Campus News
By Rory McNelley, Staff Writer
This year, Xavier’s Alternative Breaks (AB), a program with service trip opportunities for students during their fall or spring breaks, offered a new trip focused on climate change in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington.
This was one of six trips the Center for Faith and Justice (CFJ) offered for their 2025 spring break trips.
AB gives students an opportunity for service learning. Students engaged in conversation and service with those who have committed to living at Holden Village as volunteers. These time frames can range from a week to five years.
Holden Village in the North Cascade Mountains is located above Lake Chelan, Wash. Residents live in community together and serve each other in an entirely self-sufficient village.
“Service looked different for everyone on our trip, but some helped shovel and move firewood, while others helped in the kitchen cooking and doing dishes. I was lucky enough to work alongside the village potter to help teach kids how to throw bowls on a pottery wheel and help with some cleaning tasks,” junior social work major and site leader Molly Kantz said.
The residents there educate visitors on garbology–the study of waste and what to do with our waste–their hydraulic system, fire ecology and mine remediation in addition to everyday work. The sustainable village runs on waterpower from the hydraulic system.
“We got to work alongside Nathan the garbologist at the Village to learn more about composting and how to better repurpose what is commonly seen as garbage,” Kantz said.
Students spent their spring break in the North Cascade Mountains, located in Washington, to learn about sustainability and community.
Sophomore social work major and Alternative Breaks Travel Site Coordinator Kelly Witwer had been entertaining ideas for a new trip. Sophomore finance and economics double major Audrey Elwood has been going to the mountains since she was five and suggested the location in Washington state.
After the logistics were completed by Witwer and Philosophy, Politics and the Public and sports management double major Tyler Hawatmeh, including communication with the organization, travel details and budgeting, the trip was born.
Kantz and Elwood worked with students before leaving for the trip to grow closer as a group and prepare together. After organizing service opportunities and housing with the village and confirming the travel details, the students took a plane, car and ferry to get to the site.
Under multiple feet of snow, the secluded village has plenty of room for activities for its visitors. The group of Xavier students had the opportunity to explore the surrounding environment by snowshoe hiking, cross country skiing, pottery and watercolor painting while learning about the Native American history of the land where Holden Village is located.
“We learned about hydropower and how water from the mountains surrounding the village spins hydro-turbines, which are connected to generators that power the village,” Kantz said.
Students had time to reflect on their experience as a group using the village’s own reflection field, which isd lit by candlelight, and a labyrinth created by the tracks of villagers.
“I am so thankful that AB is now offering this trip. It opened my eyes to many valuable ways to engage in sustainability efforts in my life and helped me to understand the importance of community and slowing down,” Kantz said.
