RE-FORMING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WITH THE EARTH, & WITH EACH OTHER
Peace to you,

In the past month at Holden, we have seen the sun rise above Buckskin Mountain again, dozens of inches of snowfall as well as inches of snow melted away, nearly record-low hydroelectric power, the Holden Village Film Festival, two Friday night plays in a very chilly unheated Village Center, Coffee House open mics with our artists in residence, lunches enjoyed outside in the sunshine, and more. There are lots of upcoming events to look forward to in the coming weeks, including Arts in the Cascades, a community week for our winter population, and Holy Week, to name a few.

We hope you enjoy these stories and images from the past month at Holden!
VILLAGE LIFE
SUMMER REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
 Experience the rhythms of summertime in the Village! Registration for visits between May 1 - October 31, 2019 is now open. Weeks are filling up quickly--register soon to ensure that you can join us this summer. If your favorite week is full, don't hesitate to join our waiting list. Be a part of Holden's summer community and join us for sessions with renowned teaching faculty, vibrant programming, a time for rest and renewal, access to incredible hiking in the beautiful North Cascades, and more. We look forward to welcoming you to the Village!
THE ARTS
415 films were submitted to this year's Holden Village Film Festival from around the world in four categories: narrative, documentary, animation, and 18 & under. Narrative winner Kai Carlson-Wee visited the Village for a showing of his film, Cry of the Loon, and a discussion. Not in attendance were winners in the documentary and animated categories.

At the award ceremony, attendees walked the red carpet in their “Holden formal” attire! Congratulations to the filmmakers and thank you for sharing your outstanding work with us! For more information about these films and the Holden Village Film Festival, CLICK HERE.
EDUCATION
In February, medic Dan Lasich from down the road at the water treatment plant spent a few days in the Village teaching a wilderness survival course to our staff. The course covered fire, shelter, and basic first aid. Participants learned to start fires and stay warm in any weather conditions, as well as how to dig snow caves and build simple shelters. Thanks, Dan!
FOOD SERVICE
THE HOLDEN KITCHEN'S IN-SERVICE DAY
This month, the kitchen staff got a chance to take a day out of the kitchen and attended an all-day in-service facilitated by Food Services Lead Chance Voigt. The in-service day covered covered a variety of topics, large and small. From a theoretical exploration of team formation and communication / listening techniques for active reflection on Holden's revised food philosophy to creative problem-solving and process-building around kitchen culture and craft, the entire group worked together to ground themselves in a shared community language. To close out the day together, the team began the exciting preparations and planning for summer food service in the Village!
VILLAGE LIFE
 Each February, the Village celebrates Sun Over Buckskin Day, the day when the sun finally rises above the peak of Buckskin Mountain after a few months of limited direct sunlight in the Village! We enjoyed festive beach beverages and pulled pork sandwiches in our best beach clothes (and even some swimsuits!) while an upbeat playlist kept us moving. Villagers of all ages danced, played badminton and soccer on Main Street, and soaked up the sun. Spring is making its way into Railroad Creek Valley!
JOIN THE SUMMER VOLUNTEER STAFF!
The summer 2019 staff application is available on our website! Tell a friend who you think might be interested! Whether you can commit to two weeks or a year, time spent at Holden as a volunteer is abundant with opportunities for growth. Positions include Trails Crew Coordinator, Narnia Assistants, Housekeeping Assistants, Kitchen Assistants, and more! Holden is currently looking to fill a variety of staff positions, both long-term and short-term. Long-term staff commit to one year (or more) of service at Holden, and they are eligible to receive a monthly stipend and benefits. We hope to see you in the Village!
Check out the latest issue of the quarterly Holden Village Voice magazine and SUBSCRIBE to receive new issues in your mailbox!
BLESSING
Do good and don't look back.
Dutch proverb
Reference herein to any specific commercial products or services does not necessarily constitute or imply its
endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Holden Village.
 PHOTOS: Hannah Lauber VIDEO: Aj Williams