Restorative Nature

SPP brings nature inside prisons with the motivation to relieve stress of prison environments. Scientific literature shows that when nature is available within institutional and urban environments, inhabitants experience many positive, therapeutic benefits. The therapeutic value of SPP’s programs has been recognized widely and consistently by both incarcerated participants and corrections staff partners.

Recently, we recognized that SPP includes several programs that don’t fit into our established reporting areas. Thus, while many of these efforts have been ongoing for years, we have just started to report on them. Again, while all SPP programs are intended to offer positive contact with nature, the programs detailed below have enjoying nature as their primary function. It is a pleasure to point to their special merit, and give them a named place within the suite of SPP programming.

Prison Programs Highlights
AHCC Nature Imagery Incarcerated individuals in maximum security area can watch nature videos on a computer monitor.
AHCC Flower gardens Ornamental and pollinator-friendly plantings throughout the main and minimum areas.
AHCC Diversity garden Cultural groups grow food and flowers for their special events
CBCC Flower gardens Ornamental gardens in courtyard and access breezeway
CCCC Flower gardens Ornamental and pollinator-friendly plantings throughout the campus.
CRCC Heritage Garden Incarcerated individuals designed a garden that honor the cultural and natural heritage of our local area, using native plants to minimize water use.
LCC Flower gardens Ornamental plantings throughout the campus.
LCC House plants Only WA prison with houseplants in incarcerated individuals’ rooms
MCC Houseplants Houseplants on hospital floor.
MCC Flower gardens, boxes, baskets Flower gardens are grown to attract bees to pollinate the vegetables.
OCC Water features Two living units have fish ponds; the other has a fountain and basin
OCC Flower gardens, boxes, baskets Pollinator-friendly plantings in the horticulture area; each living unit has several garden beds planted and maintained by residents; hanging baskets and flowering beds throughout staff and facility grounds
OCC Chickens
SCCC Flower gardens, boxes, baskets Extensive flower and pollinator-friendly plantings throughout the campus.
WCC Flower gardens, boxes, baskets Flowers planted throughout the campus.
WCC Nature Imagery
WCC House plants In all shared and staff areas
WCCW Flower gardens, boxes, baskets Flowers and pollinator-friendly planted throughout the campus.
WCCW Chickens All eggs donated to partners
WSP Rental garden boxes 62 boxes available in south and east complexes
WSP Houseplants Throughout SPL and staff areas
Women tend one of the gardens at Washington Corrections Center for Women. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Women tend one of the gardens at Washington Corrections Center for Women. Photo by Ricky Osborne.