Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)

ProgramProgram PartnersHighlights as of December 2020
Roots of Success, environmental courseRoots of SuccessMore than 400 grads so far, 13 instructors certified; now temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.
Environmental Workshop SeriesGuest experts from nonprofits, agencies, business, etc.Temporarily suspended due to COVID-19; previous year successful with 671 attendees (a decrease due to the move to a smaller room), seminars also launched in Jan 2019 with 117 attendees in FY 19; 112 certifications awarded.
Special EventsParticipated in a community art show that displayed art work by incarcerated individuals throughout the community. One large piece of art, a dragon door, sold for $1,500. All proceeds went to Aberdeen High School for scholarships.
BeekeepingExpert community beekeeper, Washington State Beekeepers Association5 hives; graduated two Beginner Beekeeper classes this quarter; 93 Beginner/Apprentice beekeepers so far!
Prairie Conservation NurseryCenter for Natural Lands Management, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Zoo, Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship, Whidbey-Camano Land Trust, Friends of Puget Prairies, and Wolf Haven InternationalSCCC held 8 workshops prior to covid-related pause; Technicians earned 10 certificates and 1 specialist certificate; In the previous year, cultivated 63,000 prairie plants for habitat restoration; held 20 workshops on restoration ecology
Emergent Vegetation MatsWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Center for Natural Lands Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Joint Base Lewis-McChordIn previous year, 36 emergent wetland mats and 10,000 plugs for habitat restoration installed at Oregon spotted frog sites and monitored for efficacy; 19 education sessions for technicians in 2019-2020
Gardening curriculum developmentMCC, Institute for Applied Ecology, TX Dept of Corrections, Oregon Food Bank4 S2S Curriculum reviewers, 11 authors/participants in gardening classroom curriculum development group
Gardens and greenhousesCoastal Harvest Food Bank, Harvest Now25,000 ft2 of gardens, donated ~66,000 lbs. of produce to food banks
Lifer GardenCoastal Harvest Food Bank, Harvest Now5,000 ft2 garden tended by Lifers, growing produce and ornamental flowers
Food Bank fundraisersUrban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Caring for Kids, Toy Time, Bicycles from Heaven, Bears from Behind Bars, Coastal Harvest, Beyond Survival, Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank and Family Services, Making a Difference for Grays Harbor Kids, After School All-StarsIncarcerated individuals and staff raised and donated ~$20,000 for nonprofits and donated 3,732 food items to Coastal Harvest Food Bank
COVID-19 Community Fundraiser4 local businesses$913 was donated to Family Promise; $1,205 was donated to SCCC sustainability account for incarcerated people; $165 was donated to the incarcerated redemption account
Pollinator plantingsPollinator plants in every garden and next to greenhouses; new garden adjacent to bee hives
Flower gardens, boxes, basketsFlowers gardens throughout the grounds, two more outside the fence
Fruit orchardOutside the fence, planted 15 blueberry bushes and 2 each of cherry, Liberty apple, Chehalis apple, Italian plum, and Orcas pear trees
Bird housesMore than 40 bird houses on the grounds
Sustainability channelInstitutional TV channel plays compilation of sustainability program photos and facts, environmental and event videos, and event and job announcements; content updated monthly!
Large-scale compostingDiverted 161 tons food waste to composting
Waste sorting & recyclingDiverted 223 tons of metals, cardboard, paper, and plastics to recycling in past year; new sound system broadcasts deterrent to scavenger birds
Water catchmentWater catchment at each living unit (for living unit gardens) and at greenhouse; 3,210 gallons capacity
Bicycle RepairLions Club292 bikes repaired and donated in past year
Wheelchair RepairWheels for the World212 wheelchairs repaired in past year; shipments postponed due to COVID-19
Freedom TailsHarbor Association of Volunteers for Animals (HAVA)Program inactive, needing new partner. In the previous year, 7 dogs graduated
Service dogs for veteransBrigadoon Service Dogs8 dogs trained to the needs of individual veterans in past year
Toy TimeChristmas for Kids, Correctional IndustriesTemporarily suspended due to COVID-19; started by 2 incarcerated individuals 15 years ago and has grown to 21 people last year; materials come from furniture shop scraps and community donations; crafts donated for holiday season

Articles about SCCC

2020

Fall Flowers

2019

What’s in a thesis

Showcasing “Art is Freedom”

Rolling out wetland plants for the Samish Indian Nation

Aquaponic knowledge, from one program to another

Fly Like An Eagle to the Sea, No More I See

Happy Halloween from Stafford Creek Corrections Center

Peer education created by and for incarcerated gardeners

When Nature Meets Art

Origin Story of a Compost Program

What is the goal for tomorrow?

Pathways to Successful Re-Entry

Growing a Gardening Curriculum

2018

Wolves: More like Humans Than You Would Think!

Art of the Oregon silverspot butterfly

Welcoming New Roots of Success Instructors

Caring for the Community with Coastal Harvest

Trying to Find a Balance: The Emergent Vegetated Mats (EVM) Project

The Value of Education

Collaboration is Key

Cracking Kinnikinnick

Standing in the gap for each other: Environmental wisdom from Roots of Success

Liaisons are our Roots for Success

Let yourself germinate

2017

Turning a new leaf with emergent vegetated mats!

Climate Change Symposium in Prison: Incarcerated people creating solutions

Finding Elysium

Beekeepers are hard at work at Stafford Creek

Bright colors speak loudly for the hard work being done at Stafford Creek!

What do the students get from SPP lectures? Part Two

The Challenges—and Opportunities—of a New Program

From SPP to Water for the World

What do the students get from SPP lectures? Part One

2016

What is an Aquatic Emergent Pre-Vegetated Mat?

Snakes in a prison

Adding Salt to Popcorn: Gaining a taste for sustainability

Princess Remington and Pele: Royalty in a prison classroom

Just Sustainability and Restorative Justice

Reaching the Unreachable

Prairie seeds close up

Nothing like an octopus in prison!

2015

From Poop to Employment: Jonathan Jones-Thomas shares his experience returning to prison as a guest lecturer

Roots of Success Graduation Speech

The Effects of Believing

Sustainability… in Prison? SPP Coordinator and MES Graduate Candidate, Tiffany Webb, shares her experience of working in prisons

Inmate Blog: “Hard Time Café”

2014

Photo Gallery from Roots of Success Graduation at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

SPP’s New Lecture Series Certification

“Participating in the transformation of the world” : Roots of Success at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

2013

Beekeeping Behind Bars

My First Two Months Working at SPP

2012

CNN Visits Stafford Creek Corrections Center

SPP Lecture Series Update

New Tilapia Program at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

Spring and Cold Moisture Storage at Shotwell’s Landing and Stafford Creek Corrections Center

2011

Blooming Inside the Walls

A New Season

Smoke Water

2010

Inmates Restore Prairie, Make Video to Teach Others

Coming Full Circle

Change is in the Air!

Growing Plants and Potential: Stafford Creek Nursery Project

Earth Day, Sustainable Prisons Project Style

Bird Conservation Project Taking Flight at Stafford Creek Corrections Center

2009

Beekeeping prisoners: Science inside the fence

Green-collar kites: Inmates share their ideas for sustainability