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Blog 1: Healing Grounds – Where Nature, Connection, and Healing Come Together.

Picture 1. Nature-based therapy dome at Healing Grounds in Redcliff, Alberta, Canada, a peaceful retreat space for wellness, mindfulness, and connection to the land. Photo by Tharu (@tharuu._).

Nestled in the heart of Alberta, Healing Grounds is more than a space; it’s a sanctuary. We spoke with Melisha Franks and Deena West, co-founders of Keys to Hope, to learn how this inspiring wellness retreat came to life, how the addition of a geodesic dome helped elevate their services, and why nature continues to be the most powerful partner in their work.

Introducing Keys to Hope and Healing Grounds

In 2013, Melisha Franks launched Keys to Hope, a counselling service built on the vision of holistic healing. In 2016, she brought in Deena West as a partner, and together, they’ve grown the team to 14 dedicated individuals, including 12 therapists and 5 practitioners of Nature and Animal Assisted Therapy.

Their dream of immersing people in nature-based healing became a reality in 2023 with the launch of Healing Grounds, a serene space where visitors experience therapy, retreats, and personal transformation alongside animals, nature, and now, a geodesic dome.

Picture 2. Deena West (left) and Melisha Franks (right), the heart behind Keys to Hope and Healing Grounds. Their shared vision brought nature-based and animal-assisted therapy to life in Redcliff, Alberta, Canada.

What’s Special About Healing Grounds?

Healing Grounds takes therapy out of the office and into nature, whether walking across the fields and experiencing mindful moments or partnering with animals such as goats, chickens, and horses.

"The land itself has a presence or a vibe that must be experienced. Walking the land and having the horses follow you is one of the coolest experiences - it feels like they choose you! In the fall, there are a plethora of cactus berries that you can pick while enjoying a nature walk."

"It just feels truly healing out at Healing Grounds – body, mind, and soul!"

Picture 3. Horses roaming freely at Healing Grounds, a nature-based therapy retreat in Redcliff, Alberta. The land offers peaceful, healing energy for mind, body, and soul.

Immersive Programs and Community Support

When we asked Melisha and Deena how they use the dome, their answer revealed the heart of Healing Grounds:

“We’ve offered yoga, sound baths, family sound baths, reiki treatments, professional development sessions, date nights under the stars—even sunset markets where local vendors set up around the Bubble while we offered meditations inside.”

But the dome is just the beginning.

From restorative day camps to deep inner work, the team at Keys to Hope has built an entire ecosystem of healing:

• Corporate wellness retreats

• Team-building events

• Men’s and Couples Retreats

• Inner Child and Grief and Loss programs

• Yoga sessions and youth day camps

• Couples and Grief & Loss Retreats is coming up in fall 2025

Each offering reflects their belief that healing happens in connection with self, others, and the land. Their dome has become a flexible, sacred space that adapts to every season and story.

And if you’re drawn to be part of it? Healing Grounds is always open to volunteers, whether you feel called to work with animals, help with retreats, maintain the land, or co-host dome events. (See contact details below.)

Picture 4. A glimpse inside the Healing Grounds dome, set up for intimate retreats, mindful gatherings, and magical date nights. The space transforms with every event, offering warmth, beauty, and a deep sense of presence. (Photo by @tharuu._)

The Bubble’s Role at Healing Grounds

When Clara P., the previous owner, closed her own wellness business, she passed on her dome to Healing Grounds. What started as an opportunity to continue hosting date nights and yoga retreats soon turned into a powerful tool for workshops, reiki, meditation, and seasonal markets.

When we asked Deena and Melisha about their most meaningful memory involving the dome, they paused, not because there was too little to say, but because there was so much.

“There have been so many! It was very exciting when we first put in Clara’s dome, as this felt like the start of our dream for our wellness ranch coming to fruition. It has also been very meaningful to connect and meet new people who believe in our vision, who love spending time in nature and with our animals, and who experience the gift that the land and the domes have to offer.”

One particularly memorable moment came during a yoga session when strong prairie winds struck the dome. Instead of being rattled by the weather, the instructor used it as a teaching moment, helping participants recognize how distractions can pull us from being grounded, then guiding them back to presence and breath.

The dome’s transparency connects people to the land, light, and even shifting weather patterns, each offering opportunities for reflection and insight.

Picture 5. This is the original dome tent, first owned by Country Garden Events in Seven Persons, Alberta. It later found a new home at Healing Grounds, where it continues to inspire transformation and connection.

Moments That Ground and Inspire

The dome at Healing Grounds has become more than just a functional shelter; it’s a space where emotional shifts and meaningful connections unfold naturally.

Rather than confining healing to four walls, this semi-transparent, light-filled structure allows clients to remain connected to the natural world throughout their sessions. The movement of the sky, the breeze through the grass, and even unexpected gusts of wind all become part of the experience.

It’s this openness to the environment, to one another, and to inner change that makes the Bubble so special.

“We see many shifts in our clients and guests when they visit Healing Grounds,” says Melisha. “Just being in nature, in the fresh air, feeling the sun and the breeze, walking and moving their bodies, helps release endorphins and serotonin! Our clients often share that, whether it’s therapy or wellness, they always feel better when they leave.”

The dome offers not just physical shelter but a kind of emotional and energetic space where empathy, transformation, and connection come naturally.

It reflects everything Keys to Hope stands for:

Empathy, nurtured through shared presence. "The Bubble creates a contained, nurturing environment where participants feel safe to be vulnerable, listen to their bodies, and attune to others without distraction or judgment."

Transformation, supported by movement, stillness, and intention. "Transformation unfolds naturally in the Bubble. Its unique structure offers a retreat from the outside world, allowing people to access deeper layers of self-awareness and healing."

And connection, felt in quiet moments between breath, nature, and community. "Connection is at the heart of everything we do. The circular shape and intentional design of the Bubble encourage a sense of togetherness—participants are held in a shared energy field, whether in silent meditation or collaborative movement. The Bubble becomes more than a physical space; it’s a living container for community, unity, and the collective healing process."

Picture 6. Inside “the Bubble” at Healing Grounds, where the prairie light pours in and every detail is designed for presence. From yoga and reiki to sound baths and workshops, this space holds stories of stillness, movement, and deep connection. (Photo by @tharuu._)

Inspired by their story?

From yoga and sound baths to grief retreats and date nights under the stars, the Bubble at Healing Grounds is more than just a dome; it’s a space of transformation and community.

Want to Visit or Volunteer?

Learn more or connect at www.healinggrounds.ca. Follow their journey on Instagram @healinggrounds.k2h.

If you're dreaming of creating a similar experience or adding a dome to your own project, explore our full range of geodesic dome tent kits. We offer pre-configured and customizable options for wellness spaces, glamping sites, retreats, and eco-minded businesses, delivered across Canada and the USA.

Stay tuned for Blog 2, where we take you behind the scenes: dome installation, working with international suppliers, and the lessons Healing Grounds learned along the way.