Testimonials
celebrating real impact on real lives
Numbers alone don’t always capture all the ways in which our mission is creating change. That’s why we asked our community to share how Camphill Soltane is making a difference in their life!
many paths. endless possibilities.
Camphill Soltane is a place, a community, and people that I am extremely passionate about. Soltane has filled a part of me that i did not realize was missing. In a very good way. The happy from BG, Kathleen’s beautiful piano playing, Thalia determination, seeing Tee again and watching him grow. It has been an incredible opportunity for me as well. When Sydney and I first visited the fiber studio at Soltane, we were both a little unsure. Sydney more so. The more Sydney walked and looked around and Krysta showed her things, the more she became interested. By the time we left, she wanted to give it a try. This started the love we have for the entire Soltane community.
Sydney And myself have learned so much over the past 2 years. Not just fiber arts, but I think we both have learned that there are communities of calming, peaceful, healthy and nurturing environments in the world around us that we never had the opportunity to experience before. Not on this level anyway. This is just one of the many things I love about the this community. The staff and the community have an all hands on deck mentality. Everyone helps each other out, no questions asked. I love coming to the property and seeing so many people pitching in to pick apples, tap maple trees, clean the grounds, tend to the animals, cook for the community, and so many other things. There is such a positive environment here that you do not find too many other places. Initially, Sydney really wanted nothing to do with fiber arts. Now, she is designing, creating, weaving and even sewing things with the fabric that she made. It is amazing to watch Sydney and each of the individuals that come to the fiber studio make their own creations. The 1st time someone runs a shuttle through a loom, the 1st time they knit a hat, or the 1st time they sew something with fabric and a sewing machine is almost magical. The enthusiasm and excitement from them is just contagious. In the short time we have been here, Camphill Soltane began offering many other opportunities. I was not able to get Sydney to try pottery or mosaics or any of the other courses until rock climbing became available. Sydney loves rock climbing. Her confidence, communication skills, and creativity have all just come alive being at Soltane. All of the instructors and staff are top notch. I love how the instructors are always encouraging Sydney and her peers to try new things, to think for themselves, to spread their wings and discover what new things are out there and what new things they are capable of. The world is bigger than we realize, and Camphill Soltane is showing it to them(us).
I especially love how Camphill Soltane nurtures the whole person. From healthy lifestyles, to healthy eating, to providing opportunities to develop new skills, to fostering a community they can be a part of and learn from. Providing so many opportunities like working alongside and learning from community members, seeing the process of apples becoming apple butter, and beeswax becoming candles. The opportunities are endless. If I were asked to describe Soltane in 1 word It would be very difficult. But the 1st thing that comes to mind is possibilities. I see Soltane as a community that nurtures possibility. The possibility (opportunity) to try new things, to grow, to make new friendships, the list could go on and on. I hope Sydney and I both can spend more time at Soltane and take in even more of the possibilities.
The Benner Family
a loving, nurturing environmeNT
“Our family has been a part of the Soltane community for about 7 years. While the structure of the program changed to keep up with environmental changes, the mission and dedication of the staff has never wavered. Our daughter, Emily, transitioned from school into Camphill Soltane and immediately began to thrive. We have been truly amazed at how much she has grown being a part of this community. She has learned to work a loom, weave beautiful fabric, sew, make mosaics and stained glass, play piano, and much much more. These activities, along with the support of the staff, have helped her to foster greater independence and increased her self-esteem. In addition to the activities that she has participated in, the friendships that she has made over the years are so very special. The whole community works to develop strong relationships between program participants, their families and all of the staff. It is such a loving, nurturing, environment. They consider all aspects of the individual—developing skills, building healthy relationships, and overall mental health. We are so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful organization and family.”
The Perry Family
ISOLATED NO LONGER
“Ean has been a part of Camphill Soltane for nearly a year and truly enjoys coming each week. It has been a bright spot in his weekly schedule, and he truly gets excellent satisfaction. Before coming to Camphill, Ean's neurologist requested that he participate in occupational and physical therapy to improve on mobility and neurologic functioning. But, traditional therapies didn't engage Ean, nor did he enjoy going. Soltane Arts has provided Ean an engaging way to improve his physical and occupational growth. Using fine and gross motor skills to complete tasks, Ean is improving in a way that provides physical and emotional development. Isolated since graduating high school, Ean now has a place to meet others and develop bonds while working on his social development skills. Moreover, Ean is learning new skills like sewing and knitting which has given him newfound excitement and accomplishments. Being deaf can be very isolating and make communicating with others challenging. The personal attention and small group environment have allowed Ean to engage in conversations and get support from staff and others. The staff are also open to learning American Sign Language and use it often to communicate with Ean. This gives Ean so much joy and pride as he can help others. The campus is quiet, peaceful, and welcoming. Ean enjoys the diversity of programs and the open and supportive staff.”
The Williams Family
creativity, laughter, & joyful work
I have been taking a textiles class for the first time at Soltane this winter. My experience so far could not be more positive! I love the support, encouragement, and optimistic vibe of the whole atelier. I am developing skills in weaving that I have sought out for many years but were not available to me. It is wonderful, and rare, to have access to the talented, knowledgeable staff at Soltane Arts as well as the wealth of equipment, materials, and options that this place offers. It's truly a long standing dream come true for me. Krysta and Maddy are teaching me to trust the creative side of me, to embrace mistakes and celebrate them as part of the learning process, to choose my own path while they provide the technical and skill support I need to take ideas and turn them into a beautiful table runner! I also love spending time with my fellow classmates every week. I am making new friends, carving time for myself every week, and finding the whole experience more rewarding than I ever could imagine. I hope I can continue to participate for many years to come, because this class is hands down one of the highlights of my week. Who knew that someday I would be able to weave, and weave with friends!
Over the last year or so, we as a family have taken every opportunity to engage in the many activities available to the community at Camphill Soltane. From the cafe to volunteer days, from Friday community lunches to beautiful seasonal celebrations, time and again we find that Soltane is a place that nourishes our bodies, souls, and minds. How could we resist. It is rare to be surrounded by such wealth of nature and people so diverse in just one place. It is even more rare to have the opportunity to share meals, creativity, laughter, and joyful work with others pretty much every week. For our family, that such a place is in our own backyard is the greatest of blessings. Camphill Soltane effectively restores our faith in community and self like no other place we know of.
The Sun Family