Learning becomes a travel journey where:
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Sharing ideas, challenges and experience is encouraged.
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Educational exchange is balanced with time to pursue moments of solo discovery.
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A comfortable retreat setting and outdoor environment bring energy to the dialogue.
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Engaging with other participants and the local community engenders new friendships and
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relationships.
Educational travel designed for:
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Emerging to seasoned leaders, who work or have worked in the field of education.
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Those seeking an authentic and transformative program.
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Travellers who appreciate the slower rhythm of small Italian towns.
Our October 2026 Facilitators:
Alison Maher, Visionary Director and Andrea Sisbarro, Advisor to the Team of Directors, Boulder Journey School, Boulder, CO www.boulderjourneyschool.com
Educational Leadership:
Embracing a Strong Image of the School as a
Significant Feature in Society
October 10-15, 2026
The focus of this retreat is to challenge outdated leadership practices and systems within schools and to envision new forms of leadership that can help to re-shape the field of Early Childhood Education. The retreat will address personal, professional and political issues in our field and will offer time and space to innovate new solutions to positively impact both school and society.
During this retreat, we will socially construct answers to the following questions:
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What are the current complexities of school leadership?
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How can we leverage our school and local communities to increase quality within our schools?
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How do we create shared expectations surrounding collaboration, communication and professional growth within our organizations?
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Are we comfortable as leaders with evolution and reinvention? When and how do we embrace change?
Scicli, Sicily, is our newest destination in the series, Learning Together in a Special Place.
Each retreat offers small-group professional development, along with access to local sites, artisans, and regional cuisine, made possible through a partnership with Italy travel expert Luisa Donati.
We will visit nearby cultural treasures, including Catania, Ortigia, the seaside fishing village of Marzamemi, and the historic towns of Noto and Modica.
The welcoming town of Scicli is located in the Province of Ragusa in southeast Sicily.
A UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its Baroque architecture and Mediterranean charm.
Embrace this opportunity to step outside your daily routine and return revitalized, equipped with fresh strategies and new perspectives that will benefit your educational community.
" I can't recommend this transformative retreat enough. This opportunity was masterfully crafted to enhance every facet of my professional and personal self. The retreat’s emphasis on self-care, self-awareness, best practices, and building collegial relationships among esteemed colleagues was incredibly rejuvenating. Learning from the best in the field, the insights gathered are priceless. The innovative approaches and the chance to collaborate at such a high level truly set this retreat apart. I am empowered to lead with inquiry and intention and to embrace my truth as an educator (not just my capacity). Don't miss out—sign up today and experience this extraordinary journey for yourself! "
- Hilary Odoy
Attended June 2024 Retreat led by Alison and Andrea
Registration, Payment & Deposit
Registration Fee: $3,150 USD per person
Deposit: $750 USD required upon registration
Final Payment Due: August 1, 2026
*** If the exchange rate is higher than 1.20 USD to the Euro at the time of final payment, an adjustment will be made to the balance due.
Register as soon as possible to secure your space. Group size is limited (maximum of 3 per school/organization).
Accommodations
Exclusive single-room accommodations have been arranged at Palazzo Favacchio - Patanè, through Scicli Albergo Diffuso
Please Note: Our retreats are intentionally kept small, limited to a maximum of 16 participants. Sleeping arrangements, group transportation, shared meals and local excursions are also designed for this small group size. If you plan to travel with family or friends, we kindly ask that you arrange to meet before or after the retreat so you can fully immerse yourself in this shared experience.
Activity Level: To fully enjoy this retreat, it’s important to feel confident in your mobility. Activities include walking, sometimes on uneven terrain, stairs, and getting in and out of a bus. While the pace is never overly strenuous, you must be able to keep up with the group unassisted. Please inform us of any mobility issues before signing up. You will be assisted with transporting your luggage, but our accommodations are located in a former Palazzo with no elevator, so getting to your room will involve using stairs.
What’s Included:
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Transportation from Catania to Scicli on Saturday, October 10th, and return to Catania Airport on Thursday, October 15th.
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5 Night single room accommodations at Palazzo Favacchio - Patanè, through Scicli Albergo Diffuso.
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Daily professional development sessions and excursions.
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5 Breakfast. 5 Lunches. 4 Dinners.
Daily Itinerary
Our professional development meetings will be held in one of the common areas at Palazzo Favacchio.
Access to local sites, artisans, and regional cuisine is possible through a partnership with Italy travel expert Luisa Donati. Together with Angela Ferrario, series organizer, they will introduce you to everyday life in the town of Scicli and the surrounding area.
The itinerary may be subject to slight changes.
Saturday
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Transportation from Catania to Scicli
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Stop for lunch on the island of Ortigia
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Welcome Apericena in Scicli
Sunday
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8:00-9:30: Breakfast
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Opening Session
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Sunday lunch in seaside fishing village of Marzamemi with stop in town of Noto
Mon, Tues, Wed
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8:00-9:30: Breakfast
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Daily group lunch and dinner
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Blocks of time for professional development sessions and meetings with local artisans, including:
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Food walking tour around Scicli with Emilia
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Chocolate making workshop with Elisa in Modica, famous all over the world for its ancient chocolate recipes
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Print making with Loredana at her shop in Scicli
Thursday
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Morning departure after breakfast
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Transfer from Scicli to Catania Airport
Flight Arrangements
Participants are responsible for booking their own flight to Catania, Italy.
The group will be transported from the meeting point in Catania to Scicli on Saturday, October 10 and returned to Catania Airport on Thursday, October 15, 2026
Required Documents
All U.S. Citizens require a passport valid for at least 6 months after their return date to the U.S. (For example, if you are departing from Italy on October 15, 2026, your passport must be valid through April 15, 2027.) If you are applying for or renewing a passport, plan accordingly and apply well in advance. Non-U.S. citizens should check entry and visa requirements.
"The respect for each individual was tangible and with that, we grew to be a community that shared interconnected visions of growing leadership complete with all the emotions that come with embracing multiple contexts and individual perspectives as we embraced, sometimes reluctantly, our life's journey.
I appreciated the pre-trip zooms for organized planning and meeting each other and receiving the reading material ahead of time. The pace of our days together hit all the marks. We had ample time to adjust for jet lag and a variety of ways and times to build relationships and reflect together through both play and work all of which, along with the amazing food and drink, nourished our bodies and souls. I am grateful to myself for saying "yes!" to this privileged opportunity and even more grateful that you offered it. I walked away with a fresh new perspective and am still reaping the benefits of our time together, speaking often to colleagues about the powers of being proactive in our own growing process, specifically, a deeper understanding of our own context in relation to others, parents as well as teachers."
- Roleen Heimann
Attended June 2024 Retreat led by Alison and Andrea
We have reached full capacity for the 2024 Mercatello Leadership Retreats and appreciate the excitement about travelling to Mercatello sul Metauro for the Leadership Retreats.
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We have reached full capacity for 2025...
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