Hugs from Wyoming!
July 26, 2024
Checking in one last time!
All the kids are on their flights and they are so excited to tell y’all all the funny jokes and stories we couldn’t fit in the updates. The goodbyes were not easy, so be prepared for some puffy eyes when they arrive home. Our last hugs were accompanied by many tears, but that’s how we know it was a truly special trip.
Yesterday was arguably one of the best days of the trip and a perfect last hoorah. We started the morning with a huge breakfast of everyone’s favorites: chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and eggs. Graham, Olivia and occasionally Bowen manned the pancake station, while AB and Olivia took care of the bacon and eggs. They were having an absolute blast cooking for everyone and it was so fulfilling to watch them work together so well. This group has really clicked better than anything we’ve ever seen before and it’s so apparent in everything we do. After breakfast, we headed to Snowking for the high ropes course. Everyone knocked it out of the park, even on the most challenging maneuvers. We really admired Coleman’s determination and perseverance throughout the course, always willing to take on the most challenging obstacles with a positive attitude. Afterward, we headed to a thrift shop and partnered up to pick out the most ridiculous outfits we could find for one another. Charlie, Emma, Latham, and Ford took the cake for best dressed, each wearing some truly eye-catching pieces (just ask them to show you). We suited up in our new fits and headed to dinner, which turned some heads when we walked in. Afterward, we headed back to camp to regroup before going to the Moulton Barn to watch the sunset. Corbin belted every word to the Bruno Mars songs we blasted on the way there, making sure to keep the energy alive. Once we arrived, we threw the frisbee and watched one last sunset over the Tetons. A storm started heading our way so we went back to camp to secure all of our stuff and have our final Moonup. The Leaders of the Day, Kemp and Walker, did a fantastic job executing Moonup and made sure everyone had the opportunity to give their closing thoughts about the trip. They were very intentional with every aspect of the meeting, from the quote to the questions. It was extremely meaningful, without being somber. The meeting was a much-needed way for everyone to put into words how transformative the last two weeks together have been. We all stayed up talking later than we probably should have, but we didn’t want to take away their final hours altogether.
This morning we blasted our favorite songs on the way to the airport before having to start saying our last goodbyes. Even at 5:00 am, this group filled the airport with hugs, laughter, and love while they sent their friends off to their respective hometowns. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, but we’re extremely grateful for the time we had together. We learned so much from each other and all took so much away from the last two weeks.
Thank you all again for sharing your bright, energetic, hilarious, kind, and caring children with us. We could not have asked for a better group of people to close out our summer with. We’re always around if they ever need anything and can’t wait to watch them all accomplish great things as they move into high school and beyond. We hope they enjoy the last few days/ weeks of summer before they get back into the swing of things with school starting. If any of them ever need anything, we’re only one phone call away.
Best,
Hayden + Dan
Update from Big Wild!
July 24, 2024
Howdy folks! We’re back with another trip update!
We’ve been incredibly busy since our last check-in, and there’s plenty to share. We’re still in Idaho, laughing as much as ever and having the time of our lives. This group of kids is truly special; their positive energy and liveliness continue to impress us every day. Their spirit hasn’t waned one bit, not even at bedtime! This bunch knows how to get active and let the good times roll. Even during our toughest activities, their smiles and laughter shine through. It’s been a pleasure getting to know them and we can’t believe how fast the trip is flying by.
After we got off the river, we headed to our next campsite on the most beautiful lake in Idaho (in our humble opinion). A good comfort meal was much needed after spending days in the backcountry, so we decided to have a huge pasta feast. Emma and AB were essential sous chefs offering to help finish cooking. Pent up energy from the car ride made it hard to go to sleep, so we stayed up for a little while chatting and getting to know everything about each other.
The following day, we were up and at ’em early. We had a quick breakfast before our early fly fishing lesson. The first day of fly fishing is mostly informational, in order to prepare everyone for the big day of fishing. The students all learn how to rig and cast a fly rod before we head to the river to learn about various bugs and how to read the water. Charlie, Bowen and Ford used Walker as a target when learning how to use the fly rod. They chased him across a field making shockingly accurate casts in his direction. Luckily there were no hooks on the lines, or else Walker might’ve been the catch of the day. When we were at the river, the girls jumped from rock to rock trying to get a good view of a nearby waterfall. AB took a bit of a tumble on one jump and it made her laugh so hard she couldn’t get back up for a few minutes. After the lesson, we went back to camp for lunch to fuel up before a big hike. We got our day bags packed and headed to Boulder Lake for a 7-mile-loop. The hike was not easy, gaining over 1500′ in elevation super quickly. Corbin stepped up big time and led the group for the whole hike. He set a decent pace and made sure no one got left behind. Olivia was another essential team member during the hike, bringing up the rear and hyping everyone up. Whenever we were struggling during some of the rougher sections, she offered help and words of encouragement. She carried multiple backpacks up some of the steepest sections and did it all with a smile on her face. Once we got to some of the easier sections, Bowen and Kemp invented a game called “dodge this” to keep everyone engaged and on their toes. Eventually, we made it to the lake and the views were truly breathtaking. There was a little island on the lake that we decided to swim to. Coleman led the charge and we made it there in no time. At the island we found some huge logs and used them as rafts on the lake. After playing in the water for a while, we got back on the trail and completed the hike. We’ve never been so proud of them than we were at that moment. It was not easy at all and they kicked butt. They all pushed themselves and had great attitudes about it, especially Latham and Graham. Back at camp, we did build your own pizzas that we cooked on the grill and then went right to bed.
The next morning, we headed to the Payette River for some kayaking. What started as leisurely paddling on calm waters quickly turned into kayak wars. Innocent splashing escalated to full-blown kayak hijacking, with Graham and AB being flipped about five times by Bowen and Kemp, who dubbed themselves the “Black Pearl.” Ford was invaluable in righting overturned kayaks, earning the nickname “the rescue boat.” Coleman and Corbin abandoned ship as the Black Pearl approached, but Emma, Latham, and Olivia swiftly rescued them.
Laughter echoed across the river all morning as we had a blast with our kayak antics. Afterwards, we ventured into McCall for lunch and a town day. Some kids chose a Mexican restaurant while others opted for burgers. Despite our hearty camp meals, restaurant food always feels like a treat. The boys spent the afternoon hunting for ukuleles and harmonicas to start our trip band, but came up empty-handed. When we regrouped, we announced the night’s main event: Master Chef. We split into two teams with a $50 budget each to prepare a three-course meal. Team “Salsa Not Loss-A” started strong with Bowen’s homemade salsa, while Team “Not Yo Nachos” countered with Coleman’s crispy tortillas and chicken quesadillas. Salsa Not Loss-A’s carne asada tacos gave them the edge, but Not Yo Nachos narrowed the gap with delicious Nutella crepes for dessert. In the end, Salsa Not Loss-A claimed victory, leaving the other team on dish duty. We were all so full we could barely move, and soon after cleanup, we went to bed.
This morning, we woke up early for a fly fishing adventure. A two-hour drive into the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness brought us to a remote area of the Lower Salmon River, where we had the place to ourselves. On the way, we passed through the abandoned mining town of Warren, once a gold rush boomtown now home to just 12 people. It felt like stepping back in time. At our fishing spot, guides led us to see ancient Native American pictographs left by the Tukudeka, or Mountain Sheepeater Tribe, around 5,000 years ago. The bright red depictions of dogs and horses were mesmerizing. We then fished along the riverbank, with almost everyone catching trout. Corbin led the pack, reeling in five fish. It was tough to pull the kids away from the water when it was time to leave! Now, we’re on our way to Bruneau Sand Dunes for the night, aiming to catch what is said to be one of the best sunsets in the state.
Thank you for entrusting us with your children this past week. We’ve had an incredible time getting to know them, filled with laughter and fun. Each child’s unique personality has added to our unforgettable experience. We look forward to finishing strong in the days ahead as our trip concludes.
Howdy from the Wild West!
July 21, 2024
Howdy everybody! How y’all doin’?
We’ve been having the time of our lives exploring the Wild West. This group is bursting with energy and has kept us on our toes. Everyone is so full of life that we can hardly keep up! We’re incredibly proud of their accomplishments in the first half of the trip and can’t wait for more time with them. It’s hard to believe we only have a week left, but everyone is excited to make the most of it. The kids have become best friends, and it will be wonderful to see these friendships grow even stronger. Every day is an adventure with this group, and we know there are a lot of good times ahead.
From day one, we got off to a great start. Everyone hit it off immediately. Even at the airport, this group showed strong camaraderie. Olivia was one of the first to arrive and was instrumental in breaking the ice and kick-starting the friendships. We spent the first half of the day throwing football, eating snacks, and playing hacky sack. Kemp and Ford were naturals at hacky sack, which thrilled us. With time to kill before the last flight arrived, we headed to Grand Teton National Park for a swim at Jenny Lake, a glacial lake with cool water and stunning views. The cold plunge was much needed after working up a sweat running around the airport. After an hour of swimming, we picked up dinner and met the last students at the airport. We hung out in the courtyard and polished off about five large pizzas while waiting for their plane to land. Walker and Latham seamlessly blended with the group upon arrival, perfectly completing our dynamic. We then headed to set up camp and went to sleep.
The next morning, we headed to Teton Village for the first day of climbing school. Although we were tired, everyone’s eyes were wide, taking in the sights of Jackson for the first time on the trip. We live in the moment throughout the trip, so we don’t tell the kids our plans until we arrive at the activity. Especially this early in the trip, it creates a good mix of nerves and excitement. The kids were thrilled to discover we were climbing. Geared up with harnesses, helmets, climbing shoes, and ropes, they looked like legit climbers. We took the gondola to the top of the mountain, hiked to the climbing area, and learned climbing techniques through bouldering. Once everyone felt ready, we completed our first multi-pitch climb. Charlie was a natural, speed climbing to the top, and Graham also showcased her abilities by down climbing to retrieve some left-behind gear. At the top, we took a break and had some lunch and then we repelled back to the bottom. After everyone had a chance to repel, we returned to the gondola, had snacks at Bridger Station, and took in the views of the village and the valley. Back at the campsite, the kids swam in the Gros Ventre River while dinner was cooking. After eating steak gyros, we headed to a secluded spot with an awesome view of the Tetons to blast music and watch the sunset. The kids have fixated on Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten,” often singing it even when it’s not playing. Once the sun set, we returned to camp for Moonup, our nightly meeting to discuss the day, and called it a night.
The next morning, we had another day of climbing school. The intensity of the climb doubled on day two with a straight vertical multi-pitch climb. We met the guides at Jenny Lake Outpost, and took a boat across to the Teton Mountains. Bowen, Ford, and Emma almost effortlessly tackled the most difficult pitch, making it look easy. We all met up at the top of the mountain for a massive repel. Coleman, AB, and Kemp stood out, fearlessly repelling down a 70-foot cliff. Afterward, we hiked along the south trail around the lake instead of taking the boat back. The hike offered some of the most breathtaking views in the entire park. At the hike’s end, rain started pouring, but instead of getting annoyed, everyone stayed positive, happy that the rain cooled them off. These kids are masters at rolling with the punches. Since we were already soaked, we all jumped into the lake together and played in the water. After our adventures, we headed back to camp for taco night. The kids finished off two jars of salsa before dinner was ready and still ate all their food. After dinner, we drove to the Wedding Tree for another amazing sunset. Under the sky’s shades of pink, orange, and yellow, we played death sack, a combination of hacky sack and dodgeball. The leaders of the day, AB and Corbin, decided we should Moonup there to spend as much time as possible enjoying the view. Afterward, we returned to camp and hit the hay.
The next morning, we got up early for a long car ride. We prepped the night before, so we just woke up and got in the car. Most kids fell back asleep until we stopped for breakfast at Chick-fil-A. After 80 chicken minis, we were back on the road, fueled up and full of energy. We made multiple stops for food throughout the day, including gas stations and Costco. After a full day of driving, we reached our sweet campsite on Payette Lake in Idaho. We immediately swam in the lake, then walked to the beach volleyball court for a few highly competitive games before dinner. It was such a beautiful night that we decided to forgo the tents and cowboy camp under the stars.
The next day, we woke before sunrise to meet the raft guides and begin our rafting adventure. It was hard to keep rafting a surprise since they had to pack bags, but we managed to keep all of the details under wraps. We started our 80+ mile journey rafting the Lower Salmon in the Idaho wilderness. Day one covered a ton of miles with fun rapids, mostly level two and level three, to get used to being on the water. At camp, Charlie and Walker found a steep sand dune to run and jump off, practically flying through the air before landing on the soft sand, causing laughter among the group. Meanwhile, Latham and Emma rigged a volleyball net using paddles and rope, allowing us to have some 3v3 tournaments. That night, a breathtaking blood moon led us to cowboy camp under the night sky.
The following day was the trip’s biggest rapid day, featuring two level four rapids that were no joke. Snow Hole was tougher than ever, and the kids did a great job paddling through. Bowen was close to falling out but was pulled back in. China Rapid was just as intense, but we felt more prepared after the other level four. Between the more intense sections, Coleman entertained us with riddles like “Snaps.” Everyone was pretty tired by the time we reached camp, but we still spent plenty of time talking and laughing. A few students, including Graham and Corbin, wanted to try fly fishing. Both first-timers, they picked it up quickly and had fun learning. We had a cookout for dinner, and later, AB convinced multiple people to close their eyes and guess the flavor of a “cookie,” surprising them with a ground beef patty. You can imagine the shock on their faces when they bit into a burger rather than a cookie. After more laughter, we went to bed to rest up for our last full day on the river.
Day three of rafting brought us to the confluence. We said goodbye to the Salmon River and Idaho, rafting onto the Snake River and into Oregon. It was surreal to raft on the same river we had driven over in Jackson Hole on the first day! We stopped at a nice beach for lunch right after the confluence, spending time hanging out and skipping rocks. Ford impressed everyone by skipping his rock over 30 times. We cruised on laid-back water for a few more miles before reaching camp. It was hot, so we spent most of the late afternoon swimming and playing in the water. Olivia found a cool rock ledge overlooking the campsite, and the other girls joined her. After dinner, Coach Bowen led the dish crew with humor, raising lots of laughter. He definitely made sure everyone was in line! Once it got dark, we headed to bed, enjoying our last night sleeping on the river.
Our last day on the river was just a few short hours of rafting. We took in the views of Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. We got off the river a little smellier but a lot closer to each other. Some people have cuts and bruises to show for the trip, and Kemp has a killer sunglasses tan. We made many good memories they’re excited to bring home. This group is very go-go-go, so there is no shortage of funny stories from the trip that they’ll share when they get home. They haven’t run out of energy once, so we’re sure the second half of the trip will be just as fun as the first.
We’re currently headed back to Idaho, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next week! Stay tuned for more updates to come. We miss y’all and hope you’re doing well!
Best,
Hayden + Dan
Shout-outs:
Kemp: “Hey guys, it’s a lot of fun up here. I miss y’all! I’m having a great time!”
Corbin: “Tell the dogs I miss them. I miss you and you and the dogs. I love you guys!”
Walker: “Hi everyone, I miss y’all and love y’all so much! I’m super excited to see you and I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! Also, happy birthday mom.”
Graham: “Hi mom and dad, I miss and love y’all and I’m having a lot of fun! Tell Kirkman I love and miss him.”
Charlie: “Hey mom and dad, I’m having a lot of fun. Everyone in my group is super nice and I get along with everyone. I miss you guys and can I have an Intown reservation when I get back?”
Bowen: “Hey Lindsay, happy birthday. Lee, it’s been a long time. I caught a 10″ trout, so I’m now better than you at fishing. Miss y’all!”
Ford: “Hello, it’s been chill. It is like I was expecting, it’s been fun. It’s felt like a long time but it’s also going by fast. Miss you guys!”
Emma: “Hey mom, hey dad. I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see you soon. Tell Jack I love and miss him too. Pet the dogs for me! Everyone in my group is super nice and I’m having a blast.”
AB: “Hey Dad and Kate, the trip is amazing and the Tetons are so beautiful! I miss y’all. Mom, I love you and miss you so much. Porter, Jack and Lew, miss y’all too! Give Moose a hug for me!”
Olivia: “Hey mom and dad! Love y’all and miss y’all. I’m having fun and hope y’all are.”
Latham: “Hey fam, I miss y’all! Love you guys. Having a great time and can’t wait to see you. Tell Texas I love her.”
Coleman: “Hey mom, love you and miss you. Don’t worry dad, I didn’t forget about you, I love you too! Tell Conrad I said hi.”
Safe Arrival in Jackson Hole!
July 14, 2024
Hello Big Wild Families!
We heard from our leaders last night that the group has landed safely in Jackson Hole and made it to their first campsite! 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 two 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
