CCC To Break Ground On Holden Natural Resources Center (Photo) - 11/09/26
OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Holden Natural Resources Center on Monday, Dec. 7, at 3:30 p.m. The new facility will bring natural resources education and Oregon State University Extension Service’s Clackamas County office together on the college’s Oregon City campus.
The 38,000-square-foot facility will house programs in water and environmental technology, horticulture, landscape management, organic farming, arboriculture and wildland fire. Designed for hands-on learning, it will include specialized laboratories, classrooms, a covered outdoor classroom and teaching gardens.
“Our students are preparing for careers that touch all of our lives, from the water we drink to the forests and farms that sustain our communities,” CCC President Tim Cook said. “This center will give them space to learn by doing, solve problems and build the skills they need to care for our natural resources.”
Among the center’s distinguishing features is a dedicated tree climbing lab — one of only two at colleges nationwide. Students will practice rope access, aerial rescue and safe climbing techniques in a controlled environment, gaining specialized arboriculture training rarely available in a college setting. Outdoor learning areas will also support instruction in irrigation efficiency, sustainable landscaping and environmental practices.
The center is being developed in partnership with OSU Extension and the Clackamas County Extension and 4-H Service District. 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 the community.
“OSU Extension helps people turn research-based knowledge into practical solutions that improve their lives and communities,” Kris Elliott, vice provost for Extension and engagement and director of OSU Extension, said. “This partnership will make it easier for Clackamas County residents to access the expertise, hands-on education and resources they need to support their families, care for their land and build stronger communities.”
“This is an investment in the people of Clackamas County,” Commissioner Martha Schrader said. “From young people discovering their interests through 4-H to farmers and gardeners learning new practices, the OSU Extension Services offers opportunities to keep learning at every stage of life. Bringing those opportunities together at this new location will create lasting benefits for residents throughout our county.”
The project is supported by CCC’s voter-approved 2024 bond, $8 million in state matching funds, Clackamas County’s Extension and 4-H Service District and a $5 million gift from Terry and Cheryl Holden. The center is named in recognition of the Holdens’ longstanding support for career technical education and CCC students.
With roots in Clackamas County — Cheryl grew up in Estacada and Terry in Molalla — the Holdens have invested in educational opportunities close to home. Their gift follows a $5 million donation in 2021 to establish the Holden CTE Capital Projects Fund, which supports an industrial technology center, scholarships for career technical education students and funding for student veterans.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place rain or shine at the Oregon City campus, 19600 Molalla Ave., near the Beavercreek entrance, off Clairmont Drive. The center is scheduled to open in spring 2028. The center is scheduled to open in spring 2028.
For more information about the project, visit www.clackamas.edu/NRC. For ceremony information, contact Lori Hall at [email protected].
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