2023

ANNUALREPORTSUSTAINABILITY IN
PRISONS PROJECTSPP 2023 Annual Report:
Executive Summary
In the fall of 2023, we celebrated 20 years of the Sustainability
in Prisons Project (SPP) partnership. SPP’s mission is toempower sustainable change by bringing nature, science, andenvironmental education into prisons. Co-founded by
Washington Department of Corrections (WA Corrections or
DOC) and The Evergreen State15%
College (Evergreen), SPP
includes many contributors.
25% We are grateful and humbled by
the work we get to do with incarcerated and legally liberated
people, scientists, corrections staff,
academics, government
25%
agencies, and environmental and community organizations.
Together we learn, grow,
30%and cultivate partnerships forpeople and the environment.

155
Programs

320 SPP
Education
Participants

137
Partners

The SPP annual report aims to describe all science, environmental education, and sustainability programs
occurring in Washington prisons and to acknowledge all contributing organizations and partners. With theinformation we were able to gather, we can report on 155 programs in Washington prisons and 137 SPP
partner and ally organizations statewide. Given partner capacity constraints, we suspect some programs andpartnerships are not recognized in this report.
Throughout 2023, SPP partners were able to plan, expand, and operate impactful programs. We continued
to develop and implement credit-bearing science and sustainability education courses. In addition, several
SPP staff from The Evergreen State College invested in development of the Evergreen Prison Education
Project (EPEP) Network. Our EPEP efforts include planning a new bachelor's degree program and working
with partners to develop an education and reintegration network at Evergreen.
While SPP’s collaborative work presents many challenges, the year also included significant successes. We
are grateful for the patience, problem-solving, and adaptability of partners. Posted below are highlights on
select programs and partnerships in 2023, plus goals for the 2024 calendar year.
Our deepest gratitude to everyone who contributes to SPP. Through this human- and ecosystem-centeredwork, we are continually learning and growing. We work and learn across differences. This approach gives
us hope for meaningful change. We remain committed to learning, adapting, and continuing to improve
while fostering a culture of mutual respect and consistent compassion for all people. Thank you for the
many ways you support SPP.

Learn more about us: https://sustainabilityinprisons.org/

2023 Highlights
SPP 20th Anniversary Event

20 yearscelebrated!

In September 2023, SPP held our 20th Anniversary event in Olympia, WA. The gathering
included former program participants, SPP founders, advisors, partner organization staff
and leaders, and current and former SPP staff. Our gratitude to everyone who joined us at
the celebration and to everyone who has contributed to SPP.

Garden to Kitchen Pilot at SCCC

Over 11,000 lbs.
of produce usedin kitchens

Stafford Creek Corrections Center is piloting a Garden to Kitchen program. This includes
working closely with the kitchen to develop a gardening plan, modeling practices forproviding access to fresh produce, investing in tools and supplies to address program
needs, and continuing to work with SPP to provide resources for the gardeners.

Sagebrush Nursery

58,881 sagebrushplant plugs grown

SPP partnered with DOC staff in the Sustainable Practices Lab program to launch a new asagebrush program at Washington State Penitentiary. SPP added a staff position, based in
Eastern Washington, to support conservation nursery education and training. Participantslearn about ecological horticulture and shrub-steppe ecosystem restoration while cultivating
plants and caring for a sagebrush seed orchard.

Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Program

11,748 larvae
produced

Butterfly technicians and partners produced a record number 11,748 federally endangered
larvae from wild and captive-bred butterflies at Mission Creek Corrections Center.
Technicians also presented at the range-wide Butterfly Recovery Working Group meetingand participated in an education and training course eligible for 30 credits.

SPP Education Portfolios

418 college
credits awarded

In 2023, 81 students earned a total of 418 college credits from The Evergreen State
College using SPP’s education portfolio model. There were 6 established crediteligible program with several offered in multiple prisons. SPP also developed two newcredit-bearing education portfolios.

Piloting the Foundations in Composting Course

29 students
completed newcourseThis new course was piloted at two facilities: Washington Corrections Center and a youth
prison in Nevada. More facilities are interested in the course and SPP plans to continue
partnering with incarcerated people and others to develop additional components.

Salish Lowland Conservation Nurseries

67,255 plants,
20 species
grown

Participants in conservation nursery programs receive education and training eligible forcollege credit. In 2023, SPP restarted the native seed program at WCC and nursery sites
at WCCW and SCCC doubled plant production from the two previous years.
Learn more about us: https://sustainabilityinprisons.org/

Anticipated Highlights for 2024
Program/Project

Partners and facility

Planned outcomes

Modify conservation nursery
education portfolio to develop
ecological horticulture shortcourse

WCC, SCCC, & WCCW

Modification to reduce time tocompletion for conservation
nursery education & training

Complete development ofeducational content on positive
impacts of nature & climatechangeMultiple facilities, contractor,
Evergreen Center for Climate
Action & Sustainability

Education module & workshop

Planning expansion of ShrubbSteppe Conservation Nursery
Program

AHCC, WDFW, other state &non-profit agencies

Plan for implementation in 2025

Developing additional education
facilitator training resources forincarcerated people

Multiple facilities

New education & training content forpeer-facilitated programs

Plan to expand compostingeducation resources

Select WA prisons, state &non-profit agencies

Vocational composting manual,
practicum, & education portfolio

Plan to expand gardening
education resources

Select WA prisons, state &non-profit agencies

Education on preparing produce formarket/produce safety, gardening
practicum, & education portfolio

Garden to Kitchen pilot

SCCC & donors

Piloting & modeling garden to
kitchen collaboration

Develop model(s) for enhanced
educational workshop seriesMultiple facilities, Evergreen
Prison Education Project &partners

1-2 new workshop models + planningfor credit-eligible education portfolio

Exploring SPP partnership withDept. of Children Youth andFamilies

Evergreen Prison Education
Project Network + DCYF
facilities

Consider potential for SPP programsin youth facilities to include separate
funding & staffing

Increased access to Foundations
in Composting and Foundations in Multiple facilities
Gardening Courses

Course expansion to WSP, MCC-TRU,
MCCCW

Improve resource conservation
through waste reduction

Food waste reduction, improved
purchasing practices, recycling

DOC-led; multiple facilities

Please see Appendix 3 in the Annual Report for a list of common abbreviations used in this summary.

Learn more about us: https://sustainabilityinprisons.org/

Contents
Background Information ............................................................................................................................... 1
Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................... 1
SPP Mission ............................................................................................................................................... 3
SPP Vision .................................................................................................................................................. 3
SPP Staff and Organization........................................................................................................................ 4
SPP-Evergreen Advisors ............................................................................................................................ 6
SPP-Evergreen Staff Development: training, safety, and security ............................................................ 6
Partnerships .................................................................................................................................................. 9
Developing Partnerships: .......................................................................................................................... 9
SPP Alignment with WA Corrections’ Mission & Vision ............................................................................ 4
Budget ......................................................................................................................................................... 13
Education Programs .................................................................................................................................... 16
SPP’s Prior Learning Experience Program – Portfolios ........................................................................... 16
Peer-Led Education ................................................................................................................................. 18
Beekeeping.............................................................................................................................................. 20
Evergreen Prisons Education Program (EPEP ............................................................................................. 22
Conservation Programs............................................................................................................................... 24
Conservation Nursery Programs ............................................................................................................. 25
Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation Program ........................................................................................ 27
Avian Acoustic Monitoring ...................................................................................................................... 28
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly ................................................................................................................ 29
Sustainable Living & Training ...................................................................................................................... 31
Garden to Kitchen ................................................................................................................................... 31
Garden to Kitchen Pilot and Models ....................................................................................................... 32
Composting ............................................................................................................................................. 33
Restorative Nature ...................................................................................................................................... 35
Community Contribution Programs ............................................................................................................ 38
Dog and Cat Programs ............................................................................................................................ 38
Reclaim, Repurpose or Restore, and Donate Programs ......................................................................... 40
Community Work Crews ......................................................................................................................... 45
Sustainable Operations ............................................................................................................................... 47
Capital Planning and Development......................................................................................................... 47
DOC Resource Conservation ................................................................................................................... 48
Washington Way ..................................................................................................................................... 48
Other 2024 Goals .................................................................................................................................... 49
Sustainable Job Programs ........................................................................................................................... 50
Research and Evaluation ............................................................................................................................. 52
1

Research with External Partners ............................................................................................................. 52
University of Washington........................................................................................................................ 52
Student Theses ........................................................................................................................................ 53
SPP Network................................................................................................................................................ 55
SPP in Washington State ......................................................................................................................... 55
SPP Nationally and Internationally.......................................................................................................... 56
Dissemination ............................................................................................................................................. 59
Presentations .......................................................................................................................................... 59
SPP Tours................................................................................................................................................. 60
Media Coverage ...................................................................................................................................... 61
Outreach ................................................................................................................................................. 62
Appendix 1. SPP Programs .......................................................................................................................... 64
Appendix 2. SPP Partners ............................................................................................................................ 67
Appendix 3. Abbreviations .......................................................................................................................... 69

Background Information

1

The primary objective of this report is to update all collaborators on Sustainability in Prisons Project(SPP) programs and activities occurring throughout Washington State prisons from January – December
2023. Washington Department of Corrections (WA Corrections) considers all science, sustainability, andnature initiatives in Washington (WA) prisons to be part of the SPP partnership, regardless of which
partner(s) leads and operates the program. SPP staff at The Evergreen State College (Evergreen) lead thereporting effort for the partnership. This report represents the most complete and current information
available to the SPP-Evergreen team.
Scientists, incarcerated people, students, prison staff, and community partners in all 11 Washington
prisons work together to make positive contributions to people and the environment. During thisreporting period, partners reported 155 programs and 137 partner organizations. Working lists of all
SPP-WA programs (Appendix 1) and partners (Appendix 2) are included to recognize the impressive
diversity and number of opportunities offered. Appendix 3 lists common abbreviations used in thisreport.

Acknowledgements
This year SPP celebrated 20 years of programs and partnerships. We are grateful for everyone who has
contributed to the organization over these past two decades. At the center of all SPP programs are theincarcerated people whose day-to-day input, work, leadership, planning, teamwork, and dedication are
critical to successful learning exchanges. SPP programs aim to support positive benefits including
education, academic credit, professional development, job training, and therapeutic values throughcontact with nature and access to science education. Incarcerated and previously incarcerated people
advise SPP and provide their input in program planning, development, and operation whenever possible.
They are also invited to author
educational content, help identify
program priorities, and share theirexperiences in programs forconferences, tours, and media. To hearmore from current and former program
participants, see links to interviews
included in media pieces in Section 12
Dissemination.
Corrections staff provide key
contributions to the SPP partnership. In
many cases corrections staff initiate andoperate sustainability programs with
incarcerated people without support
from other partners. For programs that
include external partners, corrections
staff provide crucial support forplanning, security, communication,
SPP Butterfly Coordinator Ray Dunning takes a selfie with thecorrections expertise, and program
MCCCW Butterfly Technician Crew. Photo by Ray Dunning.
supervision. Often corrections staff
make these contributions in addition to their other primary duties.
1

CPM Terre Cohn and SPP Co-Director Kelli Bush share a laugh during a WCC Composting Tour.
Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Many programs also include other state and federal agencies, community organizations, and volunteers.
These external partners typically provide education, training, certifications, program/topic expertise,
supplies, and materials. Through these partnerships, we build networks which focus on positive socialand environmental outcomes.

SPP Volunteer Katie Manchisi poses next to rolling carts repurposed into growing bins at SCCC. Photoby Emily Passarelli.

2

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

Boots used for growing plants at SCCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

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
people, 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's Mariana Cervantes, Jen Bass, and Sarah Larson smile for a photo during a tour of
SCCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

3

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 is committed to operating a safe and humane 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, embracing change, and providing
opportunities. Through the SPP partnership, WA Corrections brings science, nature, and environmental
education into the state’s correctional facilities. Programs and partnerships can create a safer and morehumane correctional environment, provide opportunities for incarcerated people to achieve academic
and vocational goals, and contribute to successful reintegration to communities.

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.
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 based on theirown 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 Education Manager Sarah Larson speaks with a SCCC gardener. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

SPP engages incarcerated scholars and technicians, enrolled Evergreen students and faculty, corrections
staff, state and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations in collaborative, interdisciplinary learning

4

across differences. Our science 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 over 70 Evergreen students in long-term positions and provided honoraria or internshipstipends to dozens more. Through SPP, the incarcerated participants of education and conservation
programs also gain access to the Evergreen learning model. An increasing number of former SPP
program participants are contributing to SPP or attending Evergreen post-release—sharing theirvaluable experiences, assets, and skills directly to our campus learning communities. Any work withpreviously incarcerated people is compensated, acknowledging their time and lived experience.

SPP Staff and Organization
The organization chart below in Figure 1 includes staff as of January 2024. This chart is limited to core
staff at WA Corrections and Evergreen (SPP-Evergreen), only hinting at the many corrections staff
involved; there are also many more academic, conservation, and community organization staff
contributing to program success.

Figure 1. SPP Staff organization chart.
During this reporting period, the Evergreen side of the SPP partnership continued to be co-directed by
Kelli Bush. In 2023, Gerry Glenn was hired as the Sagebrush Conservation Nursery Manager based at
WSP in Walla Walla, WA. Carl Elliott, Emily Passarelli, and Sarah Larson continued their roles as SPP
managers. Former SPP Co-Director and Evergreen faculty member, Carri LeRoy continues to play a
critical role in overseeing SPP education portfolios. Numerous additional Evergreen personnel
contributed to SPP, including but not limited to Kristina Ackley, Tina Pearson, Michelle Bartlett, Claire
Kehn, Eirik Steinhoff, James Jackson, David McAvity, Katherine Sackmann, John McLain, Abby Kelso, Lori
Klatt, Jamie Pittman, Bentse Shrestha, John Carmichael, Dexter Gordon, KeWee Roselle, and Evergreen
Prison Education Project (EPEP) members.
Assistant Secretary Donald Holbrook continues to serve as SPP’s Co-Director for WA Corrections. SPPEvergreen leadership met with Don and other DOC leaders several times throughout 2023. Regularattendees at SPP Leadership meetings included Jeanne Darnielle, Jo Wofford, Eric Jackson, Jeff Uttecht,
Julie Vanneste, Chris Idso, and Sarah Sytsma. Deputy Secretary, Sean Murphy and Secretary, Cheryl
5Strange also provided input on several key issues throughout the year. DOC Education Administrator
Kristen Morgan advised both SPP and Evergreen Prison Education Project initiatives.

The SPP Team poses for a picture at the 20th Anniversary Celebration. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

SPP 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
graduate program, and work for two-year terms. Each summer, several students complete their workwith SPP and train new students to carry on program coordination. During the reporting period, 10
Program Coordinators worked for SPP with 4 transitioning out their roles as they completed theirgraduate degrees: Jennifer Bass, Derek Thedell, Marissa Scoville, Ray Dunning, Courtney Murphy, Mikala
Waldrup, Mariana Cervantes, Nat Kelly, Xitlali Herrera, and Sal Hernandez. As of January 2024, SPP
staffed 6 student coordinator positions with one vacancy.

SPP-Evergreen Advisors
SPP continues to regularly consult a range of individuals to advise and guide our work. In 2023, weconsulted previously incarcerated people, SPP co-founders, Evergreen faculty, and leadership ofmultiple organizations. The guidance provided was very valuable as we work to continually create
positive change. SPP will continue to gather input to establish future goals and visions.

SPP-Evergreen Staff Development: training, safety, and security
Programs are operated in compliance with all partnering agencies, state, and federal regulations.
Protocols include WA Corrections safety and security rules, SPP-Evergreen protocols for working in theprison environment, partner protocols for working with plants and animals, and state and federal rules
in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

6

SPP and EPEP Network partners pose with Grady Mitchell after a training session. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

All SPP-Evergreen staff are required to complete WA Corrections training. Safety and security check-ins
are included on every SPP-Evergreen staff meeting agenda, held every two weeks. SPP-Evergreen staff
maintain our commitment to be adaptable to changing circumstances while still fulfilling our mission.
Posted below are trainings SPP-Evergreen staff completed during this reporting period.
Table 1. SPP-Evergreen staff training for 2023.
Name of Training

Hrs/Staff
PersonTrainer

Description

WA Corrections: Security
Training

WA
Corrections
OnlineProper Use of PPE, Initial Safety Orientation, Policy &General Info, WA State Sexual Harassment Prevention,
Mandatory Reporting, Confidentiality, WA State Ethics,
Infectious Disease Prevention, Office of Ombuds, ADA
Reasonable Accommodations, Slips, Trips & Falls I & II,
Outdoor Heat Exposure, Fire Extinguisher, Asbestos
Awareness I & II, Public Disclosure, WA State IT Security
Awareness, Naloxone

20

WA Corrections: Federal
Prison Rape Elimination
Act (PREA) Training

Online, Annual
requirement

Federally required Prison Rape Elimination Act Training

2

Extensive training utilizing common scenarios
encountered by SPP staff working in prisons

8

SPP-Evergreen: Working
in Prisons
New Employee
Orientation
Lived Experience ofIncarceration and
Education in Prison

Carl Elliot
w/other SPP
staff; online
Emily Passarelli
w/other SPPEvergreen staff
Grady Mitchell

Welcome to SPP, Program Operation/Admin., Taking
Care of Yourself at SPP, Communication, and TimeManagement
Hearing the experience of a legally liberated SPP
program participant, question and answer session to
support effective SPP programs.

4

3

7

Supporting Healthy
Learning Communities

Grady Mitchelland Cyril
WalrondSocial Resilience Model
Training

Laurie Leitchand Franz
MichaelA discussion-based training focused on the benefits ofprograms, tips for supporting healthy learning
communities, and experience with peer led education inprisons.
Social Resilience Model: neuroscience foundation, nonclinical skills, core concepts, skills card, and practicesessions

Anti Oppression Mass
Incarceration Education

Black Rose
Collective

Recognizing systemic racism and oppression andimpacts of mass incarceration, building community

8

Conflict Resolution

Thurston
DisputeResolution
CenterCommunication skills for conflict resolution

2.5

3

12

8

Partnerships

2

Partnerships and collaboration are essential components of SPP. We continually work to identify new
partners and mutually beneficial programs. A working list of SPP partnerships, allies, and contributors is
included as Appendix 2. During this reporting period, more than 137 different organizations contributedor connected to SPP programs in WA.
At the program level, SPP founding partners are often joined by one or more additional organizations or
individuals who bring vital expertise, resources, and/or skills to the program. We aim to recognize eachcontributor for their role. Figure 2 offers an illustration.

Figure 2. SPP generalized program structure.
Partners play varying roles to fit the needs of different types of programs. SPP includes five generalprogram types including environmental education, ecological conservation, sustainable operations,
restorative nature, and community contributions. Many programs fit more than one program type. In
general, WA Corrections and partner organizations provide primary leadership for sustainable
operations and community contribution programs, and the SPP-Evergreen team leads environmental
education and ecological conservation programs. Both founding partners support various restorative
nature programs. Despite these general leadership areas, input and expertise from all participants,
including incarcerated people, is critical to program success—the partnership is the program!

Developing Partnerships:
We aim to learn from, grow with, celebrate, and share our experience with collaborators to better serve
currently and previously incarcerated people. Working collectively, we are much more likely to create9positive change. Much of the work we do with partners and allies is highlighted in various sections
throughout this report. A few notable collaborations we cultivated during this reporting period arebriefly described below.

Evergreen Prison Education Project (EPEP)

Evergreen Faculty Dr. Eirik Steinhoff, left, and Dr. Anthony Zaragoza, right, conduct a workshop and offer
information about the EPEP BA program offering at SCCC. Photo by Sarah Larson.

In July 2022, Evergreen received legislative funding to expand access to education in prisons and support
reintegration. This work builds on years of effort including Evergreen faculty-led teaching and learning,
SPP, Gateways for Incarcerated Youth, Liberation Scholars (previously Reentry Scholars), the JusticeInvolved Student Group, and the Evergreen Education Coalition for Justice Involved Students.
Throughout 2023, the new Evergreen Prison Education Project Network was developed. EPEP’s mission
is to expand access to an Evergreen education for currently incarcerated and legally liberated people
and to provide holistic support services for the scholars EPEP serves. EPEP has continued developing
partnerships and organization structure, participated in trainings, and moved through the necessary
steps for accreditation, and state and federal approval of a new bachelor's degree program in prison.
SPP Evergreen staff are core members of the EPEP Network team with significant investment from the
SPP Education Development Manager and SPP’s Co-Director. SPP Evergreen will continue to support
EPEP Network development. We are grateful to work with and learn from a team of talented andexperienced colleagues to support education and student success for incarcerated and legally liberated
people.

10Composting Operations

WCC composting experts show the bokashi bins to DOC's Darin Klein and CI's Desmond McGahern. Photoby Emily Passarelli.

SPP collaborated with WCC staff and crews to develop a plan to revive and strengthen compostingeducation and training programs in all Washington prisons. The incarcerated crew at WCC developed aproposal offering training, education, and composting materials to other prisons and community
organizations. They presented it to various groups, fostering partnerships with DOC HQ, WCC
leadership, WCC’s maintenance department, Department of Ecology, University of Washington
professors, and more. Together, we reviewed the proposal, identified resources, and exchanged ideas.
For details, refer to Section 6, Sustainable Living and Training.
Foundation in Composting Course
SPP offered the new Foundations in Composting curriculum at two WA Corrections facilities (WCC,MCCCW) and one youth facility in Nevada. The next phase of development includes plans to create ahands-on practicum and vocational education manual in partnership with incarcerated composting
experts and experts in the community. These new components will be available to pair with theFoundations in Composting course. For more information, look to Section 4, Education.

Garden to Kitchen
During this reporting period, the SPP team continued to coordinate a special project aimed at increasing
access to fresh produce and improving the connections between prison gardens and kitchens. SPP
partnered with Department of Health (DOH) to purchase supplies and equipment for gardeners andkitchen managers. For more information on this partnership please see Section 6, Sustainable Living andTraining.

11Beautiful cabbages growing at SCCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Partnership Development
During this reporting period, SPP invested in multiple, additional partnerships. We collaborated with
Olympia Community Solar on a proposal for a solar energy education and training course, continued
discussions with two Evergreen public service centers to develop new education resources, andconducted outreach to new partners for food waste reduction and composting programs.

12

3

BudgetThis section addresses budget resources specifically available to the SPP-Evergreen team. WA
Corrections, state and federal agencies, and other partners also dedicate substantial resources to SPP.
We receive support through personnel time, equipment, expertise, and materials for SPP programs.
Those critical contributions are not detailed here.

Composters donated to SCCC by SPP in 2023. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

The SPP team at Evergreen is primarily funded by grants, contracts, and donations. In 2023, Evergreen
began contributing some college funding to SPP to support education and organization development as
part of the Evergreen Prison Education Program Network. During this reporting period, SPP had
approximately $830,000 in funds available from 18 sources. Available funding included one contract per
fiscal year with WA Corrections provided through an interagency agreement. SPP-Evergreen spent WA
Corrections funds on science and sustainability education and training programs in Washington prisonsin accordance with contract requirements. Other funding sources include state and federal contracts,
grants, legislative funding, and foundation and private donations.
We are pleased to report that once again, an anonymous donor provided a generous gift through the
Seattle Foundation. These funds were awarded for general use and have served as critical resources for
SPP education and training programs including supporting the education fee for scholars completing
credit-bearing courses.
SPP-Evergreen also received substantial gifts from the Lorna Jordan Foundation and the Andrews Family.
The Andrews Family gift was used to support development of a second, credit-bearing education
portfolio for the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly program. The new 14-credit education portfolio includes
experiential learning, academic education, and training that are part of this impactful job program. The
Lorna Jordan Foundation gift was awarded in December 2023 and will be used to develop facilitator
training for incarcerated educators and to advance development of SPP’s Garden to Kitchen Project, theFoundations in Gardening, and Foundations in Composting courses.
13

Other individual donations were used to purchase supplies for the butterfly, gardening, and beekeeping
programs, support portions of the on-going garden to kitchen project to improve access to fresh
produce, fund previously incarcerated advisors, trainers, and guest speakers, develop and print
education resources, and purchase books for prison libraries and program areas. We appreciate andmake positive use of every dollar from every contribution!

Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) plants grown at the conservation nursery. Photo by SPP Staff.

Available funding resources vary from month to month as sources become available or close throughout
the year. SPP-Evergreen staff continuously pursue funding to develop new programs and partnerships
and to sustain on-going work. During this reporting period, SPP-Evergreen staff were responsible forstewarding funds from the sources described below (see Table 3).
Table 3. SPP-Evergreen Grants and Contract Funding.
SPP-Evergreen 2023 Funding Resources
SourceProgram Area

Funding Period

Grants, Contracts, & Legislative Proviso
DOC SPP General Operating

Program Operation (Bees, Gardening, Turtles, etc.),
Training, Org Planning, etc.

07/01/22–06/30/23

DOC SPP General Operating

Program Operation (Bees, Gardening, Turtles, etc.),
Training, Org Planning, etc.

07/01/23–06/30/24

JBLM

Conservation Nursery Education & Training

10/01/21–03/31/23

JBLM Task 3

Conservation Nursery Education & Training

10/01/22–03/31/24

JBLM Task 4Conservation Nursery Education & Training

10/01/23–03/31/25

14

WDFW – Butterfly

Taylor's Checkerspot Butterfly Recovery Education &Training

01/01/23–12/01/23

WDFW – Sagebrush

Shrub-Steppe Conservation Nursery Education &Training

11/01/21–06/30/23

WDFW – Sagebrush

Shrub-Steppe Conservation Nursery Education &Training

07/01/23–06/30/24

WDFW – Turtle

Western Pond Turtle Education & Training

09/01/21–06/23/23

WDFW Plantain & Butterfly

Taylor's Checkerspot Butterfly & Conservation Nursery
Programs

02/01/23–12/31/24

Evergreen Prison Education
Project (EPEP)SPP Education Development & Prison Education
Program Planning

07/01/22–06/30/23

Conservation Nursery Education & Training

01/01/23–06/30/23

Individual Donors

Gardening, Beekeeping, Education Materials, Planning,
Training, Program Supplies, etc.

01/01/22–12/31/22

Seattle Foundation

Student Fees for Academic Credit, Education
Development & Materials, Program Supplies, Peer-Led
Education Resources, & SPP Advisor Support

01/01/22–12/31/22

Andrews Family Donation

Butterfly Curriculum Development, Supplies & Materials

07/07/23–06/30/24

Lorna Jordan Foundation

Gardening, Composting, Peer-Led Education, & Wellness

12/20/23–TBD

Small Service Contracts
US Forest Service: Olympic
National Forest
WA Dept. Natural Resources
WA State Parks

Donations15

Education Programs

4

Education and connections with nature are the primary focus areas of the Evergreen side of thepartnership. SPP aims to include education and training in all programs. In 2022, SPP staff worked withThe Evergreen State College to develop a new mechanism for granting credit during incarceration. Since
the creation of the SPP Prior Learning Experience (PLE) model, 96 scholars from 6 SPP programs haveearned 580 credits. Except beekeeping, which is a certificate program, all SPP-Evergreen led programs
are now credit bearing. In the sections below, we report on education progress made in 2023.

A Foundations in Gardening student examines the soil. Photo by SPP Staff.

SPP’s Prior Learning Experience (PLE) Program – Portfolios
The SPP PLE program is an education model developed by SPP and Evergreen. The program is designed
to allow scholars to earn college credit during incarceration by completing coursework that culminates
in an education portfolio. SPP education portfolios are standardized education courses that include acourse syllabus, portfolio checklist, and templated course evaluation. Student learning includes bothacademic and experiential learning and a final reflective writing assignment. Each summer SPP gathers
completed portfolios for review, submits key elements to The Evergreen State College for processing,and SPP-Evergreen pays the College a $350 administrative fee per portfolio to award academic credit.
Scholars receive a course evaluation and document of completion which represents their course
achievements and college credit.
In 2023, SPP created 4 new portfolios including the Foundations in Composting course, Western Pond
Turtle Specialist Program, Salish Lowland Conservation Nursery Technician Program, and the SagebrushSteppe Conservation Nursery Technician. SPP also offers portfolios for the Foundations in Gardening
course and the Butterfly Captive Rearing Specialist Program. The table below highlights scholars whoearned credit through the SPP PLE program in 2023.

16

SPP’s Foundations in Gardening and Foundations in Composting course books. Photo by Emily Passarelli

Table 4. Number of scholars awarded college credit in 2023 through the SPP PLE Program.
Scholars
ProgramCredits
AwardedCreditTotal
Credits
AwardedFoundations in
Gardening

Introduction to Gardening and Ecological Horticulture – 4
credits

60

240

Foundations in
Composting

Introduction to Composting and Soil Science – 2 credits

11

22

Salish Lowland
Conservation Nursery
Technician

Introductory Botany – 4 credits
Introduction to Native Plant Ecology – 4 credits
Ecological Horticulture Practicum – 10 credits

118

Western Pond Turtle
Rehabilitation
Specialist

Introduction to Wetland Ecology & Turtle Biology – 4 credits
Introduction to Animal Husbandry with laboratory – 6 credits

220

Sagebrush-Steppe
Conservation Nursery
Technician

Introduction to Botany – 4 credits
Wildlife Conservation on the Sagebrush-Steppe – 4 credits
Ecological Horticulture Practicum – 10 credits

354

Butterfly Captive
Rearing Specialist

Introduction to Butterfly Biology – 4 credits
Introduction to Conservation Biology – 4 credits
Introduction to Restoration Ecology – 4 credits
Introduction to Endangered Species Biology – 4 credits
Introduction to Animal Husbandry with Laboratory – 5 credits

4

64

81
Scholars

418 Total
Credits

Total for 2023

17

Further Portfolio Development
SPP-Evergreen continues to build new education portfolios for most of our environmental education andecological conservation programs. Evergreen faculty of record, Dr. Carri LeRoy, provides guidance on
education development, credit recommendations, and portfolio components. The table below describes
the new SPP portfolios developed in 2023 and potential course equivalencies. Development includes
creation of education modules, seminar, and workshop resources, course syllabi, portfolio checklists,
templated course evaluations, Documents of Completion, and in some cases an education work plan.
SPP intends to have these portfolios reviewed for credit equivalency in 2024.
Table 5. Education Portfolios in development from January – December 2023.
Program

Anticipated Course Equivalencies (Pending Final Review)

Conservation Nursery Technician (shortcourse)Introductory Botany
Introduction to Native Plant Ecology
Ecological Horticulture Practicum

Butterfly Conservation Technician

Practice in Butterfly Husbandry
Practice in Endangered Species Biology
Introduction to Plant Horticulture
Introduction to Ecological Concepts

Module Development
SPP also focused on developing education modules, or free-standing lessons, on topics that do not
require technology or large group gatherings. Modules are typically 8-20 pages of print materials andinclude learning activities, visual aids, discussion questions, and interdisciplinary art, cultural, or
historical context information. Some modules are offered in more than one program or education
portfolio. Below is a table of modules created by SPP in 2023.
Table 6. Education modules developed in 2023.
Main Program

Module Title
Plant-Pollinator Interactions

Butterfly

Introduction to Evolution
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Overview Part 2

Western Pond Turtles

Western Pond Turtles Part 2"The certification credits we receive that are applicable toward a degree is the
motivation for wanting to further my education. I plan on seeing how I can apply allthese credits towards my bachelor's degree. I'm no longer intimidated to learn - I'm
excited to further my education today, where I was once afraid of academia."– Tiffany Doll, Butterfly Technician

Peer-Led Education
In 2023, SPP supported the Foundations in Gardening Curriculum and the new Foundations in
Composting Curriculum as peer-led education programs. This year, SPP ended our role in thecollaboration to offer the Roots of Success curriculum. We focused on identifying improvements to bothFoundations courses with plans to add a practicum component for each course and additional
facilitation training resources for instructors in 2024.
18

Foundations in Gardening Curriculum
The Foundations in Gardening course is a 4-credit peer-led course that provides academic fundamentals
of small-scale food production, as well as the planning, critical thinking, and observation skills necessary
to grow food and beneficial flowering plants. The course was developed and continues to improvethrough collaboration with incarcerated people, corrections staff, SPP, and community experts.
Facilitators and scholars continue to request additional education and training on gardening and handson portion for this course. SPP will work to develop a credit-bearing practicum for the program in 2024.

Foundations in Gardening graduates at Stafford Creek Corrections Center holding their documents of completionfrom Evergreen. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

"Another thing I enjoyed from this program was it didn't feel like it was a class or job and I felt
like I was a part of something bigger, which was a great escape from the prison lifestyle."– Robert Asagai

Foundations in Composting Curriculum
The Foundations in Composting is a 2-credit peer-led course that provides foundational knowledge ofcomposting science, techniques, and applications. The course was developed in collaboration with
incarcerated people, SPP, corrections staff, and community partners with composting expertise. The
curriculum includes a culminating project where scholars develop a proposal for a composting project.
In 2023, this course was piloted by scholars at a facility for incarcerated youth in Nevada and by scholars
at WCC. MCCCW also started their first Foundations in Composting course in December of 2023. The
table below provides 2023 calendar year updates on the two peer-led programs.
19Composting technician, Juan Hernandez, shows visitors the worm bins at the WCC composting program area. Photoby Emily Passarelli.

Table 7. Key updates on peer-led curricula for January – December 2023.
Program andKey Highlights
Facilities
Description

Total Scholars
Completed

Foundations in
Gardening

Began curriculum updates to accommodate
scholar feedback and formatting changes.

CCCC, CRCC, LCC,MCCCW, SCCC

81 Scholars

Foundations in
Composting

Curriculum piloted at 2 facilities and started
at MCCCW

MCCCW, WCC, andNorthern Nevada
Correctional Facility

29 Scholars

Beekeeping
During this reporting period, we supported 10 active beekeeping programs in partnership with the
Washington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA). For several facilities, the 2022/2023 winter season
was very successful for bee survival. Beginning, apprentice, and journeyman level beekeeping
certification courses were offered to many facilities. These programs typically partner with an outside
beekeeping expert to deliver the course and lead hive care.
In 2023, WASBA established a new “Facility of the Year” award for a correctional facility going above andbeyond to support beekeeping programs and activities. Stafford Creek beekeepers were the recipientsof the 2023 Facility of the Year Beekeeping Award. The facility will be gifted an insulated hive, a packageof bees, and a plaque. More details for this reporting period are shared in the following tables andhighlights.

20

Beekeepers suited up at MCC. Photo by Susan Collins.

Table 8. Key updates for beekeeping programs for January – December 2023.
Beekeeping
Facility

Key Highlights

Partners

WSDA Registered
Hives

Certificates Earned

AHCC

Monthly education
packets were distributedwith beekeeping related
articles and optional
worksheets. Materials
were sent to 10 facilities
and students from
MCCCW, WCCW, SCCC,
and WCC-IMU earned
recognition certificates.

West Plains Beekeepers

30North Olympic Peninsula
Beekeepers Association

00Olympia Beekeepers
Association0*

10 beginning; 9apprentice,including 1 DOC
staff member

N/A2

20 beginning2, hives relocatedto MCCCW after
closure020, In collaboration
with CCCC

CBCC

CCCC

CRCC
LCC
McNeilIsland

MCCCW

MCC-TRUSCCC

SPP supplied several hivesof bees, beekeeping
tools, and sugar to
MCCCW, LCC, andWCCW.
WASBA hosted monthly
question and answer
sessions with beekeeping
staff liaisons. Liaisonsfrom CCCC, CRCC, LCC,
SCCC, WCCW, WCC,MCCCW, WSP, and AHCC
attended.

Clark County Beekeepers
Olympia Beekeepers
Association, CCCC

West Sound Beekeepers

2

Northwest District
Beekeepers

2

Olympia Beekeepers
Association4

12 beginning; 7apprentice,including 4 DOC
staff members; and1 journeyman
7 beginning; 6apprentice
63 beginning; 42apprentice

21

WCC

WCCW

N/A

West Sound Beekeepers

WSP

4

0

4

13 beginning,
including 1 DOC
staff member; and 6
apprentice,including 2 DOC
staff members

80*CCCC collaborates with the beekeeping program on McNeil Island.

Evergreen Prisons Education Program (EPEP)This year, several SPP-Evergreen staff continued to invest in the development of The Evergreen Prison
Education Project (EPEP) Network. SPP’s work with EPEP was funded by Evergreen, via a legislative
appropriation. EPEP is a liberation education and reintegration network. Our mission is to expand accessto an Evergreen education for currently incarcerated and legally liberated people and to provide holistic
support services for the scholars we serve. The network is dedicated to communication, coordination,and collaboration with both internal and external partners. EPEP Network organizations include
Gateways for Incarcerated Youth, Liberation Scholars, SPP, and Evergreen’s new, prison-based
bachelor’s degree program.
Faculty and staff at Evergreen have decades of experience supporting education and reentry forcurrently and previously incarcerated scholars. With recent changes in legislation, incarcerated scholars
are now eligible for federal Pell Grants and Washington College Grants and will have improved access topost-secondary education. Evergreen will begin offering bachelor’s degree courses in 2024.

Evergreen faculty Dr. Anthony Zaragoza, left, and Dr. Eirik Steinhoff, right, deliver a workshop to potential BA
program scholars at SCCC. Photo by Sarah Larson.

Community College Collaboration
SPP appreciates the dedication, experience, and significant education work led by community colleges
and other education organizations. We have a long history of innovative collaborations resulting in22

educational benefits for incarcerated scholars. Community college staff and faculty continue to go aboveand beyond to offer meaningful educational opportunities.
Environmental Engagement Workshop Series
SPP’s previous workshop series operated at four prisons with special events at additional facilities. The
workshops continue to be suspended. During this reporting period, only small group workshops were
offered in specific conservation and environmental education programs. We remain hopeful that we canrestart workshop series programs at some point in the future.

23

Conservation Programs

5

In 2023, SPP offered seven separate conservation programs including four conservation nursery
programs, the Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation program, the Avian Acoustic Monitoring program,and the Taylors Checkerspot Butterfly program. SPP’s conservation programs encompass a broad rangeof goals, activities, and topics. All share four things in common:
1. Focus on conservation-related education and training coupled with experiential learning andwork that helps preserve and protect species, ecosystems, and/or other natural resources.
2. Dependence on strong collaborations between incarcerated people, corrections staff, scholars,
SPP staff, scientists, and community experts who share their knowledge, resources, andenthusiasm.
3. Incarcerated participants are partners, scholars, and technicians; they contribute theirknowledge, improve program operation, and receive education, training, and hands-on
experience. Participants are eligible for academic credit at no expense to the scholar as they
complete education portfolio requirements.
4. Success of the conservation programs is dependent on each partner contributing their expertiseand time. Programs are designed to maximize benefits to each collaborator.

Tending to sagebrush plants. Photo by SPP Staff.

Conservation Program Education and Training
Participants in SPP’s Conservation Programs (programs are described in Table 8) receive education andtraining as a key component of each work/experiential learning program. Scholars completing education
requirements are eligible to receive credit through The Evergreen State College. As we continue to build
credit-eligible education opportunities, we expect an increased number of program participants will24

receive college credit in the coming years. For more information on credit-bearing education andconservation program scholars completing portfolio requirements, please see Section 4 Education.

Conservation Nursery Programs
SPP Conservation Nursery programs continued and expanded partnerships to deliver education andtraining to cultivate plants and seeds at WCCW, SCCC, WCC, and WSP. A significant number of plants
were grown to support Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly habitat restoration on Joint Base Lewis-McChord(JBLM) and other Salish lowland prairie sites. Butterfly habitat restoration efforts were supported withfunding from the Army Corps of Engineers and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Conservation
nursery crews and staff also continued to grow plants for the United States Forest Service (USFS)
Olympic National Forest, Department of Natural Resources, and Washington State Parks. Plants grown
for these partners were used for ecological restoration sites or vegetation restoration on decommissioned roads and trails.
After a production lull during 2020-2022, nursery program infrastructure at WCCW and SCCC required
significant improvements. WCCW replaced all weed control and nursery bed infrastructure. SCCC
conducted infrastructure maintenance and shifted cultivation to provide a more consistent supply of
Plantago lanceolata for butterfly habitat improvement and captive rearing at MCCCW. Because of these
improvements, conservation nurseries at WCCW and SCCC doubled their production from the previous
year.

Raised beds at WCCW's conservation nursery program area. Photo by Sal Hernandez.

SPP transitioned the seed production at WCC to grow fewer annual plants and more perennial plants
not produced on a commercial scale. Danthonia californica and Castilleja hispida collected from Salish
lowland prairies were cultivated in the nursery, and then planted out into beds at the prison in 2023.
Some seed beds will continue to produce annual species including Collinsia grandiflora, Valeriana(Plectritis) congesta, and Collinsia parviflora as nectar resources for Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies. The
perennial plant species will be in the ground over 5-10 years, providing an excellent opportunity todevelop education and training on seed cultivation and cleaning protocols.

25Plantain grown for the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly program. Photo by Nat Kelly.

The Sagebrush Steppe Conservation Nursery program at WSP operates at the Sustainable Practices Lab(SPL). The SPL is an exemplary employment and training program with day-to-day supervision provided
by DOC staff. In 2023, SPP-Evergreen hired a new full time staff position, to work with program
participants and DOC staff in the Sustainable Practices Lab to support education, training, and plant andseed cultivation. This hire significantly improves program capacity. Over 13 incarcerated scholars
participated in sagebrush program in 2023, with 9 completing requirements to receive academic credit.
Sagebrush plants were produced for habitat restoration on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife(WDFW) lands, primarily for shrub-steppe ecosystems impacted by wildfire. In the fall of 2023,
participants and partners grew containerized sagebrush and planted a one-acre seed orchard within the
secure perimeter at WSP. This will be a long-term project with seed produced over a 15- 20-year period.
The cultivation of a diverse mix of plant species is projected for other facilities in future years throughthe Sagebrush Steppe Conservation Nursery education and training program.
26

Table 8. Summary of key outcomes for SPP conservation nursery programs, January – December 2023
(see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
Conservation Nursery Programs
Facility

Key Ecological Results

# of
Techs

Partners

Key Highlights

Conservation
Nursery

WCCW

Plant plugs produced
39,2763

Nursery Technicians,
DOC, SPP-Evergreen,
JBLM, USFS – Olympic
Mountains

Plants produced for
Salish lowland prairie& forest habitats

Conservation
Nursery

SCCC

4

Nursery Technicians,
DOC, SPP-Evergreen,
WDFWTransition to butterfly
larvae and nectar
plant production

WSP

Plant plugs produced
24,6269

Nursery Technicians,
DOC, SPP-Evergreen,
WDFW – Sagebrush
Steppe10,000 Artemisia
tridentata planted out
to an acre seedorchard

WCC

Transition to seedproduction of
perennial species:
Danthonia californica
and Castilleja hispida

4

Nursery Technicians,
DOC, SPP-Evergreen,
JBLM

Establishment of
perennial beds in thefield

Program

Sagebrush
SteppeConservation
Nursery

Seed Nursery

Species grown: 20
Plant plugs produced
60,979Species grown: 5

Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation Program
The Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation program at Cedar Creek Corrections Center (CCCC) is part of alarger effort led by WDFW, other state and federal agencies, zoos, and veterinary care facilities. The
western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) is a state listed endangered species and one of only two
native turtles in Washington State.
Turtles suffering from shell disease arecaptured in the wild and brought toveterinary partners for treatment.
After treatment, they are transferred
to CCCC where incarcerated
technicians care for them while they
heal from their treatment. In the springof 2023, we cared for and released 22
turtles. Prior to their treatment in thefall of 2023, we cared for 12 turtles.
We anticipate caring for 11 turtles
during the 2024 season.
In 2023, two participants earned
college credit through the Western
Pond Turtle Rehabilitation program
portfolio. Each participant received 10college credits through Evergreen State
College. We anticipate an increased

A turtle wearing a "turtle burrito" smiles before its medical scan.
Photo by Mikala Waldrup.

27

number of participants will earn credit in 2024.
Table 9. Summary of key outcomes for the SPP Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation program, January –December 2023.
Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation Program
Key Ecological Results

# of
Techs

Partners

Key Highlights

10

Turtle Technicians, DOC,SPP-Evergreen, WDFW,PAWS Wildlife
Rehabilitation Center,
Woodland Park Zoo(WPZ), & Oregon Zoo

Revised & enhanced all program procedures;delivered new Turtle Rehabilitation Specialist
education portfolio including new workshop &education module content; awarded 2 technicians'
credit through the Evergreen State College;
introduced new Avian Acoustic Monitoring Programin tandem with the turtle program.

Turtles Received: 34

Turtles Released: 22

Avian Acoustic Monitoring
In the beginning of 2023, SPP, CCCC staff, and environmental scientist Lauren Kuehne, rolled out the
new Avian Acoustic Monitoring Program. This new education and training program is offered totechnicians in the Western Pond Turtle Rehabilitation program. Participants learn how to identify 10
species of birds based on their audio calls and spectrograms (visual representations of sound). Throughthis citizen science program, participants are contributing to important forestry research. Technicianslearn to use acoustic monitoring software, how to effectively complete data entry and tracking, andinformation about birds and forest ecology.

CCCC Turtle Technicians being trained in acoustic
monitoring by Wildlife Biologist Lauren Kuehne. Photo by
Mikala Waldrup.

28Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly
Since 2011, the Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Captive Rearing program has reared over 57,300 butterfly
larvae for release onto Salish lowland prairie sites. Program technicians demonstrate exemplary
teamwork and skill in caring for these federally endangered butterflies. In 2023, we restarted the captive
breeding component of the butterfly program in response to significant population decline of thisspecies in the wild. Technicians had great success following breeding procedures and produced a record
number of larvae (detailed in Table 10). In 2023, WDFW released larvae in several ways that were new
to the program, including releasing them as pupae.

SPP Coordinator Xitlali Herrera smiles with a butterfly larva. Picture 2: A larva enjoying s plantain. Picture 3: thebutterfly release event where almost 8,000 larvae were released. Photos by SPP Staff.

In 2023, 4 technicians received 16 academic credits by completing requirements of the Butterfly Captive
Rearing Specialist education portfolio offered January-June 2023. SPP-Evergreen staff finisheddeveloping a second education course offered July-December 2023. This year, 7 technicians completed
the new course and will receive 14 credits in summer 2024.
"The Butterfly Program over the last 2 years has taught me so many things I didn't
know about myself. Being a part of this program has lit a fire within me to further myeducation. Not only have I learned to care for and nurture an endangered species, but
it's taught me to show the same care, love, and compassion for myself."– Tiffany Doll, Program Participant
29

Table 10. Summary of key outcomes for the SPP Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly program at MCCCW,
January – December 2023
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly
Key
EcologicalResultsRaven
Greenhouse

TurtleGreenhouse

Totals# Larvae at
Wake up

1,605

2,551

4,156

# PostDiapause
LarvaeReleased

1,029

1,649

2,678

# PupaeReleased

204

229

433

# WildFemales
Brought to
Lab

14

16

30

# Resulting
Larvae

2,170

1,040

3,210

# Captive
Females
Bred

18

20

38

# Resulting
Larvae

5,937

2,601

8,538

# Larvae
Released
PreDiapause

1,711

1,899

3,610

# of
Butterfly
Techs

Partners

Key Highlights

10

Butterfly
Technicians, DOC,SPP-Evergreen
WDFW, USFWS,
Ronda Naseth(butterfly
husbandry expert),
JBLM

4 Butterfly Techs
awarded 16 credits;
re-started captive
breeding program;tested new methods
for TCB release;developed second
educational portfolio

30

Sustainable Living & Training

6

This section reports on training and education programs that include sustainable practices, such ascomposting and gardening. These programs reduce environmental impacts while also providing
opportunities for practical training and skills can benefit people and communities.

Gardens at SCCC used to grow produce for the Garden to Kitchen project. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Garden to Kitchen
The Garden to Kitchen Project represents an initiative that combines therapeutic benefits, sustainability,and nutrition. By growing and harvesting fresh produce, participants develop valuable skills insustainable agriculture, soil science, and horticulture while also contributing to a healthier and moresustainable food system. Many facilities are already successfully using prison grown produce in their
kitchens while other facilities need additional resources to overcome barriers and restart efforts that
may have been impacted by the pandemic. Table 11 describes produce used within facilities in 2023.
Table 11. Produce grown at facilities for kitchen use, January – December 2023 (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations).
Facility
Highlights
CCCC

Grew and used: basil, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli and more. Saved an
estimated $6,000 using produce grown on site.

MCCCW

Grew and used: 618.11 lbs. of produce.

MCC-TRU

Grew and used: cilantro, green beans, squash, zucchini, garlic, cucumber, kale, lettuce, and more.
Focused garden efforts on growing more than 7,000 lbs. of produce that was requested by
kitchen.

MCC-SOU

Gardens managed by living unit staff and produce was used by kitchen or donated.

31

SCCC

Used around 300 lbs. of zucchini in the kitchen in 2023. Plans to focus more efforts on using
produce in the kitchen in 2024.

WCCW

Produced 3,700 lbs. of produce, much was used in the kitchens.

WSP

Used and shared melons with CRCC and AHCC.

Tomatoes grown at CCCC. Photo by SPP Staff.

In 2023, SPP worked with the Department of Health (DOH) to secure funding to overcome some of thesmall barriers identified by facilities in 2022. In 2023, DOH purchased seeds, gardening tools, andcollapsible crates for transporting produce. These items were supplied to WSP, WCCW, CRCC, and WCC.
While DOH supported this project in 2023, we were unable to secure DOH funding for future purchases.
SPP is committed to the Garden to Kitchen Project and plans to set aside a small amount of funding toassist with these programs to improve access to fresh produce in prisons.

Garden to Kitchen Pilot and Models
In addition to pursuing funding, SPP researched several models that provide produce to the incarcerated
population, including giving produce directly to the kitchen, a farmer's market model developed at
CBCC, a pantry model developed at WSP, and more. With the support of facility leadership and staff,
SCCC volunteered to pilot a Garden to Kitchen Project in 2024. In 2023, SCCC gathered all facility
gardeners, including unit gardeners, lifers' gardeners, and hub gardeners, to discuss and plan for 2024.
This group of gardeners meet monthly to discuss challenges and plans for overcoming them. SCCC plans
to offer a farmer's market model and send produce to the kitchen. Through collaboration with the
kitchen, they have identified specific crops that can be used in meals available to incarcerated people. In
support of this pilot, SPP provided washing tables, composting bins, and books to SCCC. SPP willcontinue to support and document the pilot process as this project expands to other facilities.

32

A beautiful head of broccoli grown at CCCC. Photo by SPP Staff.

Composting
Prior to the pandemic, all Washington state prisons had some form of large- or small-scale composting
program. Most of these programs were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2023, facilities
and leadership showed a renewed enthusiasm to restart composting programs. Table 12 highlights
composting efforts in some correctional facilities.
Table 12. Composting highlights, January – December 2023 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
Facility
Composting Highlights
AHCC

Composted 280 lbs. of food waste. Produced 580 gallons of worm tea used in the gardens.

CBCC

Composted 58,000 lbs. of food waste, diverted to OCC.

CCCC

Composted: 150,100 lbs. of food waste, 94,500 lbs. of woodchips, and 7.3 tons of biosolids.

CRCC

Produced 1,500 lbs. of compost.

MCCCW

Produced about 3,000 lbs. of compost.

OCC

Composted 118,000 lbs. of food waste; produced 37 tons of compost.

SCCC

Composted 89,323 lbs. of food waste; produced 30,562 lbs. of compost.

WCC

Composted over 233,000 lbs. of food waste through vermiculture, black soldier fly, and bokashi
composting.

WSP

Composted 695,216 lbs. of food waste.

33

In 2023, SPP began to offer the Foundations in Compostingcourse. The course was piloted at WCC, and a Nevada
youth prison. Both groups of scholars provided
constructive feedback on the course. Then, thecomposting course was offered at MCCCW. The course is
expected to launch at more Washington prisons in 2024.
For more information on this new course see Section 4,
Education Programs.
Corrections staff and SPP note that composting programs
were established and operated during 2023 at thefollowing facilities: AHCC, CBCC, CCCC, MCCCW, OCC,
SCCC, and WCC. The SPL crew and staff at Washington
Corrections Center (WCC) have been working withpartners to develop a sustainable model for a robust
composting education and training program. In 2023, theyreached their goal of composting 100% of facility foodwaste. Through collaborations with partners, they hope toSarah Larson, SPP Education Development
Manager, with composting tumblers at SCCC.
provide other facilities with the education and training
Photo by Emily Passarelli.
resources to run their own programs. To transform waste
into valuable resources, incarcerated technicians at WCC work with three systems, including:
1. Worms: Worms also known as red wigglers are 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) that can consume many kinds offood waste; the adult form of the black soldier fly produces more larvae that are prized assustainable and high-quality animal feed.

34

Restorative Nature

7

SPP aims to bring nature inside prisons for numerous benefits, including stress relief and enhancing thewell-being of both human and non-human organisms. Research shows that incorporating nature into
institutional and urban environments positively impacts individuals’ mental and emotional health.
Specifically, Nalini Nadkarni's Nature Imagery in Prisons Project revealed that even indirect exposure tonature through videos has a therapeutic effect on incarcerated people and staff. Additionally, SPP's
programs have been widely and consistently recognized by both incarcerated and staff partners for their
therapeutic value, promoting a sense of well-being, and connection to nature within the prison
environment.
While all SPP programs are intended to offer positive contact with nature, the initiatives detailed on thefollowing page include enjoying nature and/or providing wildlife habitat as their primary functions. Most
nature imagery programs were suspended during COVID-19 and have not restarted. The following table
aims to represent the status of various initiatives reported to us by WA Corrections.

A variety of plants throughout Washington prisons. Photo by SPP and DOC staff.

35

SPP technician Tomas Keen cares for the chickens at WCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Table 13. Restorative nature and wildlife habitat efforts, January 2023 – December 2023 (see Appendix
3 for abbreviations)
Facility

Programs

Status & Highlights

Pollinator plantings

All gardens within Main and MSU have been converted to flower gardens
to support bee pollination. This initiative includes jobs for incarcerated
people to develop gardening skills.

Nature imagery

Nature Imagery Rooms are available for use in the SMU Unit.

CBCC

Flower gardens

Weeding and upkeep of flower beds.

CCCC

Pollinator-friendly
flowers

Flower gardens were maintained as the crew was available.

Heritage and flower
gardens

Heritage garden is thriving.

Land restoration

Land restoration area is thriving.

Pollinator garden

Gardens are thriving.

Chickens

Key achievements include egg production for composting, garden bed
tilling, participant education, and positive impacts on cognitive behavior,
prompting plans for program expansion through the addition of morechickens and a larger yard.

House plants

All plants from each unit were transferred into new aesthetically pleasing
pots filled with fresh soil, with some exhibiting such robust growth that
cuttings were propagated and distributed to other sections of the facility.

AHCC

CRCC

MCCCW

36

MCCSOUMCCWSRU
OCC

Planting for Pollinators

During the beautification project finalized in summer 2023, numerous
plants were procured with a particular emphasis on attracting pollinators,
although the exact quantity is unspecified. These plants were strategicallyplaced both indoors and outdoors throughout the facility.

Nature Imagery

Nature Imagery Rooms are available for use in the SOU Core Units.

Flower gardens

Gardens at MSU were planted at Minimum during 2023. Rabbits continue
to be an issue.

Water features

1 living unit has a fishpond; the other has a fountain and basin.

Pollinator plantings

A new pollinator garden was added in front of E building. SPP has beenworking on growing more flowering plants in the hub to help with
pollinators.

Lifer garden

The Lifer Garden crew has been working on propagating flowers toprovide support for pollinators.

Chickens

Currently, WCC has 42 chickens, that are fed un-processed food waste
and processed food waste (Bokashi). Most feeding happens in thermal
compost bins that the chickens have access to, this also introduces
nitrogen to the compost.

House plants

368 house plants were distributed or donated.

Flower gardens

This is an annual undertaking to plant all the flower beds inside thefacilities, Cedar Hall, Evergreen, and Pine Hall. Any excess seedlings were
donated to the Food Banks.

SCCC

WCC

37

Community Contribution Programs

8

Community contribution programs provide services and/or goods directly to local communities. They
involve programs like training pets for adoption or as service animals, donating crafts and products(firewood, quilts, etc.) derived from reclaimed materials, and providing ecological services, like habitat
restoration.

Pumpkins grown at AHCC were donated to the local
children's hospital. Photo by AHCC Staff.

Typically, these programs are partnerships between prisons and community organizations that helporganizations increase capacity and provide incarcerated people with opportunities to contribute tocommunities outside the fence. Most of these programs predate the formal SPP partnership andoperate without support from SPP-Evergreen. SPP-Evergreen’s role is limited to acknowledging andsupporting these partnerships and providing a comprehensive overview of statewide activities.

Dog and Cat ProgramsDog and cat programs continue to be popular in Washington prisons. Nearly all of Washington’s prisons
have one or more partnerships with community nonprofits for pet programs. Incarcerated people
receive education and support from partner organizations to provide excellent animal care andobedience training, grooming, and boarding, and—in a few cases—service or therapy animal training.
We have heard from participants and staff that pet programs benefit all involved including incarcerated
people and outside communities. Participants of these programs often describe working with dogs orcats as transformational. Table 14, below, summarizes the pet program highlights shared by DOC for
2023.

38

(Top) Happy and newly trained dogs from SCCC off to find a new home. Photos by PAWS.
(Bottom) Cats from WCCW's cat program relaxing. Photos by WCCW Staff.

Table 14. Dog and cat programs, January – December 2023 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations). Please
note: All dog and cat programs include incarcerated people and DOC staff working in collaboration with
non-profit partners.
Facility

Program

Program Partners

Highlights

AHCC

Pawsitive dog
training

Diamonds in the Ruff,
SpokAnimal, Spokane
Humane Society

Contract with Spokane Humane Society in process.
Program will return spring of 2024.

CBCC

Dog training
and adoption

Welfare for Animals
Guild (WAG!)

Program plans to restart in March 2024.

CBCC

Cat program

Welfare for Animals
Guild (WAG!)

Cat program continues to thrive. However, it has scaled
down as far as handlers to 4 and 5 cats.

CCCC

Training dogs
for veterans

Brigadoon Service Dogs

2 primary dog handlers, 2 secondary handlers, 1
handler as an alternate in training. 2 dogs most of theyear, for approximately 3 months had just 1 dog.

CRCC

Ridge Dogs

Adams County Pet
Rescue, The Pitbull Pen

136 dogs graduated from the program.

CRCC

Service dogs forveterans

Brigadoon Service Dogs

3 dogs onsite.

39

MCC –TRU

Dog training
and adoption

Summit Assistance Dogs

Dogs live 24/7 with pairs of incarcerated people whocare for and train them. 4 program classes andgraduations. 8 dogs in training, 9 dedicated two-person
handler teams, and 16 dedicated dog walkers.

MCCSOUCat Program

Purrfect Pals

Purrfect Pals Cat Program has expanded to include
both units in the Expansion E and F.

MCCCW

Pawsitive Prison
Project

Kitsap Humane Society

Fostered 24 cats, most of which returned to theirowners after fostering.

MCCCW

Pawsitive Prison
Project

Humane Society ofMason County

Over 200 cats and over 30 dogs were adopted.

SCCC

Service dogs forveterans

Brigadoon Service Dogs

14 dogs: 5 graduated, 6 in training, and 3 were trained
but did not make it as service dogs or had medical
problems that disqualified them from the program.

SCCC

Freedom Tails

GH Paws

16 dogs went through the program in 2023.

WCC

Training dogs
for veterans

Brigadoon Service Dogs

8 dogs went through the program in 2023.

Prison Pet Partnership(PPP), Feisty Felines

Continued education and training for incarcerated
people in basic pet care, obedience training, andgrooming and boarding. PPP partnered with Feisty
Felines cat rescue to house foster kittens. In 2023, 11
kittens were adopted.

WCCW

Prison Pet
Partnership

Reclaim, Repurpose or Restore, and Donate Programs
Consistent with the earliest days of SPP programs, WA prisons strive to “throw nothing away,” bytransforming potentially discarded materials into something of value. In some cases, the creations fromthese programs help to meet an organization’s need: donating quilts to a housing shelter, refurbished

Items made for community donations at SCCC, WCC, and WCCW. Photos by DOC Staff.

40

computers for schools, and growing produce for food banks. In other cases, programs donate
handmade or restored creations for organizations’ fundraising events. These programs are best
illustrated by statewide numbers (below).
Table 15. Community contribution programs statewide, January 2023-December 2023 (see Appendix 3
for abbreviations).
Reported Statewide Totals (approximations) Highest Impact Facility
Produce grown

130,840 lbs. grown, 64,157 donated to foodbanks & used in prison kitchens

WSP: 90,864 lbs.

Crafts & furnishings fromreclaimed materials

16,457 items donated

WSP: 8,590 items

Refurbished bicycles andwheelchairs

2,974 chairs, 100 bikes

WSP: 2,388 chairs

Refurbished computers

23,970 processed, 2,703 donated

AHCC: 23,970 processed, 2,703
donatedFirewood

562 cords prepared for donation

AHCC: 370 cords

Vegatables grown by Eastern Washington Facilities. Photos by DOC Staff.

41

Table 16. Community contribution programs to reclaim, repurpose, restore, or donate, January 2023 –December 2023 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
Facility

Programs

Program Partners

Highlights

Computers 4
Kids

Office of theSuperintendent of
Public Instruction, WA
Department ofEnterprise Services

13 incarcerated people participated in a project torebuild computers. 23,970 computers were processedand 25,378 were surplus. In addition, 2,703 computerswere donated to local schools.

Firewood
donation

Spokane Neighborhood
Action Partners (SNAP)In 2023, the wood program was a huge success as theybrought in around 300 cords of firewood and delivered
about 370 cords of processed firewood to the community
through SNAP's heating assistance programs andfundraisers. Like the DNR crew, they also do silviculture
work to remove excess wood from lands that havebecome a fire hazard. The Incarcerated Individual
Community Crew Sawyers worked 4,940 hours to achievethese tasks.

Gardens,
main andminimum

Master Gardeners,
Ronald McDonald
House, Shriners
Children’s HospitalMore than 2,433 pounds of produce was grown. All the
produce was given to the Women’s and Children's
Pantry, located in downtown Spokane. The estimatedworth of the donated produce is $2,987.13.

Shriners Children’s
HospitalOver 500 pumpkins were grown, over 6,000 lbs. total.
Pumpkin donations were delivered to the hospital in
October 2023, along with costumes from Spirit
Halloween. Families were able to choose a free pumpkin
and costume for their children.

Vegetable
gardens

Clallam Bay Food Bank

Grew 2,319 lbs. of produce, 331 lbs. were grownhydroponically. Approximately 2,200 lbs. were donatedto the food back who gives any extra to the local Senior
Citizen Center.

Ozette potato
program

Local tribes

Grew 88.5 lbs. of Ozette potatoes.

Gardens

Centralia College,
Littlerock School District

Despite facing several challenges during the year, thegardeners produced over 4,500 lbs. of produce. These
vegetables were consumed by the facility population anddonated to food banks in the local area.

Construction

Centralia Community
College2 custom bus stops were donated to the Littlerock
Elementary School, several dog houses were made for
the Cedar Creek Dog Training program, as well as adoghouse and custom chicken coup donated to afundraiser auction for the Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Sheds and other structures were also built for use within
the facility.

Gardens,
Minimum &Main

Harvest Now, foodpantries

CRCC donated 2,500 lbs. of produce.

AHCC

Pumpkin
Program

CBCC
CBCC

CCCC

CRCC

MCCSOU

Gardens

This program continues to be managed by staff fromeach unit. Gardens continued to produce flowers andvegetables used around SOU by the kitchens and donatedto the local food bank.

42

MCCCW

OCC

SCCC

GRACE
(Gardeningfor
Restoration &Conservation
Education)
Project

Kitsap Conservation
District, Central Kitsap
Foodbank

Initiated one crew in June 2023, but encountered delays
in commencing the GRACE project in partnership with
Kitsap Conservation District. The objective for 2024 is toestablish a second crew with the primary aim ofreestablishing collaboration with the GRACE project.

Firewood for
NativeAmericanPrograms

Olycap, Quillayute
Valley Scholarship
Auction, Lake Quinault
Fire Department, OCC
DNR Crew

Religious Firewood Program – supplied firewood to SCCC,
CBCC, OCC, MCC, and WCCW for about 73 cords tosupport their Religious Programs.
Community Involvement Firewood – supplied 80 cords tothe local senior citizens, 20 cords to the town ofClearwater, 15 cords to the Quillayute Valley Scholarship
Auction, 3 cords to Cherish the Children auction, and 1
cord to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s officer in the townof Clearwater.

Vegetable
gardens

Peninsula College,
Sunshine and Rainbows
Child Development
Center, Quileute Tribe

Delivered 3,500 lbs. of produce to the Forks Food Bank.
The facility also grew pumpkins for Family Friendly
events.

Gardens andgreenhouses

Coastal Harvest Food
Bank, Harvest Now

Harvested 18,140.4 lbs. this year. 528 pounds of
pumpkins were used for a family fun night event. The
total weight donated to Coastal Harvest was 17,312 lbs.
About 300 lbs. of zucchini were given to the kitchen for
the garden to kitchen project.

Bicycle Repair

Lions Club

100 bikes were restored and delivered.

Wheelchair
RepairWheels for the World

Program was placed on hold in October 2023, prior tothat 586 completed chairs were sent out to Ghana and
Mexico.

SBU LoomingClass

Men of Compassion

Knitted items donated to Providence Cancer Clinic: 136
hats, 1 scarf, and 3 blankets.

SBU Art Class

SCCC

20 origami boxes were donated to the Significant Other
event.

Correctional
Industries,
Christmas for
Kids

Toy Time, Connectionsof Grays Harbor

Toy time had 50 people that donated 1,900 items in total
to Connections of Grays Harbor and other partners.

Violence
Prevention

Daybreak Stars

Food drive collected 5,996 items weighing 1,051 lbs. intotal.

Unit
Fundraiser

Seattle Children’s
Hospital

1,076 incarcerated people participated in the fundraiser
and raised $3,694.58. The donation was accompanied bya letter, drafted by an incarcerated Tier Representative.
Seattle Children’s was 1 of 4 nonprofit organizations
selected by vote by the population.

FamilyPromise ofGrays Harbor

Program assists
homeless families withchildren

70 hats and 2 blankets completed.

43

BearsProgram

Plant starts

Hoodsport Kiwanis

7,293 vegetable seedlings were provided to Thurston
County Food Banks, WCC living units, and MCCCW.

Houseplants

SCCC Staff and Custody

368 house plants were distributed or donated.

Gardens andGreenhouses

Thurston County Food
Bank, The Hoodsport
Canal Food Bank,
Matlock Community
Church, Harvest Now

Most produce was donated to the local Food Banks,
helping more than 450 unique households and children in
Thurston County and the surrounding counties.

Gardens andgreenhouses

WSU Extension, Pierce
CountyProduced and donated 3,700 lbs. of produce.

Sisters ofCharity:quilts, fabriccrafts, wildlife
rescueCommunity members
donate supplies; WestSound Wildlife receives
nests and beds

Over 4,000 items (quilts, holiday stockings, animal beds,
reusable grocery sacks) were donated to charities around
Puget Sound and internationally.

Gardens andgreenhouses:
Institutional
Sustainability
GardenDonated to Blue
Mountain Action
Council and Christian
Aid Center

The garden grew 90,864 pounds of produce. Of that
produce, they donated 11,400 Lbs. of squash, 5,100 Lbs.
of melons and 1,500 Lbs. of cucumbers to a local foodbank. The garden also produced and donated 8,500
pumpkins to elementary schools and staff at WSP.

Overview ofnumerous
SPL programs

Receive materials
donations frompartners; donated to
550 charities since startof SPL in 2012

8,590 items donated to nonprofits and charities. State
work orders items completed by SPL – 11,761. 365
people participated.

WCC

WCCW

WSP

WSP-SPL

Bears were made by two incarcerated people anddonated to the following organizations:

Make A Difference inGrays Harbor;
Aberdeen Fire Station;
Hoquiam Fire Dept.,
Community
Involvement, Thurston
County Sheriff, ToyTime

300 bears went to Make a Difference Grays Harbor
55 bears went to a local church
25 bears went to Aberdeen Fire Dept.
30 bears went to Hoquiam Fire Dept.
50 bears went to families of the incarcerated
68 bears went to Thurston County Sheriff
390 bears went with Toy Time and community
organizations.

SPL: Wood
Shop & Wood
Carving

Reclaimed approximately 10,500 lbs. of wood frompallets and used lumber. 213 wine barrels tuned into
furniture. 2,717 items created for nonprofits andcharities.

SPL: Furniture
Repair2,388 work orders for repair of chairs and institutional
furniture.

SPL: Art
ProgramVarious non-profits
partners

New long arm sewing machine was acquired thanks to
Walla Walla sew and vac. Production of quilts increased
to 1,117.

SPL: Quilting
SPL: Green
Zone

Participated in 3 public art shows with all the profits
going to charities. Art pieces were not accounted for thisyear.

Farm to School, Lettuce
Grow, Master
Gardening

Foundations in Gardening class donated 15,645 lbs. tolocal food banks.

44Community Work Crews
Many incarcerated residents of minimum-security prisons (OCC and CCCC) and units (Minimum Security
Unit: “MSU”) work on offsite crews providing services on public lands and community organization sites.
In all, it is estimated that 1004 individuals were employed by these crews during this reporting period.
With so many programs statewide, SPP still has much to learn about if and how these programs fit the
SPP model. Reported details are shown in Table 17.

Crew members working outside at CCCC. Photo by CCCC Staff.

Table 17. Community work crew special projects, January – December 2023 (see Appendix 3 forabbreviations).
ProgramFacility Programs
Highlights
Partners

AHCC

Forestry

DNR

DNR crews operate across diverse timberland domains,encompassing State Trust lands, Parks, and restoring postagricultural lands. Crucially, the program extends its mission toincorporate educational and training opportunities for its
participants, notably incarcerated people engaged in firefighting
and chainsaw operations through certifications like Ff2(Firefighter type 2) and Fal2 (basic faller).

AHCC

Community
work

Sawyer Crews,
SNAP

In collaboration with the SNAP program, the Sawyer Crews
provide firewood to lower-income citizens in the Spokane
County community. Like the DNR crews, they also do silviculture
work. They worked 4,940 hours.

CCCC

Forestry

DNR

During this reporting period, DNR crews were dispatched tomany fire projects and local fires.

45

Multiple agencies

Maintaining soccer, baseball, and football fields; cleaning
multiple different areas along roads of trash and debris; littercontrol and maintain grounds at cemeteries. Community crews
averaged 1,350 hrs./mo. or 16,200 hrs./yr. Additional crews
worked over 720 hrs./mo. for a total of 8,640 hours helping DOC
and other state agencies with grounds maintenance.

Conservation
Crews

Multiple agencies

MCCCW was able to start with 2 crews at the end of June 2023.
The program partners are as follows: St. Andrews House,
Harmony Hill, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, the
HUB-Faith in Action.

Community
Crew: MSU

Vincent DePaul,
Washington State
Parks

Community crews with 10 people each, supported 15 contracts
with several cities in Snohomish County, with services such as
landscaping, litter picking, clearing areas, etc. Currently working
on two additional contracts, one with Vincent De Paul and theother with Washington State Parks in Burlington.

Multiple agencies

Assisted with the set up for the Festival of Trees. Washed andpainted the exterior of the Forks Food Bank, stripped the floors
on the inside of the building, added gravel to repair holes andcement work. Bear Creek Campground clean-up. Brush removal
on Reed Hill trail and Cotton Wood campground. Grounds work
for Sunshine and Rainbows Daycare. Blow down tree removal
for ONRC and grounds work around compound and trails.
Maintain Forks Visitor Center grounds and painted inside thebuildings. Maintain Sarge’s Place grounds, rebuilt chicken coop,delivered commercial kitchen equipment for them that was
donated from local restaurant that closed. Brush removal in La
Push in front of Ocean Side Resort and maintain tsunami
evacuation trail. Moved furniture and boxes out of the vacatedschoolhouse in La Push. Maintain grounds at West End Youth
Little League ballfields and Beaver Baseball fields. Brushremoval, grounds work and painting for Quillayute Valley School
district. Maintain outer perimeter facility grounds at OCC and
CBCC and inner perimeter of the warm closed Clearwater Unit.
Work on community garden raised beds. Prepare Bogachiel
rearing ponds for annual Kids Fishing Derby by completing
grounds work, set up and firewood cutting. Maintain Sekiu
Community Center grounds.

DNR

DNR’s crews continue to assist with wildfire, forest health (precommercial thinning and planting), silviculture, roadside clean
up, and culvert replacement. They assisted with several local
wildfires in 2023, one being as close as the town of Forks, WA.
Project Fire Wise, in 2023, supplied the fire kitchen for wildland
firefighters throughout the state.

CCCC

Community
work

MCCCW

MCCWSRU

OCC

OCC

Community
Crew

Forestry46

Sustainable Operations

9

Sustainable Operations programs statewide are managed by a dedicated WA Corrections’ Sustainable
Operations Manager (also main author of this section); this position was created by WA Corrections tomonitor and reduce the environmental, economic, and human costs of prisons. Sustainable operations
initiatives include greenhouse gas emissions, energy, waste, and potable water use reductions. The
following section provides updates on recent sustainable operations initiatives.

Capital Planning and Development
The Capital Planning and Development leadership team led the agency’s dedicated facility managers inseveral efforts to strengthen the foundations and outcomes of proactive facility maintenance,
preservation, and resource conservation efforts. In 2023, the Department’s Capital Planning andDevelopment division worked on the Solitary Confinement Transformation Project, designing outdoor
spaces for those in solitary confinement, expanding the electrical vehicle fleet, working towards
compliance with the Clean Building Standards, and a water conservation project at WSP. With theclosure of Larch Correctional Center and the reduction in capacity that comes along with its closure,
Capital Planning and Development has adjusted strategies and plans.

Electric Vehicles
In compliance with Executive Order 21-04, DOC is working towards 100% electrical vehicle usage by2035. DOC continues to focus on increasing the number of BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles, also referred
to as EVs or Electric Vehicles). In 2023, DOC hit 30% BEV obtainment. 41 of the 108 DES (Department ofEnterprise Services) leased vehicles were BEV. In 2023, 11 of the 62 DOC owned vehicles were BEV. DOC
also installed a new DC Faster Charging station at AHCC. This station allows DOC employees to travelfrom Eastern Washington to Western Washington without detours for charging.

A DOC electric vehicle. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

DOC plans to continue to increase the BEVS rented and owned while continuing to invest in
infrastructure to support BEVS. Next year, DOC plans to install new EV charging stations at WSP,
MCCCW, CCCC, and re-entry facilities. DOC will also work with vendors to identify DOC’s first heavy duty
rig with two full battery garbage trucks.
47

DOC Resource Conservation
Water Conservation Project at WSP
In 2023, DOC completed a larger water conservation project at WSP. This project included upgrades tothe domestic water fixtures/piping and added a control system to the fixtures. This targeted renewal
project will significantly reduce energy consumption for the facility, cutting water usage by over 3,100
kgal/yr.
Clean Building Standard (CBS) and District Heating Decarbonization (HB1390)
Recent Clean Buildings Standard legislation and House Bill 1390 supported opportunities for DOC todecarbonize our facilities and campuses with District heating systems. The DOC started to work on
decarbonization plans at five of our largest campuses; AHCC, CBCC, MCC, WCC and WSP. Below are thegoals of this project:
 Target district energy decarbonization projects that will deliver needed energy and infrastructure
upgrades.
 Identify mechanisms to replace fossil fuels in the heating plants, including a schedule forreplacement.
 Evaluate possible options to partner with nearby sources and uses of waste heat and cooling.
 Examine opportunities to add buildings or other facilities to the system once it is decarbonized, astrategy to incentivize growth of a decarbonized system, and requirements for facilities joining
the system.
 Evaluate and prioritize reducing energy use through conservation efforts both at the central plantand in the buildings connected to the district energy systems.
The audit and planning phase of this effort over the past year started a multi-year and multi-phaseproject on these campuses with the end goal of significantly reducing resource consumption as well as
decarbonizing these campuses as funding and cost effectiveness criteria allow.
The master planning approach afforded by HB 1390 allows buildings owners to assess what the best
long-term solution is for the campus. In this way, immediate maintenance needs can be assessed toensure public funds are spent in the most efficient manner possible. Without neglecting the need tokeep critical systems operational, funding for infrastructure that will become obsolete in the near future
can be minimized and directed toward solutions that fit the longer-term plans for the campus.
HB1390 also requires reaching low or no carbon emissions by the time the master plan is complete.
While this is a significant challenge, it furthers the state's progress toward environmental stewardshipby reducing greenhouse gas emissions from state owned and operated buildings.

Washington Way
The Washington Way program is a partnership between the Washington State Department ofCorrections and Amend at the University of California San Francisco to bring a health-focused approach
to transforming correctional culture within Washington's prison facilities and reentry centers. While not
all of Washington Way’s goals and achievements fit into SPP’s Annual Report, there are several thatstand out. The project that directly align with SPP include: Working with a UW professor in landscape design to design a healing garden space for staff at
WCCW.
 Giving each person in solitary confinement a house plant to care for.
 10 scholars in SCCC’s solitary confinement are taking SPP’s Foundations in Gardening course.
 Improving the solitary confinement units to include more access to nature and the outdoors.
48

Plants given to the IMU. Photo by DOC Staff.

In 2024, Washington Way will continue to work on culture changes in the facilities and reentry centers
for the health and well-being of incarcerated people and staff. They plan to achieve this by developing
resource teams and contact officers (officers who are considered mentors) and expanding them into
MCC, CRCC, and CCCC.
Solitary Confinement Transformation ProjectIn 2023, DOC worked toward improving the standards and conditions for those who live in the intensemanagement unit (IMU, also known as solitary confinement). According to the DOC, the IMU can cause
long-lasting harm to incarcerated people’s mental and physical well-being. This also creates a highstress, intense, and challenging work environment for staff. Over the next five years, DOC is planning to
reduce the IMU population by 90%, offer outdoor recreation spaces, programming, and more out-of-celltime for people living in the IMU.
In 2024, DOC plans to start construction of outdoor recreational space for those in IMU confinement.
This will involve building a new space outside where incarcerated people will be able to see the full sky
and have a full view of the outside. In compliance with Secretary Strange’s goals to reduce IMU
confinements, DOC plans to increase the amount of outside time and provide opportunities for people
in the IMU to interact during their yard time. A longer-term plan will be to also redo or create
programming space for this population.

Other 2024 Goals
LEDs
In anticipation of legislation that will ban mercury light bulbs, DOC has already been replacing light bulbs
with LED or non-mercury bulbs. In 2024, DOC will continue swapping mercury lightbulbs with LED bulbs.
Waste Reduction
In 2024, DOC will focus on waste reduction especially recycling, composting, and sustainable purchasing.
Many facilities shut down recycling and composting during the pandemic. For more information oncomposting, see Section 6, Sustainable Living and Training.
49

Sustainable Job Programs

10

A composting technician explains his job. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Table 18 lists WA Corrections sustainability job programs that operated during this reporting period, as
per data from the DOC database. These job programs include work related to sustainability, science, andinteraction with non-human nature. Many of these job programs have minimal input from SPPEvergreen partners. Additionally, the table does not include sustainability jobs that have been
categorized under non-sustainability labels, such as technicians working on composting or energyefficient installations.
According to DOC’s database, approximately 2,117 incarcerated people held sustainability-related jobs
during this reporting period, which is approximately 16% of the 13,554 people incarcerated in WA
prisons as of December 2023.

A wheelchair getting tuned up at the SCCCC wheelchair and bicycle shop. Photoby Emily Passarelli.

50

Table 18. Sustainability Job Programs in WA Prisons, January 1, 2023 – December 2023
Note: Does not include volunteers (see above) or scholars (see Education).
Sustainability Job Program# of Positions
Bee Conservation Technician / Class Facilitator

36

Bike & Wheelchair Repair

14

Butterfly Rearing Technician

10

Cat Handler

9

Community Work Crews (includes Clerks)

520

Compost Worker / Food Waste Recycler

4Computer Refurbishing13

Dog Handler (includes service trainers)

110

Dog Walker

49

Forestry I Worker

456

Forestry II Worker

15

Gardening, Organic

44

Horticulture Worker I

91

Prairie Plant Conservation

44

Re-Use Fabric-Sustainable / Quilting

2

Recycling Worker / Recycling & Reclamation

329

Sustainability Worker / Clerk

8

Turtle Technician

10

Waste Treatment Operator I

11

Waste Treatment Operator II

13

Worm Farm Worker / Vermiculture

451Research & Evaluation

11

Program evaluation and research involving incarcerated people requires extensive review and resources
for research design and implementation. Incarcerated people are designated as a “vulnerable
population” to reduce the risk of harm to them. As a result, any inquiries involving incarcerated people
or related data require extensive review and approval processes. SPP-Evergreen and our partners
haven’t had sufficient resources to research program impacts to the extent we would like. Despite
limited capacity, SPP-Evergreen does our best to learn about outcomes and ways to improve. Thissection provides updates on research and projects with external partners and SPP involvement in
graduate student theses.

SPP Coordinators Nat Kelly and Sal Hernandez inspect a compost pile at SCCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Research with External Partners
University of Washington
Back in 2021, SPP was approached by UW Professor of Landscape Architecture, Daniel Winterbottom, toadvise on potential research. The research project explores human-nature interactions in prison andhow prison spaces can be changed to effectively use the therapeutic benefits nature provides. SPP
assisted Dr. Winterbottom in connecting him with the WA Corrections Research and Data Analytics(RDA) department, recommending research sites, and will introduce him to former staff and program
participants in the community.

Churchill Fellows
In 2023, Clytie Binder, a Churchill Fellow from Australia, embarked on a research journey to explore
community composting initiatives in US, Mexican, Cuban, and Canadian cities. During her research, she
discovered the impressive worm, black soldier fly, and bokashi composting program at Washington
52

Corrections Center (formerly at Monroe Correctional
Complex). Clytie joined SPP for a tour of WCC's composting
facilities, where she witnessed the innovative approaches
firsthand. The tour encompassed the kitchen's
insinkerator, hoop houses housing worm bins and bokashi,
the black soldier fly house, and chicken coops. The visit
culminated in a discussion with composting experts,
exploring future visions and goals. Clytie's extensive
report, documenting her findings from this program andothers she visited during her Fellowship, serves as avaluable resource for composting programs.

To read her report, visit:https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/project/to-exploreeducation-methods-and-partnership-models-to-supportcommunity-composting/
Churchill Fellow Clytie Binder holds a baby
chicken at WCC. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Student Theses
In 2023, two Master of Environmental Studies graduate students completed their Master’s theses on
SPP-related topics. Environmental Education Coordinator Jennifer Bass worked to understand the SPP
student coordinator experience and Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Coordinator Ray Dunning exploredthe effects that temperatures and humidity can have on Taylors Checkerspot butterflies.

SPP Coordinator Jennifer Bass consults with SPP Liaison Kelly Peterson. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

53

Master of Environmental Studies student Jennifer Bass conducted thesis research to examine if SPP
student coordinators undergo changes in their perspectives due to their experience working at SPP.
Through interviews with former SPP coordinators and an optional survey, Jen discovered thatcoordinators often experience significant shifts in their career paths, views on incarceration, andenvironmentalism. Notably, the most pronounced shift was in their perspective on incarceration,highlighting the profound impact of SPP on their understanding of the criminal justice system.
To learn more about Jen’s research, visit: https://collections.evergreen.edu/s/repository/item/11643

SPP Coordinator Ray Dunning poses with a Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly. Photo by Ray Dunning.

Master of Environmental Studies Student Rachel "Ray" Dunning conducted thesis research investigating
the impact of temperature and humidity on the life stage length and development of Taylor’s
checkerspot butterflies. Ray aimed to compare the effects of controlled temperatures and humidity on
butterflies in captive settings versus those in the wild, where they experience varying weather andclimate conditions. Through an analysis of average temperature and humidity data from MCCCW in
2021 and 2022, Ray found that increased temperature significantly reduced the time spent in each life
stage, while humidity showed a weak positive correlation, prolonging the time spent in an instar
developmental stage. This research contributes valuable insights into the environmental influences on
butterfly development.
To learn more about Ray’s research, visit: https://collections.evergreen.edu/s/repository/item/11649

54

12

SPP Network

SPP maintains a high value for networking to improve programs and increase access to education. In
2023, we worked to rebuild connections that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grady Mitchell chats with SPP Coordinators Xitlali Herrera (left) and Sal Hernandez (right) at the SPP 20th
Anniversary Event. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

SPP in Washington State
Staff at SPP-Evergreen maintained contact with Washington state prisons during the January –December 2023 reporting period. With the exception of OCC, every prison in WA hosts one or moreprograms coordinated or supported by SPP-Evergreen including beekeeping, Foundations in Gardening
and/or Composting, and ecological conservation programs. Table 19 is a summary of SPP-Evergreen’s
new and project-specific contacts within Washington state.
Table 19. SPP-Evergreen's significant new or renewed contacts in Washington State, January – December
2023.
Organization

Interest in SPP

Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement GroupInterest in collaborating on a willow tree project.

UW Tacoma School of Urban Studies/UW
SeattleInterest in collaborating with a STEM project at Echo Glen.

Graduate Student of Society and Justice at UW

Interest in volunteering

Olympia Solar

Interested in collaborating on a grant that could fund a solar
power training program.

55

WA Department of Ecology

Interested in learning more about DOC’s composting programs.

Natural Resource Conservation Service

Interested in learning about composting programs.

King County Natural Resources and Parks

Interested in collaborating on composting programs.

WA Department of Transportation

Continued interest in collaborating on green infrastructure
training and employment program.

SPP Founders Dan Pacholke and Dr. Nalini Nadkarni pose with DOC Secretary Cheryl Strange at the SPP 20 th
Anniversary Event. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

SPP Nationally and Internationally
SPP is recognized by other countries, states, and counties for leadership in environmental education andnature programs in prisons. New interest and involvement in SPP-modeled programs continues, andongoing relationships and learning exchanges are flourishing. While the “SPP Network” is less formal
than in years past, the total number and significance of contacts continues to expand. The table below
provides a summary, and national interest in SPP-model programming is also summarized in Figure 2.

56

Master of Environmental Studies, Assistant Director Averi Azar speaks with guests from Germany at the SPP 20th
Anniversary Event. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Table 20. SPP-Evergreen's national and international contacts, January – December 2023 (see Appendix
3 for abbreviations).
New and ongoing contacts:
State/
Topics Discussed with SPP
Title/profession, organization
Country
Sarah Brotman, Duke University

Interested in learning about our programs and re-entry

Washington
D.C.

Clytie Binder, Churchhill Fellowship

Visited community compost programs in the US,
Mexico, and Cuba. Visited WCC’s composting program

Australia

Douglas Snell, CA DOC Captain

Interested in SPP Programs for CA DOC

California

Weihhenstephan-Triesdorf University

Attended SPP 20th Anniversary Event

Germany

Debre Markos University

Attended SPP 20th Anniversary Event

Ethiopia

Clemence Bouchart, Prison Insider

Interested in how SPP works, challenges, and successes

FranceDenver University Institute for Human
Animal Connection

Advising for pilot mini-horse program, exploring options
for continued collaboration and program evaluation
research

Ecologies of Justice Network

Collaborating on book chapter, exploring options to
support continued networking

Institute for Applied Ecology

Collaboration through sagebrush butterfly, andcomposting programs, part of Ecologies of Justice
Network

Insight Garden Project

Exploring learning exchanges, potential consulting aspart of grant proposal, part of Ecologies of Justice
Network

57

Figure 3. Prevalence of SPP-style programs nationwide.

58

13

Dissemination

DOC Communications videographer interviews a WCCW beekeeper on her experience in the program. Photo by
Emily Passarelli.

Presentations
In this reporting period, SPP staff presented at a variety of venues to highlight specific programs andrepresent SPP. A summary of our presentations is represented in Table 21; this table excludes
presentations within established programs.
Table 21. SPP-Evergreen Presentations, January – December 2023 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
Date

Presenter(s)

Title

Venue

01/13/2023

Kelli BushEvergreen Prison Education
ProgramEvergreen, Board of Trustees

04/21/2023

Emily Passarelli, Sarah
Larson, Jennifer BassSPP Overview and graduate
student position openings

Evergreen, MES New Student
Admission Day

04/22/2023

Carl Elliott, Sarah Larson

SPP Overview and graduate
student position openings

MES Rachel Carson Forum

04/24/2023

Kelli BushEPEP Network

Board of Trustees Budget and
Finance Committee

05/9/2023

Kelli BushEPEP Network

Board of Trustees Student
Success Committee

10/8/2023

Emily Passarelli

SPP Beekeeping in Prisons

WASBA Conference

11/08/2023

Courtney Murphy, Xitlali
Herrera, and 6 MCCCW
Butterfly Techs

Overview of TCB captive rearing
program at MCCCW and 20222023 season outcomes

Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly
Annual Working Group –hosted at The Evergreen State
College59

11/20/2023

Kelli BushSPP Overview and Conservation
Programs

UW Restoration Ecology Class

11/21/2023

Kelli Bush, Nichole
Alexander

SPP Programs in WA State

Insight Garden Project

12/09/2023

Nat Kelly, Sal Hernandez,
Mariana Cervantes, andCourtney Murphy

SPP Tabling

Olympia Turn of the Tides

SPP Tours

WCCW leadership team poses with visitors. Photo by DOC Staff.

In 2023, SPP was able to bring more visitors into facilities to tour programs as impacts of COVID-19
improved. A summary of tours of SPP programs is included in the table below.
Table 22. SPP-Evergreen Tours, January – December 2023 (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
Date

Visitors

Tour Area

Facility

03/06/2023

DOC Communications Staff TourAll program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

04/25/2023

Utah DOC Delegates

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

05/01/2023

SPP staff: Kelli Bush and Sarah Larson; andThe Evergreen State College leadership andstaff, including: President John Carmichael,
Vice President Dexter Gordon, Provost David
McAvity, Dean Kristina Ackley, BoT Chair
Frasier, Faculty Anthony Zaragoza, and staff
Jadon Barry, James Jackson, KeWee Roselle,
Kelly VonHoltz, and Jason Biehner

MCCCW Butterfly Program Area

MCCCW

05/10/2023

University of Washington Students

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

05/16/2023

Emily Passarelli, Jennifer Bass, Clytie Binder

WCC Composting and SPL Tour

WCC

05/22/2023

Charlotte West, Reporter for High Education

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

60

05/24/2023

University of Washington Students

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

06/26/2023

Commission of African American Affairs

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

07/19/2023

First Lade Trudy Inslee

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

08/16/2023

Public Records Staff

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

08/30/2023

Darin Kline, Emily Passarelli, Kelli BushWCC Composting and SPL Tour

WCC

09/19/2023

Legislative Staff TourAll program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

09/19/2023

Senator Claire Wilson

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

09/20/2023

Representative Michelle Caldier

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

09/21/2023

WCCW Local Family Council

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

09/27/2023

DOC Gender Responsive TeamAll program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

09/28/2023

Governor’s Office Staff

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

10/11/2023

University of Washington Garden TourAll program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

10/26/2023

Bureau of Justice

All program areas including
MSC/SPP hoop houses

WCCW

12/20/2023

Sally Brown, Chuck Henry, Max Ogryzko,
Emily Passarelli, Kelli Bush, Mikala Waldrup

WCC Composting and SPL TourWCC

Media Coverage
The table below includes all the media pieces that SPP-Evergreen staff tracked during the reporting
period.
Table 23. SPP Media, January – December 2023
Date
SourceAuthorTitle

06/21/2023

Bird Note/Bring Birds
Back

Jazzi Johnson, Mark
Bramhill, Tenijah Hamilton

Reimagining Prison Part 1

06/28/2023

Bird Note/Bring Birds
Back

Jazzi Johnson, Mark
Bramhill, Tenijah Hamilton

Reimaging Prison Part 2

07/31/2023

Atmos

Nick Hacheney, Tomas Keen

Environmental Conviction

08/3/2023

Ambrook ResearchSara Ventiera

Prisoners are Saving Western Rangelands

08/17/2023

DOC Beekeeping Video

WA DOC Communications

Beekeeping: The Sustainability in Prisons
Project

09/21/2023

DOC SPP 20th
Anniversary Video

WA DOC Communications

SPP 20th Anniversary Video

61

DOC Communications staff pose for a photo while recording WCCW beekeepers. Photo by Emily Passarelli.

Outreach
SPP’s main outlets for social media include Facebook (facebook.com/sustainabilityinprisons/) andInstagram (instagram.com/sustainabilityinprisons/). This year, SPP focused on sharing good news frompartners and highlighting some of the partners and volunteers that help make SPP programs possible.

SPP's Kelli Bush, Mariana Cervantes, and Sarah Larson touring WCC’s composting program. Photo by Emily
Passarelli

62

The SPP Facebook page gained 47 page likes in this reporting period and the SPP Instagram page gained
24 new followers. During this reporting period, we made 49 posts on Facebook. Most of SPP’s posts
were acknowledging and celebrating partner organizations and the staff and volunteers who support
SPP. The most popular posts are summarized in the following table.
Table 24. Most popular Facebook posts, January – December 2023.
# People
Reached# Likes

Today, we spotlight Jeff Sanders!
Today, we spotlight Jerrod Beaulieu!

1.6K
809

10
18

08/10/2023
08/24/2023

Today, we spotlight Kelly Peterson!
Meet Sarah Larson, the new SPP Education Development Manager
Today, we spotlight Ed Baldwin!
SCCC restarts dog program
Giving Tuesday Post
Today, we spotlight Shawn Piliponis!

730
682
653
438
414
361

28
41
27
31
6
16

07/20/2023
01/20/2023
08/03/2023
04/14/2023
11/28/2023
08/17/2023

Today, we spotlight Katie Manchisi!
Beekeeping update from Patricia Meierdiercks
SPP turns 20 years old

340
330
326

7
15
13

08/31/2023
01/19/2023
12/21/2023

Subject

Date

63

Appendix 1. SPP Programs
SPP Programs in Washington State Prisons – 2023

1

This year, we reported on 173 SPP programs in Washington State’s 11 prisons; see Table 25, below.
Some additional programs were in development during the reporting period and are not indicated here.
For links to programs, partner organizations, and highlights for each program, see
http://sustainabilityinprisons.org/spp-programs-in-wa/.
Table 25. SPP Programs reported by all 11 WA prisons (see Appendix 3 for abbreviations).
*Suspended due to COVID-19; **Based of 2022 Reported Programs

Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC)
Waste sorting & recycling
Worm farm: Main
Computers 4 Kids
Pawsitive dog training
Firewood donation
Nature imagery
Large-scale composting
Forestry

Community work
Reclaimed Water System
Beekeeping
Gardens: Main
Gardens: Minimum
Flower gardens
Pollinators
Pumpkin Program

Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC)
Beekeeping
Ozette Potato Program
Waste sorting & recycling
Cat program
Water catchment

Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets
Dog training and adoption*
Farmers Market*

Cedar Creek Corrections Center (CCCC)
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting
Training dogs for veterans
SPP Foundations in Gardening
Construction
Water use reduction and catchment
Waste Treatment
Forestry
Community work

Aquaponics
Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens
Acoustic Monitoring
Beekeeping – CCCC*
Beekeeping – McNeil Island StewardshipWestern pond turtle rehabilitation
Avian Acoustic Monitoring

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC)
Land restoration
Heritage and bee gardens
Garden: Main
Waste sorting & recycling
Ridge Dogs
Service dogs for veterans
Composting: Minimum

Gardens: Minimum
Bee Garden
SPP Foundations in Gardening
CRCC Sustainability Lecture*
Toys for Tots*
Teddy bears from reclaimed materials*
Beekeeping64Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW)
Small-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Pawsitive Prison ProjectHouse Plants
Cat program
Gardens
Vegetable gardens
Flower gardens
Wildflower Planting for Pollinators
Chicken Tenders (Chicken Care & Education)
Conservation crews
Plant and animal habitat

GRACE (Gardening for Restoration and Conservation
Education) Projects
SPP Foundations in Gardening
SPP Foundations in Composting
Garden Club
Paint and Sip Workshop
Financial Literacy Workshop
Writing Workshop
Book Club
Civil Survival
Financial Empowerment
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Program
Beekeeping

Monroe Correctional Complex (MCC)WSR
Waste sorting & recycling: MSU*
Wastewater Treatment Certification: MSU*
Community Crew: MSU
Flower gardens
SOU**
Gardens
Nature Imagery
TRU
Community Aide Coalition: quilting, crochet, textile arts*
Dog training and adoption

Vegetable gardens*
Gardening curriculum development*

Cat program

Gardens
Beekeeping

Olympic Corrections Center (OCC)
Houseplants
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater catchment
Solar power

Firewood for Native American programs
Community Crew
Forestry
Gardens
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets

Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)
Sustainability channel
Large-scale Composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Water catchment
SPL: Bicycle Repair
SPL: Wheelchair Repair
Freedom Tails
Service dogs for veterans
Family Promise of Grays Harbor
Birdhouses
Pollinator plantings
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets
Toy Time
Houseplants

Skill Builder Unit (SBU) Art Class
Gardens and greenhouses
Lifer Garden
Violence Prevention
Sustainability Fundraiser
Flagging Class Certification
SBU Looming ClassElectric Cars and Charge Stations
Unit Fundraiser
Bears Program
Garden to Kitchen
Beekeeping
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Gardening curriculum development

65

Washington Corrections Center (WCC)
Flower gardens, boxes, baskets
Plant starts
Construction: bus stops, tiny homes, Neighborhood
Pantries, bird houses
Houseplants
Large-scale composting
Waste sorting & recycling
Training dogs for veterans

Vermiculture/ Soldier Fly and Bokashi composting
Chicken Program
Gardens and greenhouses
SPP Foundations in Composting
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Beekeeping, "Intensive Bee Management Unit"
Gardening in Intensive Management Unit (IMU)

Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW)**
Prairie Conservation Nursery
Gardens and greenhouses
Beekeeping
Pollinator plantings
Community College Horticulture

Prison Pet Partnership
Sisters of Charity: quilts, fabric crafts, wildlife rescue
Waste sorting & recycling
Large-scale composting*Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)**
Institutional Sustainability Garden
Waste sorting & recycling
Composting, main
BAR Units
Kitten program*
MSU
Beekeeping
Sustainable Practices Lab
SPL: Learning Center
SPL: Wood shop & carving
SPL: Furniture Repair
SPL: Sign shop
SPL: Aquaculture and Aquaponics
SPL: Worm FarmElectrical upgrades
Water conservation

Crochet Program*

SPL: Art program
SPL: Creative Projects
SPL: Quilting
SPL: Creative projects
SPL: Green Zone
SPL: Bicycle Refurbish

Total Programs= 173 active programs reported by 11 prisons66

Appendix 2. SPP Partners
SPP Partners in Washington State Prisons – 2023

2

Complementing the efforts of founding partners, federal, state, education, conservation and community
organizations contributed to almost every SPP program. Most programs would not be possible without
their input, enthusiasm, and resources. In this reporting period, we have 181 known (reported) partners,
allies, or contributors. Considering that WSP’s Sustainable Practices Lab has donated program creations
to more than 400 charitable organizations, we know the actual number is far greater!
Table 26. SPP Partners and Allies (Partnering with WA Corrections, Evergreen, or both), January 2023 –December 2023.
Aberdeen Fire Station
Beyond Survival for Victims of Sexual Assault
Blue Mountain Humane Society
Brigadoon Service Dogs
Central Kitsap Food Bank
Christmas for Kids
City of Forks
City of OakvilleCity of Spokane
Coastal Harvest Food Bank
Department of Ecology (DOE)
Department of Health (DOH)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Forks Community Hospital
Forks Visitor Center
Great Peninsula Conservancy
Harmony Hill
Hood Canal School District
Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group
Hoquiam Fire Department
Humane Society of Mason County
Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE)
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM)
Kitsap Conservation District
K&S Recycling
Lamb Weston
Lettuce Grow
Little Earth Farm
Longview Girl Scout Camp
Make a Difference in Grays Harbor
Matlock Community Church
Mother Earth Farm
North Mason Food Bank
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Olympic Natural Resource Center (ONRC)
Oregon Zoo
PAWS of Grays Harbor
Pierce County
PPL Electric
Quileute Tribe

Adams County Pet Rescue
Blue Mountain Action Council
Bogachiel Fish Hatchery
Centralia College
Christian Aid Center
City of Clallam Bay
City of Hoquiam
City of Sekiu
Clallam Bay Food Bank
Daybreak Stars
Department of Enterprise Services (DES)
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Diamonds in the Ruff
Forks Food Bank
Grays Harbor College
GRuB
Harvest Now
Hoodsport Canal Food Bank
Hoodsport Kiwanis
HUB-Faith in Action
ICON Systems Inc.
Jefferson Land Trust
Kalaloch Lodge
Kitsap Humane Society
Lake Quinault Fire Department
La Push Reservation (Quileute Tribe)
Lions Club
Littlerock Elementary School
Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)
Master Gardeners
Men of Compassion
North Olympic Peninsula Beekeeping Association
Northwest District Beekeepers Association
OlyCAP
Oregon Food Bank
Orting VA Soldiers Home
Peninsula College
The Pitbull Pen
Purrfect Pals
Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction67Quillayute Valley School District (QVSD)Sarge’s Place
Sawyer Crews
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Shriner’s Childrens HospitalSouth Puget Sound Community College
Spokane Humane Society
Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP)
St. Andrew’s House
Summit Assistance Dogs
Sunshine & Rainbow Daycare
Tacoma Community College (TCC)
Thurston County Food Bank
Thurston County Litter Control
Thurston County Sheriff
Tilth Alliance
Town of Clearwater
WAG
Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Department
Walla Walla Police Department
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Washington State Beekeepers Association
West End Youth League (WEYL)
West Plains Beekeepers
West Sound Wildlife
Wheels for the WorldWSU Extension
181 reported organizations + 100s more charities receiving donations

68Appendix 3. Abbreviations

3

Table 27. Common abbreviations found in current report.
Prison Facilities
AHCC
Airway Heights Corrections Center, Airway Heights, WA (near Spokane)
CBCC
Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Clallam Bay, WA (northwest Olympic Peninsula)
CCCC
Cedar Creek Corrections Center, Littlerock, WA
CRCC
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Connell, WA (south, central Washington)
LCC
Larch Corrections Center, Yacolt, WA (northeast of Vancouver)
MCC
Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe, WA (northeast of Seattle)
MCC-SOU
Monroe Correctional Complex, Special Unit
MCC-TRU
Monroe Correctional Complex, Twin Rivers Unit
MCC-WSR
Monroe Correctional Complex, Washington State Reformatory
MCCCW
Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women, Belfair, WA (Kitsap Peninsula)
OCC
Olympic Corrections Center, Forks, WA
SCCC
Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Aberdeen, WA
WCC
Washington Corrections Center, Shelton, WA
WCCWWashington Corrections Center for Women, Gig Harbor, WA
WSP
Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla, WA
WSP-MSU
Washington State Penitentiary, Minimum Security Unit
WSP-BARWashington State Penitentiary, Baker Adams Rainier Unit
Agencies & Organizations
ABKA
American Boarding Kennel Association
CI
Correctional Industries
CPD
Capital Planning & Development (WA Corrections)
CNLM
Center for Natural Lands Management
DNR
Department of Natural Resources
DoD
Department of Defense
Evergreen
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA; a public, four-year institution
HSSW
Humane Society for Southwest Washington
IAE
Institute for Applied Ecology
JBLM
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
NSF
National Science Foundation
OR ZooOregon Zoo
PAWSProgressive Animal Welfare Society
RDA
Research & Data Analytics (WA Corrections)
SBU
Skills Building Unit
SPL
Sustainable Practices Lab
SPP
Sustainability in Prisons Project
USFWS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WASBA
Washington State Beekeepers Association
WA Corrections Washington State Department of Corrections
WDFW
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
WPZ
Woodland Park Zoo
WSDOT
Washington State Department of Transportation
WSIRB
Washington State Institutional Review Board
Definitions & General Abbreviations
MAX
Maximum custody areas are also called IMUs (Intensive Management Unit) and segregation
MED
Medium custody includes close custody, which has less freedom, and general population.
Minimum custody areas are also called MSUs (Minimum Security Unit). WA has 3 prisons (CCCC, OCC, andMIN
MCCCW) that are wholly MIN and house incarcerated individuals with six years or less remaining on theirsentences.
Offender Management Network Information *DOC’s data system includes “offender” in name, thisOMNI
stigmatizing language is being phased out.

69