News

November 15, 2011 - Camphill Soltane is pleased to launch the Soltane Shines Tour! This monthly 60-minute program and tour will introduce visitors to Camphill Soltane's mission and vision. Following a brief introductory program, a tour will showcase our innovative post-secondary educational program, our vocational program, and our life-sharing community. Meet some of our students and residents, and find out how Camphill Soltane has made an impact on their lives. You're sure to come away inspired! Please see our Soltane Shines page for a full list of upcoming dates in the 2011-2012 year and to register for a tour.

October 5, 2011 - Camphill Soltane welcomes back Irish singer Fil Campbell for an evening of song, starting at 7:30 PM in the Rose Room. Fil lives the songs she sings - whether it's the popular Irish folk songs of the 30's and 40's, traditional songs, contemporary pieces or her own material. Her concerts are fun and there are always plenty of opportunities to sing along. Free and open to the public! For more information, visit www.filcampbell.com.

July 7, 2011 - Soltane's first off-site work area, Soltane Breads and Spreads, is now open in Phoenixville! This bakery and coffee shop will be staffed by bakers and baristas from Camphill Soltane. On offer will be artisan breads made with organic, whole grains, baked in a wood-fired oven, as well as a range of delectable pastries. Premium Stumptown coffee and espresso will be served. Visit Soltane Breads and Spreads at 138 Bridge St., next to the Iron Hill Brewery. Check their website or Facebook page for information on hours and menus. Welcome to Phoenixville's newest destination for outstanding bread and coffee - with an atmosphere that can't be beat!

May 20, 2011 - Proudly announcing the first issue of in motion - Soltane's new monthly e-newsletter. This publication is geared towards Soltane's friends, supporters, parents, coworkers, alumni, and staff. Join our mailing list for future issues by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or view a portion of the newsletter here.


May 9 - 13, 2011 - Please join us for our 3rd Annual Advocacy Awareness Week! All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, May 9th, 7:30 PM: Advocacy Movie Night (Rose Room)

Tuesday, May 10th, 7:30 PM: Music and song by Tamara and BJ (Rose Room)

Wednesday, May 11th, 7:30 PM: Open Mic Night -- $3 donation to
benefit Susan G. Komen foundation (Rose Room)

Thursday, May 12th, 7:30 PM: Panel Discussion (Rose Room)

Friday, May 13th, 2 PM - 3 PM: Presentation and Q&A with Mel Knowlton of PAR

Friday, May 13th, 2 PM – 6 PM Soltane Expo (Whitsun Hall)

Friday, May 13th, 7:30 PM – 9 PM DJ Dance Party with Iris (Whitsun Hall)

For more information, contact Jim Colbert @ 484-986-4405 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .


May 13, 2011 - Soltane Expo 2011! Please join us in a celebration of the accomplishments of the classes, work areas, households and special interest groups of Camphill Soltane in the 2010-2011 program year! Students, residents, coworkers, teachers and others will be on hand to show off and discuss their work and projects with visitors. If you've been wondering what everyone here has been up to this year, the Soltane Expo is the place to go!

The Expo will be held Friday, May 13th from 2 PM - 6 PM in Whitsun Hall. Refreshments will be served. The Expo is a part of Advocacy Awareness Week at Camphill Soltane (see above).

January 11, 2011 - New pathways lights have been installed at Camphill Soltane! 18 electric lights with fluorescent bulbs now light up the night and provide safer passage for students, residents and coworkers. Our thanks to the many parents and other donors who provided the funding for this important project!

December 2010 - Lilipoh's special edition, "Social Renewal: Celebrating 50 Years of Camphill in North America", has been released. This issue features stories of interest from all Camphill communities in North America, as well as numerous Camphill-inspired initiatives. Available directly from Lilipoh, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to have one mailed to you.

October 6, 2010 - Camphill Soltane announces the launch of its Youth Guidance Seminar, 2010-2011

Camphill Communities have always provided rich and experiential anthroposophical trainings for its co-workers in curative education and social therapy. Aspects of Youth Guidance Training, edited by Cornelius Pietzner, was published in 1999. It was a compilation of contributions from seminar participants in youth guidance training, which took place in the 1990s. Little training or publication has been done since then to address this pressing need to guide the young person with developmental challenges into a more fulfilling life. This seminar will provide an opportunity for those interested in helping young people to develop their understanding and skills to be more effective supporters.

July 12, 2010 - Camphill Soltane students and residents are active in the legislative effort to remove the term "mental retardation" from state statutes and state use.  State Senator Andy Dinniman, who is spearheading the "Words Do Matter" campaign, invited Soltane resident Pam Smith to participate in a recent press conference on the issue, and to accompany him to Harrisburg to advocate for the measure in the Senate. See the television coverage of this issue from our Advocacy page, and a recent newspaper article from the Daily Local News.

June 13, 2010 - Camphill Soltane is proud to host an 'Empty Bowl' fundraiser on Sunday, June 13th from 4-6:30 PM, in the Rose Room at Iduna house. All are invited to attend!

At an Empty Bowl fundraiser, a simple meal of soup and bread is provided to guests in exchange for a recommended donation, and the guests are invited to keep the homemade ceramic bowl as a reminder of hunger in the world.  The bowls are made in Camphill Soltane's Pottery class, and the soup is made in the Cooking class using ingredients grown, harvested and processed in the Gardening class.  The fundraiser this year ties in with this year's academic theme of World Cultures, and provides a wonderful opportunity for our college and transition students to do work that reaches beyond our community to help others in different cultures, and to recognize that their work can help alleviate another person’s suffering.

This year’s beneficiary will be the internet-based micro-loan organization, Kiva.  You can learn more about how Kiva works at Kiva.org .  A micro-lending project encourages independence, self-sufficiency and pride in one's own work -- some of the same goals we have for our students in Soltane's Learning for Life and transition classes.

April 26 - April 30, 2010 - Camphill Soltane will host an "Advocacy Week", featuring evening events open to the public. Please join us for this celebration of individuals with developmental disabilities leading lives of self-determination.

Monday, April 26, 7 PM, Whitsun Hall: "Open Mic" night, with a $3 suggested donation; proceeds will benefit a charitable organization.

Tuesday, April 27, 7 PM, Whitsun Hall: Music and songs by "Tamara and BJ"

Wednesday, April 28, 7 PM, Rose Room: Presentation by Aldo Magazzeni of Traveling Mercies

Thursday, April 29, 7:30 PM, Whitsun Hall: Advocacy Movie Night. First up: "body and soul", a 40-minute documentary about two women with disabilities living together and supporting each other for 30 years, focusing on their friendship with and committment to each other. Followed by "Thumbs Down to Pity", a 1-minute piece from a student director with disabilities, and wrapping up with "I'm Tyler (don't be surprised)", a short film by an Eagle Scout with disabilities. Plan on being here for an hour.

Friday, April 30, 10 AM - 4 PM: Self Determination Conference, organized by the Chester County Self Determination Action Team. Topics will include relationships and presentations on self-advocacy by self-determination participants. The Conference will be followed by a dinner and dance.

April 23 - April 24, 2010 - Visit Eastern Mountain Sports in Exton as a member of the Camphill Soltane community and enjoy 20% off your purchases during their "Club Days" event! Coworkers, students, residents, employees, and family members qualify for this discount. Or, make a $10+ donation to Camphill Soltane at the door and receive the discount! Representatives from Camphill Soltane will be on hand throughout the event to speak with patrons and tell them about our community. Also enjoy raffle items, as well as food, fun and music.

February 28 and March 7, 2010 - Camphill Soltane will host two lectures in a free, 3-part lecture series based on the presentations of Sally Fallon Morel, President of the Weston A. Price Foundation. It describes the groundbreaking nutritional work of Dr. Weston A. Price, who traveled to the far corners of the world in the 1920’s and 30’s to study the diets of primitive peoples. He found that those who followed their traditional diets enjoyed abundant health and vigor, whereas those who consumed Western, processed foods experienced poor health. His subsequent research explained the causative factors involved. This lecture series integrates the lessons learned from traditional diets with the understandings of modern science.

Presenter Annmarie Cantrell will help attendees understand the importance of nutrient dense foods and how to incorporate them into their daily lives.

PART I - "Traditional Diets" – Sunday February 28th, 2-4 pm, Rose Room

Explore Dr. Price’s findings concerning the fat soluble vitamins, the “Price Factor” and lacto fermented foods. Samples and fermented foods demonstrations included.

PART II - "Health, Beauty and Strength with Nourishing Traditional Diets" – Sunday March 7th, 2-4 pm, Rose Room

Learn more about the importance of fats in the diet. Food preparation demonstrations will illustrate how to include high quality fats in your meals.

PART III will take place at the Henrietta Hankin Community Room on Sunday, March 14th from 2-4 PM, and will explore raw milk, pastured meats, and traditional foods.

October 3, 2009 - Camphill Soltane is proud to host a presentation of "Songbirds", a concert by Irish singer Fil Campbell, at 7:30 in Whitsun Hall. Featuring "If I Were a Blackbird", "Connemara Cradle Song", "The Castle of Drumore", and many more. Please RSVP to Jim at 484-986-4405, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More info. is available at www.filcampbell.com

October 10, 2009 - Camphill Soltane welcomes back performer Sujeet Desai for a concert at 7:30 PM in Whitsun Hall. 27-year old Sujeet is an accomplished musician, born with Down Syndrome. Sujeet plays 6 instruments: Bb and bass clarinet, alto sax, violin, piano, and drums. Sujeet travels around the world to give inspirational solo performances and self-advocacy workshops. Please RSVP to Jim at 484-986-4405, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . More info. is available at www.sujeet.com

June 18, 2009 - Camphill Soltane has been featured in the latest issue of Communities Magazine, with an article entitled "Community Composting: A Transformative Practice", by Jason Grubb and Mason Vollmer. The article begins,