SMILES WITH A SCUBA CERT.
June 15, 2025
Hello from Belize!
Our group has just wrapped up 10 unforgettable days filled with ocean adventures, incredible views, and rainforest exploration. From earning SCUBA certifications to cracking coconuts and diving into local culture, the trip is only getting better.
We spent the last stretch of our island time rotating through our favorite activities-kayaking, paddle boarding, and walk-out snorkeling. The biggest milestone of the week is every single student earned their SCUBA certification!!! We are so excited for our 13 newly certified divers, and we’re beyond proud of their determination and enthusiasm.
Each student brought their own flavor to the underwater world. Izzy instantly felt at home under the sea and knows how to pose for awesome underwater pictures. Oliver had one goal in mind: do a backflip underwater. Mission accomplished! We all cheered him on as he flipped effortlessly below the surface. Charlie took on each scuba skill with ease and quickly stood out as one of the strongest divers in the group. Bea stayed true to her cool and collected self and looked like a total natural gliding around 40 feet down. Hibbs never missed an opportunity to dive into nature, especially the water. Whether it was a snorkel session before dinner or asking Wilson insightful questions about marine life, he was always first in and last out.
Charlie, Henry, Oliver, and Hibbs fully embraced the island life and spent every night sleeping in hammocks under the stars, completely immersed in the incredible caye. Powell brought her fun, balance, and strength to the water with some seriously impressive headstands on the paddleboard. Walker kept us laughing with his evolving ways to get in and out of a kayak, with each one more creative (and chaotic) than the last. Huge shoutout to Ella, who pushed herself to scuba dive!!!! She chose courage and curiosity over comfort, and we’re so proud of her bravery and determination.
Evenings on the island were full of awesome activities such as card games like Hearts and Spades, late-night Moonups on the dock surrounded by tarpons and stingrays, or stargazing under the glowing orange moon. One night, Wilson guided us around the island where we got to see incredible creatures such as octopuses, tarpons, and even a nurse shark!! We marked our final morning on the caye with a group sunrise swim-quiet, peaceful, and the perfect way to say goodbye to our island home.
On Friday, we packed up and traded the sea for the trees as we made our way to the Belizean rainforest. Our first hike brought new scenery and new energy-Izzy led the charge with her positive attitude and kept the group motivated through the heat and humidity. Henry embraced our new lodging and jumped right into the tire swing zip line and was the only one to try the bike that Wilson showed us!! Later that day, we set off on a peaceful boat tour down the Sitee River, spotting wildlife and soaking in the views. We made a stop for homemade local ice cream, and followed it up with a surprise stop at Mango Fest in Hopkins with music, fun shops, dancing; it was a great taste of Belizean culture.
Back at the lodge, the competition picked up with volleyball matches in full swing. Lila and Leslie dominated the court as team captains, firing off powerful serves and racking up points. Ansley played a key role at the net, blocking shots and setting up perfect plays. Jace brought his own twist to the game by saving points with his feet (true to his soccer roots) and delivering some killer serves of his own. We can already tell there are more epic matches ahead.
Evenings have been full of laughter and connection. After dinner, we play our favorite group game, Family (shoutout Leslie). It’s become a nightly tradition, full of inside jokes and friendly chaos.
Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for even more adventure: ziplining, waterfall rappelling, and getting a hands-on taste of Mayan cooking and culture. This group continues to impress us with their curiosity, sense of fun, and ability to support one another through new experiences.
And finally, a huge Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there! We’re thinking of you from deep in the Belizean jungle and sending lots of love and gratitude your way.
Until next time,
-Robert & Kate
SHOUTOUTS/THANK YOUS
Jace- Hey Mom, Abby, Hayes, and Happy Father’s Day/Birthday Dad. Thank you so much for letting me come on this trip, it’s awesome! Miss you guys and see you soon.
Charlie- Hey Mom, Sadie, Iris, Delilah, and Dad. Happy Father’s Day I hope y’all are having fun celebrating. This trip is so sick so far, thanks for letting me come. Love you guys!
Walker- Hey Mom and Dad. I got my scuba diving license! We are about to go down a river on a boat. Happy Father’s Day Dad!
Henry-Hey Mom Dad and Sissy this trip is awesome!! We are having fun! Happy Father’s Day dad! Happy Birthday Sissy!
Oliver- Hey mom and dad, I miss yall but I’m having an awesome time in Belize! I also got scuba certified which was super cool. Happy Father’s Day dad! See yall soon!
Hibbs- Hey Mom, Dad, and Smith. Trips been amazing. Love the ocean and going scuba diving was incredible. Be home soon.
Izzy- Yooooo mom and dad this trip is fire I am having the best time!! I miss you but I’m having sooo much fun. Happy Father’s Day dad! I love you so much and I appreciate everything you do. I’m sorry that I’m always gone for Father’s Day, but I am so glad that I get to be with you the rest of the year. Thank you for helping me with field hockey. Miss you so so so much can’t wait to tell you all about it when I get home!!
Ella- hey mom and dad miss yall so much but am having so much fun here. The trip has been so amazing and fun. Can’t wait to see yall and tell you everything. Thank you for everything you do to get me here and everything you do everyday for me. Dear dad happy Father’s Day, can’t wait to celebrate it when I get home. Miss yall love you
Beatrice M- Hi McAleer fam. It is currently Saturday the 14th. Yesterday we got back from Tabacco caye, which is where we got our scuba diving certification. Happy Father’s Day dad! I hope Winston’s big day went well, I’m having so much fun. I’m so glad to be here and can’t wait to see y’all soon! Love, Bea M.
Ansley- Dear Mom, Dad, and Mas, I miss you guys and can’t wait to see yall in a few days!! I got scuba certified a few days ago and it was so fun, we saw huge stingrays and fish and it was really cool. And tomorrow we are going zip lining and repelling down a waterfall!! Happy Father’s Day dad!! Love, Ansley
Leslie- Hi mom, dad and Evelyn!! I miss you guys so much! This trip has been so fun and I’m super grateful yall have me the opportunity to come here. I loved scuba diving and seeing all the cool animals. Tomorrow we are zip lining and rappelling at Bocawina, I’m so excited. I love and miss yall and can’t wait to see you! Also, happy Father’s Day dad! -love Leslie
Powell- Hi guys!! I miss you guys so much but I am having so much fun. I love my group and my leaders. Scuba diving was so much fun and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. We are at Bocawina right now zip lining, rappelling, and going to a chocolate factory. I am so excited to share everything that I have learned and done on this trip. Happy Father’s Day dad!! I can’t wait to celebrate you and Madi’s late birthday. Love you guys so much! -Powell
Lila – Hi mom and dad I am having so much fun! I can’t wait to see y’all when I get back! We have been cave tubing, scuba diving, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and kayaking. Scuba diving has been my favorite activity we have done. The rest of the trip we are going on a boat ride, zip lining, rappelling, and going to a chocolate factory. Thank you so much for letting me go in this trip! My group and leaders are so good! Happy Father’s Day! Hi Natalie and Banks y’all are going to have so much fun! -Love Lila
Crazy Fun In The Caye
June 9, 2025
Greetings from a beautiful caye in Belize!
The last four days have been nothing short of amazing! From exploring ancient caves and Mayan ruins to diving into the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, this group has embraced every moment of this journey.
We kicked off our trip with Jace and Bea as our first Leaders of the Day (LODs), setting the tone with great energy and leadership. Bea kept everyone smiling (and on our toes!) with her endless pop culture references and impressive lingo. After landing, our first stop was a delicious local lunch at a favorite spot called Amigos that hit the spot after a long morning of travel. Once our stomachs were full and spirits high, we made our way to our first lodging and settled in for the days ahead. That evening, Lila helped us find and set up our very first Moonup spot, and the trip officially began under the stars.
The next morning brought our first big adventure: a visit to the Belize Zoo! We saw jaguars, parrots, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys-but it was the tapirs that really fascinated the group. Oliver, our riddle master, kept us entertained after lunch with brain teasers and puzzles that got everyone thinking.
We were thrilled to welcome Henry to the group just in time for our cave tubing adventure-and he was a perfect addition! Together with Charlie, the two led the charge into cliff jumping as we explored the ancient caves, floating along underground rivers and soaking in the natural beauty. Hibbs was never far behind, capturing the day with his GoPro on an extending rod and capturing some amazing shots of all the action. We wrapped up the day with a relaxing (and well-earned) pizza dinner by the pool.
Day three brought a deep dive into Belize’s rich history as we visited the incredible Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. Our guide Wilson shared amazing insights about the Mayan culture. A special shoutout goes to Ella and Lila, who faced their fear of heights and made it all the way to the top of the tallest ruin-what a proud moment! After exploring, we grabbed lunch and made a quick stop at a local Belizean market where students browsed handmade trinkets and soaked in the local culture. Back at the hotel, we cooled off with multiple pool games. Walker impressed everyone with his water polo skills, and the boys could have stayed in there all day. We also played several rounds of Mafia, with the sneaky Powell ultimately taking the title of the best Mafia member! Our LODs, Oliver and Powell, capped off the evening with an energetic Moonup, complete with dance moves that had everyone laughing and clapping.
The next day, we packed up and headed for the coast. Spirits were high as we boarded a boat and made our way to a breathtaking island. After arriving, we enjoyed a traditional Belizean lunch before splitting up for afternoon activities. Some kayaked, others paddle boarded, and our first scuba diving group got suited up and dove in! Ansley was all in on our paddleboard “Pirates” game, while Izzy and Bea proved to be kayaking queens, confidently navigating the waves and reefs. Jace and Leslie were natural divers, taking on the scuba challenge with ease. Once back on the island, Charlie, Hibbs and Henry harvested and cracked coconuts for everyone.
We ended the afternoon with a sunset dinner, followed by a geography lesson from Wilson. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we were lucky enough to spot a magnificent eagle ray gliding through the water. With the full moon rising overhead, Henry and Leslie led a peaceful Moonup on the dock, bringing a perfect close to an incredible day.
These past four days have been filled with adventure, laughter, and new friendships. We’ve explored, learned, played endless games of “family” that Leslie taught us, solved riddles on the bus, and made memories that will last a lifetime. We’re having an incredible time here in Belize and can’t wait to see what the rest of our journey holds!
Until the next update-sending sunshine from Belize!
Thanks,
Robert and Kate
Safe Arrival!
June 5, 2025
Hello Belize Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Belize! We are looking forward to Henry joining the group tomorrow, 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 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
