Program Highlights:

The Community Work Crews are essential to the Ecological Conservation of Eastern Washington, as they remove wood that presents a fire hazard, which is then processed and donated to provide heat for those in need. In 2025, the work crews processed and delivered over 566 cords of wood, provided 28,170 hours of community service, and played a significant role in the cleanup of the Gray Fire in Medical Lake.

Partners:

Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners

Programs Highlights 2025:

Incarcerated technicians participate in a project aimed at refurbishing computers where they learn basic diagnosis, office skills (Excel, Access), shipping skills, and test for a certification. In 2025, technicians refurbished 21,563 PCs, laptops, and monitors to surplus with 2,049 of those items went to local schools.

Partners:

Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, WA Department of Enterprise Services

Highlights – December 2025

Rows of native herbs (lavender, sage, and sweet grass) blessed by local Native American elders to be used in Native American spiritual services.

Program Highlights:

The DNR Camps program transports crews into Washington’s forests to provide silviculture and firefighting training. These crews have fought wildfires and planted tens of thousands of trees and thin overgrowth to prevent further threat of wildfire catastrophes

Partners:

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Highlights – December 2025

The main gardens witnessed more than 5,278 pounds of produce that were grown and used in the facility’s kitchen or donated.

Partners:

Master Gardeners, Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant and Community Kitchen

Highlights – December 2025

In 2025, MSU established a fully operational greenhouse, allowing them to become an independent, sustainable growing and producing program.

Partners:

Master Gardeners

Program Highlights:

In 2025, AHCC increased the size of their composting piles and created around 100 cubic yards of compost to use within the facility.

Program Highlights:

Incarcerated individuals in maximum security can opt to watch nature imagery; also serves as a space offered to mental health staff to engage in therapeutic discussion during times of mental distress.

Program Highlights 2025:

This program restarted in 2024. Since then, they have graduated 29 dogs with another 32 registered for the next available session

Partners:

Diamonds in the Ruff, Spokanimal, Spokane Humane Society

Program Highlights:

Pollinator-friendly plantings throughout the main & minimum areas: flowers, herbs, pussy willow. Large woody debris (log!) and shrubby habitat in pond area

Program Highlights:

In 2025, the Sustainability Program cultivated over 700 vibrant pumpkins, weighing over 7000 pounds, for the purpose of donating them to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

Partners:

Shriners Children’s Hospital

Program Highlights:

AHCC completed recent renovations to its irrigation infrastructure to utilize reclaimed water from the City of Airway Heights for its irrigation purposes during growing season. As of 2025, approximately 66,698 gallons have been used and show to have significant benefits to plant growth at the facility.

Partners:

City of Airway Heights

Program Highlights:

Technicians receive comprehensive on-the-job training provided by DOC staff. For 2025, significant advancements were made on Enviro Drum Operations with 55 tons of cardboard processed and nearly 20 tons of metals. AHCC also separates waste from the facility kitchen to be converted to nutrient-dense soil.

Partners:

Waste Management

Highlights – December 2025

In AHCC’s greenhouse’s main garden, they use worm composting to manage waste. In 2025, they composted more than 2000 pounds of food waste from the kitchen. Additionally, they produced 1000 gallons of worm tea, which they used to provide nutrition to all the gardens at AHCC. Currently, they have two large worm bins, each with two sides.

Partners:

Master Composters