After taking a long break from technology to better experience the deep snow, large mountains, and tightly knit community of Holden Village, it is once again time to update everyone about our experience here in Holden. In just a few short days, we will pack up our things, bid farewell to the mountains, and begin our journey back home by train.

Since I last wrote to you, a lot has happened. Within each and every day there have been valuable class discussions, exciting experiences unique to this place, and very, very good food. These last few weeks have left all of us with broad takeaways from this experience, some of  which is shared below.

Our first full week of class was spent learning about Holden Village. My classmates and I were split up into three different groups, each tasked with gathering information about the sustainable systems, culture, or history of the village and present it to the rest of us. Our second week of class, we looked beyond Holden Village to learn about issues across the Pacific Northwest, such as water disputes, snowmobiling in Yellowstone, or Portland’s policies for urban sprawl. Each day was a new topic with presentations and discussions led by students.

Although these two weeks do not seem to share many commonalities, It eventually became clear why Luther faculty selected Holden Village as the place to teach this course. Embedded in the history of this village tucked in the mountains are conflicts and contradictions very similar to what is seen in the issues we have been studying. In its beginning, Holden was a mining village made to extract copper from the nearby mountains. Though this mining operation created jobs, provided us with copper, and made a select few people rich, it also left the land scarred, without any effort to clean up the toxic material left behind. In the history of Holden Village is the debate around how we extract our resources. How do we justify the destruction of nature to benefit our society?

What has been created as a result of this history is a small village where a healthy planet and a close community are both given high value. In our research, we have learned of Holden's core values, which dictate how it functions, and what its goals are. It strives to be a close community where all people are respected, and the wellbeing of the planet is kept in mind; It is a place that emphasizes intentionality, promoting a heightened sense of admiration for what we have here.

By adhering to its values, Holden Village is, for many people, as close as you can get to an ideal community. But as I learned all of these details about Holden Village, I could not help but ask myself what the purpose of this place really is. Is this where people go to escape the world? A place where people can connect to others in a safe environment, eat good food, and forget about the problems that exist elsewhere? As it is purposefully disconnected from the world, it is easy to believe that it has been created as a way for people to avoid the world’s woes. However, I am not quite sure if that is its intent. Yes, Holden gives people the chance to escape, but as an opportunity for people to rethink their lives. See, many of the villagers here are in states of transition. In the loud and chaotic society we live in, it can often be quite difficult to even think about what they will do next in their lives, let alone make a decision. Holden Village draws these people in because they get the chance to step back, for a time, to learn and grow in this intentional community. I am thoroughly convinced that Holden Village is a place where the forces of a strong community and intentional living gives people the opportunity to rethink their lives and come to greater conclusions as to how they may improve the world around them. In just three short weeks, many of us can attest to these affects. Below are some of my fellow classmates reflecting on their growth.

The community of Holden Village feels like an extended family. All of its members have been very welcoming to our J-Term groups. It has been cool to see how, regardless of age or position, everyone in the village is given the same level of respect. People here genuinely want to connect with you.

The Holden community also really values the environment, and the village is continuing to make its systems more sustainable. The village produces its own energy, and tries its best to find locally sourced food. Both of these practices increase resource consumption awareness and they allow villagers and guests alike to have a better idea about how much energy or food they are actually consuming.

In addition to its sustainability successes, another strength of Holden is that it is a place for reflection. With its very limited internet access and remote location, there is a lot of time to slow down and think. Many staff members come here directly after college or in between jobs to take a break from their fast-paced lives and figure out what the next step is.  Although we are only here for three weeks, many of us have enjoyed the pace of life here and the availability to think, learn new skills, or bring back an old hobby (like reading for fun).

Holden is an incredible place and I have truly enjoyed being in community with the people here. -Annaleise Meyers

Holden Village has provided valuable time for me to reflect on my purpose in the world. It has been incredible hearing the stories of villagers who have been here for an extended amount of time. I also love the emphasis that this place puts on creativity. I learned how to weave on a loom, and attended a creative journaling workshop, where we learned to combine thoughts, quotes, drawings, and magazine clippings to process new ideas. I plan on bringing the weave I made, as well as the habit of creative journaling, back to Luther with me!

The natural beauty of Holden is unlike any other place I have visited. The mountains and cedars that surround us seem surreal. Our group has had so many opportunities to adventure out in the wilderness together on skis or snowshoes. Time is also very different here. I have found it is so much easier to appreciate each individual moment. The vastness of this place helps me remember how small I am, especially when I look up at the thousands of stars that you can see here on a clear night.

During our class, we have discussed how to resolve conflicts where economic interests clash with environmental interests. These conflicts are quite difficult to resolve because people’s deeply rooted values and their livelihoods are sometimes challenged. It is clear to me now more than ever that the American materialistic society in which we live does not prioritize environmental health. Instead, it priorities economic prosperity. We have looked at various cases in the Pacific Northwest which have led me to see this more clearly. As a result, it has been challenging for me to place myself in the shoes of a logger or a miner, who believes that resources exist solely to be profited from.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this class and this experience living in community at Holden Village. I would recommend this class to anyone with a love of the outdoors and an interest in environmental conflict and resolution. -Jessi Labenski

I was beyond nervous and excited going into this trip. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Sadie, and I’m a social work major. I have never taken an environmental studies class at Luther and I didn’t quite know anyone going into this trip. I was a little bit intimidated having learned most of the people on this trip were environmental studies or biology majors. At first, I felt out of my element taking this class with all these knowledgeable people. Thankfully, I now know that I belong here in this place along with these people. It’s only been two and a half weeks and I have learned so much about myself, the environment, and others around me. The other people on this trip are some of the most genuine, kind, and intelligent people I’ve ever met. I’m so glad I decided to take a leap of faith by going on this trip. I am most definitely having an experience of a lifetime out here in the mountains. -Sadie Baker

I myself have certainly grown on this trip. This past semester, thoughts about the future, which are often quite daunting for a sophomore in college, were often present in my mind. What do I want to do with my life? What is the best way to get there? I cannot yet answer these questions with certainty, but being at Holden Village has helped me realize what I enjoy doing. Though I do not know where I am heading, I believe I know the path I want to follow, at least in the near future. Beyond that point, I suppose I must embrace the uncertainty. -Charlie Sylvester