Are you traveling to Italy this summer and wondering if there are any summer camps your kids can participate in? Or maybe you’re an Italian resident and you’re exhausted searching for a summer camp for your child.
Unfortunately, most summer camps in Italy are advertised by word-of-mouth, paper flyers handed out at school or a few posters hung up around town.
Another mom and I were discussing how nice it would be to gather all the options in one place. So… here you go! This is by no means an exhaustive list – I’ll keep adding as I hear about more camps.
2024 Update: Beginning last year, there has been an ‘explosion’ of new camps available online. My guess is that these camps aren’t brand new, but it’s the first time they’re advertising online. Please see my notes below on how to search online for summer camps in Italy, because the list below is just a sampling of summer camps available in Italy.
DISCLAIMER: I’m not associated with any of these camps, and I don’t know them all personally. You’ll need to do your own research and due diligence.
If you’re planning on calling the camp, check out our post on How To Call Italy from the USA (or Canada).
If you have a camp you’d like to add to the list, please send it to candice [at] mominitaly [.] com and I’ll post it. Include the camp’s name, location, contact info, and anything else that’s nice to know about it. Grazie!
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Summer Camp in Italian
As you’re researching camps, you’ll see the term centro estivo. It’s the term for ‘summer camp’ in Italian. The plural is centri estivi.
How To Choose a Summer Camp in Italy
When looking at Italian summer camps, you’ll want to take note of:
- Dates – Typically run in June, July, and August
- Activities – Multiple or focused on one activity
- Day or Overnight
- Number of Campers
- Ages – Are they grouped by age
- Languages Spoken – English, Italian, both
- Concentration of Activity – For example, if it’s a ‘basketball camp,’ do they play basketball all day, or just for an hour each morning?
- Makeup of campers – Italian children, international children
Italy Summer Camp Activities
You’ll find a variety of activities at summer camps throughout the country, including:
- soccer – calcio
- basketball – basket
- volleyball – pallavolo
- swimming – nuoto
- theatre – teatro
- technology, videogames, robotics – tecnologia, videogiochi, robotica
- academic – academico
- sailing – vela
- windsurfing – windsurf
- mixed activity – varie attività
- arts & crafts – arte
- science – scienza
- Italian language – lingua italiana
- English language – lingua inglese
Italy Summer Camps – English or Italian?
One of the main things you need to decide on is whether you want your child to attend a camp in English or Italian.
English Language Camps in Italy
English language camps are typically created to help Italian children learn English. While some may be full immersion, most are camps that offer part of the day in English. So, if your child does not speak any Italian, he/she will be exposed to it for some (or in some cases, most) of the day.
There are many camps with English language options available in Italy because Italian parents want their children to learn English. It’s worth asking the camp how many hours per day will be in English, and if there are any other stranieri (foreigners) attending the camp.
Camps that Use Italian as the Main Language
Most summer camps in Italy use the Italian language. If you want your child to have an immersive experience, these are your best options because he/she will be surrounded by Italian all day.
I’ve been asked if this is a good way to learn Italian. While I’m not a language expert, I would say this is very dependent on the child. For example, I could see sending my outgoing 2.5 year old to summer camp in a new language, but my 9-year-old would be less than thrilled (although could probably be convinced if he had some language lessons before the camp).
So, it’s important to ask which language the camp uses (and if multiple, how many hours per day for each one?).
How to Search Online for Italian Summer Camps
While I’ve listed some Italian summer camps below, you can find what you’re looking for by using a simple search of the type of camp, location, and date:
‘centro estivo’ + ‘basket’ + ‘roma’ + ‘2023’ will search for basketball summer camps in Rome in 2023
You may also want to try ‘centri estivi’ (plural for summer camps, and may give different search results).
Other useful search vocabulary:
- campi estivi – another way to say summer camps
- bambini – children
- età – age
- 5 anni – 5 years old (replace number with your child’s age)
- giugno – June
- luglio – July
- agosto – August
- residenziale – residential (camp)
- giornaliero – daytime (camp)
Italy-Wide Summer Camps in 2024
AC Milan Junior Camps (Soccer) – 2024
Location: Cities Nation-wide
Phone: +39 055.8050038
Website: https://www.acmilan.com/en/academy/milan-junior-camp/city-camp
Info: the professional soccer team offers week-long day camps; for ages 6-17; the program also offers residential and girls-only camps
WWF Travel Summer Camps
Location: Nation-wide
Phone: +39 06.85376501
Website: https://www.wwftravel.it/campiestivi/
Email: info@wwftravel.it
Info: day camps and overnight camps; for ages 7-17; huge selection of nature camps with a variety of activities including hiking, horseback riding, camping, cycling, sailing, English language
Emilia Romagna Summer Camps in 2024
Location: Bagno di Romagna (Forlì) with a private coach leaving from Bologna each week
Phone: +39 3381052981
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082847142086
Email: englishsummercampitaly@gmail.com
YouTube: https://youtu.be/lzY81GEajXM?feature=shared
Info: Full-Emersion English Camp with American Staff which includes: Adventure park (ropes courses and zip-Lines), Nature walks to Indian Village, Swimming Pool, Camp Fire and roasting marshmallows, Cooking Labs, Art Labs, Theater, Dance, Volleyball, Soccer/Football and other Games and Sports. Final show for parents on the last day. Full immersion week-long overnight camps for Tweens ages 10-13. €490 week Monday-Saturday (6 days-5 nights) includes Room and Board and all activities. Transport cost is extra.
Maker DOJO Summer Technology Camp
Location: Montecreto
Email: info@makerdojo.it
Website: https://summercamp.makerdojo.it/
Info: for ages 8-17; 8-day/7-night camps with a focus on technology; also offering a camp in the Aosta Valley in northern Italy
Puglia Summer Camps in 2024
Trulli School Italian Language Camp
Location: Castione della Presolana
Email: info@trullischool.com
Website: https://www.trullischool.com/2023-italian-summer-camp/
Info: for ages 14-17; 2-week overnight camp with language lessons, excursions, cooking classes, and more; July & August; from €1850
Lombardy Summer Camps in 2024
International Camp Sancelso
Location: Castione della Presolana
Phone: +39 055.8050038
Website: https://www.internationalcamp.it/en/
Info: for ages 6-17; activities include sport, adventure, nature and culture; week-long overnight camps; multi-week and sibling discounts
Design, Fashion & Design Summer Camp
Location: Milan
Phone: +39 02872581
Website: https://www.internationalschoolofmilan.it/en/camps/summer-camp
Info: for ages 13-17; day and overnight camps for 2 week sessions
Piedmont Summer Camps in 2024
Italiano Porticando Summer City Camp
Location: Turin
Phone: +39 011.5187078
Email: info@italianoporticando.com
Website: www.italianoporticando.com
Info: for ages 7-18; week-long Italian language day camps or language courses that include exploration of Turin and music component
Tuscany Summer Camps in 2024
Centri Estivi dello Sport
Location: Barberino Tavarnelle
Phone: +39 055.8050038
Email: info@polisportivatavarnelle.it
Info: week-long camps
Canadian Island Summer Camps
Location: Florence & Tuscany
Website: https://www.canadianisland.com/en/summer-camp-daily-and-residential-in-tuscany-italy/
Info: for ages 3-17; various programs including day camps, overnight camps ages 8+, teen overnight camps
International School of Florence Summer Camp
Location: Florence
Phone: +39 055.2001515
Website: https://www.isfitaly.org/experience/isf-summer-camp
Email: summercamp@isfitaly.org
Info: for ages 4-10; various programs; week-long day camps
Labsitters English Language Camp
Location: Florence
Phone: +39 055.0107227
Website: https://centriestiviperbambini.it/en/home/
Email: info@labsitters.com
Info: for ages 3-15; various programs; day camps; multiple locations in Florence, Bologna, Milan
Florence Bilingual School Preschool Summer Camp
Location: Florence
Website: https://www.florencebilingualschool.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Summer-camp_infanzia_EX_ENG.pdf
Info: week-long day camps for preschoolers
Florence Art Camp, Lucca Art Camp
Location: Florence
Phone: +39 342.6211628
Email: info@artealsole.com
Info: for ages 6-12; half-day and week-long camps
Campo Estivo Estate in Volo (Flying Camp)
Location: Florence
Phone: +39 342.6211628
Website: www.aeronauticofirenze.it
Info: for ages 11-16; three week-long camps; fly drones, a small plane, use the flight simulator, and more
ASD Montesport Centri Estivi Sportivi
Location: Montespertoli
Phone: +39 0571.671147
Email: info@coop21.it
Info: week-long camps; ages 3-11; sibling discount
Green Energy Camp
Location: Palazzuolo Sul Senio
Phone: +39 055.8046430
Website: https://www.gecamp.com/ragazzo/gren-energy-camp-estate/
Info: week-long outdoor/nature camps for ages 11-16; sibling and returning camper discounts
La Botte Centro Estivo Sportivo
Location: San Casciano Val di Pesa
Phone: +39 347.8020.668
Website: https://gsvlabotte.it/acitivities/la-botte-summer-camp/
Info: week-long day camps; sibling discount
Campi Estivi Canottieri San Miniato
Location: San Miniato (Lago di Roffia)
Phone: +39 349.7818.829
Website: www.canottierisanminiato.it/campisolari
Info: rowing day camps; other activities too like drawing, ping pong, and table games
New Oxford School English Summer Camp
Location: Siena
Phone: +39 0577.281907
Website: https://www.thenewoxfordschool.it/summer-english-campi-estivi-siena#1522022305580-2a051004-9a5d
Info: English language day camps for ages 6-11; mix of native Italian and English-speaking children
Green Summer School
Location: Siena (Castelnuovo Berardenga)
Phone: +39 0577.573086
Website: https://chiantiriding.it/settimane-a-cavallo/i-centri-estivi/
Info: Horseback riding, art, and English week-long day camps for ages 6-14; overnight option also available
Lead Institute Summer Camp
Location: Siena
Phone: +39 351.9215494
Website: https://www.leadeduinstitute.it/campusestivi
Info: Week-long day camps for ages 6-10; mostly in English
Campi Solari
Location: Siena
Phone: +39 0577.52341
Website: https://campisolaricussiena.it/
Info: Week-long day camps for ages 6-12; sports and English
Heading to Tuscany before or after summer camp? You may want to check out our posts:
Things to Do in Tuscany
Lucca With Kids
Montalcino With Kids
Siena with Kids
Renting a Car in Florence, Italy
70+ Things to Do in Tuscany with Kids
Umbria Summer Camps in 2024
Umbria Art & Soccer Camp
Location: Panicale
Email: info@artealsole.com
Info: full day
Summer Camp Jobs in Italy
If you’re hoping to get a job at an Italian summer camp, contact the camp directly. You will probably be required to have authorization to work in Italy. English-language skills are valuable, as many expat campers speak English and often Italian parents want their children to have exposure to English if possible.
There are programs like Go Overseas that help facilitate the process.
Summer Camps in Italy FAQ
Summer camps in Italy tend to fill up quickly, as working Italian parents need a place to send their kids! Many moms I know book camps for the entire summer to keep their kids busy while they’re at work. Reserve your spot as soon as you’re able to.
It depends on the camp your child will be attending. If the camp’s language is Italian (only), then it would be helpful to know some basic Italian.
The key is finding something your teen is interested in. There are plenty of programs for high-school age students during the summer – art history camps, sports camps, Italian language camps… Take some time to speak to your teen about the Italian summer camp possibilities.
