Ever dreamed of spending the summer abroad but not sure if you should go with an organized program like Boundless Life or plan it all yourself with local camps? In this Toolkit Series episode of The New Modern Mom Podcast, host Barbara Mighdoll unpacks the two most common paths families consider: joining a structured cohort like Boundless Life or taking the DIY route by piecing together your own local camp experience abroad.

Barbara’s done both, and this summer, she’s introducing a third option: Roam Collective, a curated summer experience she’s co-creating in Spain taking what she’s learned from both experiences to create her dream program. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on what each approach actually looks like, from cost breakdowns and childcare setups to how community is built…or not, when you’re navigating new terrain with kids for the summer.

Whether you’re dreaming of slow mornings in Europe or just trying to figure out how to keep your kids engaged while you work abroad, this conversation will help you choose the route that fits your lifestyle, bandwidth, and season of life.

What you’ll learn: 

🌍 The pros and cons of organized programs like Boundless Life - What you really get when you join a structured family travel cohort and what you might give up in flexibility or control.

🏡 What a DIY summer abroad actually looks like - From researching camps to booking housing and managing logistics, Barbara shares what it takes to pull it off yourself (and why it’s not for everyone).

💶 The true cost of each option - Barbara breaks down real numbers for camp fees, housing, and hidden extras plus the mental load that comes with each choice.

🧳 How to prepare for either route - Her checklist for getting started: from setting a decision deadline to tracking flights, aligning family goals, and evaluating your planning energy.

🧠 A 5-step exercise to make your decision easier - Barbara walks you through the same toolkit she used to decide between Boundless and DIY so you can feel confident about what’s right for your family this summer.

Resources:

• Learn more about Roam Collective here
• Access Barbara’s local summer camp research by signing up here
• Get €400 off Boundless Life with code NEWMODERNMOM

Especially helpful for moms searching for:

→ How to decide between an organized family travel program and a DIY summer abroad

→ Real, honest review of Boundless Life

→ Insights on the costs, logistics, and community experience of living abroad with kids

→ Tips for planning a summer abroad that actually works with your work schedule

→ What to look for in camps, childcare, and housing when traveling with young kids

→ A practical framework to choose the best approach for your family’s season of life

Follow Barbara Mighdoll:

• On Instagram here
• Subscribe to Barbara’s newsletter here

About New Modern Mom: You know the dream of having it all – a thriving career, an active social life, present time with your kids, and adventures in travel. But how the F can we actually do it all? Host Barbara Mighdoll chats with other working mom executives on the raw truth behind their support systems, self-identity shifts, productivity, infertility and pregnancy loss, mom guilt, partner dynamics, childcare and even imposter syndrome. We’re exploring how these incredible women are translating their professional superpowers into their personal lives. Because we believe you can have it all, you just cannot do it all. Together, we’re building the playbook for the new modern mom.

The New Modern Mom Podcast is produced by Barbara Mighdoll, Ali Alquiza, and Em Roberts.