Greetings from Madeira!
June 22, 2024
As our incredible journey on this beautiful island comes to a close, we wanted to share some highlights from our last few days together.
After wrapping up our trekking section, we kicked things off with an exhilarating canyoning adventure. Navigating through the lush canyons of Madeira, we rappelled down waterfalls, jumped into beautiful pools, and slid down natural rock slides. Hawkins yet again faced his fear of heights head-on, while Winnie Bennett and Spencer jumped from the canyon cliffs with enthusiasm. The adrenaline was high, and the smiles were even bigger as we conquered each challenge and soaked in the breathtaking scenery.
Kate and SJ led an amazing Moonup featuring a specially choreographed dance to close our first day of canyoning. The following day, Sarah and Lizzy explored the beautiful city of Funchal while the rest of the group traveled to a different canyon to put our rappelling skills to the test. Barrett, Nola, and Alex tackled the challenging terrain and rappels with enthusiasm and a positive attitude that encouraged the rest of the group.
To celebrate our adventures, we enjoyed a delightful banquet dinner near the black sand beaches of Seixal. We shared delicious local dishes, pizza, laughter, and stories from the trip.
Our journey culminated with a special final Moon Up. We gathered one last time to reflect on our experiences, the friendships we’ve forged, and the growth we’ve experienced. It was a moment of connection and gratitude, a fitting end to our time together.
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents. Thank you for trusting us with your wonderful children. It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to share this adventure with them, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their journey.
Until next time,
Lizzy and Will
Hello from Madeira 1A!
June 19, 2024
Our 6-day trekking adventure in Madeira was an unforgettable experience filled with scenic views, challenges, and plenty of laughter!
On the first day, we kicked off our journey by hiking down to a breathtaking waterfall. Spencer was the first to cold plunge and Kate was not far behind him! After our swim, we made it to our first camp sight. There, Barrett, Nola, and Winnie helped prepare our delicious Mexican bowl dinner! The kids all set up tents and then we ran to catch a killer view of the sunset above the clouds. To end the night we did Moonup under the stars.
The next morning, we got up bright and early to start our second day! Will cooked up some eggs and bacon for breakfast and the kids made sandwiches for lunch. We packed up camp and hiked all day through windmills and flower fields until we arrived at our second camp sight.
The next day, we got to hike some new terrain that included multiple tunnels. We even had to use our headlamps to see! The unpredictable Madeira weather did throw some rain our way, but we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. We turned on the JBL once we got to our camp sight, turning the rain into an opportunity for impromptu dance sessions. Dancing in the rain with good vibes and laughter kept our morale high and created some of the trip’s most joyous memories. Hawkins and Bennett gave a helping hand in setting up tents for everyone that night as well! We had a fan favorite dinner – BBQ chicken sandwich’s while we watched the rain and eventually all headed to bed.
Next, we made it to our awaited summit day where we summited the highest peak in Madeira, Pico Ruivo. The trail was challenging, but the panoramic views from the top made it all worth it. The feeling of accomplishment and the breathtaking scenery set the tone for the rest of our adventure. After, we made it to our surprise hostel stay and enjoyed an incredible chicken dinner. We even got to pick our own desserts! We got a well earned shower and a great night of sleep.
One of the most exhilarating parts of the trek was climbing the famed “Stairway to Heaven.” Sarah tackled this steep, stair-filled path with determination, encouraging the group through the most strenuous parts. The lush landscapes and dramatic cliffs offered stunning views at every turn, making the climb a memorable highlight.
On our last day of trekking we woke up and started down toward the beautiful city of Funchal. After a couple hours of trekking we made it to the famed toboggans of Funchal were we rode in carts down the streets. SJ kept everyone’s spirits high in line for the toboggans by starting a singalong. We explored Funchal and bit and ended our day with an amazing Moonup led by our leaders of the day Alex and Winnie.
Huge thank you to all parents for letting us share these wonderful experiences with your incredible kids. It’s been a pleasure getting to know them and watch them grow throughout our time together. Below they wanted to share their thanks to you as well for allowing them to join us in Madeira!
We couldn’t be more excited to make the most of these last 2 days together!
Lizzy & Will
Bennett: Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I am having an awesome time and just finished with our 6 days of trekking. I love you so much and am missing you. See you in a couple days.
Nola: A huge thanks to you Mom and Mike for gifting me this insane opportunity!! Can’t wait to tell yall all about to the super awesome things I’ve been up to 😁😁
Kate: Thank you so much, Mom for giving me this awesome opportunity :)) I have had the best time and can’t wait to tell you everything when I get home! Love you so much💕🌈✨🕺🦋
Winnie: Hey mom and dad, just wanted to let you guys know I am incredibly grateful and appreciative that you guys sent me on this trip I have had such a great time and I’m so thankful yall have given me this opportunity.
Hawkins: Heyyyyy Mom I’m actually having so much fun this is insane we just finished hiking and it was incredible. I love you thank you so much for this like actually this is the best thing ever. Can’t wait to see you on Friday
SJ: Hey mom and dad!!! I’m so grateful for being sent on this trip and am so excited to tell yall everything about it!! Love and miss yall, see yall soon!!
Barrett: Hey Mom and Dad!!! Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity and I am having so much fun!! I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to tell you about it when I get home. Love you guys so much!!💕🤗
Sarah: Mom! I miss you so so much, and I’m thinking of you! Thank you for giving me this opportunity and this once in a lifetime experience! There’s so much that I can’t wait to share! Fully relaxed and ready for what’s next. Thank you Mom for giving me this experience!
Alex: Hi mom, dad, and Matthew!! I miss you so much, and I’m thinking of you all the time! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be on this trip! I have been taking so many videos and pictures on the GoPro that I can’t wait to share. Love you so much! See you soon 😁
Spencer: hey mom, dad, bestie, and Katie. I’m having so much fun on the trip and the hiking has been amazing . I definitely want to do more when I get back. The views have also been breathtaking and the people are super funny. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip and I can’t wait to show you all the photos. Love yall- Spencer
Update from Madeira!
June 11, 2024
Greetings from the island of Madeira!
Our Moondance trip has been nothing short of extraordinary. With 12 adventurous spirits on board, we’ve been embracing every challenge and adventure this breathtaking island has to offer. From surfing the Atlantic waves to scaling the rugged rock faces, our days have been filled with excitement, camaraderie, and unforgettable experiences.
We couldn’t be prouder of our group. Sarah, Nola, Kate, SJ, Spencer, Hawkins, Barrett, Bennett, Winnie, and Alex have all demonstrated remarkable spirit and determination. Each of them has had moments that truly stand out and inspire us all.
Winnie and Alex, our first LOD’s of the trip, took us into our first day of surfing! The team preserved through some tough waves but everyone ended up standing on their board at least once by the end of the lesson!
After, we went and played pickup soccer. We watched the kids show off their soccer skills. Barrett and Kate stood out acting as lead scorers for their teams!
After a lovely pasta dinner provided by our outfitters we met up for our first student led moonup! We laughed and got to know each other a little better before heading to bed.
The next morning, we got up early and head out for a day of rock climbing! It was a scenic spot with views of the mountains meeting the sea. Our LOD’s Sarah and Spencer brought the vibes picking our songs to play on the speaker while we climbed and swam. A special shoutout to Bennett for his speedy climb up all 3 walls.
Kate and Nola also showed incredible perseverance on a challenging climb. Despite feeling the urge to stop halfway,they found their inner strength, and reached the top! Hawkins, too, had a breakthrough moment. Conquering a significant fear of heights, he tackled the rock climb with courage and determination.
To end our exciting day of rock climbing, we had the special opportunity to participate in a cooking class. We got to eat a traditional steak dinner served with salad, and fries. Our team rocked it and were tons of help with clean up afterwards.
We’re excited to head to the island of Porto Santo next to explore the blue ocean waters while coasteering!
The spirit of Moondance is alive and well in every one of these young adventurers! Their energy, teamwork, and unwavering positivity continue to set the tone for our incredible journey. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, and we can’t wait to see what other amazing moments lie ahead.
Cheers to the fun to come!
Lizzy + Will
Shoutouts:
SJ- Hey mom, reid, and dad!! I’m having so much fun and miss yall so much!!! Please tell Ardyn, Blair, and Camden I miss them! Love yall, see yall soon!!
Nola- What’s up Mom and Mike!! Having an awesome time and am super grateful for you two… I’ll be sure to get yall a little gift!! I love and miss you guys!! And Addy and Chilton if yall are reading this what is up chikas!! Peace and love
Alex – Hi Mom, Dad, and Matthew!! I’m having so much fun I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here! Can’t wait to see you soon! Love you!
Winnie: hey mom and dad I miss you guys a lot as well as the dogs and my siblings. Tell piper happy birthday and I’m sorry I missed it again. I’m having a good time and I am feeling way less nervous! Miss you guys and see u soon!!
Spencer: hey mom and dad. I having a lot of fun on the trip so far and am getting along with everyone. I’ll fill you in on the details when I get home. I love yall and give betsie belly rubs. Love yall.
Kate: hey mom!!! I miss you so so so much but am having the best time ever 🙂 I have everything I need (don’t worry) and we just got to our second hostel before we start trekking in 2 days I think …. We have been surfing, rock climbing, kayaking etc… well anyways I love you so much and can’t wait to see you soon!!❤️🔥🌈🦋😜🫶🕺✨😍
Hawkins: Hey mommy (mom). I miss you so much I am having so much fun!!! 🤩 we went surfing already and it was so much fun and I rocked climbed and I thought it was actually really fun. Thank you so much actually for all of this I will never forget it. 🤗I love you so much see you on the 21st!
Bennett: hey mom and dad I miss you so much! I am having a lot of fun surfing, rock climbing and walking around the city. I can’t wait to see you guys when I get back and I hope you are having a lot of fun in Colorado. I have everything I need so you don’t have to worry about me not having anything dad. Love you so much!
Sarah: HI mom! I miss you so much and I have so much to tell you! We surfed and rock climbed and have explored a lot of Madeira and Porto de santo! Truly, thank you so much for this trip! Visit D for me❤️❤️ Stanley, I miss you so much as well! Have the best trip in Europe A!
Barrett: Hey mom and dad!! I miss you guys SO much and I hope you guys have amazing bdays and Father’s Day!!! I have been having a ton of fun and we have been exploring Madeira, kayaking, surfing, climbing, even more and we’re about to start trekking. I can’t wait to see you and I love you guys so much! Tell the rest of the family I say I miss them!💕🤗🤗
To the Island They Go - Day 1!
June 6, 2024
Hello Madeira Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Lisbon and is off to Madeira! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure as they dance around the island.
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
