Clubs and Activities
Adult in custody (AIC) clubs have a long history at the Oregon Department of Corrections. Clubs and activities are invaluable for incarcerated men and women, as they provide the opportunity to forge the life skills needed to successfully return to the community. AIC clubs, which are managed and supervised by the department, are an important part of the institutional environment. A wide range of activities and clubs are made available to all AICs regardless of age, race, national origin, religion or creed.
Below is a small sampling of the many clubs and activities offered at our facilities—opportunities are changed and added based on volunteer availability and other factors.
For more information on clubs and activities at a specific institution, please contact your AIC's facility.
Activities
The Asian Pacific Family Club’s goal is to provide opportunities for members to learn, educate, and celebrate diverse Asian & Pacific Islander heritages, and to foster programs that will help individuals gain skills and tools to effectively reintegrate into society. The club actively strives to rebuild community relations through involvement in various charity efforts and special cultural events, and to discover ways to grow as a club while continuing to focus on restoration, environmental and social awareness.
The Athletic Club dedicates itself to the pursuit of athletic excellence within the framework of the corrections community. The purpose of the Athletic Club is to provide quality athletic and exercise programs to all individuals in order to promote a healthy and active lifestyle, and to foster an environment of hard work, sportsmanship and teamwork. Athletic Club activities include intramural sports, 10k and 5k runs, and more!
Capital Toastmasters is a member club of the international organization that helps men and women learn the art of speaking, listening, and thinking; vital skills that promote self-actualization, leadership potential, human understanding and a sense of civic duty. The mission of the club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills in order to gain self-confidence and personal growth. Activities include classes, debates, meetings, and more!
The Lakota Club provides a mutually supportive and positive learning environment for individuals with Native American heritage, giving them the opportunity to learn and practice their traditions and culture. Activities include beading and art, Tribal summits, and an annual powwow.
The goal of the Latino Club is to provide Spanish-speaking individuals the same services that exist for English-speaking AICs, and to promote Latino history and culture amongst the members and community. The club holds to the premise that developing a genuine sense of self-worth and self-respect for Latino AICs will be critical to their successful re-entry into their communities. Activities include lectures and seminars; Spanish language classes; mural projects; and more!
The purpose of the Lifers’ Unlimited Club is to unite the incarcerated individuals with a goal of improving the quality of life for adults in custody and their communities. The club works with various charities, informational services, youth speaking panels, and other positive programs. Members of the club cannot change the past, but they believe through rehabilitation and pro-social behavior they can create a more productive future. Activities include guest speaker visits; an annual dog show; a CURE Insight Group, which prepares AICs for parole hearings; Equality 8, a project designed to strengthen the LGBTQ community through education, dialogue, and action; and more!
The Music Program provides a healthy avenue for an individuals self-expression by hosting various activities and music lessons, and the program provides sound and lighting equipment for over 200 Activity Clubs, Special Interest Programs and other activity events in the facility. Activities include theatrical and musical performances, music theory education, and one-on-one tutoring in theory, guitar, vocal training, and song writing.
Uhuru Sasa is an African-American Cultural Club. The club’s mission is to develop the members through culture, vocation, and education, and to assure that members become productive assets to their communities. This is achieved by hosting various classes, mentorship, projects and youth panels. Examples of club activities include financial resiliency workshops, book discussions, youth empowerment panels, and more.
The goal of the Veterans Club is to help all AICs who are veterans reintegrate into society in order to live meaningful and productive lives in their communities. The club achieves this by reconnecting veterans to their service history which provides an introspection to a time in their life where their patriotism drove their decision making. Activities include Veterans Association Benefit counseling, post-traumatic stress disorder focus groups, and senior veteran activities like bingo night, arts and crafts, and more.
Car Show
The car show is the largest event held annually at the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP). Over 125 outside entrants will bring their various cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles into the OSP yard. Here, all AICs are allowed to view and take pictures with any vehicle on the yard, and a competition is held in several categories where winners will earn prizes and trophies. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for charity, and to bring together community, AICs, and correctional staff.
Chess League
The Chess League is a special interest group that offers educational and recreational opportunities for its members. An annual "Open" tournament and a "Blitz" tournament is conducted, in accordance with United States Chess Federation (USCF) rules and regulations, and at the monthly meetings, "Ladder Board" challenges are conducted with puzzles that invite members to expand their knowledge of the game.