A 6-week worldschooling gathering at Lake Garda for homeschooling, unschooling, roadschooling and worldschooling families. Stay for 4 weeks or longer, build lasting friendships and enjoy everyday life together with like-minded families from different countries at Piani di Clodia.
Do you sometimes miss having a community while travelling and wish you could spend more time with families who share your lifestyle? A place where children can build lasting friendships, parents can connect with like-minded people, and everyone can enjoy everyday life together? With fun activities organised in co-creation, plenty of time for spontaneous plans and play, and the opportunity to build friendships that last beyond a single gathering?
In 2027, we’re continuing this journey at Lake Garda with our longest gathering yet. Over the course of six weeks, families have time to get to know each other beyond first impressions, develop their own rhythms together and build friendships naturally. Some families return, bringing familiar faces and friendships that continue to grow, while new families join and become part of the mix. There’s no fixed programme packed with scheduled activities. Instead, we create space for shared experiences, spontaneous plans and everyday moments that bring people together.
When?
The gathering will take place from Saturday 20 March to Saturday 1 May 2027. You are welcome to join us for four weeks or longer.
Where?
For the fourth time, we are 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 and cities like Verona, Sirmione and Venice nearby. Verona Airport is the closest airport, at a distance of 25 km.
See below for some 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, or are planning to do so.
Our gatherings are especially geared towards families with teens and tweens who travel and want to give both their children and themselves the opportunity to build friendships that last beyond our gatherings, as we are slowly growing into a small travelling village with a nice mix of new families and families who have met before.
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.
Our gatherings are both suitable for those travelling by houses and those roadschooling. You can bring your own camping gear (camper, caravan, tent) and book a pitch, or rent one of the many accommodation options available at Piani di Clodia.
Please note that Piani di Clodia is a large resort. Experience has shown that the resort 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.
There is room for about 15 families, big enough for plenty of playmates, yet small enough for everyone to get to know each other. Most spots will be reserved for families with teens and tweens, and for families who join us for the full 6 weeks.
As an indication, these are the ages of the children that signed up for last year’s edition:
17-15-14-14-14-13-12-12-11-11-11-11-10-10-10-10-9-9-9-9-9-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-7-7-6-6-6-6-5-5-4-3-2
What are the costs?
We ask for a participation fee of €220 (€110 for early birds) regardless of family size and length of stay. Families who have joined at least one of our events in 2026 and stayed for at least the minimum stay don’t need to pay the participation fee.
This fee is merely a commitment fee. It includes our support before and during the gathering, our efforts to bring a nice group of families together, and access to our dedicated Telegram group, but not your accommodation or any extras such as excursions or meals out. The fee must be paid within 7 days after we have confirmed your spot and is non-refundable, unless, of course, we need to cancel the gathering, in which case you will receive a full refund of the participation fee.
The cost of accommodation at the resort, optional excursions (such as theme park visits) and such are not included. Piani di Clodia offers families staying 4 weeks or longer with us an exclusive 10% discount on their pitch or free initial supply of bed linen and towels if you stay in an accommodation.
Pictures
A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are some impressions from one of our earlier gatherings at Lake Garda.
How to join?
Registration will open once we have finalised the last details with the resort and bookings for next season are open. We expect this to be sometime in the last quarter of this year. 🙂
Would you like to be among the first to know when registration opens? Then please fill out the form below, and you’ll receive an e-mail once we are ready to open registration. Just to be clear: this is not a registration form and does not guarantee you a spot.
FAQ
Find answers to the most 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.
What is the weather like at Lake Garda in spring?
Spring at Lake Garda is usually lovely, with temperatures already ranging from 15°C to 25°C in April.
How do you get to the Lake Garda gathering?
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.
Do you need a car when staying at Piani di Clodia?
No, not necessarily. Most activities take place at and around the resort, and there’s a small supermarket at the resort which has most basics for reasonable prices. Several theme parks and villages, as well as the bigger cities, can be reached on foot, by bike or by public transport. The buses can be quite delayed, though.
What languages are spoken at the Lake Garda gathering?
The main language spoken is English, so it will be easier to join in for teens and tweens if they speak at least a little English.
How many families can join the Lake Garda gathering?
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 about 15 families. Most of the spots are reserved for families who join us for the full six weeks and who have teens and tweens. A limited number of spots is available for families with shorter stays.
What accommodation is available at Piani di Clodia?
The resort offers lots of different types of accommodation, including glamping tents, caravans and bungalows.
How much does accommodation at Piani di Clodia cost?
This depends on the type of accommodation and family size. Please check
the resort’s website for their prices. See below for some sample prices for reference. These are based on a family of four: 3 persons aged 10+ and 1 person aged 1-9. Prices at the resort can be higher or lower depending on your family situation.
Campsite pitch:
2 weeks: from €776.50
4 weeks: from €1,207.43
Apartment:
2 weeks: From €971
4 weeks: From € 1,711
These prices include electricity, hot showers and access to facilities like the swimming pools. Tourist tax is not included in above prices.
Additionally, Piani di Clodia offers the below exclusive perks for The Exploring Families. Those perks are not visible in the booking system and we will make sure that they are applied on your booking.
For pitches: You’ll receive an exclusive 10% discount if you join us for at least four weeks. This discount is not visible in the booking system and will be applied on arrival.
For apartments: You’ll receive an initial supply of bed linen and towels in your accommodation free of charge with stays of four weeks or longer.
The sample prices of the resort are subject to change and availability, and are based on the 2026 season.
Do families need to book their accommodation themselves?
Yes, you need to book your accommodation directly at the resort. Once we have confirmed your spot, we will send you all the details you need to book your stay. We are happy to help if needed.
Do families need to stay for the full six weeks?
You are welcome to join us if you stay at least 4 weeks. However, experience has shown that even 4 weeks often feels too short, so if you can stay longer… 🙂
Can families stay outside Piani di Clodia and join the gathering during the day?
No, families cannot stay elsewhere and join the gathering during the day. It is our experience that especially kids miss out on too much fun when their family stays somewhere else. It also works best for the group dynamics if every family stays at the same resort.
Can we invite family or friends to visit us during the gathering?
You are of course welcome to have family or friends visit you during your stay. However, if they would like to participate in the gathering or join our group activities, please discuss this with us beforehand. They can only participate with our prior agreement. This helps us maintain the group dynamics and ensure that the gathering remains a good fit for everyone.
What is the difference between a gathering and a hub?
During our hubs, we offer planned activities on 3-4 days each week. At gatherings (like this one in Italy), we don’t have a fixed programme, and instead leave things open for spontaneous meet-ups, hangouts 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’re pretty sure we’ll come up with plenty of spontaneous things, like potlucks, games, sharing circles and definitely one or more visits to a theme park. In fact, we are already looking into baking workshops, led by Italian cooks, and Italian language classes.
Is the gathering suitable for every child?
Our gatherings tend to work best for teens and tweens who can communicate comfortably in English, and for younger children who feel confident moving around the campsite independently.
As we bring together families who share everyday life and activities in a community setting, it is essential that children are generally able to recognise and respect other people’s boundaries. Our gatherings are not a good fit for children (and adults) who consistently struggle to respect others’ boundaries, or whose behaviour might seriously disrupt the group or affect the safety and wellbeing of others.
If you’re unsure whether the gathering would be a good fit for your family, please contact us beforehand.
Are activities mandatory?
No, all activities are optional. We know how valuable it is to have a good balance between community time and personal time.
Is the waterpark at Piani di Clodia open in spring?
In previous years, there was at least one pool open. The opening of the waterpark depends on weather conditions.
Can families join communal meals if they have allergies or dietary requirements?
Yes, definitely. Everyone is asked to include a list of 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.
Can children join activities on their own?
Although our gatherings are family-oriented and not drop-off events, 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 we join the Lake Garda gathering at the 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 for everyone to get to know each other. Our previous gatherings at Lake Garda filled up pretty quickly. So it might be wise to book earlier.
What happens if we need to cancel?
The participation fee is merely a commitment fee. This fee is non-refundable if 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.
What happens if the Lake Garda gathering gets cancelled?
If fewer than 5 families commit to joining, 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 months 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 participation fee. 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.
If we cancel the gathering, we are not responsible for any accommodation costs, cancellation fees or other costs that you incur, or for any amounts that the resort does not refund. Any refund relating to your accommodation is solely subject to the resort’s own booking and cancellation policy.
