Apprenticeships and Internships at Windward
Do you want to help create a vibrant, abundant future?
Windward Apprenticeships and Internships can be seen as a two-way audition; a time for existing and prospective members to explore living in community together while working to further their understanding and practice of sustainable social and ecological living.
If, as an intern or apprentice, you find that this life is one that you want to pursue in earnest, and Windward Stewards agree it is a good match, you can proceed directly on a path toward being a stakeholding member of Windward.
We are seeking community-minded, hardworking, self-motivated individuals who are wanting to engage in the deep learning that is only made possible when fully immersed in the experience of living in and creating sustainable community.
We are seeking individuals with courageous hearts who want to face the challenges and reap the rewards of living closely with a small group of people committed to live rightly with one another and with nature.
We are seeking those who want to get their hands dirty while engaging in the life-long work of visioning, building, living in and enjoying a loving, intentional and ecologically conscious culture.
Apprenticeship or Internship?
Windward is an expense-sharing cooperative. Our philosophy is simple: by coming together to meet our basic needs, we each have more time, energy, and money to pursue our individual passions.
Each member contributes $400 a month to a common purse. These funds are used to cover the basic collective costs, including food, water, shelter, internet, laundry, gardens and the living infrastructure of the land, and the improvement of community resources.
Apprentices contribute dues to the cooperative as they explore if community life at Windward is something they want to continue.
Is the money part complicated? No earnest person is turned away because they lack funding.
Internships are scholarships provided by the Windward members to those individuals who manifest a strong desire to explore sustainable living and a commitment to use their time at Windward constructively.
If creating a life with Windward is something you deeply desire, we can work together to help you transition into building a life for yourself in community.
Internships are a minimum of three months in duration, but exceptions can be made in exceptional circumstances. We expect that someone who applies for an internship is ready to make a good faith commitment to stay the full three months.
However, if an intern comes to feel that this isn't working for them, we would rather they seek a path suited to their goals than remain here unhappy and unfulfilled in order to finish out an arbitrary amount of time.
Similarly, if it becomes apparent that an intern is not taking this opportunity seriously nor is determined to make good use of the resources we offer, then we will ask that intern to seek a more suitable opportunity elsewhere, thereby making room for someone else.
If, during the three months we decide to move forward together on a membership track, Windward's Stewards will consider extending the intern-sholarship for up to a year so that we can mutually explore and develop funding options suited to your interests and skill set.
Apprentices and Interns are accepted on a rolling basis from March through November.
Things to Read Before Arriving
To help folks orient to life at Windward, we've put together some writings on the website:
- Reading List - To help bridge the experience-gap between new folks, and Stewards who've been living the life for years, we've put together a relevant book list with insights and discussion points that we can weave into your time here. The above section of the website contains links to thought-provoking quotes and discussion about how the books are relevant to what we're doing.
- Articles about Community Living, and Living with Nature - Consolidated thinking related to living in sustainable community, the philosophical underpinnings of what we do, how we approach a life in balance with nature, and what people can expect when entering into community. There are many topics to explore in the Essays.
- Internship Experiences - Past Interns share about aspects of the time living at Windward.
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Liability Waiver is an legal document that we have in place to protect the community. Before you arrive you need to send in this document.
Download it from the link above, print it out (doublesided if you can), fill it out, sign it, and mail it to us at:Windward Center
55 Windward lane
Wahkiacus, WA 98670
Anyone applying to Windward needs to read these writings. We encourage you to weave your thoughts, feelings and impressions into your email conversations with us.
How to Apply
We handle applications via email conversation - usually over several weeks/months. We like email because everyone here involved in making decisions can read your words directly.
We want to know what time-frame you are looking at coming, what months or season. We accept folks on a rolling basis, so you can begin your stay almost anytime within the window of March to September.
Since we are going to be sharing our life with you, and working closely for an extended period of time, we want to get to know you! Here are some good ways to start introducing yourself.
- Where do you come from? both in general and specifically right now in life?
- Where do you want to go? What kinds of life trajectories are you already on?
- How does Windward fit into your big-picture plans? If you do not have big-picture plans, that is ok too, just let us know.
Send us an email at Windward(at)gorge.net, and include "PING!" in the subject line.
We look forward to hearing from you!
