summer jobs
We accept applications as well as hire on a rolling basis. We encourage our candidates to submit their applications in the Fall. Opportunities become limited after our third priority deadline. These priority dates can be found below. The Moondance Adventures hiring process begins with a brief online application, giving us an introduction to who you are. After an initial screening and contacting your references, we’ll ask you to complete a more detailed application so we can learn more about your experiences and what makes you a great fit for our team. From there, you’ll participate in 3–4 interviews conducted via phone, Google Meet, or occasionally in person for the later stages. A final decision will be made as a team.
If selected, you’ll sign a commitment letter to officially join the Moondance family. Following your commitment, we’ll assign your trip placement and match you with your co-leader at a later date to prepare for the adventure ahead! Staff are placed where we feel they will be most beneficial to Moondance based on their application, prior experiences, references, and interviews. Returning staff preferences are taken into consideration.
Upon successful completion of Staff Training, you will begin your respective trips composed of 10-14 students, plus your co-leader, with whom you will assume complete responsibility for the group. Leaders are assigned 2-3 sessions of a specific trip, and each session is 14-23 days long. After completing your final session, leaders are required to return to Nashville for 3 days of debriefing with the Moondance administrative staff to wrap up your trips and help improve them for the future.
If you have any questions regarding our process or a summer with Moondance, please email us at staff@moondanceadventures.com.
Being a Moondance leader is such a unique opportunity. Your fellow college classmates may be interning at companies (BORING) or other organizations endeavoring for that checkmark on their resume. What you’re doing is actually practicing the art of leadership with the goal of transforming lives …and you will walk away from this summer knowing that you fundamentally changed the lives of a handful of young adults for the better. I can’t imagine a better way to spend a summer. Get after it and have fun along the way!
Tyler Hogan
Moondance Trip Leader 2008-2009
University of Virginia
Harvard Business School
We’re happy you’re here!
Our leaders are vital to the integrity and safety of our trips. Their responsibilities are diverse: instructors, leaders, facilitators, friends, fellow participants, and role models to our students. This exceptional group of people is at the center of what Moondance has done every summer for the past 30 years. As a Trip Leader, you will be pushed to communicate, problem-solve, and be decisive, all while empowering those around you to do the same. Each and every one of our leaders recognizes the invaluable experience a Moondance summer provides.
What you do as a Moondance leader matters. It’s as simple as that.
With years of our own experience as trip leaders, we as a Staffing Team are passionate about setting you up for success. Your journey is important to us! Our job is to find candidates who are passionate about working with teens and creating meaningful experiences. We’re dedicated to building a team that will not only transform your life but empower you to do the same for your students. We cherished our time on trips and are committed to ensuring you will too.
We look forward to connecting with you as well as hearing about your passions, interests, and why you feel that Moondance is the perfect fit for you.
All the best,
The 2024 – 2025 Moondance Staffing Team
Senior Director of Staffing – Suzanne Hollis
Staffing Coordinators – Caroline Garrett + Kate Garrison
Suzanne Hollis graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Environmental Science Quantitative Energy Systems and a minor in Physics. During her four years at UNC, Suzanne pursued involvement in many ways including directing an annual science camp for young girls interested in STEM, leading outings for the Carolina Outing Club, and worked as a porter at the Morehead House. Additionally, she worked for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to promote policy change in support of clean energy and clean equity and worked with the Sun Valley Institute to assess the area's food security and the food industry's environmental impact. As a student, Suzanne attended Moondance on our California Discovery, Cataract Canyon, South Africa, and Thailand trips. As a trip leader, she led Yellowstone in 2021, Kilimanjaro in 2022, and Big Wild in 2023. Suzanne started in HQ in 2023 and is thrilled to continue experiencing Moondance, this time as the Senior Director of Staffing.
suzanne@moondanceadventures.com
Kate is a recent graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Political Science and Communication Studies from Greensboro, North Carolina. Kate first joined the Moondance family as a student on our South Africa and Chamonix trips in 2018 and 2019. As a Trip Leader, she has led Maui (2022), Spain + Morocco (2023), Kilimanjaro (2024), and Big Wild (2024). During her college summers prior to leading for Moondance, Kate worked as a counselor at Camp Illahee in Brevard, NC. While at Clemson, she was involved in an array of organizations – ranging from the University Tour Guide Association, the Judicial Board, and the Panhellenic Association. She is thrilled to be continuing her Moondance journey, this time in a full-time role as a Coordinator!
kate@moondanceadventures.com
Caroline is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Entrepreneurship. During her time at UNC, Caroline joined the Women's Club Lacrosse Team, Panhellenic Association, and worked at a local bagel shop (where she actually met Hayes for the first time!). Caroline discovered her love for travel in 2022 during a summer internship in Barcelona, Spain where she had the opportunity to explore much more of Europe during her time there. In 2023, Caroline joined the Moondance family as a trip leader, when she led our Belize and Costa Rica trip. This past summer, Caroline traveled to South America to lead our Machu Picchu trip in Peru before arriving in Nashville to continue her time with Moondance. Caroline is so excited to join the full-time Moondance team as a Staffing Coordinator!
caroline@moondanceadventures.comDefinitely felt the magic this summer. Moondance creates this magical dimension almost, away from time and sometimes reality. Bring 12 strangers and 2 leaders together for 17 days. Spend every single moment doing the coolest things in the coolest place with delicious food and not a single care or worry about a clock or technology. Unmatched, No one does it like Moondance. Thank you for all that you do! It was an honor and privilege working here. An experience and a summer I will remember for life. I am better because of you all.
John Shoemaker 2023-2025
The Moondance Staffing Team visits colleges nationwide to connect with students passionate about adventure, leadership, and making a lasting impact. Here’s what to expect when we come to your school:
Info Sessions – Join us for a casual and informative session to learn what it means to be a Moondance leader. We’ll cover our trips, our mission, and the incredible experience of leading life-changing adventures for students. Bring your questions—we love talking about all things Moondance!
Informational Interviews – Interested in applying? Sign up for an individual interview with a member of our staffing team. This is a great opportunity to dive deeper into your leadership experience, discuss what makes a great Moondance leader, and learn more about the hiring process.
Meet the Team – Whether at our session, an interview, or just around campus, we’d love to meet you! The Staffing Department is comprised of past trip leaders who can share firsthand insight into what it’s like to be part of the Moondance family. We’d also love to connect you with fellow students who have worked with us before!
We can’t wait to meet you and help you take the first step toward an unforgettable summer!
Here are our 2024-2025 College Visits:
Sewanee: October 3 – 4
University of Colorado Boulder: October 16 – 18
University of Virginia: November 11 – 12
Washington & Lee University: November 12 – 13
University of North Carolina: November 14 – 15
College of Charleston November 18 – 19
University of Georgia: November 19 – 20
Clemson University: November 20 – 21
Wofford College: November 21 – 22
Texas Christian University: January 22 – 23
Southern Methodist University: January 23 – 24
Auburn University: January 29 – 30
University of Alabama: January 30 – 31
She adored them. Looked up to them. Confided in them. She loved their enthusiasm and found them trustworthy. Both gave her such good advice. And having these awesome leaders makes her want to be a leader when she is older.
Rachel Spector, mother of Madeliene, 2024 Pacific Northwest Student
The leaders make the trip. I am entrusting my child to travel for 2 weeks with a group of people he just met. The success/failure is determined at the point of hire. Great leaders make a great trip. Our experience has been great.
Kenny Smith, father of Robert, 2024 Iceland Student
Your summer kicks off with our mandatory Staff Training from May 16 – 29, 2025, in the rolling hills of Western North Carolina! A portion of our training will also be spent in the backcountry of Pisgah National Forest simulating a Moondance trip, giving first-year leaders a chance to practice and teach the skills they have learned throughout Staff Training.
Our administrative team travels from our headquarters in Nashville, TN to join you and dive into briefings about your trip, students, and your roles and responsibilities as a leader. The excitement ramps up as our veteran leaders take the reins, sharing invaluable lessons and first-hand experiences on leading with responsibility, safety, compassion, and confidence. You will be mixed with some of the most dynamic, energetic, and enthusiastic people you’ll ever meet.
Between sessions on topics like mental health, risk management, and group dynamics, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to bond with your co-leader team by participating in group games, talent shows, and of course – Moonup! Our mission is clear: we want you to have an unforgettable experience so you can provide the same for your students. Staff Training is a balance of hard work and fun, both of which are deeply valued here at Moondance.
For a closer look at last year’s Staff Training, watch our video!
They helped me realize success and happiness are not valued by the zeros in your bank account, but the importance of family
Liam Bailey, 2024 Chamonix Student
As a Trip Leader you are responsible for up to 14 teenagers – parent’s most prized possessions! You’re on call 24 hours a day, 7 days of week. You are responsible for risk management, logistics, and the accounting / finances of your trip. Manage your trip budget of $5,000-$20,000 throughout the summer. Develop your communication skills – with your students, co-leader, our outfitters, and Moondance HQ. Build on your problem solving skills, spontaneous motivation, and work ethic as you provide the trip of a lifetime for students every single day!
It depends! Our trips vary in all aspects, whether that’s the age group, activities, or destination! Each trip’s itinerary has been carefully crafted by our Operations Team. We partner with outfitters and guides all over the globe to ensure that you and your students are safe and happy.
Moondance is all about transformation – both for the kids on our trips and for our leaders who make it happen! Growth is at the heart of what we do, from overcoming challenges and learning new skills to forging friendships and making memories that last a lifetime. The work itself shapes us personally and professionally, making Moondance not just a job that allows you to explore the world, but a job that allows you to grow while doing so. Prepare to change lives – including your own.
First-year salary for a Moondance summer is an average of $2,800, depending on the trip you are selected to lead. Leaders are typically assigned 2-3 sections of the same program in the same location. All Moondance program expenses including accommodations, meals on your trip, outfitted activities, and transportation to and from the trip’s location are included throughout the summer. As a Trip Leader, you will have access to Pro Deal accounts giving you exclusive access to significant discounts on an assortment of respected outdoor brands.
Our leaders are contracted to lead multiple sections of trips throughout the summer. In between sections of trips, leaders are allotted free time with which they are able to debrief from their previous trip, complete any necessary paperwork, and prepare for the next group of students to arrive. This free time will be spent in the “gateway city” of each trip, where the first “airport day” of each trip will begin.
Moondance leaders come from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences, but are all united behind a passion for working with teens and a love for the outdoors. In order to provide a great experience on a Moondance trip, you must hold a desire to make a positive impact on the students of your trip while excelling as a leader in a team setting. Our strongest leaders have previously held leadership positions where they grew as role models and mentors, such as captains of sports teams and camp counselors. While we do value hard skills (i.e. starting a fire, setting up campsites, fishing, etc.), we are searching for individuals who have a contagious love of life and hold an optimistic perspective that they wish to share with others.
Leaders provide their own personal clothing and equipment necessary for a particular trip. This may include a sleeping bag, ground pad & backpack for domestic trips and some international trips. Moondance provides tents, cookware and general group gear for domestic wilderness trips.
While you do not need any certifications to apply, if accepted, you must obtain a Wilderness First Aid + CPR or Wilderness First Responder certification by the beginning of Staff Training. Each Moondance leader is required to have Wilderness First Aid + CPR certifications at minimum; however, many programs with time spent in the backcountry require a minimum of a Wilderness First Responder.
After submitting your application online, our staffing team, will notify you that your application is under initial review. We will contact strong candidates to offer an additional set of questions and to schedule an interview. Following 2-3 rounds of interviews, we make rolling offers to lead for Moondance throughout the fall and early spring. Contracts containing salary and specific trip placement are extended in March, though most applicants apply by early February. Please note that though select opportunities may be available until April, most applicants are respectful of the following deadlines. We encourage you to apply by mid-February for our summer positions.
For applicants who are under the age of 21, we are able to offer a limited number of internships in our office and in the field for select trip locations. The responsibilities of an intern vary slightly from those of a Trip Leader, though our interns are equipped with the same training, certifications and ability to leaving a lasting impact on their students’ lives! Preference for the intern position is given to Moondance Alumni.
Staff are placed where we feel they will be most beneficial to Moondance based on their application, prior experiences, references, and interviews. Returning staff preferences are taken into consideration.
Moondance provides transportation for each leader back to Nashville for a mandatory 3 day Debrief.
Probably one of the most fun, exciting, and motivating weeks you will experience. We will hold our 12-day, intensive staff training in the mountains of Western North Carolina prior to the start of our summer programs. Our emphasis is to educate staff on Moondance policies and procedures as well as create a working, trusting bond amongst our leaders. During the week you will be mixed with some of the most dynamic, energetic and enthusiastic people you’ll ever meet. A portion of our training will be spent in the backcountry simulating a Moondance trip, giving first year leaders a chance to practice and teach the skills they have learned throughout Staff Training.
Each leader’s summer begins with our mandatory 12-day Staff Training in Asheville, NC. Upon successful completion of Staff Training, you will begin your respective trips composed of 10-14 students, plus your co-leader, with whom you will assume complete responsibility of the group. Leaders are assigned 2-3 sections of a specific trip, and each section is 14-23 days long. After leading, leaders are required to return to Nashville for 3 days of debrief with the Moondance administrative staff to wrap up your trips and help improve them for the future.
MY LEADERS WERE AMAZING! They loved me so much and truly cared for me every step of the way. Seeing how invested they were in my experience and constantly going the extra mile to make things extra special for everyone meant so much to me.
Walker McKnight, 2019 Kilimanjaro Student
