Join Our Team
Holden Village Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities
If you seek meaningful work, caring community, and life in unity with beautiful mountain scenery, then working at Holden Village may be right for you. Throughout its history, Holden has operated through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers annually. Some share their time and talents for just a couple weeks, and others serve for many years.
All staff receive full room and board at Holden as well as access to community events and programming sessions.
Ways To Work At Holden
There are various available roles in operations, kitchen, guest services, programming and the business side of the Village. The scope of a given position is based on the length of one’s stay and the necessity of the role. Read more about the benefits associated with different roles.
Limited Applications
Holden Village is currently operating with a very small caretaker crew and is not accepting Volunteer Applications for the Summer/Fall 2026 season beyond what is explicitly posted below
Read more about the temporary closure here
Open Positions
The following positions are open opportunities to work at Holden.
1 Week
We are in the process of updating our system. Please check back later.
2+ Weeks
We are in the process of updating our system. Please check back later.
3+ Months
We are in the process of updating our system. Please check back later.
2+ Years
Ongoing
We are in the process of updating our system. Please check back later.
How to Apply
The following steps are required to apply to be on Holden staff.
1. Complete the staff application form.
2. If you are applying as a short- or long-term volunteer (1 year or less), complete the health form and release waiver, then email the form to medic@holdenvillage.org. If you are applying for an employee position, do not send a health form to the medic.
3. Send the reference form to the individuals you listed in your application and ask them to email their completed form staffing@holdenvillage.org.
4. If applying for a Summer Seasonal Volunteer, Long-Term Volunteer or Employee position, please email your resume to staffing@holdenvillage.org. If you are returning to the Village on short-term staff, you do not need to submit a new application if you have sent one in the last 5 years.
We do require the following paperwork on an annual basis:
- Release Waiver & Code of Conduct
- Staff Agreement
- Health and Wellness Form (emailed to medic@holdenvillage.org)
- An email with the dates you hope to come and position preference
Once we have received all your application materials, we will notify you that your application is complete. Your process may include a phone or video interview. It normally takes 3-4 weeks for a decision to be made about short-term positions and longer for positions with long-term commitments. If you have any questions or concerns please email staffing@holdenvillage.org
Holden Village is an equal employment opportunity employer, and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates with a known protected disability assuming the accommodation does not cause undue hardship or direct threat to health and safety.
Staff Testimonial
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about working at Holden that aren’t answered in these FAQs, email staffing@holdenvillage.org.
What steps do I need to take to apply to volunteer/ work at Holden Village?
Yay! We’re excited that you’re interested in volunteering at Holden. You will need to fill out the online staff application form. You will also need to fill out a health and wellness form/ release waiver and email it to medic@holdenvillage.org. Short-term volunteers need one reference to fill out the reference form and email it to staffing@holdenvillage.org. Seasonal volunteers need two references, and long-term volunteer and employee applicants need three references.
All qualified applicants, including seasonal volunteers, long-term volunteers, and employees, will be invited for an interview process, typically conducted by a video call.
What is the distinction between volunteers and employees? Why do some volunteers get stipends and some don’t? What benefits do short-term, seasonal, and long-term volunteers each receive?
There are many different ways to be part of the Holden community!
Short-term volunteers come to the Village for a minimum stay of two weeks. In exchange for their work, they receive room and board.
Seasonal volunteers come for at least three months during the summer season (between May-September) and play a leadership role in the Village. They receive room and board, as well as a $350 stipend each month. Volunteers in “short term” positions who stay for 3+ months are not eligible for a stipend. Only those in specific “seasonal” positions can be eligible for this stipend.
Long-term volunteers serve in the Village for a year. They fill a large range of essential roles in the Village, and receive room and board, along with receiving a $550 stipend each month and other benefits such as boat tickets and friends and family days. Volunteers also have the opportunity to opt into healthcare.
Employees serve in the Village for a minimum of two years. They receive room, board, boat tickets, friends and family days, a salary, the option to opt into health care health care, as well as other benefits. Employees bear responsibility for supervising other staff, managing portions of the budget, and fulfilling critical safety functions.
How much will I be working?
Staff at Holden work 40hrs/week that consist of 36 hours spent in one’s assigned role as well as 4 hours spent doing work of the Village. Staff is expected to work five (5) days on and two (2) off.
During the non-summer season Holden also has “Stop Days” which are an additional monthly Village-wide day off where the Village takes a day of recreation and rest. “Stop Days” are not scheduled during the summer due to the high responsibility for Village function and programming rigor.
There are a few other ways to volunteer as well. For those with children, consider the Family Option. For those interested in being in the Village for a week and helping the Village transition between summer to winter or winter to summer, sign up for Spring or Fall Work Weeks!
What are staff accommodations like?
Short-term staff will typically be assigned to live in one of the lodges. These are dormitory-style housing arrangements with communal living spaces and communal bathrooms. Most short-term summer volunteers will have roommates due to the high number of people in the Village, while volunteers during the off-season may have a room to themselves.
Long-term staff normally live in a chalet. These are houses shared with 3 to 11 other long-term staff members. Long-term staff will have their own rooms, and share living spaces, including a living room and kitchen. Pending space availability, long-term staff may have the option to shift housing during their term of service.
I want to volunteer with my family. Is that a possibility?
Volunteering at Holden Village with your family is welcome! If you and your family are interested in fulfilling roles at Holden for a year or longer, please email staffing@holdenvillage.org to learn more about this possibility!
If you are able to serve for two weeks in the summer, read more about the Family Option and complete an application here.
What is half-work half-pay?
Half-work half-pay allows people to come to Holden for a reduced cost in exchange for working in the Village. This option exists in the off-season (September-May) and excludes the month of January and major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and President’s Day). Consider half work/half pay if the full cost of registration is prohibitive, if you have physical limitations that prevent volunteering full time, or if you are planning a sabbatical.
To apply, please complete the form. If you are eligible, we will contact you with the necessary applications, and if you are not, we will reach out with more information about full time staff and guest options.
What are Work Weeks?
Work weeks are two 2-week periods in the Spring and Fall where volunteers come up for a week or two to help transition the village facilities between summer and winter operations. Learn more about Work Weeks.
What is Alumni Weekend?
Alumni weekend is an annual event for former long-term Holden staff to return for a service weekend at a discounted rate. Learn more about Alumni Weekend.
Will I have access to WiFi/ cell reception?
There is no cell service in the Railroad Creek valley. Staff in the Village 2+ weeks are provided WiFi access during their stay for use only in private spaces. Guests at Holden are not provided WiFi access. They may use the computer terminal in the Library for brief Internet access. Many people come to Holden to disconnect from their devices, so staff are encouraged to not use the Internet in guest-facing areas.
Do I have to be Lutheran or Christian to serve on staff?
Not at all. The mission statement of Holden Village calls us to “welcome all people into the wilderness.” This means everybody! Holden Village welcomes and embraces people of all races, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. While Holden is rooted in the Lutheran Christian tradition, all faith traditions are celebrated and welcomed into this community. Non-Christians can feel comfortable in an atmosphere of mutual acceptance and conversation. We celebrate the unity and diversity of the church, all humanity, and all creation. All are welcome! Learn more about our mission, vision, and values.
Can I bring my pets to Holden Village?
No… the wilderness setting and plentiful mountain creatures pose serious threats to domesticated pets.
What is work of the Village?
Work of the village is a set of responsibilities shared among all members of the community (with some exceptions). These tasks include dish team (cleaning and restocking dishes and kitchen equipment), garbology (sorting recycling and assisting with compost management), as well as stoking in the colder months (starting and tending fires in the Village boilers). Other forms of work of the village include chaining wood or food, scooping ice cream in the Holden snack bar, or cleaning the Dining Hall after meal times. This work is performed on a volunteer basis and is not scheduled by the Village.
What are Community Weeks?
Multiple times a year the Village focuses programming on staff enrichment. Limited number of guests are allowed during these weeks that feature leadership development, wellness and resilience, vocational discernment, community building and transition.
How do I travel to and from Village?
Learn about the journey of getting to Holden. If travelling by car, staff are allotted free parking at Field’s Point. Seasonal, long-term, and employee roles are also allotted a certain number of boat tickets to and from Lucerne as part of their compensation.
What is the food like at Holden? Will dietary restrictions be accommodated?
Dietary restrictions will be accommodated. Learn more about the Holden kitchen.
Can staff participate in programs?
Yes. Staff participation in all programming, especially faculty sessions, is encouraged as part of the benefits provided to every Villager. Some art activities or specialized retreats may limit participation. Staff are encouraged to allow guests to fill those spots first. Other options may be arranged.