Holden Natural Resources Center

Clackamas Community College is creating a flagship facility dedicated to environmental stewardship, workforce readiness and hands-on training in natural resources. The center will be a hub for sustainable practices and career-focused education. Existing instructional facilities were designed for earlier program needs and do not provide the specialized laboratory, outdoor learning and collaborative spaces necessary to support growing enrollment and emerging workforce demands.

State-of-the-art facility

The project includes purpose-built spaces designed for applied learning, including:

• Outdoor classroom: A covered space for year-round use. Ideal for lectures, demonstrations and group collaboration in an open-air setting.
• WET (Water Environmental Treatment) lab: A specialized lab environment designed to support water science, soil sampling and environmental testing.
• Labs and classrooms: Modern indoor learning spaces to support instruction.
• Shared commons space: A central area to support collaboration and community engagement.

Outdoor learning and demonstration areas

• Land labs: The surrounding landscape is more than scenic, it's functional, educational and sustainable.
• Irrigation audit zones: Hands-on training areas where students test, measure and evaluate irrigation efficiency and water conservation strategies.
• Paver demonstration area: Showcases permeable paving systems and drainage methods for sustainable site design.
• Educational garden spaces: More than 8,000 square feet of teaching gardens used for crop production, plant identification and habitat restoration studies.

Academic programs supported

The 38,000-square-foot Natural Resources Center will serve as the home for the following key programs:

Timeline

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Strategic partnership: Oregon State University Extension Service

The Holden Natural Resources Center is being developed in collaboration with Oregon State University Clackamas County Extension Service. Extension faculty, staff and trained volunteers work alongside local partners to provide educational workshops, activities and services tailored to the unique industries, natural resources and people in our communities.

About the Holdens

Terry and Cheryl Holden donated $5 million to the Clackamas Community College Foundation to support the Holden Natural Resources Center.  In 2021, the Holdens donated $5 million to establish the Holden CTE Capital Projects Fund to help support the construction of an industrial technology center, as well as provide scholarships for students in CTE programs and funding for student veterans. The Holdens have a long history and connection with Clackamas Community College, the CCC Foundation and the surrounding community. Cheryl Holden grew up in Estacada, and Terry Holden in Molalla.

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