Help Build the Sacred Earth Lodge

There have been a lot of firsts for the Sacred Earth Lodge (SEL) this year, and many great opportunities to develop its potential as a training center and guest lodge in the heart of Indian Country. In many ways, it was a good thing to have the winter and spring to get the lodge ready for the busy training season of May-September.  We truly appreciated your support in helping us open the Lodge to students, volunteers, and visitors. What a great first year!

Welcomed over 250 guests and volunteers

We were honored to welcome over 250 guests and volunteers to the Sacred Earth Lodge this year. These friends came from all over the country to support the Tribal Renewable Energy Program. Guests volunteered at the Solar Warrior Farm, came from the Pine Ridge community to share their knowledge and to learn new skills, relaxed and learned about the Lakota culture, and some came to work on the various earth-based demonstration buildings at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) campus.

We’ve had a lot of feedback about what people enjoyed and what they thought we could improve at the Lodge. SEL is hosting the last groups of the season this week, so now it is time to gather in the last of the harvest at Solar Warrior Farm and begin planning for next year.

Hosted four major workshops at SEL

As is often the case, when something is being installed at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC), we use that opportunity to share the experience and knowledge in a workshop format. January’s solar hot water heater was an essential feature of the Sacred Earth Lodge and our first training on this technology.

Another first was the Compressed Earth Block (CEB) Workshop that took advantage of brand new technology in the field of earth-based building materials. Once the walls were up, the summer was spent putting on a roof, front door and windows, blowing in cellulose insulation (another natural material), and putting a beautiful, rustic red lime plaster. In another first, TWP and LSE partnered with GRID Alternatives to install a solar electric (PV) system that provides power for the office and supplements power for the Lodge. A great way to reduce the carbon footprint for both buildings at one time!

Our Green Business Development in Indian Country training was also well attended and came at just the right time with the installation of WiFi at the Lodge. We are so thankful for the hard work and the continuing support needed to expand infrastructure for the Lodge and our partner, Lakota Solar Enterprises' office. Throughout the summer's workshops, the Lodge proved to be an excellent base for the programs and activities we want to continue within tribal communities.

Next Steps: Parking and Handicap Access 

One of the last major projects at the Sacred Earth Lodge is to build in parking facilities and to create handicap access thoughout the building, including a handicap access ramp for the SEL as well as an extra bathroom on the first floor. We also want to create better access for elders and those who may have trouble navigating the natural landscape around RCREC. These projects will require a lot of work, but we know with your support we can make the lodge an even better place for everyone to enjoy. Thank you!

It has been a very busy summer up at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center, headquarters of TWP's Tribal Renewable Energy Program and home to the Sacred Earth Lodge! We have hosted many groups of volunteers as well as Native American trainees, and having the Lodge available to our guests has made a huge difference in the quality of the Program. We thank you, our generous friends and donors, for your support of this important project! 

New Septic System Installed

This is not the most glamorous part of today's update, but I am happy to report that we have installed the new septic system at Sacred Earth Lodge. This is obviously an important part of any building's infrastructure and your donations have helped us to complete this part of the Lodge.

Connected to the World: WiFi Installed at the Lodge

For most of us, access to WiFi is a normal part of life, not a luxury to be desired. However, for many people living on the Pine Ridge Reservation, WiFi is not accessible due to cost and poor infrastructure. Well, we are happy to report that we now have WiFi at the Sacred Earth Lodge. The internet access has improved the learning environment and has cut down on transportation costs to locations on the reservation that do have internet. The WiFi was installed just in time for the Green Business Development training in June, allowing students to do research for their business plans right inside the Lodge. In addition, it has created even more of a coffee house environment for students and guests alike.

Summer Workshops and Volunteers at the Sacred Earth Lodge

The summer months are the busiest time for the Tribal Program and the Sacred Earth Lodge. Over the past few months, we have hosted multiple training events and have many more on the schedule through the Fall. The Sacred Earth Lodge provides a quality learning space for our students as well as comfortable accommodations for multi-day workshops. Since our last report, we have hosted the Building with Compressed Earth Block, Green Business Development, and Solar Air Heating workshops. Each training has had a diverse group of students from tribes around the country. Students have been very happy with the new Sacred Earth Lodge and the comfortable space it provides for learning and socializing. Next on the schedule is a Solar Air Heater/Solar Electric training that we will host in partnership with GRID Alternatives, Solar Energy International, University of Colorado, and Thunder Valley.

In addition, we have hosted many guests at the Lodge to volunteer on a variety of projects, including compressed earth block construction, strawbale construction, and organic farming at Solar Warrior Farm. In total, we have had more than 200 people visit the Sacred Earth Lodge this summer!

Clinton Global Initiative

At the Clinton Global Initiative event in Denver, we announced our commitment to green business development in Indian Country. In partnership with Henry Red Cloud, owner of Lakota Solar Enterprises, and many other partners, we look forward to fulfilling this commitment and creating a better future for Native entrepreneurs. Your investment in the Sacred Earth Lodge and the Tribal Program is a major part of this effort. Thank you again for your generosity!