 Teen adventure travel can be a life changing experience. Every
Moondance trip is an exploration into the heart of wild country. You'll
find that you've made some of your best friends within days of knowing
them and that friendship will carry you up to the summit of a mountain
or through a tough paddle in the Pacific. Whether you are returning
for your fourth summer, or crawling into a sleeping bag for the very
first time, you'll be a part of an expedition that shares similarities
with all of our wilderness adventures.
Wilderness Camping
Learning proper expedition and camping skills form the core of every
Moondance adventure. You will learn how to pick a campsite, set up a
tent, stay warm and dry in any type of weather, and how to tie the right
knot in any situation.
You will become skilled in using maps and reading
the terrain. In short, you will find you can be just as comfortable
and at home in the wilderness as you can in your living room. Moreover,
every Moondance expedition practices the ethics of Leave No Trace in
order to leave the wilderness in which we travel better than when we
first encountered it.
Expedition Behavior
 For
some students, their trip will be the first time they have spent an
extended period of time away from the comforts of home. For many, it
will be the first time they have worked together in a group, with people
from all over the country, 24 hours a day for weeks at a time.
Therefore,
teamwork, good communication and a positive attitude become very important.
Good “EB” is acting with the good of the group in mind,
looking out for other group members and being a good team member yourself.
It may mean helping someone set up their tent, filling their water bottle,
or simply encouraging them on a tough climb. It doesn’t take much
to have good EB, but it certainly makes a difference in everyone around
them.
Leader of the Day
 Wilderness expeditions allow many opportunities for the development
of leadership qualities. We encourage everyone to assume various leadership
roles throughout the trip and will designate two “leaders of the
day”. At night, the LODs meet with instructors to discuss plans
for the upcoming day. They are responsible for helping everyone break
camp in a timely manner, deciding when and where to stop for snacks,
water, and lunch, and most of all, for keeping a positive attitude,
particularly during challenging situations. The LODs make decisions
only after thorough group discussions and are responsible for writing
in the group journal for that day.
Moon-up
Every evening, groups will gather to discuss the day. These “moon-ups”
provide a great opportunity to talk about daily adventures, to revel
in each other’s accomplishments, to mentally prepare for upcoming
challenges, to sort through differences, or to have another opportunity
to get to know everyone a bit better. We think it is the perfect way
to end the day.
Backcountry Cooking
 Enjoying
a variety of good food is essential for every backcountry experience.
Moondance strives to provide students with food that is wholesome, simple
and, since we often carry it on our backs, lightweight. Though food
generally tastes better when you are in the wilderness, we aim for variety
and good taste in order to teach students how to properly cook and bake
in the backcountry.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are provided to ensure a well-balanced and
delicious menu, and with an extensive spice kit and cookbook, you’ll
be amazed at your backcountry creations.
Everyone takes part in the
planning and preparation of the meals (as well as the cleanup!) and
each participant gets to practice backcountry-cooking skills. Your creativity
and cooking talents may even follow you home as well!
Small Groups
 Learning to meet new people and live together is a great life
lesson. The bonds that form over a short period of time cannot easily
be duplicated.
We strongly believe that students in similar grades should
be grouped together, and we try to keep everyone within a grade level
of each other.
On trip start dates, there will be multiple groups starting
at the same time to ensure you are with other individuals similar in
age. Each expedition group is co-ed and never larger than twelve students.
There are always at least two qualified leaders (one male, one female)
with each group.
 The
Spirit of the Moondance
Describing a Moondance experience is hard to put into words. It’s
like trying to explain a rainbow to someone who has never seen one.
You can’t.
When new friends, radiant sunrises, shared accomplishments,
and thrilling activities combine and intermingle, the result is indescribable.
We call it the “Spirit of the Moondance.”
Like the sun and
rain to a rainbow, the “Spirit of the Moondance” needs a
unique combination of positive attitude and thirst for adventure. If
you heed the call and bring a selfless spirit and a desire to push your
limits, we promise you one of the most rewarding experiences of your
life.
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