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Pre-Enrollment FAQs

How do I know if I am on the waitlist?

You are on the waitlist if you submitted an enrollment request for the 2023 summer and we were unable to find a space for you. You would have been contacted by the admissions team. If you have any questions about your status please contact the office at admissions@moondanceadventures.com or at 800.832.5229. There are no financial obligations to be on our waitlist and you can be on as many waitlists as you would like.

How do I upload a photo?

Click on the child’s profile in the circle above their name. From there you will be able to upload a jpg of your child. This is required to submit an enrollment request. If the photo of your child is outdated and you are an alumni, please email an up-to-date photo to admissions@moondanceadventures.com. We suggest completing this step before the morning of enrollment.

I can’t see the “enroll” button?

You will have to refresh your browser after 9:00 AM EST for the page to load the “enrollment” button.

Can I come with two friends?

Moondance only allows 1 mutual friend request which can be entered on the enrollment request form. This friend request must be mutual. It is your responsibility to ensure this request is mutual from both parties.

Can I be guaranteed to come alone?

We love when students desire to experience new friendships and independence on their trip. If you prefer to go alone, please indicate this on your enrollment request. While we will work diligently to create the best group dynamics possible, we can not guarantee that you will be the only student from your hometown or school.

What can I do to prepare for enrollment?
  • We know that enrollment is an exciting and anxious time! To make the process as smooth as possible, we encourage new families to create a CampSite account and to fill in all of the required details including uploading a photo.
  • For our alumni families we recommend taking a look to confirm that all of the details listed for both the student and family are correct. If your photo is outdated, please email an updated one to admissions@moondanceadventures.com
  • For all students we recommend that you browse through our trip finder to help decipher your child’s top 4 choices. If you are a new family, we recommend that one of your options is a domestic trip as this maximizes your chance to experience Moondance. We always say it’s not where you go but who you go with that matters!
I submitted my enrollment request- now what?
  • Due to the projected enrollment numbers (last year we had over 500 applications in the first 30 minutes) our Admissions team will reach out within one week to discuss your application and get you enrolled in a trip!
  • Once your application is processed our Admissions team will continue to reach out over the fall and throughout the year to prepare you for the upcoming summer!
  • In the meantime, we encourage you to begin on the available forms including the medical form, passport information, COVID card upload, and insurance card upload. All medical forms must be signed within 1 year of the date the trip begins (a 2022 summer medical form will not be sufficient for the 2023 summer).
If I am an Alumni, do I need to input new teacher references?

If you are an alumni, you will not need to fill out the teacher reference questions on the application. You may place a N/A or a dash(-) in the textbox as a placeholder.

If I am a new student to Moondance, and don’t have my teacher references upon my enrollment day, what do I do?

We understand that enrollment coincides with the start of many school years and students may not have relationships with their new teachers. If you do not have teacher references upon enrollment, you may place an N/A or dash (-) in the textbox as a placeholder. You will have 30 days to send admissions@moondanceadventures.com the teacher names and contact information.

The Trip I'm Interested in is not available for my gender- now what?

If a trip says “Available for Boys” or “Available for Girls” it does mean that we are full for the other gender. If we do not have a spot for you, we will automatically place you on the waitlist for your top 4 choices and give you a call. On that call we suggest considering other trip options or a single-gender trips to maximize the potential to travel with us. You can be added to as many waitlists as you like at no cost.

Enrollment FAQs

What additional forms do I need to fill out?

At the time of enrollment you will only be required to fill out the enrollment request and sign the terms and conditions. We highly encourage you to begin filling out the additional forms including the passport form, medical form, health insurance form, and COVID vaccine card upload. These forms are not required to submit an enrollment request, but are required to travel with us.

I looked at your website, but how do I find out more information about your trips?

A great resource to check out to help you gain a better understanding of our trips is to visit our Youtube Page to watch the incredible experiences from previous summers. You can also spend some time reading our Trip Guides which are located at the bottom of every trip page, as well as reading previous summer’s Trip Updates! Our team at Moondance HQ is always happy to help you decide on what trip may be the best fit for you as well!

When is full payment due?

Full payment is due on February 1st, 2023.

What grade range should I look for?

We enroll students based on the current grade they are in for the Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 school year. For example, if you are in 8th grade for the 2022-2023 school year, you should look at trips listed for 8th graders.

Can I come with a friend?

Creating a community is perhaps the highlight for many on their Moondance trip. One of the greatest elements of a Moondance trip is meeting new people and being yourself in an entirely new group. We encourage you to partake in that valuable experience, and we love what happens when a group of strangers come together to form a team. That being said, sometimes participants come with a friend. In order to keep our focus on group dynamics, our policy is that no more than two friends can be in the same group together. We also limit our groups to allow no more than two students from the same school and three from the same hometown to travel in a group.

What if my first choice trip is "limited"?

If you see limited on our website this will mean a trip is full for a gender, hometown, or school. If the trip you apply for is full for any of those three reasons we will discuss other options with you.

Can you accommodate food allergies/dietary restrictions?

We will work our best with you and your family to find the correct trip for you based on your restrictions. Not all trips can accommodate all food allergy/ dietary restrictions so please call us if you have any questions!

Student FAQs

Where are the Moondance students from?

Though Moondance has students come from around the world, we have a strong US following! We’ve had people hailing from 34 states and 6 foreign countries last summer alone. We love to connect people from such vast distances in search of experience and adventure.

What if I have no previous backpacking or camping experience?

You don’t necessarily need prior experience to go on a Moondance trip as we will teach you everything you need to know and be comfortable in a new setting. The challenge level of different trips varies, and we’re here to help you choose the trip that’s right for you. The only requirements for a successful Moondance adventure are positive attitudes, good physical condition, and the willingness to collaborate as a member of a small group.

Where do we sleep at night?

On our domestic trips you will set up single gender, three-person Mountain Hardwear tents every night on most trips; however, we will encourage you to take the opportunity to sleep beneath the stars. On our international trips, you will stay in local hostels, lodges, inns, mountain chalets/ refugios, and sometimes in tents outside.

How big are the Moondance group sizes?

Moondance groups typically consist of 10 to 13 participants, with two to three leaders.

What happens if my first choice trip is full?

Our trips fill on a rolling basis. If your first choice is full, we will enroll you in your second or third choice options listed in your application. Once a trip is full we will generate a waitlist. Our Admissions team will call as we process your application to discuss secondary trip options, should your first choice be unavailable. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist please fill out the online application and we will give you a call to discuss wait list options.

Can I bring my cell phone?

One of the greatest parts of a Moondance trip is unplugging from the doldrums of your device. We encourage you to leave them behind if you can, but cell phones are permitted in transit in case of travel complications. Once you arrive on your trip, you will turn your cell phones into your leaders, who will hold them until the final day of your trip when they are returned to you in the airport. Phones detract from the experience we cultivate on a Moondance trip, and we strongly believe in the positive effects of digital detox. Moondance will not be responsible for lost, damaged or stolen electronic devices.

How much is the deposit?

The trip deposit is $1000 which is due at the time of application. This deposit will be applied to the total program cost (Balance due February 1st) and can be paid by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. We only charge the deposit if we are enrolling you in the trip of your choice.

Does Moondance offer financial assistance?

On a case by case basis Moondance offers Financial Assistance to families. If you are interested in learning more about our Financial Assistance options, contact our admissions department, admissions@moondanceadventures.com.

Is airfare included in the cost of the trip?

Airfare to and from your Moondance program is not included in the cost of your trip due to the diversity of locations our students travel from. However, internal flights on Belize + Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador + Galapagos, Hawaiian Islands, Kenya + Zanzibar, Sardinia, South Africa, Spain + Morocco, and Thailand are covered in your tuition.

What kind of identification do I need to travel?

TSA does not require minors traveling domestically to fly with identification, however, if you are on an international program you will need to fly with a passport valid through SIX months after you return home. Certain programs will require further documentation such as, Visas or entry documents. You will be notified if your trip needs a Visa or other documentation after enrollment. If you have any questions about TSA requirements you can visit their website, here. If you have questions about obtaining a passport, please contact our office, admissions@moondanceadventures.com or 800.832.5229 and we can assist you!

Does my child need to fly as an unaccompanied minor if they are under 14?

This depends on the airline you are flying. Each airline has its own policies on flying as an unaccompanied minor, and depending on which airline your child is flying, policies will differ. We suggest contacting your airline directly for up to date policies before you fly. Moondance will provide you with the leader’s contact information to function as the Unaccompanied Minor contact for the airline. Keep in mind, that almost all airlines do not allow unaccompanied minors to travel on the last flight of the day.

Can Moondance put me in touch with others who are flying from the same city?

We are happy to share flight details of other families on your trip from your hometown so you can book the same flight!

Can I find out who the other participants on my trip are before it begins?

We believe that the excitement and value in arriving with an open mind and a blank slate about your group members adds an irreplaceable component to our programs. Therefore, we don’t disclose student information in advance. We ask that you don’t call the office asking for this information.

Will students that live outside the US be able to sign up for a Moondance trip?

Yes, we always have a handful of families that live outside of the US on our trips. We recommend that you understand your country’s travel recommendations as well as the areas we travel before finalizing your trip enrollment.

Will I need special immunizations for my trip?

Moondance suggests families follow guidelines set by the CDC for vaccinations and immunizations. Depending on your trip, it is possible that you will need special immunizations. This can change from year to year, and we operate under the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control. For specific trips, we ask that you discuss immunizations and any pre-existing conditions with your family doctor or local travel clinic. Moondance will provide a detailed map of where the group will be traveling for you to take with you to the travel clinic. Please visit www.cdc.org for more information.

How does Moondance select and train its leaders?

Moondance leadership positions are coveted as amazing leadership opportunities for dynamic, young college graduates. We receive a large number of applicants every year, with many returning leaders. After a rigorous selection process, we select only the top 25% of the potential leaders who apply. Those who are accepted through our written application and interview process are then required to attain a medical certification (either Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder) and attend an 11 day staff training . During this training our leaders immerse themselves in their trips, their students, and the policies and procedures of Moondance. Staff training is a chance for us to get to know each and every leader deeply, and make sure they are the best fit for their trips, and our mission.