Saturday Legacy Stories from Solace Grove #5

Where Mountains Meet Community, and Every Story Matters

A Legacy Learning Community

Solace Grove represents the perfect synthesis of comfort and natural sanctuary—a place where the healing qualities of solace merge with the peaceful shelter of a grove, creating an ideal setting for the profound work of legacy learning, knowing, and valuing.

Geographic and Environmental Setting

Location: Nestled in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, where the dramatic peaks give way to rolling foothills covered in aspen, pine, and oak groves.

Elevation: Situated at approximately 4300 feet, providing crisp mountain air and expansive valley views while remaining accessible year-round.

Natural Features: The town takes its name from a distinctive grove of ancient cottonwoods and aspens that creates a natural amphitheater in the town center—a space where wind through leaves provides constant, gentle sound that residents describe as nature's own form of solace.

The origin of the town dates back to the 1880s, when prospectors discovered gold in the tributaries of the Wobb River. The “rush” lasted approximately 30 years, during which a rugged mining town emerged.

In the early 1900s, the town took on a tourism destination feel, and the associated quaint style hospitality industry grew up for tourism, nature-inspired, outdoor activities. 

Then, in the 1960s, it became an alternative lifestyle destination without undermining the hospitality industry. The town council in the 1980s saw the demographic shifts ahead and began exploring a “legacy outdoor story” to redesign the town and its infrastructure, including upgrading hospitality infrastructure. Again, without losing the quaintness factor. 

Incremental adjustments took place during the subsequent 30-year period. 

In 2012, the town council approved the construction of a “Multi-Use Community Centre” featuring an all-season swimming pool and other sports amenities, both indoors and outdoors, with less emphasis on traditional track and field facilities and football-style fields. Soccer games took place on various other fields across the town. 

The K-12 school buildings were clustered together, and the community centre lay within a 7-minute walk.  In 2021, the new Community Centre manager, Penne Askshton was hired and started an intergenerational, environmental program to take a cue from the location and seasons of the town. She brought extension courses from the community college in the city, about 100 kilometres away, both online and in person. This program and all its amenities fed the “Legacy Story Outdoors Platform” she designed, developed, and delivers - all with community network involvement.

__//|| Here is an excerpt from Solace Grove Town Council Background Legacy Life Plan from which Penne framed her Legacy Story Outdoors Platform

Background

Climate: Four distinct seasons, each offering different opportunities for reflection and legacy work:

• Spring: Renewal and new growth mirror personal transformation

• Summer: Long daylight hours support extended outdoor activities and conversations

• Autumn: Changing leaves reflect life transitions and the beauty of aging

• Winter: Quiet snow creates contemplative atmosphere for indoor reflection

Community Character and Philosophy

Population: Approximately ~15,000 residents, with a demographic sweet spot of people aged 55-75, though all ages are welcomed and valued for their unique contributions to the legacy learning community.

Foundational Idea: The town's upgrade emphasized a life inspired by nature and a conscious legacy, shifting focus from material possessions to lived experience.

Community Ethos:

• Intergenerational wisdom sharing: Every resident is both teacher and student

• Environmental stewardship: The mountain setting demands and inspires conservation consciousness

• Contemplative living: The pace of life allows for reflection and meaningful conversation

• Collaborative problem-solving: Community challenges become opportunities for legacy-in-action

The Town's Physical Design (1980s onward)

Central Grove: The actual solace grove at the town's heart features:

• Natural amphitheater: Gentle slopes where community gatherings occur

• Walking meditation paths: Winding trails through the trees for reflective walks

• Conversation circles: Natural clearings with simple seating for small group discussions

• Legacy Memorial Garden: Where community members plant trees or create installations honoring their evolving understanding of legacy

Residential Areas:

• Cluster housing: Around the town centre are small neighborhoods of 8-12 homes arranged around shared green spaces

• Accessibility design: All areas accessible to residents with varying mobility levels

• Privacy and community balance: Personal space respected while encouraging natural interaction

Community Centre Spaces:

• Learning Commons: Library, workshop spaces, and quiet study areas

• Maker Studios: Spaces for artistic creation, traditional crafts, and skill sharing

• Wellness Center: Movement studios, meditation rooms, and health services

• Community Kitchen: Large shared cooking and dining space for regular potluck gatherings

Legacy Learning Infrastructure

The Solace Grove Institute: The town's educational heart, offering:

• Legacy Discovery Workshops: Programs helping residents identify their core values and desired impact

• Mentorship Circles: Structured intergenerational learning partnerships

• Storytelling Academies: Training in sharing life wisdom through narrative

• Environmental Legacy Projects: Hands-on conservation work that embodies values in action

Walking Story Maps: Network of trails throughout the area, each designed for specific types of legacy exploration:

• Heritage Trail: Connecting with family and cultural history

• Values Path: Exploring personal principles and ethical foundations

• Impact Route: Examining how individual choices affect community and environment

• Future Vision Walk: Contemplating hopes and intentions for coming generations

Documentation Centers: Spaces and tools for recording legacy insights:

• Oral History Studios: Professional recording equipment for preserving stories

• Digital Archives: Community repository of wisdom and learning

• Publishing Cooperative: Support for residents creating books, articles, or other legacy documents

• Artistic Legacy Spaces: Studios for visual, musical, and dramatic expressions of wisdom

The Town's Unique Culture

Daily Rhythms:

• Morning Reflection: Many residents begin days with quiet time in the central grove

• Afternoon Collaboration: Community projects and learning activities

• Evening Storytelling: Informal gatherings for sharing experiences and insights

Seasonal Traditions:

• Spring Planting Ceremonies: New residents plant trees while sharing their legacy intentions

• Summer Learning Festivals: Intensive workshops and skill-sharing events

• Autumn Wisdom Harvest: Community-wide reflection on insights gained throughout the year

• Winter Deep Listening: Quiet season focused on contemplation and planning

Governance Model:

• Consensus-based decision making: Community choices emerge through facilitated dialogue

• Rotating leadership: Residents take turns facilitating different aspects of town life

• Legacy Council: Group of residents who help newcomers discover their place in the community

• Youth Advisory: Young people (including visiting grandchildren) have formal voice in community decisions

Economic and Practical Foundation

Sustainable Economics:

• Cooperative enterprises: Shared ownership of local businesses and services

• Legacy-based consulting: Residents offer expertise to outside communities

• Retreat and workshop hosting: Solace Grove serves as destination for legacy learning

• Artisan cooperatives: Residents create and sell crafts that express their values and skills

Essential Services:

• Healthcare Center in the Community Centre: Focused on wellness and aging-in-place support

• Learning technologies: High-speed internet and modern communication tools

• Transportation cooperative: Shared vehicles and regular connections to larger cities

• Local food systems: Community gardens, farmers' market, and food preservation programs

The Town as Living Legacy

Solace Grove itself embodies the principle of living legacy—it demonstrates that communities can be intentionally designed to support the kind of reflection, relationship, and contribution that allows people to live from their deepest values rather than simply accumulating experiences or possessions.

The combination of natural beauty, thoughtful design, and purposeful community creates the perfect setting for the profound work of discovering, developing, and living one's legacy in relationship with others who share this commitment to meaningful aging and conscious contribution.

In Solace Grove, the question isn't "What legacy will you leave?" yet "How will you live your legacy today?" The town's very existence provides a daily answer to that question through the choices, relationships, and contributions that emerge naturally from a community dedicated to wisdom, stewardship, and intergenerational care.

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