BeHolden: November happenings at Holden Village

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

Peace to you,

Winter is near at Holden Village! The snow on the peaks is creeping lower and lower, and the grass is covered in frost each morning. Villagers spend evenings together playing games in the Dining Hall and volleyball in the Village Center. Weeks of rain provide us with more hydroelectric power, which allows us to conserve firewood for the winter. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, and staff are busy preparing to show off their baking skills in the upcoming Holden Applefest!

We hope you enjoy these stories and images from the past month at Holden!

VOLUNTEERING AT HOLDEN

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO VOLUNTEER AT HOLDEN?

Check out a Holden staff member's experience living in this vibrant wilderness community. Spending a year in the Village could be the next step in your journey! LEARN MORE

OPERATIONS

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN CHALETS

Over the years, the Village buildings have received numerous upgrades to improve fire safety. Following last year's sprinkler installations in Chalets 8, 9, and 10, Fire Marshal Jeff Pierce and volunteer Charlie Dixon installed sprinklers in Chalets 4, 5, and 6 this fall. Jeff plans to install pipes in Chalets 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14 in 2019, with additional follow-up work to complete the systems. Improvements to the Village's fire alarm system, Gertrude, will allow integration with the sprinklers. This will ensure that false trips from sprinkler heads or pipe damage don't lead to water damage. Holden's Board of Directors is making safety a priority in the Village with a variety of improvements and updates.

VILLAGE LIFE

HOLDEN VOTES

Many Holden staff members voted absentee or early in the election! Tuesday evening was spent in the Dining Hall listening to updates on a satellite radio and learning results of the elections throughout the country. Voters received "I voted" stickers and Villagers of all ages voted in Holden's very own election, choosing the Villager most likely to become president, be on Broadway, visit Mars, become a famous artist, and more! Captains for Holden's Thanksgiving Copper Bowl teams, Saints and Sinners, were also elected!

VILLAGE LIFE

HALLOWEEN AT HOLDEN

Villagers of all ages celebrated Halloween with pumpkin carving, a costume fun run, trick-or-treating up Chalet Hill, and a dance party in the Lift with a chance to win Villagers' votes for the best costume!

VOLUNTEERING AT HOLDEN

WORK WEEK BLITZ DAY

A great big thank you to all the Work Week volunteers who spent Blitz Day moving the "living room" (couches, games, a pool table, and a ping pong table) into the Dining Hall for the winter, winterizing buildings, hanging snow grates on windows, and scrubbing every corner! SEE MORE

JOIN US FOR SPRING WORK WEEKS!

A VILLAGE RENEWED

SUPPORT HOLDEN THROUGH THE SEASONS

This year, Holden Village has again been filled with the spirit that has carried this place apart for decades. Music, laughter, and community filled the Village, as well as thought-provoking conversations led by renowned teaching faculty from around the world. Hundreds of guests came to experience the rhythms of the Village each week. It is our hope that Holden Village may continue as a place for civil conversation, for learning to listen deeply to one another, and for finding hope in a fearful world. Registration fees do not fully cover the cost of maintaining a Village community of learning, worship, hospitality, and celebration. Your gift will set us on firm financial footing for next summer’s programming and beyond and help ensure that our rhythms remain for generations to come!