Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC)
| Program | Program Partners (Partner with DOC, Evergreen, or both) | Recent highlights |
| Roots of Success, environmental course | Roots of Success | 18 classes graduated so far, totaling 227 graduates |
| Beekeeping | Millers Homestead, West Plains Beekeepers Association, Washington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA) | Tremendously productive and well supported program! Drafted new WASBA manual for Journeyman beekeeping students; has their own beekeeping club; breeding queens; took part in a pest survey with USDA. |
| Gardens: Main | Master Gardeners | 100,000 ft2 of gardens grew nearly 37,000 lbs of produce in 2016, all went to the prison kitchen; due to city water supply contamination, growing cover crops and flowers in 2017 and 18–will start growing produce again in 2019; adding 1/4 acre in 2019; giving four rows to grow for native American programs: lavendar, sage and sweet grass. |
| Gardens: Minimum | Second Harvest Food Bank, Master Gardeners, and Gospel Mission | 20,000 ft2 of gardens grew 4,140 lbs of produce in 2016; due to city water supply contamination, growing cover crops and flowers in 2017 and 18–will start growing produce again in 2019 |
| Diversity Garden | Cultural groups grow food and flowers for their special events | |
| 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. |
| Waste sorting & recycling | Waste Management | Technicians receive comprehensive on-the-job training and education provided by DOC staff and Waste Mgmt company; in past year, recycled ~429 tons of metals, cardboard, paper, pin plastics, and textiles |
| Worm farm: Minimum | Master Composters | MSU program first started managing 3 bins; added 2 bins in the main in 2017 (this program temp suspended); Master Composters provide education for technicians and program sponsors; worm tea produced and used on site. |
| SPL: Quilting | Blessings Under the Bridge, AHCC Medical End of Life Patients | Inmates repurposed 320 lbs of clothing and textiles (~60% of the waste stream); created 46 quilts for donation; June celebration for all program partners |
| Computers 4 Kids | Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, WA Department of Enterprise Services | In past year, refurbished 4,321 computers for schools plus 10,311 to surplus; incarcerated technicians learn basic computer diagnostics and can test for certification, plus office and shipping skills. |
| Pawsitive dog training – prison program | Diamonds in the Ruff and SpokAnimal | Graduated 16 dogs in past year, and held 2 graduation ceremonies; Humane Society hosted a “Yappy Hour” on September 5 to raise funds for the program. |
| Firewood donation | SNAP Spokane | Donated 571 cords of wood in past year to low income families; DNR provides wildland fire trainings, and prison staff provide firewood and chipper trainings. |
| Nature Imagery | Nature Imagery in Prisons | Inmates in maximum security area can watch nature videos. |
Articles about AHCC
2018
First Journeyman Beekeepers Have Graduated From AHCC!
Caring about people, caring about place
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