Co-executive director Bjørn Peterson speaks at Luther’s Table in Renton, WA, May 16, 2026

Dear Friends

We wish we were writing to you with exciting updates and information about the upcoming summer season at Holden Village. Sharing more about the signs of summer in Railroad Creek Valley, and how we’re looking forward to our upcoming guest musicians and teaching faculty. Or talking about how our staff is gearing up and preparing to welcome thousands of Villagers to Holden.

Instead, the Village is much quieter than usual this season. And we continue to wait for damage assessments of Forest Service Road 8301 to be concluded to know more about the timeline for road repairs.  

Though our first summer with Holden Village looks different than we imagined, we are proud of all the work our incredible team has been doing these past six months. And since you may also be curious about what the Holden team has been up to, here are a few highlights of what has been happening in the Village and downlake this year:

• Keeping the Village in good, working condition. This includes everything from regular maintenance of our utilities systems to keeping chalets and buildings clean and pest-free.

• Documenting our in-Village systems and processes so we can be better prepared for future emergencies.

• Preparing for the upcoming wildfire season by revising our emergency plans and making the Village as defensible as possible.

• Packing and returning belongings to staff who were evacuated in December. While we’re still a long way from returning everything, everyone has received at least a small amount of their belongings. Listen to one message of gratitude from a Villager who recently had their belongings returned.

• Translating processes that are essential for our organization into new systems that work in our remote working environment, like accounting, payroll, and gift entry.

• Coordinating, leading, and participating in events at dozens of churches within the Holden community.

• Developing new virtual and remote programs to connect with our Holden community around the country. View upcoming events here.

• Launching a revamped online store, so Villagers can bring a piece of Holden home no matter where they are!

• Opening the Holden Bed & Breakfast as a short-term rental to better serve guests coming to Lake Chelan this summer.



• Successfully raising over $1 million in donations! We’re well on our way to our $1.5 million goal this year. Plus, thanks to our generous community we have not yet had to use money from our reserves to cover our operating losses.

We are grateful for the support that has been shown in many forms throughout this challenging season, especially as the road to recovery looks to be a long one. When ambiguity and uncertainty cloud timelines, we turn to what we do know— the work that is ours to do in this moment. Holden Village continues forward in good faith, not because we see the paths ahead of us, but because we are called to take the steps we can today. May we be found faithful in the cloud of the unknowing.

With good courage,

Bjørn and Elise Peterson

Holden Village in-village staff, May 22, 2026

Reference herein to any specific commercial products or services does not necessarily constitute or imply its

endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Holden Village.

PHOTOS: Taylor Weise, Nathan McClure

Newsletter edited by Carl Norquist