Are you longing for community? Spending some time together with other homeschooling and travelling families, with fun activities being organised in co-creation but also plenty of time to play and live your everyday life?
In 2026, we will once again be organising a gathering at Lake Garda. A gathering is an opportunity to meet other families with a similar lifestyle. There is no fixed programme with tightly scheduled activities. Instead, we create space for connection, spontaneous plans and shared experiences.
When?
The gathering will take place from 28 March to 25 April. You are welcome to join us for ten days or longer.
Where?
For the third time, we will be staying at Piani di Clodia, a resort with many facilities such as swimming pools, sports fields, a playground, a supermarket and direct access to Lake Garda. The resort is within walking distance of the medieval village of Lazise and several theme parks. There are several historic towns like Verona, Sirmione and Venice nearby. Verona Airport is the closest airport at a distance of 25 km. See below a few pictures of the resort and the surrounding area.
Who is it for?
For families with children of all ages who practise homeschooling in any form, such as traditional homeschooling, unschooling, roadschooling and worldschooling.
Our events attract families from many different countries, so the main language will be English. It’s easier for teens and tweens to join in if they speak at least a little English.
Please note that Piani di Clodia is a large resort. Experience has shown that this location is most suitable for families with teens and tweens, and for families with younger children who feel confident moving around the campsite independently. Think of it as a small village where you have your own place, but friends are never far away.
The ages of the children that signed up so far:
17-14-14-14-14-13-13-12-11-11-11-10-10-10-10-10-9-9-8-8-8-8-8-8-7-7-6-6-5-5-5-4-0
What are the costs?
If this is your first Exploring Families event, we ask for a participation fee of €50 – regardless of family size and length of stay.
This fee includes our support in advance of and during the gathering, our effort to get a a nice group together, and access to our dedicated Telegram group, but not your accommodation or any extras such as excursions or meals out.
Families who have joined us before don’t need to pay the participation fee.
Do you join us for the full four weeks? In that case you’ll receive an exclusive 15% discount on your pitch or free bed linen and towels if you stay in an accommodation.
Pictures
A picture is worth a thousand words, so see below some impressions of our hub at Lake Garda in September 2025.
How to join?
Joining us is easy, just follow the three steps below:
- Fill out the sign-up form below
- Pay your participation fee of €50 (if this is your first Exploring Families event) after we confirmed your registration
- Book your stay directly with the resort, you’ll receive the details on how to do so in your e-mail
We hope to see you at Lake Garda!
FAQ
Find all answers to the frequently asked questions below. Do you still have questions? Feel free to reach out! We are happy to help. You can contact us via email at italy@exploringfamilies.eu or Telegram.
How about the weather?
Spring at Lake Garda is usually lovely, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C in April.
Is the waterpark already opened?
According to the resort, there will be at least one pool opened. The opening of the waterpark is depending on weather conditions.
How to get to Lake Garda?
If you are coming by plane: The nearest airport is Verona Airport, about 25 km from the resort. There are several car rentals at the airport. There’s also a
bus connection from Verona to Lazise. There’s a bus stop right in front of the resort.
Is it necessary to rent a car?
No, not necessarily. Most activities take place at and around the resort, and there’s a small supermarket on the resort which has most basics for reasonable prices. Several theme parks and villages can be reached by foot or public transport, as well as the bigger cities. The buses can have quite some delays though.
How many families will be coming?
We’ll be keeping the group small – big enough for plenty of playmates, yet small enough for everyone to get to know each other. There’s room for 10 to 15 families.
What happens if you cancel the gathering?
If fewer than 5 families commit, we’ll cancel the gathering and refund your full participation fee. Even in that case, we’ll still be at the resort ourselves and would love to spend some fun weeks together.
In the very unlikely event that an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control forces us to cancel the gathering after all, you will of course receive a full refund of your contribution. The resort’s refund policy depends on the type of accommodation you book. You can find their policy on their website. Please note that you’ll need to contact them directly, as all bookings must be made with the park itself.
What happens if we need to cancel?
The participation fee is merely a commitment fee. There’s no refund of this fee in case you cancel.
The resort’s refund policy depends on the type of accommodation you book. You can find their policy on their website. Please note that you’ll need to contact them directly, as all bookings must be made with the park itself.
Are there accommodations available?
Yes, the resort offers lots of different types of accommodations, including glamping tents, caravans and bungalows.
Do we need to come the full four weeks?
You are welcome to join us if you stay at least 10 days. However, experience has shown that even 10 days often feels too short, so if you can stay longer… 🙂
What languages are spoken?
The main language spoken is English, so it will be easier to blend in for teens and tweens if they speak at least a little English.
What is the difference between a gathering and a hub?
During hubs, we offer planned activities on 3-4 days each week. At gatherings (like this one in Italy), we don’t offer this itinerary, and we leave it open for spontaneous meet-ups, hang outs and activities. Every family can organise activities as they please. It is our experience that a lot of activities spontaneously occur. Also, knowing ourselves and our children, we are pretty sure that we will come up with several spontaneous things, like potlucks, games, sharing circles and most likely a theme park visit as well. In fact, we have already planned a pasta and tiramisu workshop, led by Italian cooks.
Are activities obligated?
No, all activities are optional, so don’t feel obligated to visit every activity. We know how valuable it is to have a good balance between community time and personal time.
Can my child join activities by itself?
Although our gatherings are family-oriented and not drop-off gatherings, sometimes a child prefers to join certain activities on their own. If your child is responsible enough to participate without a parent and transport to the activity or excursion can be arranged, it’s absolutely fine with us. However, parents remain fully responsible for their child at all times.
Can I join communal meals with allergies/diets?
Yes, definitely. Everyone is asked to include a note with the ingredients at organised potluck meals. In our experience, there’s always a good selection of vegan, vegetarian, keto, and gluten-free options. There are even gluten-free pizzas available at the restaurant on the resort.
What's the price of the resort?
This depends on the type of accommodation and family size. Kindly check the
website of the resort for their prices. See below some sample prices for reference. These are based on a family of four: 3 persons aged 10+ and 1 person aged 1-9. Prices of the resort can be higher or lower depending on your family situation.
Campsite pitch:
2 weeks: from € 579.60 – 776.50
4 weeks: from € 1,207.43
Apartment:
2 weeks: From € 730 – 971
4 weeks: From € 1,711
These prices include electricity, hot showers and access to facilities like the swimming pools. For pitches: You’ll receive an exclusive 15% discount if you join us for the full four weeks. This discount is not visible in the booking system and will be applied on arrival.
For apartments: The costs of a final cleaning, linen and towels are not included. If you join us for the full four weeks, you’ll receive bed linen and towels in your accommodation free of charge. This is an exclusive offer for The Exploring Families and not visible in the booking system.
The sample prices of the resort are subject to change and availibilty.
Do we need to book the resort ourselves?
Yes, you need to book your accommodation directly at the resort. You can do so after we have confirmed your spot, and will send you the details on how to book your stay. We are happy to help if needed.
What's the price of the pasta & tiramisu workshop?
The pasta & tiramisu workshop costs 75 euro per person for adults, 50 euro per child (8-17 years old) and 30 euro per child (3-7 years old). The workshop has to be reserved in advance as it has limited availability. You’ll receive details on how to sign up when we confirm your reservation. The workshop will take place on 16 April at an authentic Italian home cooking school.
Can we decide last minute?
Technically, yes (up to 14 days before the gathering starts)… but the gathering has limited spots, as we aim to keep the group small enough to know everyone. Last gathering at Lake Garda was fully booked pretty fast. So, it might be wise to book earlier.
