Unforgettable Adventures: Our Journey with Moondance!
June 20, 2024
Hey Friends!
It is hard to believe we are writing this update so soon! It feels like only yesterday all of the students arrived. It was with anxious excitement that we met them, and it is with heavy hearts that we leave them.
A lot of incredible things have happened since we last wrote to y’all. After leaving a perfect three nights in Tahoe, we made our way to Camp Lotus to begin our rafting section of the trip. Our last morning began with everyone’s favorite: chocolate chip pancakes. Once again, the boys proved themselves to be expert chefs. Whit demonstrated his pancake-flipping skills and provided the group with a filling breakfast. Once we hit the road, we decided it was time to satisfy everyone’s In-N-Out craving with a quick stop. How could we resist? Louisa and Henry had a ball trying their burgers for the first time. Henry ate his food in just a few short seconds. Camp Lotus and their hospitality exceeded everyone’s expectations. Our raft guides welcomed us with excitement and open arms. That night we played at camp and made spaghetti with meatballs for dinner. Our dinner could rival authentic Italian in Rome.
The next day, our rafting adventure on the American River began. We had a quick breakfast and met up with our raft guides, who proved that good hospitality is not limited to the South. After a quick explanation, we hit the river. Rose absolutely killed it! She proved herself strong; with her help, her group was able to attack the strong rapids. On Catharine’s raft, Crawford W. was a fun and dynamic member. He held a steady position in front, laughing and jumping in the water whenever he had the chance. We stopped and had lunch on the river. Who knew our guides could be both masters of the current and great cooks? After lunch, we finished the bottom leg of the river and returned to camp. At camp, we had a three-course dinner made by our guides. They made homemade dip with veggies and crackers, pasta with different sauces, chicken, steak, salad, AND dessert! We were stuffed. It was an early night after a long day on the river.
Our last day rafting was one of our most anticipated days yet. The upper leg of the American River is known for its intense rapids. We were particularly anxious for our match against the notorious rapid: Troublemaker. With quick paddle strokes and deft movements, we conquered the rapids. Whit helped his group take on the challenge. We finished our short time on the river with another late lunch and then hit the road. We arrived at Point Reyes in the Bay Area. It is easy to say we were exhausted after a crazy last few days. The chill of the coast was a shock compared to the hot temperatures we experienced further inland. We set up camp and then settled on delicious hot dogs for dinner. Emme, our Leader of the Day, helped us grocery shop and helped the group cook despite the long day. Once again, the boys stormed the kitchen to help Catharine cook. Their jokes and humor will be sorely missed by all of us. Blake killed it over the stove! Thanks to him, we had plenty of food.
The next day began with our trek back to the Bay Area. We started the morning off with a walk on the beach. It was absolutely beautiful. We were the only people walking that morning. Everyone had fun exploring and enjoying the sun. Lilly loved getting the chance to walk. She and Hill led the charge and they definitely could have stayed longer. After our stroll, we headed to Inverness Market for lunch. The students loved it! It was so much fun to eat fresh sandwiches in the California sun. After some decent munching, we got in the van to drive to Half Moon Bay. On the way, we stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge! Eugenia had fun being a tourist and enjoying the cool sight. We surprised the group with pizza at Baker Beach afterward. The sun was setting, and we could admire the Bridge from the sand. Crawford W. and Whit engaged in a fun beach volleyball game with some locals. He showed off some crazy skills! We especially enjoyed spending time talking to Eugenia and Rose on the beach. They are so fun to talk with, and our time with these great girls will be a special memory. We spent the night in Half Moon Bay, falling asleep to the sound of the ocean.
The next morning brought two things: a chill to the air and SURF LESSONS!!! We loaded up the van and headed over to meet our instructors. After a quick talk, we sashayed on the beach in our wetsuits, ready to take on the waves. Crawford B. possessed skills that impressed even our instructors. He was soon helping out his friends at the sport he so loves. After hitting the waves, we ate at the “World’s Most Beautiful Taco Bell.” We surely had more tacos than most people have in a lifetime. We continued the fun with a trip to Sausalito. We had a town day! We went to gift shops, walked around the pier, and treated ourselves to some hard-earned gelato. Carter got himself a new paddleball toy and taught himself to be quite good at it over the next few hours! We ended the busy day sailing around the San Francisco Bay. Captain Rod took us by Alcatraz, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and all around the bay. Blake had so much fun sitting with Chad on the sailboat! It was windy but nothing we couldn’t handle. That night, we did an Iron Chef-style cooking competition among our students. This was a chance for them to show off the cooking skills they gained during the trip. One group made fried rice, and the other treated us to pizza. None of it would be possible without Crawford B’s awesome cooking skills. It is hard to imagine something that he can’t do!
Our last morning left us shocked at truly how fast time goes by. We headed to the beach for our last surf with our instructors. Man, it was cold! After a day of running around getting ready for tomorrow’s travel, we stopped at the thrift store for some fun outfits for our banquet dinner. Louisa found the coolest Dorothy costume and Lilly rocked some Adam Sandler-style shorts! We had our banquet at a local Mexican restaurant near the beach. It was awesome and everyone looked so stylish. We finished the night off with s’mores and one last Moonup.
The trip went by incredibly fast. We blinked, and it was over. It is incredible to watch these students change over just two short weeks. Watching them leave confident and with 11 new friends is the best gift we leaders can ask for. Thank you to the parents who made Moondance possible for these kids. It was a blessing to watch their lives change, and it started with y’all trusting in us.
-Chad, Catharine, George
Update from the shores of Lake Tahoe!
June 17, 2024
Hey Everybody!
We have had a FABULOUS time in Lake Tahoe! We seriously could not have asked for a more perfect few days. The drive from Yosemite to Lake Tahoe was a long, but filled with lots of fun stops! We made a quick breakfast of oatmeal at our Yosemite campsite and hit the road. As usual, Crawford W. provided lots of good music and was an awesome DJ. His energy and liveliness helped the group find joy in the long day. We had lunch at an awesome local hotdog restaurant. All of the kids were nothing short of polite to our waitress and the staff. What really blew us leaders away was Carter and Louisa’s help grocery shopping. As our LODs (Leaders of the Day), they stormed into Costco with us. They made lists of what groceries we needed and helped plan future trip meals. We completed the shopping in record time and seriously could not have made that quick food run without them. Later that evening, we finally made it to our campsite for the next few days. It was nothing short of beautiful. We camped right on the waters of Lake Tahoe, just a few feet away from the crystal blue waters. Our group was blessed with an absolutely beautiful sunset the first night. We all walked down to the dock and watched as the sun sank behind the mountains, still touched with a little bit of snow. It took our breaths away. That night, we finished up with some delicious quesadillas and fell asleep dreaming about the days to come and the adventures to be had.
Wednesday was the start of our first full day on Lake Tahoe! A little chilly in the morning, the air felt crisp and cool. To kick off the morning, we made chocolate chip pancakes. The boys really took charge in the kitchen, helping Catharine cook everything! Whit provided impeccable pancake-flipping skills. Even Gordon Ramsey couldn’t compete with his camp cooking skills. That morning we had the privilege to go kayaking on those beautiful blue waters! We graced the shores of Lake Tahoe with our bathing suits, homemade sandwiches, and extra sunscreen to combat the high UV . Blake’s kayaking mesmerized us all. He and Eugenia, his partner, had so much fun taking the long way to our lunch spot on a far shore. We ate, tanned, and swam in the water. It may even rival El Cap for the “Most Epic Lunch Spot Ever”. After kayaking, we decided to take the kids to a surprise ice cream stop where we were all treated to baseball sized scoops. Rose loved her mint chocolate chip ice cream, so much so, that we don’t think anybody could wipe the smile off her face. We returned to camp for a relaxing afternoon and quickly found ourselves with quite the appetite. To curb our hunger we decided to make an adventurous meal: homemade Lo Mein. It was quite the treat!
Thursday was the perfect end for our time spent in Tahoe. It is easy to say that our time spent there went by fast. We had a quick and fancy breakfast of oatmeal and fruit before we hit the lake. Today’s adventure: paddle boarding. Spending time as a group together on the water was just what we needed. We spent time slowly paddling and taking lots of breaks to swim and laugh. Hill and Lilly lounged on their paddle boards taking the beautiful weather as a chance to tan! How could they miss the chance when there was not even a cloud in the sky? The day took an unexpected turn when the hike we had planned was closed. Disappointed but not deterred, we ordered pizza from White Cap Pizza and drove to a special spot in Nevada to eat, swim, and watch the sunset. Our foiled hike was quickly forgotten! When we got back to camp, we couldn’t just stop the fun there. We made a campfire and roasted s’mores! Crawford B. suggested we cut up watermelon too and that was a wonderful idea! Our entire group couldn’t resist! We finished up the night laughing around the campfire and it was a wonderful end to our time in Tahoe.
Shoutouts:
Crawford Wing: greetings I would like to shout out my dad because it is fathers day then all of my family because I haven’t seen them in 2 weeks and from camp it would be Whitt because I like hanging out with him.
Whit Shealy: Hey guys, I am having so much fun here and everything is great. Shoutout to papa Chip for a happy Father’s Day and can’t wait to see all of y’all soon. Say hi to Teton for me.
Crawford Brown: I would like to shout out my dad to start because I am sad not to be there and enjoy but will come back and make sure to celebrate Father’s Day and mom I love you and am having a blast.
Carter McMahon: Hi! I am having an amazing time in California. Shout out to mom and dad I have you are doing well. Have an amazing Father’s Day! I love you and miss you!
Eugenia B: Hello parents, Eugenia here! I’m having a very fun time! Happy Father’s Day dad I love you so much😊 My favorite thing so far has been white water rafting. I’m hype to see y’all, love you 😘
Lilly Hill: Hey parents, it’s Lilly! I’m having the BEST time!! I’m so excited to see y’all, but sad to leave. Happy Father’s Day dad, love you! My favorite thing has been white water rafting so far. Can’t wait to see all of y’all when i get back, love you all so , much!!
Louisa O’Connor: Hi parents! I am having a great time so far!! We just did are first day of white water rafting and it has been my favorite part! Happy Father’s Day, you are the best dad I could ask for and I love you so much!! Can’t wait to see y’all when I get back! Also make sure to tell Georgia I miss her lots!!! 💗💗💗
Rose Theobald: Hey parents. I am having a great time! Happy Father’s Day! I can’t wait to see you guys but leaving will be sad. We have done many things so far but my favorite thing so far has been the white water rafting. I love you a lot and will see you when I get back! 😘
Henry bivens: Hey mom and dad, I’ve had so much fun so far this trip miss y’all hope Steele is having fun at McAllie char. At skyline dad at okohe and mom in Greece and turkey. This has been awesome and I’ll tell y’all all about it when I get back. It feels much less stressful being off my phone for a while. Happy Father’s Day I’ll see y’all on Wednesday.
Emme Glenn: Hey guys, it’s Emme! Im having the best time ever! Everyone here is really nice, and I feel like everyone is great friends. They have been feeding us a bunch. When I get back I need to eat more healthy. So far we have done a lot. White water rafting was my favorite! We haven’t surfed or sailed yet, but I’m so excited! I can’t wait to get back and see y’all! I really miss the dogs. Can’t wait to get back! I love you! ❤️
Blake Wilfong:Hey Mom and Dad Happy Father’s Day sorry i wasn’t there. Camp has great everyone is so nice and we have done so much we have hiked up to a big water fall and gone rock climbing and white water rafting. I can’t wait to cam home and tell you all about it. Love you both❤️ and tell Boogin I miss him.
Hill Caine: Hey mom and dad, HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD. I love y’all miss y’all.
Greetings from California!
June 15, 2024
Howdy Folks!
We hope that this update finds you well! Right now, we are enjoying a relaxing evening in Lake Tahoe but we have so much to tell you! Our first few days here out west have been nothing short of magical. We hit the ground running at blistering speeds and we have yet to slow down.
Our journey began in the San Francisco airport where the three of us eagerly awaited the arrival our twelve companions. Slowly but surely every student (and every student-sized duffel) touched down in the Paris of the West. Once our squad was fully assembled, we boarded our van with clear eyes and full hearts and we were off to the races! A journey through the city gave us many wonderful views such as the mighty Golden Gate Bridge and the notorious Alcatraz Island. From the start Crawford W. kept the whole group entertained during the car ride with his quick wit and boundless energy. As we made our way out of the city we noticed that we were quickly becoming very hungry so we stopped for some well-deserved pizza! Our group hit Ferroni’s like a storm and made quick work of the food before retiring to our campsite for the night. There, Crawford B. lead the charge and spearheaded our campaign of setting up our tents. The following morning came early but also with much excitement as we set out for Yosemite National Park.
When we arrived we were greeted with even more wonderful views as we made our way up Nevada Falls along the Mist Trail. Our first LODs (leaders of the day), Whit and Emme, took charge and lead our group up the steep incline. After braving some tough hills we were rewarded with a great vantage point atop the waterfall and were refreshed by the mist coming off of it. Eventually we made our way down and stopped for lunch in a spot that might take the cake for Most Epic Lunch Spot of All Time. All fifteen of us were awestruck and marveled at the sheer scale of El Capitan as we ate our meal beneath it.
When we made it to camp, we all took the evening to relax. We were fortunate enough to have a pool to swim in before everyone took part in a very intense Spikeball tournament where Lily and Hill delivered a commanding performance! After we cheffed up some most excellent Fajita Bowls, we retired for the evening in anticipation of our climbing section.
Rock climbing proved to be a very special activity for the group and it was a dream come true to watch the group dynamic form. Make no mistake, rock climbing can be a daunting task, but the group conquered it with poise and maturity. Blake was quick to provide encouragement and motivation to his group mates, and Henry, although a little nervous at first, proved to be one of the group’s most prolific climbers. Eugenia and Louisa were naturals and took every opportunity to climb! At the end, it was evident that we might have a group of future Alex Honnolds.
The group has also been excellent when it comes to preparing meals. Every member has contributed significantly, however, Carter and Rose have been constants in the kitchen and have added consistent stability and quality to our meals.
It has been such a blessing getting to know all twelve of these kiddos over the past few days. Watching them grow in their bond with one another has been so special. Everyone radiates positivity, so much so, that we’d be hard pressed to think of any complaining. Even though it’s been a short time, they all embody the spirit of Moondance already and we look forward to our further adventures with them.
With love,
Catharine, Chad, and George
Safe Arrival in San Francisco!
June 8, 2024
Hello California Families!
We heard from our leaders last night that the group has landed safely in San Francisco and is headed 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 weeks! 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
