Missing Our Time in Madeira!
July 12, 2024
A sad final greeting from Lisbon,
As our Madeira 2A trip has wrapped up and the kids are all back home, we want to share with you the last couple of days of our trip! Our last few moments were filled with laughter, last ocean jumps, games, cooking, and recounting all of our favorite little and big moments in between.
When we wrapped up our trekking section we went back to our hostel which started it all for our next activity: rock climbing! We climbed natural rock walls in the most stunning area overlooking the most blue water you’ve ever seen! We’re so proud of our kids for conquering each wall – they crushed it! Everyone was able to make it to the top of their climb and then we all celebrated with a swim after. Cash and Winn were able to explore to find some nice rocks to jump off of into the water.
After rock climbing and our swimming excursion, our group took showers and had downtime to play a trip favorite: signs! I am embarrassed to say I taught them the game, but they are now better than me. We surprised the kids with a cooking class for dinner hosted by our outfitters teaching us how to cook a traditional meal in Madeira. Harper, Ryan, and Eliza all helped squer steaks to be grilled, and Mary Hollis, Ryan, and Marie all helped prepare salad and Bolo da Caco! Home-made garlic bread that is a classic! They were cracking us up at dinner dancing to Disney songs from Frozen and Moana. Ryan, Penn, and Thomas even performed for us. After we ate the delicious dinner we helped prepare, we sat out on our porch for moon up led by LOD’s Harper and Winn and giggled about what our future kids’ names would be. Our second question reflected on what we have learned from Moondance relating to leadership and life. It was incredibly special to listen to how every one of our kids has been impacted by the time they’ve spent with us.
Our next and final activity of the trip was Canyoning! The girls had a sweet car ride sing-along as we drove through the island and got to see some of the places we trekked through. Once we got to our destination we suited up and laughed that Ryan looked like a Teletubbie in his purple wetsuit. We had a small hike down to the river that made it a refreshing cold plunge once we got there. This canyon involved a lot more cliff jumping (shouts out to Emerson for showing some bravery coming face to face with cliff jumping throughout this trip!) and promoted an adrenaline rush! Winn was our first jumper and it was hilarious to hear all the little screams that each of us would do before hitting the water each time. For a treat/snack, we got to munch on KitKats and the kids loved them. For our last cliff descent, we were surprised with a zipline. It was SICK and the kids got to rappel down, release their carabiner, and slide down into the water! After we hiked out of the forest, ate lunch, and got ready for a sleepy car ride home to rest before our big night!
Our trip concluded with a memorable banquet dinner in the same restaurant we started with – this time with a FULL menu! The evening was a perfect celebration of our journey, featuring new options of local food, an overlook of the mountains meeting the sea at sunset, and sentimental table conversation. Perrin came up with the conversation prompt to go around and recount favorite moments of the trip and it was sweet to listen to. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize the growth and bonds formed throughout the trip. For dinner, we tried new locally caught foods like limpets, which Harper was a big fan of, mussels, shrimp, and Perrin even tried Sea Bream which turned out to be a big hit! Shrimp and salmon were fan favorites! We ended with some ice cream (of course) and then set off for our “Most likely to…” award show. It was quite the time. For our final moon up we met back up at the beach in our surf spot under the stars. We shared personal nugs to everyone and gave thanks for these new lifelong friendships that were created during our trip. It was emotional and rewarding.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you, the parents, for entrusting us with your wonderful kids! They are rockstars and we are so lucky to know them. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and teamwork made this adventure truly special. We are grateful for the opportunity to have shared this experience with them and look forward to more adventures in the future!
Huge nugs to MAD 2A; we miss you!
Lizzy and Will
Summits and songs in Madeira!
July 9, 2024
Olà from Madeira 2A!
We kicked off our trekking section with high spirits and anticipation. Along the trail, everyone joined in a fun game of “Pickles or Ice Cream,” which sparked hours of hilarious conversation. We packed our own lunch of delicious turkey sandwiches, and a cookie as a treat for the trail ahead. A main highlight of the day was when Thomas, Cash, Mary Hollis, Perrin, and Marie, conquered the freezing cold waters of a waterfall we found for a cold plunge! The water was insanely clear and we all joked it was our only shower for the next 6 days. Upon reaching our first campsite, we were treated to fajita quesadillas chefed up by Harper, Eliza, and Emerson! They absolutely crushed it. The day’s activities concluded with a meaningful Moonup, led by our LODs, Winn and Emerson before we settled in for preparation for the next five days of hiking.
Our day began with Harper whipping up a batch of pancakes, topped with bananas and jelly, providing a perfect start for the day’s hike! We listened to banana pancakes and sang along all morning. We covered a nice 8 miles and encountered some friendly cows, whom we mooed at. After reaching our second campsite, the group enjoyed some downtime journaling, playing cards, and engaging in a game of Mafia. Dinner was a hearty bolognese prepared by Thomas, Winn, and Mary Hollis. The evening ended beautifully with a Moonup led by LODs Ryan and Mary Hollis, followed by another Mafia game under a spectacular sunset over the clouds and an incredible display of stars.
When we woke up the next morning, the weather was perfect, offering clear views of our summit, Pico Ruivo. The group bonded over numerous trail games, making the hike even more enjoyable. We talked and laughed all day long! We got a surprise stop at a snack bar where we were treated with ice cream and espressos. The kids were thrilled to have a treat. Upon arrival at our campsite, we were greeted with stunning views of the mountains we were exploring. We set up in the grass and played ERS, journaled, and talked about all things to do with life. For dinner, we grilled BBQ chicken sandwiches cooked by Ryan, Penn, and Winn! It was a fan favorite. The night ended with Moonup once again under the brightest stars, led by LODs Marie and Cash, and closed with lots of laughter during a game of Empire!
Whoop whoop! What a way to spend our Fourth of July! Summiting Pico Ruivo! Madeira’s highest peak! It was a journey marked by breathtaking views and incredible encouragement. Despite challenges, we motivated each other every stair of the way. We had lots of stairs to climb but our group killed it. We sang songs, even made a riff for cash, played wavelength, and talked the whole way up. We got to see our first campsite from afar and it reminded us of how far we had come! As a special treat, we surprised the kids with a hostel stay (with a view) and showers, followed by a delicious chicken dinner and an assortment of desserts. We watched a stunning sunset over the clouds and ended our night with a serene moon-up ceremony led by our LODs, Eliza and Thomas, making the day unforgettable.
On the 5th of July, our group set out to hike Pico Areeiro! Sadly, we had to leave our hostel but we started the day with a delicious breakfast and a treat of iced coffee! The views were absolutely stunning, and despite having conquered a challenging summit the day before, our group tackled the stairs with determination and positivity. At lunch, we found a lizard, named him Jeremy, and watched in awe and laughter as he ate an apple from Will’s hand. Reaching another summit, we celebrated with ice cream before hiking to our next campsite. For dinner, we had a festive evening of hotdogs for the 5th of July and a hilarious dance party. Mary Hollis taught Ryan a dance, and they performed it, to Rihanna “Please don’t stop the music” bringing joy to everyone. We all goofed off to “YMCA” and ended the day with a moonup ceremony led by our LODs, Mary Hollis and Cash! It was our last night of camping and Penn and Thomas even decided to cowboy camp. Our trek was a blast and we’re so proud of our kids for all they accomplished with such positive attitudes! They’re rockstars.
We’ll write back soon with our final adventures as our trip comes to a close (sadness). It’s been the trip of a lifetime and we couldn’t thank you enough for sending your lovely kids to hangout with us in the most beautiful place on earth!
Talk soon,
Lizzie and Will
Greetings from the stunning island of Madeira!
July 1, 2024
Our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary as we explore the diverse landscapes and thrilling activities this island has to offer. Here’s a glimpse into our latest adventures:
Our group had an exhilarating time hitting the waves on Madeira’s beautiful coast. Under the guidance of our skilled instructors, everyone had a chance to experience the thrill of surfing. Harper and Ryan caught their first wave ever! The energy was contagious. The clear blue waters and beautiful cliffs of the Madeira coastline provided the perfect backdrop for our surfing sessions. After surfing, we headed to some natural pools where Thomas and Winn showed off their impressive cliff-jumping skills!
Kayaking along the Porto Santo coastline has been a highlight of our trip. We paddled through crystal-clear waters, navigating sea caves and exploring hidden coves. The ocean and views of the rugged cliffs made for an unforgettable experience. Along the way, we stopped at a beautiful rocky beach where Perrin, Eliza, Marie, and Emerson swam out to a cool jumping rock, and others soon followed suit. The next day, we continued to explore the beautiful Porto Santo coastline on foot, exploring coastal tide pools. Penn and Mary Hollis became expert snorkelers and even helped discover an octopus!
One of the most rewarding parts of our adventure has been getting to know all the incredible kids on this trip. Their enthusiasm has made each day special. We’ve shared countless laughs and grown as a group. Watching everyone grow and bond has been truly heartwarming. Cash and Eliza were leaders of the day on our last day before trekking and led a great moon-up, followed by a team-building game of human knot. The group enjoyed the challenge of trying to untangle themselves.
As we continue our journey, we look forward to more incredible adventures. Stay tuned for more updates from our Madeira trip!
Lizzy and Will
Perrin: Hey!!! I’m having a BLAST. This is the best experience and I have met so many lifelong friends. Trekking starts tomorrow and I’m so pumped. Madeira is so pretty and everything here is just the best. Love everyone bunches and miss you!!
Emerson: Hey guys!!! I’ve been having literally the best time ever! My group is so amazing and so supportive, they even helped me get the courage up to jump off some cliffs! Madeira is such a beautiful place, and I’m so excited to start our trekking tomorrow. I miss y’all and love y’all so much!!
Marie: Hey!!! I have been having the best trip ever!! My group is so much fun and everyone is constantly making me laugh and smile. Everywhere we go is absolutely beautiful. We went canyoneering today and had the best guides ever! I also love my leaders so much. Will and Lizzy are literally the best ever and make the trip so much fun. We start our trekking leg of the trip tomorrow, and I am so excited! I can’t wait to tell you all about the trip. Thank you so much for making this trip possible! I love you!!
Eliza: Hi! Thank you mom and dad for sending me on this trip!! I’ve had so much fun already. We’ve done everything from swimming and surfing to canyoneering. We are about to go trekking! I love my group so much and I couldn’t be happier to be here! Shoutout Lauren (if you reading this) I love you so much and miss you!!
Harper: Hey fam!! I miss you guys and I’m so excited to eat chipotle and see the fam. We’ve had so much fun on the trip so far and I’m so hype to tell you guys about it. We have SUCH a better group than NOLS (no 23 year old). Shoutout chili and Hadley but love all of you squad!!!!
Winn: Hey Mom and Dad! I am having so much fun in Madeira. It is the coolest place I have ever seen. I’ve made a bunch of new awesome friends. I can’t wait to tell you all about it when I get home. Shoutout to R2 I can’t wait to have lunch with you when I’m home.
Thomas: Hi Mom and Dad I’m having so much fun right now this place is actually not real it’s so beautiful. I can’t wait to see you guys and tell y’all all about it you’re going to love hearing how it’s going. I miss y’all and love you guys so much if Elizabeth hasn’t left yet tell her I said good luck and have fun.
Ryan: Hi Mom and Dad I’m having so much fun right now this place is crazy. Can’t wait to see you guys and tell y’all all about it you’re going to love hearing how it’s going.
MH: Hi!! I am having the time of my life in Madeira! We have done the coolest things and I am so excited for the rest of our trip! My group and leaders are stellar. Please tell everyone that I love y’all and miss y’all so so much! Can’t wait to tell you everything!
Penn: Hello mom and boss, I’m having great time here in Madeira! Tomorrow we start trekking and I’m so excited for it. My favorite thing so far has probably been surfing and meeting new people. I miss y’all very much and can’t wait to come home!
Cash: Hey family, I am having a great time at Madeira, it is a very diverse and beautiful island with lots to do like surfing and canyoning. I have had an amazing time meeting new people from all over and am excited for the next few days. I can’t wait to come home and see all of you guys, I love you all so much.
