Introducing the RLC Wayfinder House at Grove School: A New Chapter for Grove’s Transition Program

A Home Built for the Journey

Grove School is proud to introduce the RLC Wayfinder House at Grove School, our newly reimagined Transition Program. The name reflects both a fresh chapter and the same steady mission the program has always held: helping young adults build the skills and confidence for independent living.

The RLC Wayfinder House is a beautifully renovated home built in 1915, thoughtfully updated to serve as an ideal residence for young adults. Located within walking distance of downtown Madison, the beaches, public transportation, and Grove’s main campus, the house can accommodate up to 14 students in a coed residence supervised by Grove staff.

The RLC Wayfinder House serves as a natural extension of Grove’s main campus program, supporting young adults as they move toward independent living. Each student’s path looks different. Some enroll in community college classes; others pursue vocational training or employment in the wider community to discover what fits them best.

At the center of the residential curriculum is the steady development of everyday life skills. Students practice shopping, cooking, using public transportation, working toward a driver’s license, and building financial literacy, all while receiving ongoing support from their treatment teams. Outside of structured programming, students are encouraged to pursue hobbies and leisure activities that support a balanced life. The goal throughout is a supportive environment where students can grow academically, socially, and personally as they step into adulthood.

Why Wayfinder

The name Wayfinder was chosen with intention. Wayfinding is the practice of orienting yourself and finding a route forward, often in unfamiliar terrain and rarely in a straight line. That idea captures exactly what this house is designed to do for the young adults who live there. Rather than pointing students toward a single predetermined destination, the RLC Wayfinder House gives them the skills, support, and steady guidance to discover their own path, whether that leads to a four-year university, a vocational career, employment, or simply a clearer sense of who they are and where they are headed. The name is a reminder that finding your way is still a form of arriving.

Honoring Richard Chorney’s Legacy

The name RLC carries a second meaning beyond the house itself. R stands for Responsibility, L for Life Skills, and C for Confidence, the very foundations young adults need as they build independent lives. RLC are also the initials of Richard Lance Chorney, President and CEO Emeritus of Grove School, whose decades of leadership helped guide the program to what it is today.

Richard’s path in this field began at 19, during a volunteer field placement required by his college coursework. That early experience led him through fourteen years at a Connecticut residential treatment center, followed by ten years as Executive Director of a large residential treatment center in New York. He arrived at Grove School in 1986 as Executive Director and, over the following decades, helped guide the school’s growth into the program it is today.

Before his retirement, Richard took a particular interest in the young adults in Grove’s care, especially those whose paths to independence were not straight lines. That focus is part of what led to both the RLC and Wayfinder names for this new program.

Richard recently joined Peter Chorney, Executive Director of Grove School, along with his other children Ivan and Saryn, to see the new sign and take part in a small building dedication. Seeing his initials on the house he helped inspire, he expressed how meaningful it is that his legacy will continue to serve young adults finding their way forward.

Grove School is grateful for Richard’s decades of guidance and is proud to carry his legacy forward through the RLC Wayfinder House.