Perhaps it's fitting that our first entry into the 'blogosphere' is about our first attempt to systematically introduce people to Camphill Soltane - Soltane Shines Tours!
We've always arranged tours for people who were interested in learning more about Soltane, but often these were tours specifically geared towards student or coworker admissions. Where did that leave our neighbors in East Nantmeal and West Vincent townships, in Kimberton and Phoenixville, and other close locales who may have heard our name but didn't know much about us?
"I've lived in this area all my life and I've never heard of you before!"
We get this a lot from people who have come to visit Soltane, or have come into contact with our students, residents or coworkers in some other context. They are inevitably completely amazed that a treasure like Soltane has been right under their noses the whole time.
Soltane Shines Tours are for people just like this - our friends and neighbors who are curious about the work we're doing, the people we're serving, and the way we choose to organize our lives - with supporters living side-by-side with individuals with special needs, sharing life together. Even if this lifestyle is not for everybody, we've found that it inspires many people who are touched by something in particular. Maybe it's the emphasis on the deep respect we show towards everyone, regardless of ability - or maybe it's the beauty of our houses, the way we care for our land, or the huge dining room tables, where mealtimes go a long way towards establishing the social fabric of our community.
There are many things that make Camphill Soltane a stand-out organization, and in our Soltane Shines Tours - as in our upcoming blog entries - we'll tell our story in many different ways, with many different voices. We look forward to talking with you!