The first ever V4SDB Student Summer School took place between 6^th and 12^th June on the shores of lake Balaton in Tihany, Hungary, thanks to generous funding received through the “Mecenatúra” Program of the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI/NKFIH - MEC_SZ-141065) and additional funding from The Company of Biologists. For a short week students from the region had the opportunity to learn about many aspects of early development in multiple model organisms. For a more detailed description of the program and the feedback received afterwards, please read our report.