Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC)
Hosts one of Washington State’s most extensive Sustainability in Prisons Project programs, integrating environmental stewardship with vocational training and community service. The facility features large-scale gardens—including a unique Diversity Garden—pollinator habitat, beekeeping, composting, and waste sorting that dramatically reduce waste and produce fresh food for kitchens and donation. Incarcerated technicians refurbish computers for schools, train service dogs, and create valuable compost and firewood for local partners. AHCC also supports innovative practices like worm farming.
Program Partners Highlights
Bears Behind Bars
Highlights as of December 2025
Over 480 bears were sewn together and donated to multiple charities and organizations. Stuffed animals help soothe mostly children who have just experienced trauma.
Partners:
Beekeeping
Highlights as of December 2025
8 hives; 43 Beginners and 30 Apprentice Level beekeepers graduated. Built new Langstroth Long hive, donated nearly 3 gallons of honey
Partners:
washington State Beekeepers Association, Local community beekeepers
Bicycle Repair
Highlights as of December 2025
In 2025, 238 bicycles were repaired and donated.
Partners:
Certified Flagging Class
Highlights as of December 2025
In 2025, 20 individuals graduated with their flagging certificate.
Partners:
Certified Peer Support Specialist Training
Highlights as of December 2025
One 80-hour class was held in 2025 with 24 passing participants bringing a total of 76 total certified Peer Support Specialists available for their fellow incarcerated peers.
Partners:
Environmental Workshops
Highlights as of December 2025
Monthly workshops provided to incarcerated individuals focused on a variety of topics including composting, tree top ecology, nature drawing, and indigenous practices.
Partners:
Guest experts from nonprofits, agencies, business, etc.
Flower Gardens, Boxes, Baskets
Highlights as of December 2025
Flowers gardens throughout the grounds. Two more beds were added in 2025 to the Family Visiting Houses
Foundations in Composting Curriculum
Highlights as of December 2025
This 2-credit class started its first cohort in Fall 2024. Since then, the program has graduated more than 20 students.
Foundations in Gardening Curriculum
Highlights as of December 2025
This 4-credit college course has had 11 students graduate in 2025
Freedom Tails
Highlights as of December 2025
10 dogs graduated from the program in 2025
Partners:
Garden to Kitchen
Highlights as of December 2025
In 2025, 4,367 pounds of food was sent to the facility kitchen to be enjoyed by incarcerated individuals.
Partners:
Gardens and greenhouses
Highlights as of December 2025
25,000 ft2 of gardens harvested 24,925 pounds of produce, donated 22,779 pounds to food banks, and contributed 2,146 pounds to the facility kitchen.
Partners:
House Plants
Highlights as of December 2025
In 2025, SCCC donated 4 flats of live plants including aloe vera, geraniums, mints and other herbs,
Partners:
Large-scale Composting
Highlights as of December 2025
Diverted 229,402 pounds of food and waste, producing 13,273 yards of compost.
Lifer Garden
Highlights as of December 2025
5,000 ft2 garden tended by Lifers, growing produce and ornamental flowers. This garden donated 1,986 pounds to food banks.
Partners:
Peer Facilitation Training
Highlights as of December 2025
In 2025, SPP launched its newest training series as a pilot. Many students and experienced facilitators participated in the creation, editing and final testing of this program. 13 incarcerated individuals completed this course with a certificate.
Pollinator Plantings
Highlights as of December 2025
Pollinator plants in every garden and next to greenhouses; new garden adjacent to bee hives
Prairie Ecological Conservation Nursery
Highlights as of December 2025
Technicians now earn up to 18 college credits for this program; In 2025, this program contributed tens of thousands seedlings to JBLM, Olympic Nation Forest, and the Taylor Checkerspot Butterfly Program. Seedlings included oak, plantain, prunella, wild strawberries, and several other native plant species.
Partners:
Center 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 International
Service Dogs for Veterans
Highlights as of December 2025
Out of 24 dogs that came into the program in 2025, 8 graduated and were place with people to serve.
Partners:
Shine from the Inside
Highlights as of December 2025
Total funds raised in 2025 exceeded $25,500 and donated to the collaborating partners.
Partners:
Amara Family Org, Family Promise of Grays Harbor, After School All-Stars of Puget Sound, YMCM Grays Harbor, Union Gospel Mission, Washington State Fatherhoods Council, Giving Tree
Skill Builder Unit Looming Class
Highlights as of December 2025
This program made and donated 180 hats, 2 blankets, and 2 scarves.
Partners:
Sustainability Channel
Highlights as of December 2025
Currently seeking potential television channels to be utilized by SCCC for Washington Way, sustainability, events, etc.
Toy Time
Highlights as of December 2025
Incarcerated individuals made and donated 431 toys to Connections in 2025
Partners:
Connections, A Center for Healthy Families
Violence Prevention
Highlights as of December 2025
Daybreak Stars Indian Cultural Center entertained qualifying incarcerated individuals with a comedy show in Feb 2025.
Partners:
Waste Sorting & Recycling
Highlights as of December 2025
Diverted 198 tons of metals, cardboard, paper, and plastics to recycling in past year;
Water Catchment
Highlights as of December 2025
Water catchment at each living unit (for living unit gardens) and at greenhouse with a 3,210 gallons capacity
“What does science mean to me? Science is the study of the world around us… I would not want to experience life without science.”
Morris Talaga
Program Participant
Stories & Reflections
We design and deliver hands-on programs that connect environmental education.
“I never did well in school and my skills were more on the manual labor side. While I was incarcerated at Cedar Creek Correction Center in 2015 thru…”
Darin Armstrong
Former SPP conservation technician
Together, We Reimagine
What’s Possible
Sustainability thrives on community. Be part of a unique collaboration that bridges
education, environmental justice, and rehabilitation in real, tangible ways.
