AHCC leads all Washington State prisons in diverting waste to reuse and recycling. Their approach is super low-tech: hand sorting at the source. At the end, so little "garbage" remains that three partners crack up in trying to define the word. Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC) in eastern Washington boasts 3 acres of cultivated soil, growing food crops and flowers for pollinators and human well-being. They host the only designated Diversity Garden in Washington State prisons, shown in this photo: the prison's cultural groups have space to grow flowers and foods they need for their celebrations and ceremonies. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

In February 2019, AHCC beekeepers and associates celebrated the prison bee club's impressive accomplishments; in just a few years, incarcerated beekeepers and their partners have built a excellent program: productive, transformative, and sustainable. Photo by Kay Heinrich.

AHCC staff and leadership show exceptional teamwork and professionalism, plus good humor and creativity. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC)

Program	Program Partners	Highlights – December 2020
Roots of Success, environmental course	Roots of Success	Temporarily suspended or placed on hold due to COVID-19; one active program as of December 2020. 24 graduates, 13 instructors certified
Beekeeping	Millers Homestead, West Plains Beekeepers Association, WASBA	In 2020, 7 incarcerated beekeepers passed Apprentice-level testing and certification, 1 beekeeper passed Journeyman-level certification; 8 healthy hives.
Gardens: Main	Master Gardeners	8,318 pounds of produce was grown with 3,248 lbs donated to the community
Gardens: Minimum	Second Harvest Food Bank, Master Gardeners	Grew and donated 150 pumpkins to the community
Diversity Garden		Rows of native herbs (lavender, sage, and sweet grass) blessed by local Native American elder to be used in Native American spiritual services
Flower gardens		Throughout the prison for human and wildlife well-being
Pollinator forage and habitat	Millers Homestead	Pollinator-friendly plantings throughout the main & minimum areas: flowers, herbs, pussy willow. Large woody debris (log!) and shrubby habitat in pond area
Sustainable Business Solutions		Team of four supporting sustainability programs with data tracking and mapping (produce grown, # from garden to kitchen, soil types)
Large-scale composting		Main garden has large compost pile for food waste; waiting on funds to set up in-vessel system
Waste sorting & recycling	Waste Management	Technicians receive comprehensive on-the-job training and education provided by DOC staff and Waste Mgmt company; in 2020, recycled ~160.74 tons of metals, cardboard, paper, and pin plastics.
Worm farm: Minimum	Master Composters	Completed program move from Main to Minimum; may start new Main program inside a greenhouse.
SPL: Quilting	Blessings Under the Bridge, AHCC Medical End of Life Patients, Catholic Charities of Eastern WA	Fabric is repurposed to create quilts for donation. 12 quilts were started before COVID-19. The program converted to mask making for the incarcerated population and made approximately 5,200 masks!
Computers 4 Kids	Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, WA Department of Enterprise Services	Refurbished 3,183 computers for schools in 2020, plus 13,544 to surplus. Technicians refurbished 541 laptops to aid state employees working from home due to the pandemic. Incarcerated technicians learn basic diagnostics and can test for certification, plus learn office skills (Excel, Access) and shipping skills (e.g., forklift experience).
Pawsitive dog training – prison program	Diamonds in the Ruff, SpokAnimal, Spokane Humane Society	Program is 100% self-sustainable by community donations and fundraising with art and crafts projects donated to Spokane Humane Society. Despite program suspension due to COVID-19, 174 dogs graduated from the program at the end of the 26th session. The Sustainability Lab created and donated dog vests to Spokane Humane Society and Diamonds in the Ruff. Reunion event held for dogs, new owners, and former handlers.
Firewood donation	SNAP Spokane	Crews prepared approximately 1,000 cords to deliver to SNAP clients prior to COVID-19 program suspension. DNR provides wildland fire trainings and prison staff provide firewood and chipper trainings
Nature Imagery		Incarcerated individuals in maximum security can opt to watch nature imagery; also offered by mental health staff during times of mental distress

Articles about AHCC

2019

Life in a cell/cell/cell

Learning about gentleness from honeybees

Beekeeping is Freedom

2018

First Journeyman Beekeepers Have Graduated From AHCC!

Caring about people, caring about place

Beans to Bluebonnets

Astrobiology for the Incarcerated – Washington

2017

Roots of Success Gains Momentum at Airway Heights

2016

Creative Illustrations for Monarch Butterfly Conservation

AHCC Roots of Success Graduation

Saving Resources at Airway Heights Corrections Center

Airway Heights Abuzz with Beekeeping

All snaps! Airway Heights amazing firewood program

2015

Gardens at Airway Heights Corrections Center