Terra Summer Italia is designed for young adults 11 to 14 accompanied by a parent (or a guardian, who can be a family friend, an uncle or an aunt, or a grandparent). The idea is to give people who are close an opportunity to bond and grow together outside of the traditional family setting through a fun, edifying experience in a beautiful place.

Have you ever wanted to go on a vacation but don’t want to leave your child behind? Or, have you wanted to go on a vacation with your child but couldn’t find the right special thing to do together? Have you ever yearned to share a special experience with your child but did not want to be together all the time?

Learning to cook something new to both of you is a bonding experience you will cherish for the rest of your life. Cooking teaches us to overcome fear, allows us to share vulnerability and success, and lets us experience beauty and fun. You can do all of that at Terra Summer Italia.

Parent and child will experience parts of the Terra Summer curriculum together, including gardening and cooking. This will allow you to explore common interests in greater depth and to learn to appreciate each other’s contributions. Lessons learned at Terra Summer Italia – be it those about olive oil or making pasta — will continue to inspire you back at home and spur further learning together.

Yet, you will also have time apart to give you and your child the opportunity to make new friends and to savor the experience separately: Some evenings, for example, we offer wine tastings and other adult dining experiences while children are in the company of trusted Terra Summer chaperones.

A married parent with several children can view this opportunity as a time to develop a closer relationship with one child, for example, or to experience a vacation separate from a spouse (while your husband goes camping with your son!). A divorced parent who may have limited time with a child can view it as a chance to do something special while also meeting new people and visiting a new land. All parents can view this as an opportunity to take a child somewhere beautiful to learn about a shared interest and do something fun!

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have a question about your situation and whether Terra Summer Italia is the right thing for you. Though the program is designed for middle-school students, ninth graders are we welcome if they have a genuine interest in the subject matter.

Thank you!