Hayes Hitchens hails from Charlotte, NC. Hayes founded Moondance as a way to share outdoor adventures with young people. Many of his thirty years in organized camping were spent at Camp Deerhorn in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a camp founded by his grandfather in 1930. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Hayes served The Lovett School in Atlanta for twelve years as the Dean of Students and the Director of Summer Programs. He has participated in outdoor programs with the North Carolina Outward Bound School, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Hayes looks forward to another summer spent traveling the continental US meeting Moondance students on their many adventures. He lives with his wife, Michael, and their daughter Hunter in Nashville, TN where he coordinates all Moondance Adventures.

Liza McLain was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and then went to Athens, GA to study English Education at The University of Georgia. Growing up, Liza spent most of her weekends at her family’s mountain cabin in North Georgia, where she fell in love with the outdoors. Liza is a Moondance alum, having been on the Pacific Northwest trip in 2008. Liza is also an avid traveler and has been to Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho, Croatia, Italy, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru, and Costa Rica for outdoor, community service, and study abroad trips. She also has a passion for music, photography, and dogs - specifically her puppy, Pancake!

Kit Sommi hails from Knoxville, TN, and is a recent graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, where she majored in English and Creative Writing. Throughout her time there, Kit was an active member of the varsity lacrosse team, where she served as a captain her senior year. Kit has always had a love for the outdoors, which was further developed during her time spent on Sewanee’s outdoor campus. Kit grew up attending both Camp Spofford and Camp Greystone and returned in later years to work as a counselor. Kit loved her time spent as a camper and thrived as a counselor, where she found her passion for working with teens. Kit also loved leading the Big Wild trip in the summer of 2018, and led our Chamonix trip in 2019. Kit is excited to be a member of the Moondance Office as the Director of Staffing!

Mallie Bromberg hails from Birmingham, Alabama and has lived in Nashville since graduating from the University of Alabama in 2017. Mallie views Moondance as an opportunity to become the best version of yourself while providing lifelong friendships and teaching students lessons that they can carry with them through their entire life. Mallie is no stranger to Moondance, having participated on The Grand in 2013 and leading Maui in 2017. Mallie is excited to return to the Moondance family in the HQ!

Hannah Burlingame is from Charlotte, North Carolina and is a recent graduate from The University of Alabama (RTR!) with a degree in Psychology. After spending a couple summers with Moondance as a student, Hannah has always held a special place in her heart for the company. Since spending her most recent summer in Wyoming as a guest ranch wrangler, she knew she could not stray away from something meaningful and full of adventure. She is so excited to be a part of the HQ family and cannot wait to help other students live in the moment with Moondance!

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Zoe Parker is a Midwesterner at heart, even as her family has recently relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee! She is thrilled to be joining Moondance HQ after a fulfilling summer leading the Hawaiian Islands trip. A recent graduate of Furman University, Zoe majored in Sustainability Sciences and Sociology, focusing her studies on her passions of helping people and the planet. She's excited to bring her skills from her previous work as a Walt Disney World Entertainment Cast Member, Scottish Parliament intern, and United Nations Millennium Fellow to serve the Moondance family!

Jackie Faustin recently graduated from Furman University, where she double majored in Economics and Communications Studies. During her time at Furman, Jackie was an Admissions Ambassador, the Vice President of the Furman Student Activities Board, a member of the Shucker Leadership Institute, and a part-time yoga and mindfulness instructor! She grew up attending Camp Wayfarer and later worked there as a lead counselor for years. Jackie had an absolute blast leading The Olympics trip this past summer with Moondance, and is thrilled to continue her passion for the outdoors, transformative experiences, and Moondance's philosophy as the Assistant Director of Staffing.

Sandra Davis, 22, hails from Greensboro, NC and is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a degree in Public Policy and Social and Economic Justice. After graduation, Sandra led her first Moondance trip to Maui and was hooked. No stranger to adventure, having visited 26 countries and her life long-goal of traveling to all 7 continents (with only one left). She is so excited to combine her adventurous spirit and love for Moondance's philosophy by joining HQ and becoming part of the family!

Edwin Hussey was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and attended the University of Arkansas where he studied Recreation Management. Edwin has had a strong interest in the outdoors from an early age having spent four summers with Moondance as a student. After his time with Moondance, Edwin went on to complete two courses with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where he solidified his passion for transformative, outdoor experiences. Edwin's fascination with adventure and being outside continued while in college as he spent his summers between semesters working as a river guide on the Snake River in Wyoming. Edwin is stoked to be able to help create the Moondance experience for others as a member of the Operations team!

Hoke Smith hails from Nashville, TN where he grew up with an undying love and appreciation for the outdoors. Hoke is a graduate of the University of Georgia and has spent the last three years living out West, where he spent his free time exploring the wilderness of Colorado in any way that he could. Hoke’s love for the outdoors began at an early age when he participated on our Pacific Northwest and Northern Lights trips as a student and loved every second of it! He went on to become a NOLS graduate and rejoined the Moondance family as a leader from 2015 to 2018. After deciding to move back home to Nashvegas, Hoke is so excited to become a member of the Operations team at Moondance HQ

Runa King recently graduated from Washington and Lee University with a major in Geology and Politics. She spent much of her time in Virginia exploring the outdoors through W&L's Outing Club, participating in various outing club trips and leading groups for the pre-orientation program. She fell in love with the outdoors as a camper at Camp Skyline and later returned as a counselor, serving as the camp's head of circus activity. Through her time as a counselor and through two summer internships with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, Runa discovered her passion for working with teens. This past summer she led Northern Lights and had the absolute time of her life! She is excited to join the Moondance family as a part of the Operations Team!

An avid enthusiast for all things outdoors including: kiteboarding, surfing, paddle boarding, and hiking, Ashley Pratt, recently moved back to her hometown of Nashville, TN having spent the past four years living along Florida’s Emerald Coast. She’s an Auburn and Belmont Alumni with a Bachelor’s in Finance and a Master’s in Accountancy. Her passion for business and the outdoors originates from her experiences canoeing the Quetico Boundary waters, exploring the great Outwest with her Ensworth peers, and navigating the Abaco islands in search of the best kiteboarding spots. She is excited to join Moondance HQ and is ready to embrace the magic behind new adventures.