Gretchen, 21, a junior at Clemson University from Columbia, SC, is majoring in Sociology with a minor in travel and tourism. As a Moondance student, she explored Big Wild, Fiji, and Thailand. This summer, she leads the Maui trip, bringing her enthusiasm for travel and her ability to inspire others. With her diverse travel experiences and academic pursuits, Gretchen is poised to lead her group on an unforgettable adventure.
Sadie, 21, from Atlanta, GA, is gearing up for her first leadership role with Moondance, leading the Maui trip. Heading into her junior year at the University of Michigan, majoring in Political Science, Sadie displays her leadership through her involvement on campus, including her role as president of her sorority. With Moondance adventures in Alaska (Midnight Sun), the Dolomites, and the Hawaiian Islands as a student, Sadie understands the importance of fostering camaraderie and creating memorable experiences. Excited to guide her team through the beauty of Maui, Sadie looks forward to sharing her passion for adventure and leadership, creating lasting memories along the way.
Jared, 22, hails from Birmingham, AL, and recently graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Supply Chain Management. With a background as a whitewater raft guide on the Ocoee and Nantahala Rivers, Jared brings a wealth of outdoor leadership experience to our team. Additionally, his passion for music as a drummer in two different bands during his time at Auburn demonstrates his creativity and ability to collaborate effectively. Excited to embark on his first leadership role on our Fiji trip, Jared is eager to inspire teenagers to embrace adventure and foster meaningful connections in the great outdoors.
June 22, 2024
A Hui Hou!
As our last and final trip update brings many feelings to the table, we are excited to reminisce on the past 4 days spent together. Keep up with us as we close out the best two weeks spent in Maui!
Tuesday morning started off slow as pancakes and yogurts filled our bellies. After a good night’s rest and a late sleep-in, we headed up Hana Highway to attempt a hike.. but of course, ended up at our regular beach spot just out of Paia. Our afternoon activity included a cooking class, in which we made venison tacos with taro tortillas, beet salad, and papaya slaw. It was a hit! Rosie’s beet salad and Anne Collins’ limeade were phenomenal.. so good that we even took leftovers home! The banana macadamia nut ice cream topped off our healthy meal that everyone was raving over. Our cooking class was on a beautiful farm, in which we got to feed pigs and see goats and lambs once we finished cleaning up. The sun set beautifully during this time, in which we climbed to the rooftop to take pictures and enjoy such a precious moment. Moonup back at home followed quickly after, and an early bedtime to prepare for a big day……
WOOOHOOO!!! HAPPY MAUI OLYMPICS!!! The white team has spent the past week and a half preparing for this wonderful Wednesday afternoon. We kicked the day off with paddle boarding down in Wailea. Hawaiian stories, sea turtles, and lots of laughing at Jackson C falling off kept the vibes high for the day. After a long drive back home, we surprised the kiddos with a WATERSLIDE! It was the best call for a hot afternoon in Maui. We then geared up for the Olympics (decked out in WHITE!) and headed down to the park to meet Maui A (red team) and Maui C (blue team). The Olympics started off with icebreakers, birdie on a perch, and relay races. Kickball started to get intense, and Jackson K knocked it out of the park (literally). Then, spikeball started.. and Jared’s boot camp paid off with a WHITE TEAM WIN! An amazing cookout by Chef Jared brought all Maui groups together to bond and celebrate all that Maui has given us since being here. After a Nug Club party, chubby bunny, and gummy bears later, Neva and Davis did the honors of pieing Jared and me (Gretchen here!) in replace of taking home the gold. We did a massive Moonup with the other groups and then headed home to do a Moonup of our own back at camp.
When Thursday rolled around, our reeeaaalllly early morning wake up call was for one good reason: GRIFF! Watching Elle paddling with Jared made all of us laugh until our stomachs hurt as we constantly heard “FULL STEAM AHEAD!” Meanwhile, Mattie and Finley snorkeled and witnessed 3 different turtles come out of a cave! And boy was one of them HUGE. It was perfect timing and truly encapsulated all the beauty we’ve experienced as a group. Once the afternoon approached, we did a Secret Santa for banquet night, where everyone drew a name and got to go into Goodwill to pick out an outfit for the person to wear to dinner in Paia. Eloise might have won this one, dressing Jackson K in the craziest outfit that has probably ever come out of Goodwill. As LOD, Beckett navigated the group to Tobi’s Poke and Shave Ice which came in clutch to feed us starving crazies walking through Paia in the most insane outfits. Banquet night means a long Moonup, and although lengthy, it was so heartfelt. 3 deep questions really tied together our group as a family. Everyone was able to be their beautiful and authentic selves, just as we invited them to be.
With airport day upon us, there was truly no better feeling than waking up and seeing all the kids in their enos, wanting to spend every minute together and soaking in the time we have left on the beautiful island of Maui. Of course, we couldn’t leave without going to the food trucks just onneeeee more time. And maybe one last Walmart run to fuel up for a long ride home. Once getting through security, Maui B all got together to shed some tears, give out some hugs, and say goodbye to the strangers who turned into family in just a matter of two weeks. What we’ll do without our 11 guinea pigs, birdies, nuggets, and children (all nicknames given by Gretchen) – I’m not so sure. Thank you is an understatement for the kids who pushed us out of our comfort zones to be better leaders, showed us how to have patience but have even more fun, and to love big, deep, and wide. We love you all, could not be more proud of you, and are so excited to see how you take on life. Keep in touch. Don’t be a stranger!
Yours always,
Gretchen & Jared & Sadie
June 18, 2024
Another wonderful & exciting few days in the Maui sunshine! We can’t believe we hit the half way mark… what are we gonna do without them!?!
Friday morning began with a sleep in and M&M pancakes to kick off a fun day of Rappeling! We got to do 3 rappels, with 2 of them being down waterfalls. Eloise & AC flew down and crushed the waterfall rappels! It was an adrenaline rushing and surreal experience, especially when hitting the water and seeing what you had just come down from. After this, we were walking back to our van and ran into A LOT of peacocks!! It was so cool seeing these animals interact in person. Once coming back home, Jackson K and Beckett showed off their spike-ball skills (in preparation to dominate in the Maui Olympics!) The night ended with a beautiful sunset, kiddos in the enos, and a deep Moonup to close out a fun-filled day!
A bright and early wake up call on a Saturday and Neva’s golden birthday calls for a Krispy Kreme surprise! We hit the road running with surfing and had a BLAST doing so! We enjoyed a picnic on the beach and a chill lunch in the sun, soaking it all up. We explored the town of Kihei, hitting all the shops, but most importantly.. SHAVED ICE! What a delicious treat for celebrating and well deserved reward! After our fun afternoon, we hit another beach in Kahului. Elle got buried in the sand, and Jackson C spotted 2 sea turtles out of the water on the point! If you thought this was the end of our ~full of surprises~ day, we’re not done! We surprised all the kids with food trucks for dinner as our local food stop, to get some poke bowls and Thai food to close out Neva’s birthday. Once coming home for Moonup, we reminisced on a fun day and the trip so far. Everyone was wiped out, so an early bed time sufficed!
Sunday came faster than we thought, and boy was it a day to remember. We got on the road before sunrise to make it to 4 different snorkeling spots. With so many incredible creatures in the sea, wonderfully made craters, seeing 3 sea turtles just 2 feet away from us took the gold medal home. We came back to camp and relaxed after being go go go for the past few days. It was time to get going, so we took our laundry into Makawao, and might’ve gotten a few surprises! A cake ended up coming home with us, but not to be eaten. First step out of the van, it ended up all over Jared’s face. The giggles didn’t stop there, as Davis made a masterpiece: banana, nutella, m&ms, and nerd clusters! Whoever took a bite remains a mystery… This nights sunset had all the others beat, so we took lots of pictures and got our ya-ya’s out to end quite probably the weirdest day we’ve had yet, but definitely a day to remember.
We couldn’t conclude our day without honoring and celebrating Father’s Day. We are all so incredibly grateful for those who serve as father figures in our lives. Dads, Grandfathers, and those who step into the position, we love you and could not be more grateful for you.
Happy Monday family & friends! And a happy surfing day 2! Surfing today came with smaller waves, but bigger smiles! Rosie & Mattie were up & at em’ doing tricks on the surf board, teaching others how to master their skills! After a successful day, we decided to go to a surf shop, and walked out with multiple souvenirs. Acai bowls, Thai food, and Mexican filled our belly’s before exploring the Iao Valley. The Iao Valley was a much needed trail walk. We played many games, had lots of laughs, and made lots of memories bonding as a group. Finley got the hang of making friendship brackets, making it a point for everyone to get one by the end of the week. Now, we end our day watching the sun set on top of the Haleakalā mountain. A blessed start to a bittersweet last week with 11 kids who make up our family of Maui 1B. Talk with you soon.. but most likely with a side of heartfelt goodbyes.
Thank you’s:
June 14, 2024
Aloha from Maui!
Rise & shine from the mountain tops of Haleakalā! Our first few days here have been nothing short of sweet, beautiful, and FUN! Follow along with us as we catch up on the first few days of Maui sunshine!
After a successful airport day rounding up all 11 of Maui B, we kicked off the trip with a Moondance ritual: pizza! The kids woke up bright and early for our first Monday morning. We headed out to Lahaina for a Conservation Activity with Maui Cultural Lands. Jackson K went hard to work alongside Ekolu, President of MCL, and learned about the lessons of his family’s legacy and history of Hawai’i. Rosie helped out his mother, Puanani, rake leaves and seeds out of the pathway so that the boys could dump the weeds. Once we got out of the valley, we headed down to the beach to have a picnic for lunch! Sandwiches and chips hit the spot after a morning of weed pulling and hearing all about the culture of Hawaii. The warm sand and windy afternoon put a close to our first day of activities. We got back to our new “home” and had Mediterranean bowls for dinner: chicken, tomatoes, onion, avocado, mixed bell peppers, hummus, and pita – courtesy of our consistent and determined cook crew, Anne Collins and Mattie. Moonup closed out the night, under a breathtaking starry night sky.
The next day we woke up and had a BIG breakfast. Eggs, sausage, strawberries, blueberries, pitas, nutella & peanut butter prepared us for a longgg day of ZIPLINING! The most insane, incredible, and outstanding views. We split up into two groups but both did the same 6 lines. Eloise and I (Hey! It’s Gretchen!) got to hold hands down the longest zipline that went along the the beach.. a spectacular view! Our guides kept us entertained, and took us on a bridge to soak in the beautiful view of the ocean and islands surrounding us. On our way home, we might’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up at the beach! Well, so we thought. We stumbled upon Dragon’s Teeth, a marvelous rock transformation on Makaluapuna Point. Once returning home from an unexpected adventure, we threw together a Mexican meal to warm us up before preparing for a chilly Moonup, and a good nights rest before an early wake up call!
& a gooood morning to our first day of WATER ACTIVITIES! A quick oatmeal with blueberries and apples & peanut butter had us cruising to Kanaha Beach for our first day of Windsurfing. Beautiful 20 mph winds had us up on our feet and mastering the skill quicker than we thought! Elle KILLED IT and stole the show with her ability to stand up and sail the powerful winds of Maui. Davis kept us all on our toes by his determinations to do 360°s and colliding into everyone all at one time. We headed back to our little slice of heaven on Haleakalā and worked with Pono Grown Farms, helping plant beets, leeks and fennel. Evan, project manager and owner, set up a killer waterslide as a reward from our hard work! Beckett set the high score of a whopping 4 second racing time down the slide. Our day ended with a delicious chicken pesto pasta, a giggly Moonup, and as always, Neva’s helping hand doing the dishes and shuffling duffles underneath another beautiful night sky in Maui.
Another bright and early morning headed out for our second day of Windsurfing! With stronger winds, everyone popped right up and took it away! As LODs, Elle & Jackson C got to surprise the group with a surprise trip to the Food Truck for lunch! Poke bowls, Thai food, tacos, Açaí bowls, pizza and everything in between. Then, we headed to a beach park for a relaxing day in the sand, making the most of our free afternoon. Finley, eager to learn new skills, cheffed up a tasty & warm dinner of chicken and cheese quesadillas! Everyone got their ya-ya’s out after dinner with a long game of jackpot. Now, time to close out our night with a nightly jam by Jared, accompanied by one of Maui’s finest & beautiful sunsets.
The fun is only beginning! We are so excited to continue our water activities and experience all that Maui has to offer. We’ll be in touch… but for now.. Mahalo! And Happy Father’s Day to all of our heroes.
Me Ke Aloha,
Gretchen & Jared & Sadie
Shoutouts
June 10, 2024
Hello Maui Families!
We heard from our leaders this afternoon that the group has landed safely in Maui 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 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
