World Bound Young Adult: Italy

A Gen Z-inspired sustainable backpacking experience that combines adventure travel, climate education, and incredible culture and cuisine.

There are a lot of misconceptions about who Gen Z is and what they want. That’s why we went to the source, consulting our Gen Z employees, campers, and community members about what they needed from a travel adventure that doesn’t avoid the topic of climate change and sustainability. For a while, we just listened and learned.

We learned that Gen Z wants opportunities to enjoy unique travel adventures that get them off the beaten path and let them become immersed in the communities they feel connected to. We learn that Gen Z wants to build relevant – not just ‘employable’ – skills and engage with mentors that are actually working on solutions to the world’s problems. Most importantly, we learned that Gen Z are the generation that cares most deeply about climate education and is most appalled at how detached our society seems from the reality of climate change.

Well, we like what we’ve learned, so Fireside Adventures is doubling down on Gen Z and shifting to providing experiences, adventures, and learning opportunities for you. At Fireside, Gen Z are seen, heard, and believed. If we’re not walking the talk, make sure to let us know. We want you to be a part of what we do, and we want to be part of what you do. 

Why Italy and why World Bound? Read on to find out.

Itinerary and Trip Details
Packing List

DATES
Aug 1–21, 2024 (21 days)

AGES
19–30 (co-ed)

LOCATIONS
Venice, Parco delle Dolomiti D'Ampezzo - Cortina, Parco regionale del fiume Sile, Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi, Venezia e la sua Laguna (Venice’s North Lagoon), The River Piave, Treviso

PRICES (EUR)
Regular Price: €4899 + tax
Deposit: €500.00 EUR + tax

FREE 1-year Duke of Edinburgh’s Award membership package ($600 value) through Vancouver Outdoor School included with all World Bound trips (participants under 24 are eligible).

Includes:
– Pre-camp video check-in,
– 24-7 supervision
– Land transportation
– Tent, dorm, and mountain hut accommodation
– Canyoning, mountain biking, and canoeing experiences
– Most meals
– World Bound Curriculum workshops
– World Bound Certificate of Completion and t-shirt
– Post-course follow-up
Does not include: Flights, airport pick-up and drop-off (75 EUR charge per person), and anything not mentioned above.

More info: office@firesideadventures.ca

Creating better adventure based young people’s experiences

“When I was younger, I went on a guided tour through Italy. As a fan of good food, history, and exploration, I was incredibly excited. I imagined two weeks in Italy trying authentic Italian cuisine, marvelling at ancient architecture, and exploring beautiful Mediterranean landscapes. Unfortunately, the tour experience wasn’t what I’d imagined. For instance, I hadn’t imagined eating the worst pizza I’d ever had at tour company-affiliated restaurants. I also hadn’t imagined sweating in long lines only to be rushed through crowded tourist destinations. And I definitely hadn’t imagined watching the landscape fly past through a bus window as we tried to see a new city every day. To be honest, it was the opposite of what I’d wanted: an authentic, enriching Italy experience. And that’s what’s so exciting about World Bound. We’ve designed a one-of-a-kind backpacking adventure that allows others to experience Italy like I never did. With World Bound Italy, we skip the lines and buses and create lifelong memories of eating cicchetti in a hole-in-the-wall bàcaro along Venice’s canals, listening to wind and birdsong while hiking in the Dolomites’ high peaks, and feeling the Mediterranean sun warm your skin as we canoe the ancient Piave River. It’s an experience that both my younger self and my current self would be thrilled to go on!”

– Ethan Barnes, Fireside Instructor and Lead Writer

Travel experiences that mean something

World Bound is about three things: creating authentic off-the-beaten-path adventures, providing a supportive space for young people to connect with peers and learn about themselves, and practicing sustainable travel with the purpose of learning about climate change and giving back to the communities we visit. Basically, World Bound is our answer to the question “What happens if you combine a kick-ass travel experience with an authentic commitment to sustainable travel and climate change education?” With World Bound Italy, you won’t just get an excellent food and culture experience, you’ll also gain a unique perspective by going places most tourists don’t go, form close connections with local Italian people, and gain hands-on experience with climate activism on Italian soil. If that catches your interest, you might just be the adventurer activist we’re looking for. Read on to learn the details. If there’s one thing we can promise, there’s no one else out there doing what we do.

Experiences you won’t want to miss:

• Trek, cycle, and canoe through Italy’s most spectacular landscapes. We will start from the high peaks of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site and reach the sandy beaches of the Adriatic Sea, exploring Northern Italy’s diverse ecosystems along the way.

• Experience the best of Italy’s history and culture, from cuisine and canals of Venice to the open-air museums and rustic hospitality of rural Italy.

• Test your strength, balance, and teamwork while canyoning through the mountains’ gorges to discover breathtaking waterfalls while exploring the geological eras of the Veneto region.

• Learn how to take climate action and protect the environment by participating in projects for the conservation of biodiversity alongside citizen scientist and government researchers.

• Explore sustainability in your food choices by eating a 100% locally sourced diet and learning how to make gourmet meals with sustainable ‘Trek’n Eat’ food.

• See first-hand the effects of climate change on the fauna of the River Piave – with over 300 species seriously affected – and the North Venezia Lagoon, one of the Mediterranean’s biggest wetlands and part of the “Venezia e la sua Laguna” UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

• Complete a life-changing 12-hour solo experience without technology, distractions, or non-essential contact with anyone else. Just you, your reflections, and a breathtaking view of the natural landscapes.

• Build lasting cross-cultural relationships with our group of eco-travellers. Together, we will collaborate and bond through exploration, self-discovery, and challenge.

Venice, City of Masks

This iconic city of winding canals and ancient charm, offers a starting point for adventure unlike any other. Discover vibrant markets, historic landmarks like St. Mark's Basilica, and enjoy a gondola ride through picturesque waterways. With art, culture, and gelato around every corner, Venice promises an unforgettable summer experience and the perfect way to begin our journey together.

The Dolomites

These are the mountains of Cortina d’Ampezzo, known throughout the world by both mountaineers and luxury tourists for their stunning vistas, thriving wildlife, and historical significance as a theatre of many of the most terrible battles during WW1. The landscape
includes the view of the most famous Dolomiti peaks, Tofana di Rozes, Civetta, Antelao, Pelmo,
Marmolada .

The Piave River

This winding river – sacred to the homeland – is one of Italy’s most scenic, historically significant and exploited rivers. Once the main trade route from the Dolomiti to Venezia, with hundreds of rafts sailing its waters weekly, it is now the site of major hydroelectric damming. This is also the river that feeds the famous North Venezia Lagoon, disappearing underground before returning into the sunlight as the mouth of the Sile River regional park.

The North Venezia Lagoon

This lagoon is part of the “Venezia e la sua Laguna”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, considered to be one of the Mediterranean’s biggest wetland. This lagoon has an ancient history, much older than the city built upon it, and is an ephemeral and ever-changing place. Sadly, it is also an ecological corridor in the grip of land consumption, where the effects of climate change are being felt more and
more strongly.

Climate Activist Specialization: The Guerrilla Climate Scientist

Climate activism and research is built upon the grass-roots efforts of the citizen scientist. During this expedition, we will learn the ins-and-outs of being a Guerrilla Climate Scientist, working with several volunteer associations dedicated to environmental protection and ecosystem preservation. This work will give young adults the opportunity to connect with climate activist, researchers, and leaders in Italy’s Green Transition and Sustainable Development Goals while gaining insight into the challenge of true climate activism. Some volunteer opportunities include:

• River and water protection activism: create a short documentary about the condition of the Piave River in August, usually the driest month of the year, to help local activists spread their message internationally.

• Wildlife monitoring and citizen science: Monitor the presence of more than 300 species and habitats along the River, to create data for some of the most prominent citizen science platforms in Italy and in Europe. Consult with local researchers and activists along the way.

• Maintenance of historically and culturally significant sites: we will be travelling through regions that are famous as ancient Venetian trade routes, and as Italy’s front line during WW1. Most of these sites are open-air museums maintained by local volunteer groups who we will help maintain these heritage sites.

Pillar 1: Integrating Climate Change Principles and Perspectives

• Intercultural: Find the meeting point between European and North American perspectives

• Historical: Compare and contrast ancient and modern Italian views on the natural world

• Grass-roots and governmental: Gain insight into both citizen science and institutional approaches to climate research and activism

Pillar 2: Exploring Real-world Environments

• Mountain environments: The Dolomites

• Coastal environments: The Adriatic Sea and the Venice Lagoon 

• River environments: The Piave and Sile Rivers.

• Urban environments: Venice and Treviso

Pillar 3: Volunteering and Connecting within Communities

• Work with Italian activists to create a short documentary about the Piave River

• Help an international citizen science platform create data about ecosystem health

• Assist a community volunteer group maintain historically and culturally significant site

Pillar 4: Strengthening Life, Social, and Leadership Skills

• Environmental data collections skills and carbon footprint calculation

• Documentary-making

• Outdoor leadership training through group activities

• Navigation and risk-management skills through canyoning and canoeing

• Sustainable and gourmet cooking lessons

• Social-emotional learning and reflection through journalling and a 12-hour solo experience

Meet your instructors:

Pillar 5: Sustaining Climate Action through Solution-focused Approaches

• Connection to an international network of citizen scientists and activists

• Membership in the World Bound Climate Ambassador community

• Year-round participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (which supports climate action)

• Membership in the Vancouver Outdoor School Youth Network

• Internships as a climate ambassador and mentor in local sustainable businesses and future expeditions

Margherita Macchi

Learn more about the team

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