Inside the Boundless Life Kotor Education Center: What Families Need to Know

We’re a week and a half into our Boundless Life Kotor cohort, and our satisfaction with the Education Center, known as the “EC,” has only grown. Our children wake up energized, walk home bubbling with stories about their day, and even wish they could go to school on the weekends. Just today, when I arrived to pick up our 9 year old, her teacher asked if she was ready to go, and she said no. That has never happened in all her years from kindergarten through third grade. Watching that kind of joy unfold has been the best confirmation that this journey is exactly where we are meant to be!

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If you missed our first Boundless Life Kotor post, Our Honest First Impression as a Worldschooling Family, that’s where we share what it was like arriving in Montenegro, settling into our new home, and sending our kids off for their very first day at the EC.

In this post, you’ll discover:

• What learning looks like at the EC
• What supplies you’ll actually need
• How culture, safety, and connection come together
• Answers to the most common questions families ask before joining Boundless Life

Now let’s dive in!

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A Learning Environment That Feels Like Home

The Education Center, or “EC,” is the heart of our Boundless Life Kotor experience. Classrooms are bright, welcoming, and intentionally designed to encourage curiosity and creativity. In our smaller summer cohort, the age groupings were adjusted to fit the number of students, which meant more personal attention for our kids. Larger cohorts may have more separation between age levels, but the multi-age approach always encourages mentorship and collaboration.

Additionally, educators blend Reggio Emilia inspiration with Montessori principles and Finnish education system influences. That means lessons are hands-on, project-based, and deeply connected to the local culture. Every cohort has a theme, and ours is Artisans of the World. On day one, our daughter created a Picasso-inspired clay art piece, setting the tone for a month of creative exploration.

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A Day in the EC

School at the EC runs for six and a half hours each day, Monday through Friday. Mornings begin with a drop-off window that allows families to ease into the day, and pickup in the afternoon is a quick and smooth 15-minute window. This flexible approach helps keep the focus on learning and connection rather than rushing. So another highlight for us is having the opportunity to sleep later.

Furthermore, each day follows a thoughtfully designed rhythm that blends connection time, focused learning, hands-on projects, cultural exploration, and student-led inquiry. Educators actively nurture curiosity, and lessons are based around the cohort’s theme. So while projects and inspiration change day to day, our children spend their time fully engaged and excited to learn.

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What to Bring (and What’s Provided)

Explorers ages 1.5 to 3, you should bring:

• Indoor shoes
• Diapers and cream as needed
• Sunscreen as needed

Boundless Life provides Explorers ages 1.5 to 3:

• Nap cots and cribs for napping children
• Bibs as needed
• Changing table
• Toddler potty seats
• Plastic water bottle – For new Boundless families only (age-appropriate size for each child, kept at school)
• Learning materials and classroom supplies
• Two nutritious snacks and a freshly cooked lunch daily, adapted for allergies
• Designated bathroom for each classroom

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Students ages 4 and up, you should bring:

• For one month cohort families only – Bring a backpack
• Indoor shoes (slip-on Crocs work great)
• Sunscreen (apply before arriving on field trip days)

Boundless Life provides students ages 4 and up:

• Learning materials and classroom supplies
• Two nutritious snacks and a freshly cooked lunch daily, adapted for allergies
• Plastic water bottle – For new Boundless families only (age-appropriate size for each child, kept at school)
• Blue Boundless Life hat – For new Boundless families only
• Backpack – For three month cohorts, New Boundless families only
• Water refills, cultural immersion, daily experiences, and weekly field trips
• Designated bathroom for each classroom

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Field Trips & Safety

Field trips are a highlight each week and are always planned with safety first. Children wear high-visibility vests and head out with their groups by foot or bus, depending on their age and location. Their teachers supervise closely and communicate logistics clearly through Slack. Parents are welcome to attend according to available transportation space.

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Staying Connected Through Slack

If you’re wondering, communication with the teachers is seamless and private. Each class at the EC has its own dedicated Slack channel, accessible only to parents of children in that specific age group. This ensures privacy while making it easy to stay in the loop. Teachers share field trip details, updates, answer questions, and post a weekly newsletter with photos from class activities and field trips. These images are never shared publicly, so families who opt out of photography can feel completely at ease. Need to double-check a detail about food allergies or ask about an upcoming event? You can send a quick message through Slack, and the educators are consistently quick to respond.

Meals and Allergies

The EC chef prepares two daily snacks and lunch, tailored by a nutritionist to accommodate dietary needs. Allergy awareness is a priority, and our children, with food allergies, always return home well-fed and happy. Them coming home NOT hungry is also a first for me. Typically, I would need to make them an after-school snack, and they would be very grumpy. But that’s not the case here, which is such a super nice change of pace.

Here’s our Week 1 menu as an example.

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Culture, Language and Inclusion

Lessons go beyond books. Our students are learning Cyrillic, hearing local folklore, and experiencing Montenegro’s culture firsthand. Classes are in English, but diverse language backgrounds enrich their interactions. One of our favorite parts has been learning Montenegrin to immerse ourselves in the culture and make the most of our time here.

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Use code “HillFam” at checkout to save 400 euros on your Boundless Life booking!

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After-School Adventures at Boundless Life Kotor

When the school day wraps up, the fun is far from over. The EC offers a variety of optional after-school activities, called ECAs, that give kids a chance to explore new interests and build friendships. Weekly options include chess, water polo, and Little Spartans fitness, along with seasonal activities like archery or terrarium building. These clubs give kids something extra to enjoy beyond the classroom and help them connect in new ways. Availability depends on minimum registration being met.

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Top School-Related FAQs

Here are answers to the questions families most often ask before joining Boundless Life, specifically about the school experience:

Question	Answer
What teaching model is used?	A blend of Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and 21st-century skills, delivered through project-based, cultural, and personalized learning.
How big are the classes?	Small, multi-age groups with educator-to-child ratios from 1:4 to 1:12, depending on age group.
Is there an outdoor play area?	Yes. The EC has a dedicated outdoor space where children can run, climb, and play safely. Outdoor time is built into the daily rhythm when weather permits. (The older kids also walk to the nearby park to play.)
How is safety managed during outings?	High-visibility vests, headcounts, and educator supervision are standard. Trip details are shared in private Slack channels for each class, accessible only to parents of children in that group.
Are meals included?	Yes! Two healthy snacks and a cooked lunch daily, adapted for food allergies and dietary needs.
How are languages handled?	Classes are in English, but multilingual learners are supported and included. Many kids share words and cultural learning.
Is sustainability part of the program?	Yes. The EC in Kotor has a compost system, helping children connect with the environment in meaningful ways.
Is this accredited by traditional schools?	Boundless Life is pursuing WASC accreditation. Transitions back to traditional schools depend on local requirements, supported by each child’s digital portfolio.

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Why This Feels Like More Than School

Our daughter’s morning declaration, “I love school, it’s the best,” says so much. And it is not just her. Our four-year-old, in his very first school experience, asks when he can go back and has even asked for school on the weekend. On Saturday, he woke up early, dressed for class, and was ready to go before we could remind him it was a day off. Seeing both of our children so eager to learn, connect, and belong has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. This is more than education, it is a place where they truly thrive. Cue the happy tears!

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Thinking About Joining?

If you’re considering Boundless Life for your family, use code “HillFam” at checkout to save 400 euros on your Boundless Life booking! It also helps support this blog at no extra cost to you.

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What Would you Like to Know?

Finally, we would love to hear from you! If you have questions about the Education Center or want to know more about the Kotor experience, drop your thoughts in the comments below. Whether you are curious about the curriculum, life in Montenegro, or how worldschooling might work for your family, we will do our best to answer every question. Your feedback also helps us create posts that are genuinely useful for families considering this adventure.

Next in the Series

Up next – Post #3: Inside Boundless Life Kotor Apartments

I’ll take you inside a Boundless Life apartment that’s fully prepared for your arrival, show you what’s included, and answer the most common housing questions families ask before booking. We’ll also compare the Home and Home Plus options so you can decide which one might be the best fit for your family.

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