Cedar Creek Corrections Center (CCCC)
CCCC is the birth place of SPP. It stared with a workshop and a partnership. Cedar Creek has hosted a variety of programs over the years and currently offers the Northwestern Pond Turtle Rehabilitation Program (please hyperlink), Beekeeping (please hyperlink), and is expecting a new Northern Leopard Frog Program in the Spring of 2027. CCCC also offers a large variety of DOC-led sustainability programs including gardens, community work crews, and much more. See below for more details.
Facility Highlights
Beekeeping
December 2025 highlights
Cared for 3 hives that overwintered from 2024-2025 and this program continues to graduate new Beginner and Apprentice level beekeepers. To date, CCCC has certified more than 87 beekeepers overall.
Partners:
Olympia Beekeepers Association
Beekeeping McNeil Island
December 2025 highlights
The McNeil Island Beekeeping Project ended in 2025
Partners:
Community work
December 2025 highlights
Community crews work in the community assisting and fulfilling contracts with community partners. This work includes brush removal, tree trimming, grounds maintenance, rubbish removal, and routine maintenance of community spaces.
Partners:
Thurston County Public Work
Construction
December 2025 highlights
Construction crews built and delivered 2 bus stop shelters, and several picnic tables for the children’s hospital. They also built a fundraising donation box for the women’s shelter.
Partners:
Flower gardens
December 2025 highlights
Pollinator-friendly and decorative plants have been planted around the facility by the gardeners to brighten up walkways. Gardeners have also been putting plants in staff areas and the Therapeutic Community Dayrooms.
Forestry
December 2025 highlights
Off-site crews are trained in and practice re- forestation, woodcutting, land clearing, and forest firefighting and fire prevention. Crews were dispatched to numerous fire projects and local wildfires, receiving recognition and appreciation from community members for their efforts.
Partners:
Department of Natural Resources
Large-scale composting
December 2025 highlights
~150 tons of organic matter diverted to composting.
NorthWestern Pond Turtle Rehabilitation Program
December 2025 highlights
Incarcerated individuals are trained to care for western pond turtles who are suffering from shell disease. After training, technicians provide daily care until turtles have recovered. Currently, CCCC is caring for 22 turtles with a release date set in April 2026. To date, more than 120 have been treated and released.
Partners:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Woodland Park Zoo, PAWS and Oregon Zoo to this list
Training dogs for veterans
December 2025 highlights
Program is currently undergoing a change in partners and will be working with Motley Zoo soon
Partners
Motley Zoo Animal Rescue
Vegetable gardens
December 2025 highlights
~10,000 ft2 of gardens yielded ~4,100 lbs. of produce in 2025 that was used in the kitchen and for family, religious, and Heritage events held at the facility. Out of the 4,122 pounds grown, 1,879 pounds were donated to food banks.
Partners:
T-90 Food Bank, Rochester Food Bank
Waste sorting & recycling
December 2025 highlights
CCCC strives to recycle all metals from facility operations and reuse cardboard pallet slips as weed deterrents in the garden
Waste water treatment
December 2025 highlights
The Wastewater Treatment Plant team continues to exceed operational expectations.
Partners:
Department of Ecology(DOE)
Water use reduction and catchment
December 2025 highlights
Catchment capacity: 45,000 gallons; replaced concrete and gravel around the wood shop with grass to reduce water run off.
Together, we weimagine what’s possible
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education, environmental justice, and rehabilitation in real, tangible ways.
Once a year, SPP reports on all things sustainable happening in Washington State Prisons.