One thing we try not to do is go to crowded and expensive places during peak season, like Italy in July, but this year we went right into the eye of the storm. Lucas and Henry were accepted into the SpeakTeens Camp as Anglo Guides in Valbonella, Italy, spending the week helping Italian kids practice their English while having an unforgettable summer camp experience themselves. Several of their worldschool friends applied for the program, and they were excited that they all got in together.
For Lucas, this was his second summer as an Anglo Guide, so he knew what to expect. Henry was experiencing it all for the first time. Their days were packed with hiking, kayaking, swimming, games, and camp activities—all while speaking English with their Italian campers and helping them gain confidence in a fun, natural environment. From the little we heard, they were exhausted, busy, and having an amazing time. In fact, we barely heard from them all week, which we took as the best possible sign.
While the kids were making memories at camp, we had an adventure of our own.
We spent the week in Bologna alongside five other worldschooling families whose kids were also at camp. Our friends, the Sigstons, joined us too—even though their kids weren’t attending camp this year. One of the best parts of the week was reconnecting with several worldschool families we hadn’t seen in a long time. One of our favorite things about this community is how friendships can pick right back up, even after months or years apart.
With no camp pickups, lessons, or schedules to juggle, we had the rare chance to explore Bologna at a slower pace. The city is full of endless porticoes, beautiful piazzas, colorful buildings, and delicious food. We wandered the historic streets, had many coffee dates, searched out delicious meals, and, of course, ate an embarrassing amount of gelato. Michael also found time to play pickleball.
We visited the historic Anatomical Theatre, tucked inside the Archiginnasio, the city’s first university building. Built in 1637, this ornate wooden lecture hall was where medical students gathered to learn human anatomy through public dissections—a practice that was groundbreaking at the time. We sat in the room with our audio guides, imagining the students sitting on the wooden benches nearly four hundred years ago, learning about the human body in one of Europe’s oldest universities. We also attended a weekly language exchange meet-up where people come together to meet and practice English. We met some interesting people that night. Michael finds events like that in many of the cities we go to.
The weather, however, was relentless. Temperatures hovered around 100°F (38°C) for most of the week, making midday sightseeing a challenge. Thankfully, our Airbnb had air conditioning, giving us a cool place to escape during the hottest part of each day before heading back out in the evenings.
One of the highlights of the week was attending the outdoor film festival, Il Cinema Ritrovato, in Piazza Maggiore. Thousands of people gathered in the heart of Bologna to watch Young Frankenstein under the stars on the evening of Mel Brooks’ 100th birthday. Before the movie began, Mel Brooks sent a special birthday message to the audience in Bologna, which was shown on the giant screen, and we all made a video singing “happy birthday” that the festival sent to Mel Brooks. Watching the film in such an iconic setting, surrounded by locals and visitors alike, was a memorable experience.
We also squeezed in a couple of day trips.
One day, we took the train to Modena to visit the Ferrari Museum. Even for those who aren’t huge car enthusiasts, it was fascinating to see the history, engineering, and iconic designs that have made Ferrari one of Italy’s most recognizable brands.
Another day, we ventured to San Marino, one of the world’s smallest and oldest republics. Surrounded by Italy, San Marino has existed as an independent country since A.D. 301, making it the world’s oldest surviving republic. Perched high on Mount Titano, we walked medieval streets, climbed to the stone towers, and took in the sweeping views. We could see all the way to the Adriatic Sea. It is undeniably touristy, with souvenir shops lining many of the streets, but wandering through the historic center with friends made it a lot of fun. We even stopped in at the Museum of Curiosity, which is like a Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Michael and Dexter had a blast together that day. Michael definitely had too much coffee.
After exploring San Marino, we escaped the heat by heading down to Rimini Beach. It is a sea of beach chairs, but luckily, it was not crowded that day. I think it would be miserable to be there in the peak of summer with thousands of other people. There, we cooled off with a swim in the warm waters of the Adriatic Sea—a perfect way to end another hot Italian summer day.
As much fun as we were having, we definitely missed Lucas and Henry throughout the week. It felt strange not having them with us as we explored new places. But knowing they were making memories of their own made it easier. They were building friendships, gaining confidence, helping others learn English, and enjoying all the classic joys of summer camp.
By the end of the week, everyone had stories to tell.
The boys returned tired, happy, and full of camp adventures, and we came back with wonderful memories of Bologna, time with friends, incredible food, and a few unforgettable experiences of our own.
Sometimes worldschooling means learning together, and sometimes it means everyone comes home with a completely different story to tell.
