Final Update from British Columbia!
July 25, 2024
We started off the last leg of our trip with rafting!! We woke up in beautiful Squamish to a breakfast of parfaits and oatmeal. Took a short drive over to the rafting company where we packed our dry bags, ate some tasty snacks, and got suited up in our wetsuits. We also got the chance to pet a horse, see an alpaca, and spot a newborn baby buffalo. We hopped on the bus to the drop off point with a group of true Irish lads who serenaded us on the 50 minute ride. Daniel barely restrained himself in asking them to play Sprinter and Jonathan gave us a killer rendition of Hotel California. We got a safety briefing from the guides and split the groups between two rafts to practice our paddling and hit the river! We had a little warm-up section of some smaller rapids before we grabbed a snack and hit the big waves. We had a lot of pride in both the Flow-rida boat and the Stroking Capybaras (thanks to Genie’s continued Capybara obsession). Thanks to Hollis and Cici the Flow-ridas continually lost the game and Liza-Grace got up on the bull in the Stroking Capybaras’ boat. After enjoying some scenic views and rocking waves, we arrived at our little island home for the night. We got tents set up and were treated to a delicious dinner of steak, salmon, potatoes, garlic bread, and ceasar salad. After some pretty intense spike ball competition, Clara and Jonathan lead us in an awesome moonup with our raft guides and we got an early night.
We woke up to the sound of Hollis and Jonathan banging together some lovely pots and pans to announce a french toast breakfast. We packed up camp and floated down the river to our take-out spot. Everyone busted out the big guns to carry the boats up to the van and we made it back to the rafting hub. After some snacks and repacking we headed to our campsite and reset up camp. We had planned to do a hike, but it started to rain so we were going to abandon that plan; however, Daniel and Jonathan inspired a group to brave the drizzle (and it ended up having a nice sunny finish). Whalen, Daniel, Jonathan, Ella, Henry, and Hollis all conquered the chiefs and saw some incredible views. Lila, Genie, Cici, Clara, Liza-Grace, and Powell decided to stay and make some pretty amazing tie dye t-shirts. Genie and Lila lead the charge on some pretty spectacular bracelet making skills afterwards, a true arts and crafts hour. Since Powell was one of the leaders of the day, she was able to go on a grocery run for some supplies for dinner that night, a highly coveted task for her. We had a terrific meal of burgers, mac and cheese, caesar salad, and french fries that everyone enjoyed. To decide the clean crew we had a rock paper scissors bracket with Daniel, Liza-Grace, Lila, and Hollis as the representatives of their respective teams. The result placed team Italians (Powell, Cici, and Hollis) as the clean crew for the night and they did a phenomenal job.
We started the next morning nice and early to get to our last activity of canyoneering! We had to drive through Vancouver before we arrived at the canyon with our lovely guides. After changing into some pretty slick wetsuits (Powell got the fanciest neon-colored one), we hit the canyon. It was an amazing day full of rappelling, sliding down rocks, cliff jumping, and swimming. Cici braved her fears on a couple of the reppels, and Ella jumped off the cliffs even though she was nervous at first. Lila encouraged many of the girls to jump in off the higher jumps and Whalen showed off some fancy moves while sliding down some of the rocks. At the end of the activity, everyone was incredibly sad to leave. We drove to our campsite for the night and set up for the dinner competition of a lifetime. With almost everyone sporting a unique mustache and French accents we split the groups in two and had them compete to make the best meal in true Iron Chef fashion. In the face off between the Splash Gang and Texans, the Splash Gang rode to victory with a unique three course meal of charcuterie (with homemade naan thanks to Clara’s ingenious idea to toast tortillas), pasta with a spicy red sauce, and Lila and Genie finished the meal off with and intriguing and delicious dessert of grapes dipped in melted gummy bears. This placed Splash Gang, Ella, Henry, Jonathan, Lila, Genie, and Clara, as the front runners of the competition. The Texans did show out with Texas toast, delicious asparagus grilled by Cici, and a rice, chicken, and caramelized onion combination. After the second place team graciously cleaned dishes, we had moonup, and everyone laid out to cowboy camp for the night.
We popped up in the morning to do our final camp pack up and hit the road towards Seattle. The border crossing went seamlessly and in no time we had Mount Rainier in our sights! We checked into the hotel before heading to do a final clean of our lovely van Collette. After sprucing up our ride, we grabbed some fresh new fits in a mad Goodwill dash, and headed to a delicious Mexican dinner. We filled up on chips, queso/salsa, tacos and quesadillas galore and went to a park for our final Moonup of the session! While we watched the sun set over the Seattle skyline, we reflected on our time during the trip and the friendships we had made. We headed back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep before an early departure morning. We said our final goodbyes and gave our last hugs before everyone headed back to their own families, friends, and pets back in their hometown. We will miss you BCO3B and hope you have a fantastic end to your summer!!
⁃ Love Sadira, Eddie, and Palmer
Hello from Tofino!
July 22, 2024
Greetings!
We have had the best couple of days in Tofino surfing, supping, and hanging out.
On our travel day, we awoke with curiosity about what was to come. After a day full of kayaking, we had a restful morning. We feasted on pancakes to celebrate the end of our second activity. Lila made a Nutella sandwich with two pancakes, which mind-boggled us but also inspired a twinge of jealousy. We also dined on some HHFs (hand-held fruits): apples, bananas, and pears. With checkout time approaching, we loaded into the van and headed west. We took a short ferry off Quadra Island and arrived in Campbell River before continuing across Vancouver Island. On the ride, we listened to some interesting song requests, but Daniel rarely failed to sing or rap along to each tune, which kept us all entertained. Speaking of entertainment, Cici and Clara brewed up a candy salad which they shared with the group. In a candy salad, you never know what you’ll get… a watermelon sour patch kid or a nerd cluster, not too many bad options. The drive carried us through the Pacific Rim Reserve, a beautiful stretch of road spanning mountains, lakes, and coastline. After completing our drive, we set up camp at our gorgeous campsite. Picture this: old-growth forest meets the Pacific Ocean, and we get to camp right on the edge. Ella set up her hammock and proceeded to sleep in it each coming night! She also defended us from the ravens that would soon try to strike. We quickly found ourselves down on the beach playing frisbee and listening to music. Before we knew it, dinner was ready, but afterward, we headed back to the beach. Hollis and Whalen constructed a sandcastle complete with a moat. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold a candle to the power of Mother Nature and the rising tide. We decided to have Moonup down there as well. We were all thankful for some bolognese before bed, and we slept wonderfully with dreams of big waves!
By the time morning rolled around, we had mentally prepared. We ate cinnamon rolls to give us an extra kick of energy, and some fresh fruit. We stopped by Swell Tofino’s headquarters and got fitted up with wetsuits before meeting our guides down on the beach. As we got to know each other, students introduced themselves with their names, surfing experiences, and a dance move. They briefed us on safety, and our students blew them away with their pre-existing knowledge. Hollis confidently answered questions on what to do if caught up in a current, and after some technique demonstrations, we were in the water! Jonathan quickly dazzled us all with his skills and never missed an opportunity to cheer on his peers. Eddie even caught some waves backward. Smiles were wiped across our faces the entire lesson, which came to a close sooner than we had hoped. We headed back to camp and feasted on bacon Caesar wraps before our next adventure: paddle boarding. We took a short stroll down the beach from our campsite to find our boards already laid out on the sand. We suited up once again and headed down to the water. And before we knew it, our boards were in the middle of a bulb kelp forest. We pulled out strands to see what we could find teeming within them, and we were not disappointed. Genie reluctantly let a crab walk onto her board while Palmer found bright yellow fish. Even more surprises lay on the rocks where we found sea stars and anemones galore. Lila and Sadira were entranced, and we all marveled at the bright pink, orange, purple, and green colors of the creatures. After exploring, we headed up to the beach where guides led us in a race. Two students would start at opposite ends of the paddle boards and weave over and under each one. This required some strategy, but mostly just enthusiasm, which Whalen had lots of! After our full day of fun on the water, we decided to add more fun on land in the form of ice cream. We headed off to Chocolate Tofino happily, and debates emerged about the practicality of a waffle bowl versus the classic cone. But we all agreed the ice cream was incredible. Afterward, we explored the area for a few minutes before heading back to camp and cooking up some stir-fry. Our plates were filled with a rainbow of purple cabbage, broccoli, various bell peppers, and pork belly that melted in our mouths. Genie and Lila led us in a beautifully planned Moonup, complete with props and all. Our bedtime was complemented by the sound of waves crashing on the shore; we are so lucky!
Our second morning in Tofino was filled with just as much enthusiasm as the first. We toasted bagels and set out yogurt, all of which was enjoyed in a flurry. We suited up and headed back to the beach where we were greeted by some massive waves. As we paraded down the shore with our boards, we looked out to admire the seemingly professional surfers who cut the waves back and forth, some even getting air. We headed out to give the waves a try ourselves, and we were not disappointed. Each of the students smiled as they surfed and/or bodysurfed the massive waves. We celebrated each other’s victories and even high-fived each other as we passed. It was an incredible morning. Once we had all surfed the final wave of our Moondance summer, we headed off to lunch. Today, pasta salad was on the menu. After our meal, we gallivanted to paddle-boarding, where we met our hilarious guides Robby, Ally, and Laura. They warmed us up with a relay race on the beach before we headed into the water. We revisited the space where we had found so much life the day before, finding even more creatures. Students, leaders, and outfitters alike flung themselves at each other to knock each other off the boards and into the water. No one was safe, and we all enjoyed the salty water one last time. On our way in, our guides taught us how to use our paddle boards to surf back into shore. (These waves were much smaller than those from the morning.) We returned our gear and said goodbyes. After a few days in the saltwater, showers were a welcome treat. We headed into town feeling fresh. Students were able to explore downtown Tofino before we all feasted on poke bowls, which Powell told us were among her favorite foods. We gave the cashiers false names like Taylor Swift, Tiger Woods, and SpongeBob, which made everyone around us erupt in laughter. After an incredible meal, we headed back to camp, where Liza Grace and Henry led us in a Moonup that had us laughing up until bed.
We awoke, sad to be leaving Tofino, and ate breakfast bowls. After fueling up and overcoming some minor van issues, we hit the road again, singing along to the Black Eyed Peas. The karaoke vibe was strong as we set back onto the winding roads that first brought us to Tofino. We arrived at the ferry port to find that our ferry had also been slightly delayed. This gave us time to explore the nearby shops and soak up the last of Vancouver Island. We were thankful that we made it onto the next ferry. So thankful, in fact, that students found a new companion to rejoice with: another passenger’s dog. After asking to get a pet all trip, they finally found one and promptly took it for a walk around the ferry. However, in true puppy fashion, he was not potty trained and pooped inside the ferry. We agreed that this was an incredibly laughable moment, cleaned up the mess, and returned the pup to his owner.
These students keep us laughing and learning more and more! We are so thankful for each of them; they all bring something unique and valuable to our group. We cannot wait for our coming days of canyoneering and rafting with them.
And for now, here are some shoutouts!
All the best,
Palmer, Sadira, and Eddie
Henry- hi mom and dad,
I’m having a great time and miss you so much! Our group is great and we have done so much fun stuff. I can’t wait to see you on Wednesday.
Ella- hey mom and dad,
Miss you so much having a great time. We have a great group and having lots of fun.i have loved the activity we have done . Can’t want to see you but want to stay here.
Whalen- Hey guys, I miss you and can’t wait to see you. Thank you for sending me on this trip, it’s been so much fun getting to know these guys. Yesterday I wasn’t feeling well but I’m better now. Can’t wait to see you guys.
Lila – Hey mom and dad,
I miss y’all. We are having such a great time! See y’all soon!
Hey mom and dad, I’m in Tofino right now and having so much fun. I’ve made so many friends, and Canada is so cool. I miss y’all, Fran, and Rodney, see yall soon! Genie
Howdy fam,
I miss y’all, can’t wait to see y’all. Rock climbing was really scary, and surfing was so fun. Tell Sofia, Adriana, and Logan I miss them and I can’t wait to see them. Tell Sofia happy birthday for me! Love y’all! Cici
Hey mom and dad it’s Liza I miss you so much! I’m having so much fun! How’s ur trip with Jeramy, tell Mary Walton I miss her and I’m having fun, I should have brought more sweat pants byeeeeeeee. ⁃ Liza Grace
Hi mom and dad! It’s Clara! I’m having so much fun we’ve been surfing, paddle boarding, and rock climbing so far. I miss y’all can’t wait to be home! See you soon! ⁃ Clara
Yo! Life is good! We got to surf, paddleboard, and rock climb so far. Ill tell yall more when I get back. See ya! ⁃ Daniel
Hey! I am having so much fun! I am excited to see you guys! The activities that we have been doing are so much fun and I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it. I am going to miss everyone a lot. See you guys soon. Love you! ⁃ Powell
Hey! I can’t wait to see you guys, but I don’t want this trip to ever end! Love yall! ⁃ Jonathan
Hey yall im doing great! These birds that keep waking me up in the morning are horrid. Can’t wait to see yall. Miss y’all! Love yall! – Hollis
Checking in from BCO!
July 17, 2024
Hello! Hello! Hello!
It is so nice to finally check in! Since uniting at the SEATAC airport, we have been on quite the adventure. We have poured ourselves into getting to know each other, and we are emerging as a glorious team. Each day, we (the leaders) are impressed by the opportunities these students explore and take advantage of. We are so, so thankful for the experiences we have already shared. Let me tell you about them!
We began our journey at SEATAC, where we met our twelve fresh arrivals. Games of hacky sack were played as new friends rolled in. We took over baggage claim carousel 2 in style, making it homey with snacks and music. After our group arrived, we departed and headed north. The students taught us how to play Wavelength, a game in which one student closes his or her eyes while the others choose a number. After the number is chosen, the student who closed his or her eyes asks questions to try and uncover the number without directly asking. The game is quite fascinating, and it allowed the group to bond on the road. When we arrived at Bay View State Park for the evening, we set up tents and headed down to the beach. Many students waded into the water and played games of volleyball. Ella dived out to hit the ball every chance she got and jubilantly started splash wars. Jon took the challenge in stride and proved himself a worthy competitor. After some aquatic time, we headed up to shore to dine on some pizza. Hollis stunned the crowd when he ate his pizza stacked one slice on top of the other. Honestly, after six days of pondering, I still don’t know how I feel about that style. After dinner, we headed up to the campsite and played more games. A competitive game of boys vs. girls kickball took off. After that, Lila set up a volleyball court made entirely of shoes and chairs. We applauded her for her creativity, as did her peers who got super involved in the game. Cici and Clara took a walk back down to the beach to admire the sunset. Hues of pink and orange painted the sky and silhouettes of the mountains and islands across the bay. Before we knew it, the time for our first Moonup had arrived. We discussed our favorite outdoor experiences and what we were excited for on the trip. After that, we headed to our tents and anxiously awaited the adventures to come.
We woke up on the second day with Canada on our minds. First, we fueled up with some bacon, egg, and cheese bowls. Our first clean crew, now known as Splash Mouth (Henry, Clara, and Lila), did the dishes. After that, we headed north once again and had a smooth border crossing! We arrived at a busy ferry terminal in Tsawwassen but departed quickly towards Nanaimo. Picture this: the ferry is essentially a small cruise ship. Seven stories, restaurants, a rooftop deck, and shops galore—it is safe to say that we had plenty to occupy us on the two-hour ride. After our arrival, we headed to our campsite, where we set up for the coming days, then headed down to the beach. Students swam and played king of the hill on a raft while Eddie cooked chili up at camp. As we emerged from the water, we enjoyed the hot meal waiting for us. Some took showers before our LODs, Powell and Jon, led us in our second Moonup. After our second full day of travel, we were exhausted and made our way into our tents, except for Jon, who camped under the stars.
On the third day, we awoke with anticipation for the climbs that awaited us. For breakfast, we dined on yogurt parfaits draped in berries, granola, and bananas. After our fuel, we took a short stroll to meet our climbing guides, Tom and Julian, in the parking lot. We introduced ourselves and all shared our favorite animals. Once we were all on a first-name basis, we headed up to the crag on a short and steep hike. Tom gave us a safety presentation and taught everyone how to belay. He split us into groups, and students began to climb away. After lunch, Tom and Julian set up a rappel off the top of a nearby cliff. Whalen was our fearless leader and aptly belayed himself down the line using a grigri device. Daniel was not far behind at all! By the end of the day, each of the students had completed the rappel in style. This called for an ice cream run, so we headed into town. We explored and then made our way to Loves, the ice cream truck. After that, we headed back to the lake for a swim. Many more games of King of the Hill were played, and Hollis proved himself to be a worthy competitor. As some finished swimming, others showered and began to cook dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs was on the menu, and Genie and Powell were the chefs. We ate until our stomachs were as happy as we were. Water volleyball, (which takes place on land) in which students fill their mouths with water and try not to laugh while playing, occupied our late evening. Arguably, Henry’s stream of jokes was much funnier than any of the actual volleyball moves. Liza Grace and Henry, our LODs, led a powerful Moonup. With our bodies exhausted from climbing and swimming, stomachs full, and minds ready to conquer another day, we headed to bed.
Before we knew it, we were up having breakfast and packing up camp. We made oatmeal, and students shared their passionate opinions on which flavor was superior: cinnamon spice, apple cinnamon, or maple brown sugar… In true Canadian style, maple brown sugar was the favorite. We loaded up the U-Haul and met our new climbing guides, Steve and Justin. They showed us a new crag called “Downtown Eastside.” A large rappel was set up on the crag, and Lila paved the way triumphantly. Others rappelled down from the sky, and then it was time to head to lunch. We hiked to a nearby cliff overlooking Lake Comox and took in views under a clear blue sky. Below us, kayakers, paddle boarders, and boaters played in the crystal-clear blue waters. However, our task was much more daunting: a 75-foot rappel down to a platform over the water, which we would then climb back out of. Jon was the first one to make his way down and back out, a picture-perfect ending to his domination on the climbing section. Hollis, Daniel, and Whalen followed and conquered it! After a huge day, we headed to our next spot and took a short ferry to get there. We pulled into a picturesque harbor on Quadra Island and made our way to the campsite. After exploring the beaches, we settled in and had some honey sriracha chicken, which (we all agreed) was delicious, compliments to chef Eddie. We headed down to the beach for Moonup. We also indulged in some brownies because it was about time for some dessert, and it was fuel for sweet dreams!
The next morning we awoke to another picture-perfect day in British Columbia. In fact, our kayaking guides would later say that it was one of the best of their season thus far. After making some oatmeal (and jamming to George Strait per Cici’s request), this time with PLENTY of Nutella, we loaded up into the van (which the students decorated with colorful markers) and headed off to the Yak shack. Sadie’s read-off pairings of students who would work in tandem while kayaking. We headed off to the dock, got a quick lesson, and were sea-bound before we knew it. Clara and Daniel hit their stride early in the lesson and found themselves at the front of the pack. Henry found himself getting bombarded with seaweed from his partner, Lila. And Genie and Liza Grace found themselves being conveniently towed by our guide Charles. We ate hummus, quinoa, and veggies provided by our kayaking guides at “Moon Snail” beach. After the meal, students took time to relax or explore, a true choose-your-own-adventure afternoon. Ella found herself cliff-jumping in style (and safely, of course). Then, the group made a swim across the mouth of the beach! After a few hours, we set off to sea again. However, this time we got to swing by Seal Island. As the name suggests, we saw many seals. Some barked at us, others patrolled the waters, but of course, most were dead asleep. We headed back to base with a new experience under our belts and feeling immensely grateful for our day on the water. Naturally, we were hungry, and tacos were on the menu. So the students worked together to cook and did an amazing job! It takes a strong team, and they proved themselves. After an early Moonup, we all slept HARD!
The first five days of our trip were gone in a flash. We are so thankful for the memories we have made and those that still await us. It has been a pleasure to get to know each of the students, and we cannot thank you enough for sharing them with Moondance!
All the best,
Palmer, Sadira, and Eddie
Safe Arrival in Seattle!
July 11, 2024
Hello British Columbia Families!
All students have landed safely in Seattle and the group is headed to their first campsite this evening! Their leaders are so excited to have everyone together, and we are excited to keep you updated on all the awesome things to come on their trip.
-Moondance HQ
