Your teen is in good hands.

Yes — and the best time to reach them is during the evening phone session, which runs every day from 18:45 to 19:45. During this window your teen has their phone back and can call, message or video chat as they like. Outside of this time, phones are kept safely in the camp office as part of the programme structure. It might feel unusual at first, but it's one of the things that makes the immersion experience work — and most teens tell us they forget to miss it.

The Welfare Officer is the first point of contact for any health concern, however minor. For anything that needs professional attention, we have established agreements with a local doctor, dentist and hospital — so we know exactly who to contact and can act quickly. A staff member always accompanies your teen to any appointment. Parents are kept informed throughout. You will receive our full emergency contact details before the camp week begins, so you always know how to reach us if you need to.

For non-urgent questions, you can email us at teenanglos@speakinitaly.com or reach us via our main office line during working hours. For anything more urgent during the camp week, we have a dedicated emergency line that is monitored around the clock — full details, including all relevant contact numbers, are sent to families before camp begins. The Camp Director is also reachable directly for anything that needs a prompt response.

The camp takes place entirely within the Valbonella site and on organised group excursions, all of which are staff-led. Participants do not go into town independently — not because of strict rules for their own sake, but because the whole programme is designed around the group being together. That's where the fun and the language learning both happen. In the evenings, once activities have finished, everyone winds down together on-site before settling in for the night.

Please let us know in advance — there is a dedicated section for dietary requirements and allergies on the application form. We pass this information to the venue catering team at Valbonella ahead of your teen's arrival so they are prepared from day one. For anything complex or severe, we recommend following up directly by email to teenanglos@speakinitaly.com so we can confirm the arrangements with you personally before camp begins.

A little homesickness in the first day or two is very common, particularly for younger participants or those attending for the first time. Our Welfare Officer checks in regularly with the whole group throughout the week. If a Teen Anglo is finding things difficult, we let the family know so everyone can talk it through together. In our experience, most teens settle in quickly once the programme gets going — the structure and the social side of camp make a big difference.