Amazing Ending To AMG!!
July 27, 2026
Day 13:
Today was our first full day in Corfu! This was our first day to sleep in since the trip began, and we all woke up on our own time and found Joshua making breakfast for everyone, as always thinking of the group and doing whatever he can for others. We all had some yummy eggs he prepared, and Greek yogurt and granola before heading down to the beach to enjoy the sunshine. Once we arrived at the beach, we immediately swam out into the bay and explored the towering coast that surrounded our beach. Hidden in the rocks were cliff jumping spots and a beautiful cave for us to explore, and the whole group swam out to check it out. On the way back to shore, we stopped at a little cliff jumping spot and played a game of categories as we jumped off, enjoying the cool water and easy floating. After some fun time spent swimming around, we had a surprise walk that offers the best views of this slice of paradise. We walked up the hill to the top, and got the chance to enter this beautiful complex and explore, seeing a church, gardens, an old well, and a museum full of religious artifacts dating back hundreds of years. We got to nerd out over the history of this ancient place we were lucky enough to visit. After this, we stopped at the market on the way back to our hostel to pick up the supplies to cook our second homemade meal of the trip. We made some delicious breakfast for dinner, an amazing idea from Lawson when the market was out of all the things we needed to make our planned meal of chicken fried rice. There is no way to bring this group down; their unending enthusiasm and confidence are so refreshing, and there is no plan that cannot be changed or made better by the creative suggestions of this group. Lawson, David, Ruby, Eva, Emerson, and Bea helped to prepare this incredible meal while Joshua, Jack, Nathan, Jane Ellen, and Mills helped to clean up after the hardworking cook crew. Joshua spent the most time in the kitchen, cooking enough bacon for everyone and waiting to eat last. After this, we had an amazing Moonup led by our Leaders of the Day, Joshua and Eva, before going to bed and getting excited for the surprise activity the next day.
Day 14:
Today we had our surprise activity of tubing! This is a new activity on the trip, one that came in response to the sea kayaking being cancelled due to bad weather on the other side of the island, but again, no change in plans can deter this group from having the most fun possible. We split into girls and boys groups and got the chance to tube behind a small boat around the coast and small islands that dot the coast. Watching the smiles, bouncing, laughter, and pure joy on the kids’ faces was one of the best experiences for Claude and me. These kids have so much enthusiasm, and this was one of the favorite activities for everyone. After this, we laid on the beach, soaking in the sun and enjoying the rest we earned. As the clouds began to fill the sky and the threat of rain closed in, we then walked back up to our Airbnb and spent the afternoon laying by the pools and listening to music, dancing, playing guitar, and enjoying the leisure time. For this dinner, we went out to one of our favorite restaurants on the island and sat in the open-air outdoor area overlooking the bay, watching the boats pass by and experiencing our first real taste of Greek food, and our last night on this side of the island before heading to Old Town Corfu. We had a deep Moonup led by our Leaders of the Day, Lawson and Emerson, the dynamic duo full of humor and nighttime energy that we needed after this relaxing day.
Day 15:
Today was Ruby’s birthday!!! We started the celebration at midnight, blasting “Happy Birthday” on the speaker and saying goodnight to our new “dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen!!” We had a delicious last breakfast before our last official activity of rock climbing, and then headed to Old Town Corfu! After waking up and cleaning the Airbnb, we departed to another side of the island, passing one of the three old defensive forts on the island, and settling on the cliffs that hang over the bay. We had so many first-time rock climbers in this group, and each and every one climbed multiple routes, getting the absolute most out of this experience. It was especially exciting to see the first-timers gain confidence on the easy routes, including Lawson, Mills, and Jack. During our lunch break, we had a dance party in the sun, listening to birthday music and our favorite songs, soaking in celebrating Ruby and the amazing views around us. After this, we drove to Old Town Corfu, dropped our bags at the hotel, and began exploring! We walked around town, explored the city, wandered along the coast, and sat in the oceanside park near our dinner spot. This dinner was one of the best of the entire trip, and made even better by the insanely delicious cake we had for Ruby. We all sang “Happy Birthday” and enjoyed the dessert, before leaving dinner to do some exploring and shopping around the markets, buying dresses and linen button-downs for Athens, gifts for friends and loved ones at home, and exploring the area as best we could. After getting all that we could at the markets, we headed for the pier by our hostel and sat by the water for our last Moonup led by the students, chosen with care to be Nathan and Mills, the two most positive forces in this group and the givers of the best hugs. They did an amazing job closing out the trip, with insightful quotes and questions and setting the tone for what this entire trip was, full of humor, love, connection, and gratitude for this once-in-a-lifetime experience that showed everyone how capable they are of facing any challenge that may come their way.
Day 16:
Today we had our early morning flight to Athens and began the last official full day of the trip! Once we landed in Athens and then arrived at our hostel, we set out on the town to shop and explore this ancient city, getting the most out of this last day together. Walking around this city with this group was constantly entertaining, full of laughter, and an epic way to end the trip. We had our final banquet dinner at an amazing rooftop restaurant that overlooked the whole city. After dinner, we made our way to our final Moonup. While the group rotated through pictures, Lawson and I played the guitar and sang along with Joshua, making the moment even more special and reminding us of all of the amazing musical moments we had together playing music as we watched the sunset. Once the sun set, we gathered around the only fireplace on the hill and had the final Moonup, with nug jugs full of compliments, memories, tears, and sharing the impacts we have all made on our lives and each other’s lives in the too-short time we had together. This trip has been so special, and the best way to end the summer that any of us can imagine.
Claude and I are so grateful for each and every single person in this group, and the impact they made on our lives and each other’s lives is immeasurable. The thoughtful nature, the expedition behavior, the kindness, the authenticity, the bringing out the best in each other, the constantly positive attitude, and the love we shared together will forever be with us! All of the kids have safely boarded the plane and are on their way home, and we are so sad to say goodbye, but grateful that it happened and was as special and full of fun as it was.
Summits, Sunsets & Six Countries!
July 23, 2026
Day 7:
Today we had the hike to the famous Blue Eye waterfall in Theth National Park! This hike began from our absolutely gorgeous hostel nestled in the mountain town. We went all the way to the trail entrance and then to the waterfall at the top of the steep hill. Our leaders of the day, Eva and David, fearlessly set the tone of excitement and readiness for challenge as this long day began. The indescribable view at the top enticed the group to maintain a positive attitude, though with this group it is not very difficult to keep smiles on everyone’s faces. The walk to the trailhead was full of laughter as always with this group. We made many stops at local shops along the way, even stopping to see a local bee farm. Once we made it to the bottom of the hill, this group made easy work of the challenging hill, listening to music all along the way, sharing stories, and making the most of the amazing day. Once we arrived at the beautiful blue eye waterfall, we made quick work of changing into our bathing suits and jumping in the ice-cold water, acclimating to the frozen temperatures on the hot day before jumping off the cliff jumping spot, shocking ourselves into a cool down. We ate lunch while we soaked up the sun on the shores of the trickling river. The naps we took in the sun were awesome and gave us a spurt of energy before the long hike down. We gave this group the option to then take a taxi to our next activity, zip lining, or to walk the extra 5 miles. This was the first group all summer to opt out of the taxi ride and decide to walk the stunning winding roads that led to the bottom of the zipline. The few extra hours of walking, though tiring, were one of the best few hours of the entire trip. The conversations were endless, the excitement was tangible, and we saw many incredible things along the way, including wild horses, towering mountains, and locals driving the winding roads. We even were passed by group B in their taxi, thinking that we were the unlucky ones, but really, seeing them only lit the fire under us and gave us all enough energy to sprint to the top of the hill. We were dying laughing and screaming “WHO’S GARDEN IS THIS??” “OUR GARDEN!!”, in line with the quote of the day from our leaders of the day, Eva and David. The quote of the day was “I take pleasure in knowing that lazy people will never trample these gardens”. This day was full of accomplishment and joy, especially once we finally arrived at the zip lining activity and got the chance to ride the line surrounded by the Alps over the beautiful town of Theth. After this activity, exhausted from the long and fulfilling day, we made our way back to our hostel for another delicious 7-course Albanian meal. Then we had moonup before bed, getting as much rest as possible before the Valbona Pass hike the next day.
Day 8:
Today, we all conquered the Valbona Pass! We pushed through the hike up the pass and down the other side into Valbona. The day was full of core memories and views none of us willforget. On the way up, we all listened to music, taking it at our own pace, stopping for water and snacks, taking pictures, and appreciating the one-of-a-kind views around us. Our leaders of the day, Joshua and Emerson, were the perfect choices for this day; both of them have unending positive attitudes in the face of challenge. They led the group with grit and determination when moments were tiring. There were many amazing conversations on this hike about home, life, what it means to be alive in a place so incredible. We all shared silly stories while singing along to the music queued up by the group. This group has become such a family, and we are each grateful for the presence of every single person here. On the way up, Joshua stopped to fill a ziploc bag with the small strawberries that grew among the wildflowers along the side of the trail. We all smelled the one of a kind fresh summer fruit scent as we looked down at the town of Theth where we began. Once we all made it to the top, we rested in the high altitude warmth of the sun. Then we decided, again the only time all summer the whole group had participated in such a challenge, to push the extra 15 minutes and make the summit at the third tallest peak in Albania. We all safely arrived at the peak, and hung out there for around 45 minutes just taking in the absolutely glorious view. Behind us we looked at the wide ranging mountains and the town of Theth where we began, so far away we couldn’t comprehend we had made it so far, and in front of us sat the town of Valbona, the town we would be spending the next two nights in. These views were one of a kind and very hard to leave behind, but we all soaked it in from every spot we could. On the way down the mountain, Joshua and I led the group down, dancing, spinning, and singing to old classic rock and a lot of Billy Joel. Once we reached the flat section, Bea and I had an amazing long conversation. I was amazed by her wisdom and maturity as always. She has created such a loving environment on this trip. On this flat section, Claude, Ruby, Mills, and Lawson had an amazing encounter with a herd of wild horses. They walked together, petting them and taking in the magic of this experience. Once we arrived at our hostel, exhausted and ready to eat, we had a delicious dinner and were met by the 9 year old Fabian who would be joining us on our hike the next day. Fabian became an essential part of our group in the short time we got to be with him.
Day 9:
Today we had the hike to the vegetable farm! It was a lighter day after the challenge we faced the day before completing the Valbona pass. We woke up, had breakfast, and began our mid trip check-ins before heading out for this scenic hike through Valbona, and up into the mountains to a beautiful farm that lay on a hillside overlooking the town. On the way up Joshua and I got to have a long conversation, one Jack had named the “knowledge off” about our passions and interest in space, the universe, and quantum physics. Josh always amazes us with his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and kindness. Once we arrived at the farm, we had a delicious vegetarian lunch, and then a few hours to nap, talk, and lay in the sun. Lawson shared his precious goldfish with me, making my day as we sat listening to Jack and Mills tell us stories in the detailed and entertaining way only they can. On the way down the mountain, we got the chance to stop in the river we had crossed on the way up. Fabian led us all in jumping in the waters that were even colder than the blue eye hike, and even clearer. Ruby and Eva braved the waters and fully dunked in as Jack, Joshua, and Lawson tossed Fabian in as well. On the way back, we stopped for ice cream and made it back just in time for dinner. We had another delicious meal before having moonup led by Jane Ellen, the bubbliest and most inspiring leader, and Nathan, the most in touch and genuine leader. We ended the night playing some guitar before bed. The whole group sat out and joined us as Joshua, Lawson and I sang for the group, and David cuddled with the hostel kitten. We all got some much needed rest before our slower travel day the next day to Tirana!
Day 10:
Today we began our transfer to Tirana Albania, the first of two stops on the way to Corfu! We woke up, had breakfast, and hopped in the van for the 7 hour drive to Tirana. The van ride was the perfect place for a nap and fun conversations for the group. Once we arrived in Tirana, we dropped our bags and made our way to our evening cooking class. This cooking class was a highlight of the trip and left us with bellies so full we had to make a lap town to walk it off. In this class, we made Byrek, chicken and bread soup, and delicious “sugar bomb” cookies. The class was led by our charismatic Albanian host. We had flour fights and snacked on appetizers the entire time. This group can have fun doing anything, but this class was especially fun. One of the best parts of this group is the attitude set by the girls, one where we all genuinely cheer on each other’s successes. Jane Ellen and Emerson are central in encouraging this attitude. Its weight is equally carried by every single member! This came out in full force when the Byrek making competition was won by Eva, Joshua, and David, who made a perfect tomato onion Byrek that tasted like heaven. After the cooking class we all made our way through town stopping to see the statues and open squares. We ended the day with a stop at the local mall to visit the health food and grocery store. Then we headed back to the hostel for moonup and bed before another long travel day tomorrow.
Day 11
Today we began our transfer to Sarande Albania, the last stop before Corfu! We woke up and hopped in the van for another 7 hour drive to Sarande, the beautiful beach town on the coast. We arrived and had a delicious pizza lunch. We ate more pizza than most of us could handle. We explored the shops around our hostel with full bellies chatting with local shop owners before heading to the beach. We sat on the floating pier at a local beach club, swimming in the beautiful water and jumping off the pier. This day we had a delicious Albanian dinner, after which Lawson, Nathan, Joshua and I played some guitar before the group had moonup led by Mills and David. They are leaders who are always paying attention to the whole group. They picked questions perfectly attuned to the topics of the day! They were insightful, leading us to love each other more and compliment those around us. We all went to bed with excitement for the transfer to Corfu the next day!
Day 12:
We headed to the ferry port in Sarande for our transfer to Corfu, Greece, our official 6th country of the trip in only 12 days! We all hopped on the ferry with the other groups and made our way over to the island that we had been looking at for the past 12 hours from the porches at our Sarande hostel. Of all the incredible places to be in the world, our little pink house on the top of the hill on Corfu is the perfect one. Somehow, Lawson still has the perfect amount of goldfish left in both his Nalgene and the ziploc bag that has been glued to his side since day one. It is a treasure I am very glad he brought since that snack is the one thing I have missed most about home, and he knows that sharing food is a love language in life, and especially on these trips! Lawson cracked everyone up the entire journey over. Emerson, Ruby, Eva, Mills, Jane Ellen, and Bea all sang and danced our way through the long customs line when we arrived. We hopped on the transfer bus for the 45 minute drive to our hostel, and luckily for us, this van has a microphone that we obviously repurposed for karaoke. Though Jack didn’t know the words, the lyrics were more than enough for him to serenade us with Mamma Mia songs. Once we arrived at our favorite accommodations of the whole trip, we quickly settled in and headed down to the beachside pizza restaurant for lunch, where we quickly filled our bellies before heading down to the beach to swim and explore for a couple of hours. We immediately jumped into the water, swimming to the coastal caves and listening to the echoes of our voices and admiring the beauty of the coast. On the way back to shore, we stopped at a little cliff jumping spot and played a game of categories as we leapt from the rocks. Once back at the beach, we skipped rocks, amazed by Josh’s skills, and soaked up the late afternoon sun, appreciating the crystal blue waters and the warm beach. We stopped at the market and picked up all the materials we needed for our first night of cooking our own dinner, a delicious meal of chicken pesto pasta. After the long days of travel, this home cooked meal brought so much joy to our bellies and was run incredibly well by Jack and Ruby, our fearless leaders of the day. Everyone can’t wait for these next days in Corfu to begin, but also know how quickly they will fly by with how much fun we have together.
Emerson
Hi mom and dad!!! Thank you so much for the opportunity of coming on the best trip EVER! This has truly been the coolest 2 weeks ever and I am so grateful that I get to be here in such cool places with the best people!! I miss yall LOTS but also never ever want to leave here !!! We have done the coolest things ever and I cannot wait to tell yall ALL about it!! LOVE YALL AND SEE YOU SO SOON 😘😘 & tell Louie I say hi of course!💗
Bea
Hi yall, thank you so so so much for giving me these kinds of experiences. I truly have had the best 2 weeks of my life and each day gets better and better. I’ve said this many times but moondance is one of the most amazing opportunities I’ve been given and I’m so so grateful to take part in it. I’ve met the coolest people and seen the most amazing places and had the best time ever. I love yall but I never want to leave!!
Mills
Hi mama and daddy!!! Thank yall so much for giving me this opportunity to come on this trip. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have the most encouraging and amazing parents who want me to do such cool things. The relationships I have built here and the experiences I’ve had are something I will carry with me for the rest of my life and I have YALL to thank!! I love and miss yall so much- but I never want to come home. I’ve met some of my favorite people in the entire world and yall are going to LOVE them. You’re going to have to drag me out of the ATL airport. Tell MD and Lew how much I love them and can’t wait to hug them- give Lucy a kiss for me- and tell my girlies how much I love and miss them. I love yall so much- I can’t wait to tell you everything about the best two weeks of my life.
Jane Ellen
Hiii! Thank yall so so much for allowing me to have this kind of experience! I can’t even begin to put into words how special and amazing this trip has been. I have met some of my best friends and seen some truly amazing views. I have learned so much and this has genuinely been the best 2 weeks of my life. This has been such a beautiful experience and I am so grateful that yall have let me do this. I cannot wait to tell you all about it and I cannot wait to see yall again but at the same time I do not want to leave this place! I MISS AND LOVE YALL SO SO MUCH 💗💗💗💗💗
David
Thank you so much for letting me do this trip! I am really having such a great time here every day I can’t wait to tell you about it when I get back! I have a bunch of great pictures and stuff to show you but I don’t really want to leave yet, love you all🥳🌞
Jack
Hey family!!!! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip! We just arrived in the Greek islands after traveling through Albania for a couple days. I’ve made some great friends and am having the time of my life! I hope all is well at home. I will see you soon and let Shay know I will be getting her a surprise gift!
Lawson
Yo yo yo mom dad claire liney Addie and brock! Thank you for letting me do this trip. It’s been a blast! Some parts have been hard but most parts have been so fun! I have made some genuinely awesome friends and I am so so so excited to see you all once I get back to Raleigh! I’ve been missing you all a lot and can’t wait to see you! I only have a couple days left but once I get back I’ll give you all the biggest hug! Love you lots familia!
Nathan
Thank you mom for letting me come on this trip. This trip has definitely changed my life and my perspective on so many things like who I am, friends, college and other things I’ll tell you all about. I am so excited to see the family and tell yall. We just got to Corfu, Greece, and it is so beautiful where we are staying. I don’t want the trip to end but I’m excited to see everyone. Love yall.
Joshua
Thank y’all so much for letting me go on this trip. Just like last year, everyone is so nice and so chill. We just got to Corfu yesterday and this is already my favorite place. I am so excited to get back so I can tell y’all all about everything I’ve done here. But at the same time, I don’t wanna leave. Love you and miss you so much!
Eva
I MISS YALL! This is literally the best trip ever. I’m having the best time ever. Thank you guys so much for this opportunity. It’s literally been life changing and I’m so grateful I’m here. We just got to Corfu and it’s soooo beautiful here, we have to go back! I don’t want to leave but I miss you guys and I’m so excited to tell yall everything 🙂 Love all of yall ♾️♾️ and I’m so excited to be reunited!💕💕💕
Ruby
Hi mom, papa, and Vaeda!!! I love and miss you guys so muchhh! I hope the lake is great and snuggles is doing good! Thank you guys so much for giving me the opportunity to travel far outside of my comfort zone. I have seen and done so many amazing things I would have never done without your encouragement!! We just got to Corfu, Greece and it is so beautiful here!! The water is so perfect you guys would love it!! So excited to see you all!! LOVE YOUUU!!💗💗💗
Radical Rafting!
July 17, 2026
Day 2
Today was the day we picked up all of the kids from the airport! Our usual 6-hour van ride doubled in time with a long line at the border crossing, but what a way to have some icebreakers with the kids. As we approached hour six and we still sat only 10 miles from the airport, the games began. First, we went through our names, where we were from, and our favorite way to eat a potato, and our personalities began to shine through in the confines of the van. After this, we played some games of wavelength, and the interesting questions began a streak of games that have lasted days and get more and more creative as time and distance from their phones grow. Lawson and I even played some guitar and sang as we approached the border, enjoying an activity that gives both of us so much peace and joy, continuing on as the sun set over the distant mountains and nearby plains. We stopped for dinner at a little roadside bakery in Montenegro, enjoying some local pastries and the incredible lake and mountain-filled views. When we finally arrived at camp, we had our first official moonup and went straight to bed, tired from the long day and excited for what was to come.
Day 3
Today we had our first day of rafting down the Tara River Canyon, the third deepest canyon in the world! These stunning, clear turquoise waters sit just beneath our camp, and we had our first breakfast looking over the river and getting excited for the day ahead. The whole group spent the early hours of the day catching up on rest, and relaxing at the beach on the river, sitting in Montenegro and looking over at Bosnia, tempted to swim to the other side. Jack, Lawson, David, Nathan, and Joshua all swam across the river and put boots on the ground in Bosnia, and set a trend that would be followed by the group in the following days. After lunch, we had our first activity, rafting from the very same beach further down the river. We traveled through the high canyon walls, riding the rapids and admiring the views, swimming and flowing down the river in lazy sections, and getting to know each other better. Bea spent most of the time trying to get the group to sing, and Emerson and Ruby were as into it as I was, but David and Jack were less enthusiastic. The only song Jack will sing all the words to is I Want It That Way by *NSYNC, and he didn’t mention this until after the rafting, to the girls’ disappointment. David, on the other hand, simply couldn’t think of any songs, but we have come to learn that he has amazing musical taste as well. After rafting, we had a delicious dinner and moonup led by our leaders of the day, Bea and Joshua, two incredible veteran campers who set the tone for the entire trip.
Day 4
Today, we hiked the stunning 12 miles to and from Lake Skrcka, an alpine lake tucked away in the Alps that surround the area. This hike gave everyone the opportunity to chat and get to know each other better, and then motivate and support each other up the long uphill. We all had such amazing conversations, and often stopped in awe to admire the mountains that surrounded us. I can’t even count how many times I heard “this is insane” or “this is awesome” or “I’ve never seen anything this cool” or “this kinda looks like Colorado” and “no, it doesn’t”. This is such an incredible hike, and once we finally reached the lake, David, Joshua, Lawson, Jack, and Nathan jumped in and were soon followed by Ruby and Emerson. Lawson stayed in the lake for the longest, arms wrapped around himself and unwilling to leave, working up to doing the full dunk in the freezing waters, and allowing the many tiny fish to nibble at his legs as he laughed for about 10 minutes. Then, Emerson, Ruby, Jane Ellen, Eva, Bea, and Mills all lay in the sun on a rock that hung out over the lake, and we spent a little over an hour soaking in the high altitude sun, listening to the breeze rustle the reeds, and letting the many, many little purple butterflies land on us throughout the day. After the hike, we took the scenic drive back, and the girls all fell in love with our new song of the summer, played by Claude, Making Love to the Beat, and listened to it on repeat so that they could learn the words. We had a yummy snack stop at a local coffee shop and bakery, fueling up after the long day, and made our way back to camp, driving along the winding roads through tunnels and on the sides of the cliffs. Our fearless LODs, Jane Ellen and Nathan, kept the whole group positive and laughing all day, embodying the leadership we love to see from campers on this trip. In this car ride back, the music was full of amazing requests, many by Josh, and his soothing voice singing “Semi-Charmed Life” put us all to sleep on the way home before dinner, moonup, and bed.
Day 5
Today we had our second day of rafting! We drove to our put-in spot and hopped right into the river after a relaxing morning hanging on the beach, listening to music, jumping into the river, and enjoying the day. After breakfast, Nathan, Joshua, Jack, and I all hopped into the freezing water to wake up, and then sunbathed on the boulder near the beach, photosynthesizing and talking about life before we decided to swim across the river and do the same in Bosnia. It was the best way we have ever started a day. After this, Nathan, David, and Lawson created a triple-decker hammock down by the beach and continued drawing and painting with watercolor. They created some beautiful art of the nature that surrounded us, and we cannot wait to see what else they capture as the trip goes on. Today’s rafting was full of laughter and more time to get to know each other as we rode the gentle rapids through the canyon. Our leaders of the day, Mills and Jack, led with enthusiasm and kept the time fun all day, and then, after rafting and dinner, led an incredible moonup. Bea again tried to get our raft singing, and this time we had more success, and our guides now know what a blessing it is to hear an entire raft serenade them with Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. We played riveting games of 20 questions, jumped off a small cliff, called each other by the silly nicknames on our helmets, and celebrated the end of every rapid by shouting “OPA” and paddle fiving. After this, we had some nap time before dinner and moonup, led by Mills and Jack, and prepared for our long travel day the next day.
Day 6
Today we had our transfer to Theth, Albania, for the beginning of our trekking section of the trip! We had an early morning, saying goodbye to our Montenegrin camp and the kittens we had grown to love so much. We ate our breakfast by the river and hopped in the cars for the ride that took the majority of the day, and when we arrived, everyone was in awe of our new accommodations! Our hostel lies nestled in the national park, and the mountains tower over us. We rested for a couple of hours before a delicious 7-course dinner full of Albanian delicacies, and then had Moonup under the stars. Our LODs, Ruby and Lawson, led with amazing humor, as the two of them always do, with Ruby’s contagious laugh and Lawson’s creative mind, and then we all gathered around the fire pit and played the guitar and sang together. Nathan and Lawson are both so talented, and we are so lucky to have them in this group for not only their musical gifts, but also their love for what we do here at Moondance and their spirit of adventure.
Emerson
Hi Mom and Dad!!!! I’m having sooooo much fun! I miss yall! It is so so pretty here and I love my group so much. We’ve done so much already and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!! Elliott I hope your meet was great and tell Louie i say hi!! HI MILLS AND HOLLIS! I MISS YALL AND SEE YOU IN NYC💗💗
Ruby
Hiiiii fammm!!! I’m having so so sooo much fun and I have met the most amazing people!! It is so beautiful here and we’ve already done so many cool things and the views are incredible!!! Miss and love you all so much I’ll see you so soon!! Say hi to Bernard for me!!!💕💕💕
Jane Ellen
Hiiiiii! I miss y’all so so much!! I’m having a blast and my group is amazing! I love everyone in my group so much! This place is amazing and so much fun! I love yall sooo much and I hope everything at home is great! Say hi to Austin for me! I MISS YALL!!!!!!
Bea
Hi Tobin’s I’m having the best time here, the people, the place, the views everything is insane!!! Love yall – b
Lawson
Yoooo whatss goood mom dad Emmaline Addie claire and brock! I’m having a dope time and miss you and love you all. my group is really tuff and we have been doing some sick stuff so far. Can’t wait to see you all! ❤️✌️
Nathan
Yoooo Mom, Grace, Joshua, Emily, Abigail, Samuel, Liam and Daniel. I’m having a really fun time making good friends and connections. I love my group. We have do some really dope stuff like hiking and swimming in rivers. Thank you for letting me come, Love you mom can’t wait to share.
Eva
I MISS YALL!!! I’m having the best time ever. It’s so gorgeous here and I loveee my group. I miss yall tho and can’t wait to see you! Say hi to everyone for me. LOVE YALL, and can’t wait to tell you all about my trip! 💗
Joshua
Hi Mom and Dad. I’m having such a great time here! There have already been so many cool things happening and I can’t wait to tell you all about them! Tell Sadie that I was complimented for my eyebrows if you can. Love you and miss you so much!
Mills
Hi mama and daddy!! I’m having the BEST time. I seriously got the best group in the world. I feel so lucky. The views, food, people, and EVERYTHING is so awesome. Tell MD, Lew and Goosie I love them and tell all my girls I love and miss them so much. I love yall and miss yall so much and cannot wait to tell you all about it. LovA!!!!
David
Hi mom hi dad hi charlotte and George. I’m having lots of fun and going on a hike in Albania today. My group is super nice and the foods pretty good too. Say hi to Brody and weezy for me see you in a bit
Jack
Hi mom,dad,Shay,and Bowie!!! I’m having a lot of fun yesterday we crossed over from Montenegro into Albania and are doing a hike today. I hope all is well at home and I will see y’all in a bit!! Love y’all!
Safe Arrival!
July 12, 2026
Hello AMG Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
