs. (201 tons) composted inyard waste, shredded paper)(1,066 tons)
FY19.
Finished compost produced
4.347 million tons
OCC: 108,000 lbs. (54 tons) finished compost(217 tons)
in FY19
Total waste diversion
4.49 million pounds
SCCC: 842,900 lbs. (422 tons) to recycling and(2,245 tons)
composting combined.
*From Results WA database—more complete data— 1,177.47 tons of Recycled material diverted fromlandfilled waste in calendar year 2018

Water
Prison facility managers know that conserving
water can save money and be good for theenvironment. Reducing water use at facilities
also extends beyond resource protection andpotable water cost savings to savings in
wastewater and energy costs.
••

Potable water use has decreased fromlast year’s consumption rate of 147
gallons/incarcerated person/day in
FY18 to a rate of 133 gallons/incarcerated person/day in FY19.
Target goal is 120
gallons/incarcerated person/day.

Grounds/Nursery Services Specialist Benri Deanon describes foodproduction and water use at WCC; since installing inline drippers
throughout the gardens, they use 58% less water. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Table 27. Water data, 12 active prison facilities, FY16 to FY19
Fiscal Year (FY)
Gallons per incarcerated
resident per day
FY16
146.12FY17138.01FY18
146.83FY19
132.99
Data represents the amount of potable water consumed by all prison facilities. It does not include
consumption of water from rainwater catchment systems, reclaimed water, or agricultural well-water
sources, which some of the facilities use to reduce their demand on potable water.
In the past few years, gardening in Washington correctional facilities has increased exponentially,transforming lawns and gravel yards into beautiful, productive spaces. Programs include emphasis on
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report59vegetable production for food banks and facility food service operations. Water reduction goals will notdiminish support for garden programs, but rather will bring new opportunities for water conservation
innovations.
Activities and initiatives underway•••

Plumbing retrofits – A pilot program in one housing unit at the Washington State Penitentiary
installed efficient valves and controllers for showers, sinks and toilets. A full year after
installation the water savings has proved substantial with an 81 % decrease in potable water use
and a total project cost payback in 1.52 years.
Metering and facility water use assessments – Five facilities have completed metering of their
entire campuses. The meters will be used to monitor and reconcile water use to reduce
consumption and detect and repair leaks. Cost benefit analysis of the project may support
further metering of other campuses.
Water conservation landscaping – While garden programs depend on sufficient water use to
thrive, several facilities across the state are employing water conservation strategies including
drought tolerant landscaping/gardens and improved irrigation practices.

Table 28. Water catchment summary reported by 12 prisons FY19
CBCC
CCCC
MCCCW
OCC
SCCC
State-wide total
250 gal45,000 gal

30,000 gal

200 gal3,210 gal

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

78,660 gal

60

9. Sustainability Job Programs
SPP job programs offer incarcerated participants job training, education, and sustainable living skills andways to contribute to communities and ecosystems. The list included in Table 29 shows all sustainability
job program placements in FY19 (data provided by WA Corrections staff’s OMNI system; where job
programs are known to be very similar, SPP-Evergreen combined those programs).
We include all jobs documented and reported by WA Corrections staff involving sustainability, science,and contact with non-human nature. This table leaves out some sustainability jobs that have been coded
in a non-sustainability category; for example, technicians working on composting and aquaponics at
SCCC, and electricians who install energy efficient fixtures. These job programs represent an enormous
variety of activities, most of which were initiated and run with little-to-no input from SPP-Evergreen
partners. SPP-Evergreen aims to promote and support the educational enrichment of every program,
and will continue to build partnerships and capacity toward this goal.
Approximately 4,214 incarcerated individuals held sustainability-related jobs during FY19 which isapproximately 25% of the 16,781 men and women incarcerated in WA prisons on June 30, 2019(excludes work release and non-prison beds). Additional individuals “volunteer” in sustainability
programs, and their work is not captured here; known reasons for declining the job status relate tohaving another work or program assignment, short duration of program duties, or limits on monthly
pay.
Table 29. FY19 Sustainability Job Programs in WA Prisons: all job programs determined to involve
science, sustainability, and/or contact with living things are tracked in “sustainability” category.
Note: Does not include “volunteers” (see above) and students (see Education).
Number of
NumberSustainability Job Program
participants,of sites
FY19
American Boarding Kennel Assc (ABKA)
2
33
programs
Aquaponics
2
7
Bee Conservation Tech / Class Facilitator
860
Bicycle Repair
214Bike & Wheelchair Repair
252
Biowaste Custodian
134
Butterfly Rearing Tech
230
Cat Handler
4
158
Chicken Handler
1
11
Community Work Crews; includes 14 Clerks
10965
Compost Worker / Food Waste Recycler
328Computer Refurbishing
1
13
Cultural Crafts Program1
13
Dog Handler
9220
Dog Handler 2 (service training)
8
73
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report61

Dog Walker
Fire Wood Stacker
Forestry I Worker
Forestry II Worker
Gardening, Organic
Groundskeeper I
Groundskeeper II
Horticulture I Worker
Horticulture Worker II
Inside Groundskeeper
Plantain (grown for Oregon Zoo)
Prairie Plant Conservation
Re-Use Fabric-Sustainable / Quilting
Recycling Worker / Recycling & Reclamation
Root Of Success Trainer
Sawyer
Sheep Farming
Sustainability Clerk / Analyst
Turtle Technician
Waste Treatment Helper
Waste Treatment Operator I
Waste Treatment Operator II
Wood Working
Worm Farm Worker/Vermiculture
TOTAL

3
1
4
1
1
19
4
9
2
2
1
4
4
14
9
2
1
4
2
1
3
1
1
5

30
8
676
15
60
493
87
186
37
55
2
70
86
485
35
49
13
13
14
6
25
15
2
41
4,214

Gardeners at WCC harvest bok choi with visitors from France. Photo by Ricky Osborne.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report6210. Research and Evaluation
In FY19, changes in Washington Department of Corrections’ (WA Corrections’) requirements for
program evaluation and research continued to evolve. SPP-Evergreen and the Research and Data
Analytics (RDA) staff met four times during the reporting period to discuss possible and planned
projects. Overall, options and opportunities for program evaluation and research involving people inprisons (staff and incarcerated) are greatly reduced.

Quality Assessment Surveys for Conservation Technicians and Workshop students
With RDA’s support and participation, SPP-Evergreen gained Washington State Institutional Review
Board (WSIRB)’s confirmation that two existing survey programs may continue with no additional
review. Surveys for SPP’s Environmental Workshop Series students and for Ecological Conservation
technicians are approved by their 2011 determination. The activities were determined “exempt”. They
are not considered research; they are assessments of program quality that are used to create
improvements.

Demographics and Recidivism for Incarcerated ParticipantsWith RDA support, SPP-Evergreen
submitted the biennial data request
to add results for FY18 and 19. WA
Corrections research staff provided
data on three sets of SPP
participants: Roots of Successinstructors, Roots of Successgraduates (students), and EcologicalConservation technicians (forprograms such as Taylor’s
checkerspot butterfly rearing,
beekeeping, and prairie plant
nurseries).
We requested data on these threegroups for these reasons:
For the purpose of describing SPP incarcerated participants who had a meaningful

1. SPP-Evergreen has excellent
experience in one or more SPP programs, we included all conservation technicians,
records of participation: forincluding these beekeepers at AHCC. Photo provided by Kay Heinrich.
each individual, we maintainidentifiers and program start and end dates.
2. From our observations and experiences, these programs represent a meaningful or significant
experience for a typical participant. Note that we did not include people who joined a program
for less time than the average participant (e.g., less than four months in a conservation nursery).

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report633. Pleasingly, the three groups also represent some of the variety in program participation:
instructors, students, and technician/interns
All three data sets ended June 30, 2019, and started with earliest records: spring 2013 for Roots ofSuccess, and ~2010 for first full records from a conservation program. Results help us describe
incarcerated participants in SPP programs, especially as compared to WA prison residents overall (seeAgency Fact Card; we relied on June 30, 2019 data for our comparisons). We cannot claim that any of
key findings were caused by participation in our program; however, we find value in better knowing
the attributes and outcomes of SPP instructors, students, and technicians.
Combined Results
RDA’s report summarized
characteristics for 1,754 incarcerated
participants.
Looking at demographics, there weremore individuals classified as low andmoderate level risk as compared to
the general population: 41% “low”
and 14% “moderate” compared to
30% and 5% respectively. One “high”
risk category was over represented
compared to the general population:
26% classified as “high violent”
compared to 13%.
In these SPP programs, 8% of
At WCC, Roots of Success Master Trainer Grady Mitchell and newly certified
incarcerated participants wereInstructors Jayson Smith, Matthew Edens, and John Morimoto. Photo by Emily
Passarelli.
Hispanic compared to 14% in theoverall population. Diversity of races looked fairly similar to the general population distribution, varying
by only a few points above or below those averages. The split between female and male facility’s
participants exactly matched the general population averages: 8% and 92% respectively.
Of the 1,754 participants in the data set, only 206 could be included in the measure of recidivism as
defined by WA Corrections; for those who have been released, it is a measure of criminal acts that resultin a return to a WA prison within three years of the release. For these 206, 26% recidivated and 74% did
not. This contrasts to 34% and 66% for the general population. To emphasize this finding: the recidivism(return to prison) rate for individuals who participated in SPP in a meaningful way was 26%.
Considering infractions and grievances of the combined groups, we could see no clear patterns forrecords before, during and after program participation—fluctuations over time are not large enough toexceed the margin of error.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report64For our next data ask, planned for 2021, we will ask for two sets of results for each group: continuing the
cumulative report (e.g., all technicians since the start), and adding a report that only describes results
for the two years previous. This should allow contrasting the most recent participants with those ofprevious years, and perhaps better indicate change over time.
Roots of Success Instructors
From data on 57 Roots of Success instructors, we saw the lowest participation by Hispanics: 5%. We
found higher racial diversity than the general population: 54% White compared to 70% White statewide.
Most non-Whites are Black, comprising 39% of this group. Only 5 of the 57 have been released for morethan three years—far too few numbers to characterize a recidivism rate (the threshold for a preliminary
finding is ~30).
Roots of Success Student Graduates
We received data for 1,364 Roots of Success graduates of the full curriculum. Again, we see higher racial
diversity than the general population: 65% White compared to 70% White statewide. The difference
appeared due to increased participation by Black students: 24% of Roots graduates are Black, compared
to 18% statewide. For the 140 Roots graduates released three or more years ago, 30% recidivated.
Ecological Conservation Technicians
From data on 204 conservation
technicians, we found lower racial
diversity than the general
population: 75% White compared to
70% White statewide; that is a slight
improvement compared to the 78%
white found in 2017. Asian/PacificIslanders showed a relatively highrate of participation, 8% compared
to 4% statewide, and Blacktechnicians were lower, with 11%
participating compared to 18%
statewide.

Current turtle technicians Donald McLain, William Rathgaber, and Jeramie
Inge were joined by former SPP technician and current Evergreen student
Bill Anglemyer at this spring’s turtle release for the CCCC program. Photoby Marisa Pushee.

Since the first SPP conservation
program in 2009, 61 technicians
released from prison three or more years ago. Of the 61, only 18% have recidivated.

Quality Assessment Surveys for Nature Imagery and Roots of Success Programs
In consultation with RDA and WSIRB, we established that exit survey programs for Nature Imagery andRoots of Success are out of compliance. While these programs were originally vetted and approved by
RDA, they accepted the external researchers’ IRB approval in error; all WA Corrections research andquality assessment involving human subjects must have WSIRB approval—out of state IRB’s are not
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report65sufficient. If requested, RDA has committed staff time to supporting a WSIRB submission for these
programs. In developing the submission, we would determine if data from past surveys may be salvaged
or must be discarded.

Future Graduate Student Thesis Projects Involving Human Subjects
RDA conveyed that they will no longer be able to consider or support graduate student investigations or
thesis publications involving people in prisons (staff and incarcerated). With limited resources, RDA is
primarily prioritizing large internal program research—studying impacts of programs such as Swift andCertain and Thinking for a Change.
At this time RDA is not allowing data obtained through approved survey programs to be the subject of a
student thesis, as this intended use is not covered by an “exempt” determination.

Research with External Partners
Institute for Human-Animal Connection
Building on the project begun in2017, Dr. Kevin Morris andcolleagues with the Institute for
Human-Animal Connection at
Denver University (DU) worked
with RDA to complete a data
share agreement. Thisagreement will provide WA
Corrections with information on
two groups: incarcerated
individuals who participate indog programs and a similargroup of individuals who haven’t
participated. We look forward to
study completion. In the future,
the partnership plans to develop
and publish best-practices forThis dog came back to prison for a reunion with its former handler...thanks to theprison dog programs.
owner for making this happiness possible! Photo by Brian Harmon.
Astrobiology for the Incarcerated Program Evaluation
Throughout the year, SPP-Evergreen worked with the Astrobiology for the Incarcerated program teamand research professionals working for NASA and University of Utah to synthesize survey results fromthe Astrobiology for the Incarcerated (AfI) lectures. Pre- and post-program surveys to assess knowledge
and attitudes were administered for lectures in WA, Ohio, and Florida, resulting in a substantial data set.
Led by Nalini Nadkarni at University of Utah, the team co-authored a paper on primary findings andsubmitted to a prestigious academic journal in October, 2019. We have additional submissions andpapers planned.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report66University of Washington Waste-Based Amendment Research
MCC-WSRU’s composting program is a
research site for a soil amendment research
project. Scientists from the University of WA
and WA State University are investigating theimpact of waste-based soil amendments on
soil health and yield and nutritional density ofvegetables grown on amended soils. As urban
agriculture grows in popularity, the quality ofurban soils has become a concern. In addition,issues associated with landfilling wastes suchas food scraps and municipal biosolids (solids
from wastewater treatment) are generatinginterest in beneficial use options as analternative to disposal.
For this study, scientists replicated field plots In early spring 2019, compost technicians Rudy Madrigal and Noelat three sites: the wastewater treatment plant Caldellis show visitors the updated UW field plots at MCC-WSRU.
Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.
in Tacoma, WA, City Soil Farm at the KingCounty treatment plant, and MCC. At each site, residuals-based amendments are added to soil alongsideplots where soils are amended with commercial fertilizer. A range of garden crops are grown and soil
health is measured using changes in physical, chemical, and biological properties. In addition to plant
yield, crops are tested for nutrient content and vitamin concentrations. Soil amendments being tested
include biosolids-based topsoil, biosolids compost, vermicompost, bokashi, and compost tea. At MCC,
incarcerated individuals produced amendments for the trial and have been involved in planting, tending
plots, soil sampling, harvesting plant tissue, and yield measures. Data is shared with those involved add
knowledge of soil and plant analysis, data analysis, and the value of the amendments they create
Student Theses
Master of Environmental Studies student
Keegan Curry completed his thesis byanalyzing Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly datacollected over the past 10 years at MCCCW
and Oregon Zoo. MCCCW Butterfly
Technicians have been harvesting, tracking,and reporting the number of eggs laid byfemale butterflies since the program began in
2012. Keegan’s thesis synthesizes this data
and reports trends in Taylor’s checkerspot
reproduction over time, revealing new
patterns of oviposition for this endangered
subspecies. Over 25 incarcerated techniciansFederally endangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly eggs are counted
by incarcerated Technicians at MCCCW as one of the programmeasures provided to partners. Data collected from MCCW and OR
Zoo programs was used in SPP Coordinator, Keegan Curry’s thesis.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report67

at MCCCW provided data for this thesis by counting thousands of butterfly eggs during their time in the
program and their efforts represent a significant contribution to research.
In June 2019, Master of Environmental Studies student Bethany Shepler completed her thesis titled A
critique of the New Ecological Paradigm: Stewardship and a case study of the Pacific Northwest logging
industry. Throughout the process she met with the team of thesis advisors at SCCC, four incarcerated
environmental educators and SCCC’s staff liaison for SPP programs. Advisors helped her choose thestudy population, research question, and develop and fine tune the research plan and instruments. Thissummer at SCCC, Bethany delivered a workshop on the thesis process and findings, presented theprinted thesis to advisors, and met with advisors to debrief the process—discussing benefits andchallenges of their involvement—and award certificates of recognition.

Bethany Shepler (middle) poses with two of her thesis advisors, Kelly Peterson and David Duhaime;
Bethany is holding a printed copy of her thesis that she gave to them. Photo by Erica Benoit.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report6811. SPP Network
SPP in Washington State
Staff at SPP-Evergreen maintained contacts with all Washington state prisons during FY19. With the
exception of OCC, every prison in WA hosts one or more program coordinated by SPP-Evergreen—suchas beekeeping, Roots of Success, and ecological conservation programs—and program contacts are
essential and routine. This connectivity boosted program recognition and increased capacity for more
and better programs. Partners intend to continue aligning goals and honing communications going
forward. Here is a summary of SPP-Evergreen’s significant contacts within the state.
Table 30. Significant contacts in Washington State, SPP-Evergreen, FY19. (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
New contacts in FY19: Title/profession,organization
Earthlab, University of Washington
Education Navigators, 13 colleges statewide
Un-loopInterest in SPP
Artwork for 2019 Northwest Nature and Health Symposium
Post-release guidance in navigating higher education
Web development and reentry mentorships

Statewide Reentry Council

Supporting reentry and legislation to improve outcomes post-release

Ongoing contacts in FY19: Title/profession,organization

Interest in SPP

L’Honey
Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
Community volunteer beekeepers
Detention facility at Joint Base LewisMcChord
Professor of Landscape Architecture,
University of WA
Restoration Ecology class, University of WA

Collaboration between L'Arche Farm and a local parish focused onbeekeeping education and inclusion of vulnerable adults
Increasing accessibility and diversity of ecological restoration field’
joined their summer symposium
Supported their plans for beekeeping and education at McNeil Island
Stewardship program
Sharing resources and guidance for their beekeeping education
program
Therapeutic Master Plan Studio class studied women's prison
Presentation to restoration ecology class; potential for partnershipdevelopment

SPP Nationally and Internationally
SPP is recognized by other countries,
states, and counties for leadership inenvironmental education and nature
programs in prisons. Interest andinvolvement in SPP-model programs
continues to grow. New inquiries fromother states and countries come regularly.
Ongoing relationships and learning
exchanges are flourishing. While the “SPP
Network” is less formal than in years past,
the number and significance of contacts
continues to expand.
Kaff Zanjira partners build an eco-constructed toilet; the eco-rehabilitation
program provides holistic nature-based skills for incarcerated and released
prisoners. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/kaffzanjira/Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report
69

In FY19, we provided information and/or
shared resources with at least 50

organizations and individuals. The table below provides a summary, and Figure 3 on the following pageillustrates national interest in/prevalence of nature, science, and environmental education programs incorrections facilities. National interest in SPP-model programming is also summarized in Figure 3,
following the table.
Table 31. National and International contacts, SPP-Evergreen, FY19. (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)
New and ongoing contacts in
FY19: Title/profession,organization
DOC Environmentalist, Alabama
DOC
Assistant Director, University
Sustainability Practices, ArizonaState University
Landscape Architecture Master’s
students, UC Hastings
Institute of Environment andSustainability’s Corporate
Partners Program (CPP)
Undergraduate Student, UC
Berkeley
Defy Ventures
Undergraduate Student, Colorado
State University in Fort Collins
Wildlife biologist and volunteer at
the women's prison in Denver
Colorado Department ofCorrections' Greening ofGovernment Leadership
Associate Research Professor,
Institute for Human-Animal
Connection, U of Denver
Florida Department of Corrections
Reentry Services Division, Georgia
Dept of Community Supervision
Catalyst Consulting
Community & Mentor
Engagement, Indiana Departmentof Correction
Occupational Therapy student
Student at Earlham College
SPC in US Army
Green Prisons
Mental Health Therapist andInstructor, University of Louisiana
at Lafayette
Conference coordinator, Boston
College

Interest in SPP

State

Learning about Roots of Success

Alabama

SPP as a reference for a Sustainable Forest
Initiative grant, to operate a nursery.

Arizona

Background for a thesis project, juvenile
detention center in San Mateo County

California

engages businesses on the topic ofsustainability

California

Looking for information on prison gardens andfarms to include in their thesis
Sharing organizational awareness; invitation tovisit their program
Provided interview on sustainability within
prisons and social impacts

California
California
Colorado

Wants to be involved in more CO programs

Colorado

Unable to create programming at this time;
hope to in the future

Colorado

Studying impacts of pet programs in prisons;supplied funding for Phase 2

Colorado

Astrobiology in Prisons Program;environmental and science lectures

FloridaImproving existing beekeeping programs

Georgia

Creating SPP-Hawaii

HawaiiInterested in sustainability programs in Indiana
correctional facilities.

Indiana

Studying SPP programs
Case study for senior thesis
Trying to start Master gardeners program in
Fort Leavenworth at Mid-West Regional
Correctional Facility
Sharing resources and mutual recognition

Indiana
Indiana
KansasKentuckyLooking into starting a beekeeping program in
one of their local prisonsLouisiana

NSF funded conference at Yale, “Social andecological infrastructure for recidivism
reduction.”

Massachusetts

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual ReportCountry(if not
USA)

70

Prison educator and beekeeper
Associate Certified Entomologist,
Central Michigan University
University of Utah, all teammembers
Education and Communications
Lead, NASA Astrobiology Program
Writer and Documentary
Filmmaker
Plant Conservation Program
Specialists, Bureau of Land
Management, NM Office
New Mexico Community
Foundation
Student, St. Lawrence University
Energy Conservation &Sustainability Administrator, Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation andCorrection
Lettuce Grow - Operations
Coordinator, Growing Gardens
Seed to Supper, Oregon FoodBank
Multiple staff members at
Institute for Applied Ecology
Sustainability Programs Manager,
Oregon Department ofCorrections
Local beekeeper from
Philadelphia PA
Grad student, La Salle University
PA Department of Conservation
and Natural ResourcesState jail, Houston
Officer, Michael Unit, Texas Deptof Criminal Justice
Windham School District
Alliance for Higher Education in
Prison
PhD student, Monash University
SPP-Tasmania, Churchill
Fellowship Award 2018
Administrative Assistant, Stony
Mountain Institution, Correctional
Service of Canada

Developing and implementing bee programs in
MA prisons and jails
Interested in starting a similar program in
Michigan

Massachusetts
Michigan

Nature imagery in prisonsnational

Program evaluation for astrobiology lecturesnationally

national

Nature imagery nationwide

national

Information about conservation nurseries inprisons

New Mexico

Start prison garden programs to grow for
prison kitchens and save resources.
Studying SPP programs

New Mexico
New York

Astrobiology lectures, Roots of Success andsustainability program best practices

Ohio

Wants to start a network of individuals andorg’s who work with gardens in prisons.

OregonAdapting course for in-prison use

OregonSPP program certifications and curriculum
development

OregonSPP-Oregon

OregonConsult on how to get prison administrators on
board with a prison bee program.
Capstone interview
Offering arboriculture education and training
to incarcerated students
Planning gardening program to support healthyeating
Reviewing and publicizing aquaponics programand protocols, support for creating national
herbs behind bars contest and presenting tonational Aquaponics Association; connection tonational partners
Agricultural programs and education incorrections
Shared interests
Interviewing formerly incarcerated SPP
partners
Awardee completed reporting; expanding
programs
Interested in started a bee program

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Texas

Texas

Texas
Utah
Australia
Tasmania

Australia

Manitoba

Canada71

Professor, Environmental
Administration Program, Santo
Tomas University
Corrections professional andacademic
Kaff Zanjira
https://www.facebook.com/kaffz
anjira/Freelance journalist & author,
consultant at Shimane Asahi
Rehabilitation Program Ctr
Prison Officer, MBA Student atUniversity of Cumbria
Ecology Lead for the UK Ministryof Justice Estates Cluster

Sustainability indicators
Self-funded to visit/work in SPP programs for 3
weeks Sept - October
Proposing a GreenPals written correspondence
between SPP incarcerated participants andsustainability professionals supporting Kaff
ZanjiraDeveloping and improving restorative
programs in Japan prison
Research project on Sustainable Prisonsinvolving multiple org’s like Dissertations for
Good (DFG) and the National Union of Students(NUS)
Sharing contacts, best practices, and successstories

BogotaColumbia

Paris

FranceIndia

International

Japan

CumbriaUK

EnglandUK

Figure 3. Prevalence of SPP-style programs nationwide.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report7212. Dissemination
Presentations
In FY19, SPP staff at Evergreen (SPPEvergreen) presented at a variety ofvenues to highlight specific programs or
represent SPP as a whole. In addition,
we attended numerous events at which
we made informal or briefpresentations representing theorganization. Our summary ofpresentations for the year is in Table 32;
this table excludes presentations madewithin established programs.
Table 32. SPP-Evergreen Presentations
FY19; does not include in-program
presentations (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations)
Date

Presenter(s)7/9/18Kelli BushSPP Co-Director speaks to Evergreen leadership and butterfly program
partners at MCCCW. Photo by Ricky Osborne.
Title
Developing Career
Pathways
SPP Overview andConservation Programs

Venue

SPP Brand and Role Clarity

Superintendents Meeting

Butterflies

Exec Leadership Team WSDOT

8/7/18

Joslyn Rose Trivett
and Kelli Bush
Kelli Bush and Rob
HerzogJacob Meyers

9/14/18

Erin

Education Initiative

9/14/18

Kelli Bush

SPP

9/18/18
9/28/18

Carl Elliott
Jacob Meyers
Kelli Bush and Carl
Elliott
Keegan Curry
Kelli Bush and former
SPP technicians

EVM Location Tours
Mulching

WCCW Bring Your Kids to Work Day
Coalition Building for JusticeInvolved Students
Coalition Building for JusticeInvolved Students
WDFW, CNLM
SCCC, Unit Gardeners

DOT Landscape Architects

DOT Headquarters

Women’s Conference

MCCCW

SPP & WSDOT Partnership

WSDOT Environmental Conference

8/2/18
8/7/18

10/9/18
10/12/18
10/17/18
10/17/18

Alex James

11/16/18
11/29/18

Kelli Bush
Amanda Mintz
Kelli Bush, Brian B.
and Carolina Landa

Cultural Awareness
Administration Meeting
SPP and Conservation
Thesis Presentation
WSDOT, DOC and SPP
Partnership

12/4/18

Keegan Curry andButterfly Technicians

TCB Working Group
Meeting

12/7/18

Bethany Shepler

SPP Overview

12/3/18

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
Program

WCC
UW Restoration Ecology
The Evergreen State College
WSDOT Innovation and Partnership
Conference
Natural Resource Conservation
Building in Olympia. For the TCB
Working Group
WSP

73

1/18/19

2/26/19
3/14/19
4/3/19MCC Compost
Program Technicians,
Joslyn Rose Trivettand Erica Benoit
Jessica Brown, Phillip
Fischer and Teresa
LorenzDaniel Winterbottom
and students
Kelli Bush, Chuck
Henry and Margaret
Burke

4/4/19

Joslyn Rose Trivett

4/11/19

Graham Klag

4/16/19
5/1/19Bethany Shepler
Bethany Shepler
Kelli Bush, Carolina
Landa, Keegan Curry,
Allison Campbell,
Marisa Pushee, Steve
Sinclair and BethRietema
Jacob Meyers, Carly
Rose and Carl Elliott
Joslyn Rose Trivettand Bethany Shepler
Carl Elliott, Allison
Campbell and Marisa
PusheeSteve Sinclair
Kelli Bush

5/9/19

5/11/19
5/15/19
5/16/19
6/4/19
6/13/19

A Case Study for Successful,
Combined Composting
Methods of Post-Consumer
Food Waste into Animal
Feed and Soil Amendment
Engaging Incarcerated
People in Wildlife Researchand Recovery
Therapeutic Garden
Designs for WCCW
Sustainability Behind Bars
in WA StateMES Opportunities with
SPP
Soil Structure Influencing
Abundance and Density of
Viola adunca
SPP Programs
SPP Programs
SPP Taylor’s Checkerspot
Program and SPP
Relevance for Evergreen
Students
SPP Prairie and Butterfly
Programs
Roots of Success Statewide,
Impacts of Program on SPP
Mutual Benefits of Working
with Another Community,
SPP and Pandas
SPP
SPP Overview for BOT

International Conference on
Environmental, Social, Economic
and Cultural Sustainability
Post. Wildlife Society
WCCW Senior Leadership and SPPEvergreen
BioCycle West Coast 2019
MES New Student Day
International Association ofLandscape Ecologists, Ft. Collins, CO
Pathways to Reentry, SCCCWCCW Reentry Fair
Evergreen Leadership Visit to
MCCCW

Prairie Appreciation Day Tabling
Roots of Success Graduation, WCC
Rachel Carson Forum TablingWestern Board of Governors
BOT Meeting, Evergreen

SPP Tours
SPP staff from Evergreen and WA Corrections staff at each facility regularly host visitors interested in
SPP programs. A summary of tours reported for FY19 is in Table 33; we believe this greatly
underrepresents tours conducted by WA Corrections staff.
Table 33. Tours of SPP programs, FY19 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations)Date
7/12/2018

Location
AHCC

7/23/2018

AHCC

7/26/2018

MCCCW

7/27/2018

AHCC

Visitors
Ben Stuckart, Spokane City Council
Bobi Foster-Grahler, Program
Chair/Member of the Faculty
Criminal Justice / Pierce College
Miranda Mellis and Erik Steinhoff
Mike Steenhout, DOC HQ Budget
Director

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

Program areas

All SPP Programs74

9/18/2018
9/20/2018

BonnieBeckerField Sites
SCCC

10/17/2018

SCCC

10/26/2018

WCCW

WDFW, CNLM
CCBLA & Gateways
Low Income Housing Institution(LIHI)
Kelli Bush, Keegan Curry

1/15/20192/11/2019

SCCC
AHCC

Oregon Visitors
WSU Students

4/19/2019

AHCC

Joanna Carns, Governor Ombuds

5/9/2019

MCCCW

Evergreen Leadership and More

5/17/2019

CCCC

5/24/2019

CCCC

6/10/19
6/11/2019-6/12/19

MCC
SCCC

Pierce College
Thurston County Prosecutors
OfficeRaquel Pinderhughes
Raquel and Howard Pinderhughes

6/14/2019

SCCC

Families of Incarcerated
Technicians

July 2018-June 2019

WSP-SPL

250 groups

8/14/2018

UW Faculty

PPPP at WCCW
EVM
Roots
HUB / GHC / Correctional
Industries
Butterflies
Roots
Toured kitchen and met with
Bonnie Scott regarding growing
food in AHCC gardens to feed
incarcerated individuals.
SPP Taylor’s Checkerspot
Program and SPP Relevance forEvergreen Students
All areas
Horticulture, Dogs, Hydroponics,
Turtles
Roots of Success
Roots, Black Prisoners Caucus
Conservation Nursery,
Beekeeping, Wheelchairs andBikes
SPL and Green Zone programs

Academic Publications, Projects, and Internships
Science in Prisons

Fall 2018, SPP-Evergreen was invited to contribute a chapter to a full-length book to be titled STEM
Education in US Prisons (STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Math; SUNY Press,
co-edited by academics from Princeton, and Arizona State University; in print fall, 2020). The
editors’ particularly requested incorporation of incarcerated “voices”; thus, we took their call for
writing and adapted it for distribution in WA prisons, with a focus on “science in prison.”
WA Corrections staff were very supportive of the effort and helped Evergreen steward the offer aswell as the resulting writing process and submissions. Forty-four incarcerated writers from eightprisons submitted writing describing their experiences learning about and practicing science inprisons. SPP-Evergreen combined short and long excerpts into a narrative. SPP co-directors joined with
WDFW program partner Mary Linders to introduce the compilation. The resulting piece is expectedin print fall 2020.
Academic Papers
In FY19, we co-authored a paper describing results of the Astrobiology for the Incarcerated
programming in WA, Ohio, and Florida. Additional details provided in the Evaluation chapter.
Internships
Kelli Bush supported two internships with an Evergreen Master of Environmental Studies student:
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

75

•
•

Allison Campbell; Winter 2019; Butterfly Program Pre-Season Training and Program Expansion
SupportAllison Campbell; Spring 2019; Butterfly Program Professional Development and Communication
Resources

Graduate Student Theses and Capstones
During FY19, SPP-Evergreen supported two Master of Environmental Studies graduate students inacademic work to satisfy their degree:•

Keegan Curry’s thesis analyzing 10
years of MCCCW and Oregon Zoo
Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly data.

•

Bethany Shepler’s thesis onenvironmental attitudes in the logging
industry. Advisors at SCCC played afoundational role in developing the
project.

See Student Theses for further details.
SPP-Evergreen provided informal support tonumerous additional students, some of whomare described in the Network section.

Keegan Curry demonstrates the amount of butterfly data
available for study; his arms show the expanse of binders that
hold those data. Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

Media Coverage
In FY19, SPP was featured in more than 39 stories from local, regional, and international media outlets.
The table below includes all of the pieces SPP-Evergreen staff tracked during FY19. Links for each of thepieces are available on SPP’s website in our press archive.
Table 34. SPP Media FY19
Date
7/18/2018

Paper/Source
KXLY Spokane

8/1/2018

Food Tank

8/4/2018
8/27/20188/29/2018
9/5/2018

SpokesmanReview
Oregon Zoo
Forks ForumIdaho Departmentof Corrections

9/5/2018

Seattle Times

9/17/2018

Thurston Talk.com

10/1/2018

Correctional
Industries
Newsletter

Author
Caroline Flynn
EdwardBrunicardi
JonathanGloverDavid Hahn
LeeAnnCochems
Bethany Jean
Clement
Kristina Lotz

Title
Prison program pairs dogs with offenders
20 Organizations Planting the Seeds for Food Justice in
Prisons
Inmates are training dogs at Airway Heights prison andhelping themselves along the way
Zoo wraps up another successful butterfly season
Inmates and others help create salmon habitat
SBWCC helps restore sage grouse habitat
GRACE Garden Project gives inmates a chance to growMission Non-Profit Spotlight: Olympia Beekeepers
Association
Honey Bees Thrive on McNeil Island

Zachary
Reducing Waste Behind Bars
FletcherSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report
10/8/2018

corrections.com

76

Inmates help restore habitat through sagebrushplanting program

10/14/2018

Idaho Press

11/9/2018

The Argus
Observer

Larry Meyer

11/11/2018

CBS 19Sasha Wilson

11/21/2018

King 5 News

11/24/2018
11/30/2018

The Tribute India
DOC News Release

12/1/2018

Ecology e-news

1/1/2019

UW Magazine

1/2/2019

Medium Governor Jay
Inslee1/4/2019

DOC News Release

1/10/2019

Belfair Herald

1/18/2019

Seattle Dog Spot

2/1/2019

Thurston Talk.com

Holly Reed

3/21/2019

Forks Forum

Christi Baron

3/26/2019

Thurston Talk.com

Holly Reed

3/29/2019

Oregon Zoo

3/29/2019

Fox 12 Oregon

4/1/2019

WASBA Newsletter

4/18/2019

KHQ-Q6

4/19/2019

DOC News Release

4/24/2019

KTVN-2
Lake County
Examiner
Nisqually ValleyNews

5/8/2019
5/9/2019
5/9/2019
5/13/20195/24/19
6/1/2019

Atlas ObscuraInternational
Network for SeedBased Restoration
Bitterroot
Ecology e-news

Rehab for public lands
EXCLUSIVE: ETX prison unit changes lives, gains national
attention
Washington prison program gives neglected dogs
second chance
Let prison walls be permeable to outside worldConstructing a Solid Foundation

Upneet Lalli
Tim KellyAlex Jamesand Keegan
Curry
Catherine
ArnoldRestoring Hope and Habitat: Prison-based
collaborations for ecological conservation in the USA

WA
Corrections

Changing the world from behind bars

RachelFreiderichDana Kampa

Joslyn Rose
Trivett andEllen Miller
Stephanie
Stevenson
RachelFreiderichJohn Potter
S. Garrett
Shaw

Forest ecologist Nalini Nadkarni keeps nature in touch

Incarcerated Men Build Toys for Local Charities
Inmates set record with rare butterflies
Prison Pet Partnership in Gig Harbor Expands Service
Dog Training Program
Evergreen Students Give Back to their Communities
Throughout the YearAn amazing weekend and other news
The Butterfly Effect: Evergreen Grad Student Explains
the Ripples of Species Recovery
With inmates' help, rare NW butterfly is homeward
bound
Coffee Creek inmates help raise hundreds ofendangered butterflies
Beekeeping is Freedom
Program lets inmates train therapy dogs in Spokane
Volunteering Together
Saving Nevada's Sage-Grouse, with Inmate Volunteers
Warner Creek AICs reap what they ‘sow’

Daniel Warn

Endangered Butterflies Rebound in South Sound Prairies

Sabrina Imbler

A Butterfly Conservation Lab Takes Flight in a Women’s
PrisonStacy Moore

Restoring Habitat and Hope

Jake Bullinger
Marisa Pushee

Conservation programs
Returning Home

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report77

6/6/2019

Medium Governor Jay
Inslee6/9/2019

NHK World-Japan
News

6/19/2019

DOC News Release

WA
Corrections

The Japanese garden behind a wall
RachelFreiderich

The Buzz on McNeil Island

Outreach
In-Prison
Most of SPP-Evergreen’s printed outreach are intended for in-prison viewing and distribution. In FY19,
we produced and provided a wide range of outreach and education materials for several prisons,
including:• Beekeeping posters for CBCC
• Roots of Success flyers for WCCW• SPP Welcome sign for WCC (not yet installed)• Nature imagery flyer for MCC-SOU• SPP highlights slides for SCCC sustainability channel (68 slides of content!)

A few SPP highlights slides created for SCCC…and any other prison that wants them!
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report78OnlineThis year, updates and additions to SPP’s website (http://sustainabilityinprisons.org) included:• 43 posts http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/blog-galleries/blog/• Individual program pages for all 12 prisons in Washington, each including blog lists, photos, andhighlights; see: http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/spp-programs-in-wa/• Improved homepage http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/• Improved curation of content by incarcerated individuals (previously called “inmate voices”)
http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/about/incarcerated-partners/
SPP’s main outlets for social media had been Facebook (facebook.com/sustainabilityinprisons/) andTwitter (twitter.com/SPP_WA). In FY19 SPP posted to Instagram(instagram.com/sustainabilityinprisons/) with more frequency well.
On Facebook, our Page Likes jumped over 2,000 going from 1,925 to 2,026. We made 135 posts on
Facebook last year; the most popular posts are summarized below.
Table 35. Most popular Facebook posts FY19.
Subject

Origin# of People
ReachedHoneybees at WCCW
SPP-Evergreen
2,700
Wolf Haven presents at SPP’s Workshop
SPP-Evergreen
2,600
SeriesCoffee creek inmates raise hundreds of
Repost2,500
endangered butterflies
Western pond turtle release by former
SPP-Evergreen
2,000
technician Bill Anglemyer
Tiny homes being built at CCCC are
WA Corrections
1,800
helping the homelessness community
Gardens at SCCC donate produce to local
SPP-Evergreen
1,500
pantries through Coastal Harvest
Jaci Gadneberger presents on WA DOC
SPP-Evergreen
1,300
dog programs
Undergrad at Duke University writes
SPP-Evergreen
1,000
about SPP and incarceration
Beekeepers at AHCC are an inspiration
SPP-Evergreen
950
Texas prison growing tons of greens
Repost930
insideJames Jackson recognized for helping
Repost920
others after incarceration
New innovative partnership with WA
SPP-Evergreen
870
Department of Transportation
MCCCW graduates first Roots of Success
SPP-Evergreen
860
class in 4 years!
Yes to reducing plastic!
Repost860
New Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly
SPP-Evergreen
840
greenhouse taking shape at MCCCW
Two former SPP technicians speak at
SPP-Evergreen
820
WSDOT Environmental Services
Conference
PBS documents how incarcerate people
Repost820
remain vulnerable to climate change
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report# of Likes,
Comments,
Shares82
128

Date
August 14, 2018
November 27, 2018

187

April 2, 2019118

June 28, 2019

237

December 5, 201892

August 30, 201846

April 25, 2019156

June 10, 201958
30

April 12, 2019
November 13, 201847

April 26, 2019118

December 18, 201880

February 26, 201918
89

December 10, 2018
November 6, 201896

November 2, 201832

January 7, 201979

CRCC’s Ridge Dogs program
Learning about gentleness fromhoneybees
Susan Christopher reflects on her
experience raising butterflies in prison

RepostSPP-Evergreen

820
810

47
40

November 28, 2018
April 23, 2019

SPP-Evergreen

710

60

November 13, 2018

On Twitter, we increased our followers by 58 in FY19, and in the last five months of FY19 had 1,275
people visit our page. More highlights:









SPP tweeted 136 times and made over 171,000 impressions – almost double the number from
FY18 (91,000 impressions)
We gained an additional 58 followers
55 tweets made over 1,000 impressions
17 tweets made over 2,000 impression
6 tweets made over 5,000 impressions
1 tweet (highlighted below) made over 10,000 impressions!
Our tweets that attracted the most attention:

Table 36. Most popular Twitter posts FY19.
Subject# of Impressions

SPP loves Evergreen MES graduates!
Wolf Haven presents at Workshop
SeriesNew and innovative partnership with
WSDOT
Astrobiology for the incarcerated
SCCC partners with Coastal Harvest to
donate produce
So much beekeeping in WA
Corrections!
SPP presents on the value of
education at Workshop Series
Kitsap County’s GRACE Project helps
transform lives

13,1009,800# of Interactions/
Engagements
56
44

Date

8,400

23

December 18, 2018

6,900
6,200

18
8

August 28, 2018
August 30, 2018

5,800

19

November 5, 2018

4,500

20

December 17, 2018

4,400

38

September 17, 2018

June 18, 2019
November 27, 2018

On Instagram, after going more than a year without posting, we got our “Insta groove back”! In FY19, weposted 56 times (out of 67 posts on our page). Those 56 posts generated a total of 1,947 likes.
Table 37. Most liked Instagram posts FY19.
Subject
Nature drawing and Sagebrush in
Prisons logo by incarcerated
technician, Lawrence Jenkins
A Taylor’s Checkerspot butterfly at
MCCCW
Beekeepers at McNeil Island
Flowers at SCCC
Sowing prairie plants at SCCC
Black-backed woodpecker
MCCCW beekeeping program# of Likes
59

Date
March 5, 201956

November 15, 2018

54
53
49
47
47

December 6, 2018
August 28, 2018
February 7, 2019
December 18, 2018
December 10, 2018

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report80The three most popular images on Instagram this year.

AwardsFor FY19, three prisons were recognized for excellence; these awards are shown in the table below.
Table 38. Awards FY19.
DateAwarding body

August 2018

WA Department of Ecology

August 2018

WA Department of Ecology

August 2018

WA Department of Ecology

Recipient: person and/or
program
CCCC Waste Water Treatment
Plant
OCC Waste Water Treatment
Plant
CBCC Waste Water Treatment
Plant

Award Name
2018 Outstanding Wastewater
Treatment Plant Award
2018 Outstanding Wastewater
Treatment Plant Award
2018 Outstanding Wastewater
Treatment Plant Award

OCC's award-winning waste water treatment plant. Photo by Bethany Shepler.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report81Appendix 1. SPP Programs in Washington State Prisons FY19
We reported on 212 SPP programs in Washington State’s 12 prisons this year; see Table 39, below.
Several additional programs were in development during the reporting period, and most of those are
not indicated here. For links to programs, partner organizations, and highlights for each program, see
http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/spp-programs-in-wa/.
Table 39. SPP Programs reported by all 12 WA prisons.

Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC)
Roots of Success, environmental course
Beekeeping
Gardens: Main
Gardens: Minimum
Diversity Garden
Flower gardens
Pollinator forage and habitat
Sustainable Business Solutions
Large-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Worm farm: Minimum
SPL: Quilting
Computers 4 Kids
Pawsitive dog training – prison program
Firewood donation
Nature Imagery

Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC)
Roots of Success, environmental course
Beekeeping
Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens
Ozette potato program
Waste sorting & recycling
Dog training and adoption
Cat program
Water catchment
Waste water treatment

Cedar Creek Corrections Center (CCCC)
Beekeeping: CCCC
Beekeeping: McNeil Island
Western pond turtle care
Woodpecker nest predation study
Aquaponics
Vegetable gardens
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report82Flower gardens
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting
Training dogs for veterans
Community College Horticulture
Construction: tiny homes
Water use reduction and catchment
Waste water treatment
Forestry
Community work
Special Events

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC)
Roots of Success, environmental course
Beekeeping
Plant and Animal Habitat
Land restoration
Heritage and bee gardens
Garden: Main, maintenance area
Waste sorting & recycling
Toys for Tots
Teddy bears from reclaimed materials
Ridge Dogs
Service dogs for veterans
Gardens: Minimum
Pollinator garden: Minimum
Composting: Minimum

Larch Corrections Center (LCC)
Roots of Success, environmental course
Western pond turtles care
Beekeeping
Plantain, food source for Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies
House plants
Bird feeders
Wood craft donations
Larch Dog Adoption Program
Larch Cat Adoption Program
Waste reduction
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting
Waste Water Treatment
Forestry
Community work

Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW)
Roots of SuccessSustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report83Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly program
Beekeeping
Environmental careers workshops
GRACE (Gardening for Restoration and Conservation Education) Project
Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens
Conservation crews
Small-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Water use reduction & catchment
Pawsitive Prison Project
Plant and animal habitat
House plants
Special Events

Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC)WSRUComposting with Bugs: Worm Farm, Black Soldier Flies, Bokashi
City of Monroe public flowers
Gardening curriculum development
SPL Roots of Success
SPL Bicycles from Heaven
SPL Wheelchair program
SPL Wood Craft 4 Charity
House plants
Bird habitat
Waste sorting & recycling
Waste Water Treatment Certification
Flower gardens
Vegetable gardens
SOU
Beekeeping
Vegetable gardens
Nature Imagery
Cat program
TRU
Beekeeping
Gardens
Community Aide Coalition: quilting, crochet, textile arts
Dog training and adoption

Olympic Corrections Center (OCC)
Community College Horticulture
Gardens
Pollinator-friendly plantings
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report84

Water features
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting
Waste Water Treatment
Water catchment
Solar power
Wood shop
Dog training and adoption
Green Building
Firewood
Community Crew
Forestry

Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)
Roots of Success, environmental course
Environmental Workshop SeriesSpecial Events
Beekeeping
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Emergent Vegetation Mats
Gardening curriculum development
Gardens and greenhouses
Lifer Garden
Food Bank fundraisers
Pollinator plantings
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets
Fruit orchard
Bird houses
Sustainability channel
Large-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Water catchment
Bicycle Repair
Wheelchair Repair
Freedom Tails
Service dogs for veterans
Toy Time

Washington Corrections Center (WCC)
Roots of Success, environmental course
Environmental Workshop SeriesSpecial Events
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Beekeeping, “Intensive Bee Management Unit”
Gardens and greenhouses
Flower gardens
Horticulture
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report85Potted plants and plant starts
Construction: bus stops, tiny homes, Neighborhood Pantries, bird houses
Nature Imagery
House plants
Large-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Shoe and clothing repurposing

Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW)Roots of Success, environmental course
Environmental Workshop Series
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Gardens and greenhouses
Beekeeping
Community College Horticulture
Mother Earth Farm, offsite farm crew
Prison Pet Partnership
Sisters of Charity: quilts, fabric crafts, wildlife rescue
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale compostingElectric vehicles
Lighting upgrades

Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)
Monarch butterfly program, restoring Pacific Northwest populations
Institutional Sustainability Garden
Waste sorting & recycling
Composting, main
Electrical upgrades
Water conservation
BAR Units
Kitten program
Roots of Success, environmental course
Crochet Program
Mental Health Unit
Horticulture
MSU
Beekeeping
Sheep conservation program
Flower gardens
Rental garden boxes
Dog Program
Community crewSouth Complex
Rental garden boxes
SPL
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report86SPL: Learning Center
SPL: Wood Shop
SPL: Wood Carving
SPL: Furniture Repair
SPL: Sign shop
SPL: Aquaculture and Aquaponics
SPL: Worm Farm
SPL: Art program
SPL: Parole-a-bear
SPL: Quilting
SPL: Creative projects
SPL: Bottle recycling
SPL: Water treatment systems
SPL: Metal ship
SPL: Special projects
SPL: SPL sorting and recycling
SPL: Indoor plants
SPL: Roots of Success, environmental course
SPL: Green Zone
SPL: Green Zone composting
212 programs reported by 12 prisons

Bee program liaison Jonathan Fisher talks about the bee hives housed at WSP. Photo by Bethany Shepler.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report87Appendix 2. SPP Partners and Allies in Washington State PrisonsComplementing the efforts of founding partners, WA Corrections, and Evergreen, program partners
contributed to almost every SPP program. Most programs would not be possible without their input,
enthusiasm, and resources. In FY19, we have 198 known (reported) partners. Considering that WSP’s
Sustainable Practices Lab has donated program creations to more than 400 charitable organizations, weknow the actual number is far greater!
Table 40. SPP Partners and Allies (Partnering with WA Corrections, Evergreen, or both) FY19
Adam County Pet Rescue
ARC of Tri-Cities
Benton Franklin Humane Society
Black Prisoners Caucus
Blue Mountain Action Council
Blue Mountain Humane Society
Brian Fisher Memorial
Brigadoon Service Dogs
Calbag Metals
Calm Waters
Canyon Creek Cabinet Company
CASA
Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington
Center for Natural Lands Management
Central Kitsap Food Bank
Centralia College
Cherish our Children
Christian Aid Center
Christian Charities Mission
Christmas for Kids
City of College Place
City of Dayton
City of Monroe
City of Prescott
City of Sultan
City of Waitsburg
City of Walla Walla
Clark County Beekeeping Association
Coastal Community Action Senior Center
Coastal Harvest
Community Beekeepers
Community Youth Services
Correctional Industries
Diamonds in the Ruff
Dolly Haakenson
Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report88Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
Emergency Food Network
Everett Police Department
Evergreen Hospice
Evergreen Education Coalition for Justice Involved Students
Fallen Outdoors
Family Promise of Grays Harbor
Farm to School
FareStart, Manager for culinary program
Forks Chamber of Commerce
Forks Gamers Group
Forks Lions Club
Forks Soroptimists
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Giving Tree
Great Peninsula Conservancy
Green Prisons
GRACE Project
Habitat for Humanity
Harbor Association of Volunteers for Animals (HAVA)
Hard Headz
Harvest Now
Holy Rosary Church
Hood Canal School District
Hope Crew
Humane Society for Southwest Washington
I-CON Systems, Inc.
Institute for Applied Ecology
Institute for Human-Animal Connection
Interfaith Family Shelter
Jefferson Land Trust
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Justice Involved Students Group, Evergreen
K & S Recycling
Kaff Zanjira
Kalaloch Lodge
Kitsap Conservation District
Kitsap Humane Society
Kiwanis Hoodsport
Lake Quinault Fire Department
Lamb Weston
Lettuce Grow
Lions Club
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Little Eorthe Farm
Littlerock Elementary School
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report89Low Income Housing Institute
Marysville Police Department
Master Composters
Master Gardeners
Mid Columbia Beekeepers
Millers Homestead
Monroe Community Senior Center
Monroe Police Department
Mother Earth FarmNASA Astrobiology Program
Nature Imagery in Prisons ProjectNorth Mason Food Bank
North Olympic Peninsula Beekeepers Association
Northwest District Beekeepers Association
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
OlycapOlympia Beekeepers Association
Olympic Anglers
Olympic Peninsula Humane Society
Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Department of Corrections
Oregon State University Extension Service
Oregon Zoo
Over the Rainbow Fabrics
Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship
Paper People
PAWS
Peninsula College
Pioneer United Methodist Church
Port of Walla WallaPPL Electric Utilities
Project 41
Providence Hospital
Purrfect Pals
Quileute High School
Quileute Tribe
Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction
Quillayute Valley School District
Rainbow Center
Relay for Life
Roots of Success
Rotary First Harvest
Salmon for Soldiers
Sarge’s Place for Homeless Vets
School Districts—OSPI and DES
Seattle Children's Hospital
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report90Second Harvest Food Bank
See the Bees
Set Free Christian Fellowship
Shriners Hospital for Children
SimpliHome Furniture LLC
SNAP Spokane
South Sound Prairies
Snohomish County Boys & Girls’ Club
Snohomish County CTA
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Humane Society
SpokAnimal
SPP Tasmania
Summit Assistance Dogs
Sunshine and Rainbows Child Development Center
Suquamish Tribe Fisheries.
Swedish Hospital
Symbiotic Cycles
Tacoma Community College
Teen Aid
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The City Reach Food BankThe Saint’s Pantry Food BankThe Shelton Community Kitchen
Thurston County Food Bank
Tilth Alliance
Timber Museum
Tri-Cities Toys for Tots
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
Unidos por Puerto Rico
Union Gospel Mission
University Beyond Bars
University of Utah
University of Washington Ecosystem Science Division
University of Washington, Composting and Waste Treatment Scientists
University of Washington – Tacoma, Assistant Professor Criminology
Un-loop
Veterans Housing Project
VOA Crosswalk Youth Shelter
VOA Hope HouseWA Department of Enterprise Services
Walla Walla County
Walla Walla Fairgrounds
Walla Walla Foundry
Walla Walla Landfill
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report91Walla Walla Police and Sheriff’s Department
Walla Walla Veterans Administration
Washington Department of Ecology
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington Department of Natural Resources
Washington State Beekeepers Association
Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges
Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State University Department of Entomology
Waste Connections
Waste Management
Welfare for Animals Guild (WAG)
West Columbia Gorge Humane Society
West Plains Beekeepers Association
West Sound Beekeepers Association
Westlake Shelter
Westport Shipyard
Wheels for the World
Whidbey-Camano Land Trust
Wolf Haven International
Women and Children Rescue Mission
Women’s Shelter of Monroe
Woodland Park Zoo
WSU Extension, Pierce County
YWCA
198 reported organizations + 100’s more charities receiving donations

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report92This team, including two
previously incarcerated
conservation technicians,
presented at the WSDOT
Environmental Conference in
October 2018.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report93Appendix 3. Abbreviations
Table 41. Common abbreviations found in FY19 Report
Prisons
AHCC
CCBC
CCCC
CRCC
LCC
MCC
MCC-SOU
MCC-TRU
MCC-WSR
MCCCW
OCC
SCCC
WCC
WCCW
WSP
WSP-MSUWSP-BAR
Organizations
ABKA
CI
CPD
CNLM
DNR
DoD
Evergreen
IAE
JBLM
NSF
OR Zoo
RDA
SPL
SPP
USFWS
WA Corrections
WDFW
WPZ
WSDOT
WSIRB
Definitions
MAX

Airway Heights Corrections Center, Airway Heights (near Spokane)
Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Clallam Bay (northwest Olympic Peninsula)
Cedar Creek Corrections Center, Littlerock
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Connell (south, central Washington)
Larch Corrections Center, Yacolt (northeast of Vancouver)
Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe (northeast of Seattle)
Monroe Correctional Complex, Special Offender Unit
Monroe Correctional Complex, Twin Rivers Unit
Monroe Correctional Complex, Washington State Reformatory
Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women, Belfair (Kitsap Peninsula)
Olympic Corrections Center, Forks
Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Aberdeen
Washington Corrections Center, Shelton
Washington Corrections Center for Women, Gig Harbor
Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla
Washington State Penitentiary, Minimum Security Unit
Washington State Penitentiary, Baker Adams Rainier Unit
American Boarding Kennel Association
Correctional Industries
Capital Planning & Development (WA Corrections)Center for Natural Lands Management
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Defense
The Evergreen State College, a public, four-year institution
Institute for Applied Ecology
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
National Science Foundation
Oregon Zoo
Research & Data Analytics (WA Corrections)Sustainable Practices Lab
Sustainability in Prisons Project
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Washington State Department of Corrections
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Woodland Park Zoo
Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Institutional Review Board
Maximum custody areas are also called IMUs (Intensive Management Unit)and segregation

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report

94

MED

MIN

Medium custody includes close custody, which has less freedom, and general
population.
Minimum custody areas are also called MSUs (Minimum Security Unit). WA
has three prisons (CCCC, LCC, and MCCCW) that are wholly MIN and houseincarcerated individuals with four years or less remaining on their sentences.

SPP Program Coordinator Anna Duron and Conservation Technician Josh Hieronymus talk about theaquaponics system for the EVM nursery. Photo by Shauna Bittle.

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP): Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report95Gardening curriculum: In response to years ofdemand, SPP partners are creating a widelyaccessible gardening course for corrections
environments. This is a highly collaborative
endeavor, engaging and incorporating the expertiseof Oregon Food Bank, Institute for Applied Ecology,
University Beyond Bars, and SPP partners from
Washington State Department of Corrections (WACorrections) and the Evergreen State College (SPPEvergreen). Perhaps even more crucial, the course
is co-authored and reviewed by incarcerated
gardeners at Stafford Creek Corrections Center,
Monroe Correctional Complex, and one—pictured
to the right—at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center.
Both photos on this page by Ricky Osborne.

Call for writing in prison: SPP was invited to write achapter on science in prisons for publication in thefirst volume on the topic (expected fall 2020 from
SUNY Press). With amazing support fromcorrections staff, we distributed a call for writing to
SPP incarcerated participants and the response was
excellent: forty-four incarcerated writers from eightprisons submitted work. They shared moving
reflections on experiences and evolution as learners
and practitioners of science. Two of the writers tobe published are shown in the image to the left:
Ashely McElhenie (orange hat) and Ambrosia Riche(blonde hair). An excerpt from Ambrosia:“I thought nature had nothing to do with me, aside
from the fact that I could look at the sunrise or walkthrough a forest. I didn’t realize that humans are infact a very large part of nature. I didn’t realize
nature and science was something so tangible.”
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) Fiscal Year 2019 Annual ReportMeeting the shifting strategies of regional restoration ecology projects, SPP’s prairie conservation
nurseries are producing more native seed. Participants in the nurseries at Washington Corrections Centerand Washington Corrections Center for Women receive education an training to grow several species ofnative flowering plants; program teams have become exemplary seed collectors. Photo by Alex James.

This year the Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly program hosted by Mission Creek Corrections Center for
Women doubled in size. With funding from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, partners built a second, 12’ x 28’
greenhouse. The custom-designed lab has twice the capacity for breeding and raising federallyendangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies; in spring 2019, the team broke all previous program records
for number of checkerspots released onto Salish lowland prairies. Photo by Keegan Curry.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) Fiscal Year 2019 Annual ReportIn the sheep conservation program’s second year, 9 Suffolk ewes birthed 18 lambs at Washington State
Penitentiary. Program technicians provided general care and feeding for the entire sheep flock, treated theanimals with vaccines, installed ear tags, assisted ewe mothers in the birthing process and cared for lambs.
In this photo, an adult sheep eyes sheep husbandry expert (and photographer) Gerry Glenn.

Compost program co-founder Nick Hacheney successfully submitted a proposal to present at 2019’s
International Conference on Sustainability. SPP partners supported the technicians at Monroe Correctional
Complex filming their virtual tour of the program and technicians describing its impacts; the resulting video
and presentation were warmly received at the conference and by regional partners. Screen shot from thevideo; viewable at http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/stories/9431/
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) Fiscal Year 2019 Annual ReportWashington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA) oversees nearly all beekeeping education andcertification curriculum statewide. In 2018 and ‘19, new leadership revamped their curricula, administration, and website, with impressive results. SPP-Evergreen and WASBA formalized their partnership andcommitment to prison beekeeping education. WASBA’s educational lead Ellen Miller (pictured above),
West Plains Beekeepers Association, and Millers Homestead also helped beekeepers at Airway Heights
Corrections Center write the statewide manual for Journeymen beekeepers! Photo by Kay Heinrich.

In its second year, McNeil Island Bee Program continued to thrive and served as a model of partnershipand collaboration. From April to October, WASBA-certified beekeepers from Cedar Creek Corrections
Center join beekeeping experts and corrections staff to tend the hives and gain hands-on education. The
shared enthusiasm and appreciation for this program is infectious! Photo by Rachel Friederich.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) Fiscal Year 2019 Annual ReportWA State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and SPP have identified education, training, and outreach
opportunities to support post-release employment for formerly incarcerated people. While several employment
pathways appear promising, partners agreed to start with a focus on environmental careers. Toward this goal,
WSDOT staff presented three workshops at both Cedar Creek and Mission Creek Corrections Centers. Photo ofworkshop attendees by Allison Campbell.

In September 2018, the new Evergreen Education Coalition for Justice Involved Students (EECJIS) met for the
first time. With the shared goal of supporting justice involved students, the day-long summit united Evergreen
faculty, staff, and students from Tacoma and Olympia campuses, along with Education Navigators, andcorrections education leaders from WA Corrections, WA Board of Community and Technical Colleges, andmore. The event was sponsored by SPP-Evergreen donation funds. Photo by Keegan Curry.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) Fiscal Year 2019 Annual ReportThis year, Evergreen Justice Involved Student Group and SPP partners co-organized and presented a reentry
symposium: the Pathways to Reentry event was hosted by Stafford Creek Corrections Center and attended bynearly a hundred incarcerated residents. We were joined by sixteen education and workforce development
organizations, and the program was both inspiring and practical. Previously incarcerated and other partners
shared guidance on how to attain post-secondary degrees and forge successful careers. Group photo by Ricky
Osborne.

At the Pathways to Reentry Event and within ongoing SPP programs, increasing numbers of incarcerated
students are considering options for higher education, both during incarceration and post-release. At the sametime, more incarcerated individuals are pursuing opportunities to engage as students, mentors, and experts.
The insight, knowledge, and leadership they offer improves programs and expands education capacity
statewide. Photo by Ricky Osborne.
Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report