Ridge Dogs is the only inmate-initiated-and-operated pet program in WA Corrections, and has a strong culture of empowerment and transformation. They also have the attention of a really great professional photographer. Photo by J. Devine Photography.

Coyote Ridge is located in the desert. In the past few years, they have established Heritage Gardens: native plants, columnar basalt, and designs that honor the region. Responding to incarcerated residents' requests, they hope to add vegetable and flower gardens. Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC) was one of the first prisons to embrace Roots of Success, an environmental course. Since 2014, the peer-led program has graduated 226 students in 14 cohorts. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

CRCC was the first prison in the nation to be LEED Gold certified. Understandably, a high sustainability rating comes with water use restrictions, and the main campus cannot have the vibrant food and flower gardens typical of WA prisons. Instead, staff have focused on native plants and wildlife habitat structures, like this mason bee house. Photo by Ricky Osborne.

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center (CRCC)

Program	Program Partners	Highlights as of December 2024
Beekeeping	Mid Columbia Beekeepers Association, WASBA	1 hive; 20 new Beginner level beekeepers trained
Plant and Animal Habitat		Bird boxes, owl box, and pollinator box in garden
Land restoration	Lamb Weston	Propagated and grew 11 native species for native plant restoration outside the fence
Heritage and bee gardens		Garden designed by incarcerated individuals using native plants, honors cultural and natural heritage of area and minimizes water needs; continues to thrive and add visual beauty
Garden: Main, maintenance area	Harvest Now	Each unit provided two small gardens, creating jobs for incarcerated individuals. 2,500 lbs of produce was donated
Waste sorting & recycling		Paused during Covid-19.
Ridge Dogs	Benton Franklin Humane Society, Adam County Pet Rescue	136 dogs graduated from the program in past year in 2023.
Service dogs for veterans	Brigadoon Service Dogs	Program currently has 3 dogs and is looking to expand to 4. The goal is to maintain 8 trainers and 2 assistants for the program.
Gardens: Minimum	Food pantries	The garden was moved inside of the fence to provide more jobs for incarcerated individuals; ~72% of produce grown was donated to local food banks.
Pollinator garden: Minimum	Lamb Weston	4 acre garden for bees and other pollinators!
Composting: Minimum	Food pantries	Produced 1,500 lbs. of compost in 2023.

Articles about CRCC

2018

Coyote Ridge Corrections Center looks gray, but it’s the “greenest” prison in the nation!

Liaisons are our Roots for Success

2017

Letter from one of the Roots Master Trainers

Fracking Lecture at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center

2016

Collecting Sagebrush Seeds

Prairie Restoration Lecture

Accountability: Brainstorming article

Sustainability & Justice

Climate Science at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center

A Master of Training

Sagebrush in Prisons Project

2015

Growing Sagebrush in Central Washington

Each One, Teach One

2014

CRCC Roots Course Leads to Inmate Interest in Sustainability

Reaching higher at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center