Ever since I introduced Edutainment to Italy (thru Audioguides to top museums), I have been passionate about making education fun.
I worked with children at University, and since 2010 represent STEM exhibitions for children. In 2015, I became Director for SuperCamp Italy, and took over operations of the 10 yr program of Arte al Sole arts & cultural camps in 2017 – as we share the same passion for EduTravel as a means to forging conscious global citizens and cultural exchange.
- How and when did you camp or project start?
The Founder of Arte al Sole, Shannon Kenny started when she was living in Italy with her small girls, and there was virtually nothing creative, culturally speaking for kids to interact with such a rich cultural heritage that is Italy. Her passion for arts learning and the fact that Italy is an open-air museum, led her to start Arte al Sole and later, Soccer al Sole too!
Arte al Sole has created private tours for families and day camp programs introducing kids to all the culture, beauty and language of Italy through hands-on projects with highly trained art teachers & historians.
Over the years, we’ve held programs in Venice, Florence, Rome, Puglia and the Amalfi Coast. We have created a faithful community, with some families returning year after year; and each year we uplevel the program to bring in new ways to interact and learn about Italy, its arts & sciences, food, people, places and history.
- Where does your camp take place?
We run day camps in Florence, Lucca and Umbria in June & July while families stay onsite and enjoy their vacation, and parents get some ‘grown-up time’ while we work with their kids, introducing them to ancient cultures, symbols, and more!
- What seasons do your work?
Our private workshops, museum tours & arts projects with artisans run year round. Our daycamps run in June/July.
- How many places do you have?
We keep our programs intimate, but could take up to 25 kids 6-16.
- What language or languages do you speak in the camp?
Our programs are in English, offering some Italian language learning as well.
- What skills and knowledge do you give to children?
Kids work on various art projects that tie what they are seeing either in the City streets or the countryside with the history, symbols, or traditions of Italy.
It is an inquiry-based program, so we follow where the kids want to go with their learning, taking off from their point of view into new directions! While providing them with an indepth experience of Italy’s history and rich cultural offering.
We also offer an 8-day residential Life Skills & Learning program for kids 10+ as the Italian licensee of Quantum Learning Network (USA) SuperCamp program. Kids learn more about themselves, how to do better at school, communications & team building skills, and of course, how to tap into their critical thinking and creativity! Just like at ArtealSole.
- Please tell about timetable and the most important activities and events within a day and a program…
Our day starts either with a day trip to a museum, or castle, or in the streets to observe and learn about some of the time periods or people of the city or countryside. From the Medicis to the Etruscans and back again! Other days, we have a cooking class, make an iMovie, or work on our art projects.
- Who is your target audience?
Families who want to add a new dimension to their kids’ experiences, above and beyond their usual trip-taking.
Our families are multicultural, interested in the arts or history or the sciences, or just plain curious.
We host kids 6-16 – some older kids want to improve their artistry skills, while the younger ones get to see Italy with new eyes and really feel like they’ve learned about a place, rather than being dragged into museums or down streets, not really paying much attention to their surroundings!
- Why should parents and children prefer your camps to all others?
In Italy, it’s tough to find an English-language program that really digs deep into what kids need or want to know.
Our bilingual staff, our unique art projects, and our pedagogic methods are planned by experts in the field.
Arte al Sole doesn’t want to just keep kids busy or play – we want to inspire them to learn, absorb, and remember their experience for the rest of their lives.
- How do you test and choose your leaders, teachers?
Most of our staff are artists / art historians / educators, with a particular fondness for working with kids. All are passionate and our hosts have found, over the years, what delights kids, what stimulates their imaginations, and in what ways they can guide kids toward really interacting with Italian culture.
-What is your mission?
Our mission is to forge global citizens through educational exchange, inquiry, and creativity – as travel is one way to reach understanding of one culture, and by virtue, many others.
- How many of your clients do return?
We have about 40% return campers – they come to us one time and again until the children are grown…So now we hope they will come to SuperCamp’s Teen Success Summit and learn even more!
- Would you send your own children to your camp if you were an ordinary client?
Absolutely. Shannon started her first camp with her own two daughters and they came year after year!
We like to think that we were one of the first to come up with offering tourists and residents outstanding EXPERIENCES…before it was a “thing”! After all, experiential learning is the best way to take on new information and make lasting memories.
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