Farewell, Friends!
July 10, 2025
Dear Friends and Family of Big Wild 4A,
Our final days together have come and gone, and it’s hard to believe this journey is already wrapping up. These past couple of days have been full of laughter, challenge, personal growth, and beautiful moments that none of us will forget.
We kicked off one of our last mornings with a stunning sunrise at the Bruneau Sand Dunes. The sky lit up in soft oranges and pinks while the group got up early to start the day with eggs and bacon sizzling on the griddle. Spirits were high as we made our way over to the “Little Dune,” where we rented sandboards and sleds and set off for some desert fun. The climb up the dunes tested our legs a bit, but for Liam and Leo, it was a walk in the park. Coming down was where the real excitement began. Corbett and Bennett absolutely crushed it, staying up the whole ride and making it look easy. Meanwhile, Wilson and Mack put their engineering minds to work trying to build a sand jump, though every time they launched off it, the dune gave them a reality check. We laughed a lot and just enjoyed being out there together. After one last look out at the dunes, we loaded up the van and began the drive back to where it all began, Jackson, Wyoming. On the way, we made an essential stop at Culver’s, a Midwest classic. Mary Wells couldn’t stop raving about her concrete mixer, and Leo made it known that the burger lived up to the hype. We got back in the van, played some tunes, and soaked in the last big drive of the trip.
Our return to Jackson brought the start of one of the most exciting parts of the trip: climbing with Exum. After a quick breakfast of muffins and yogurt, we headed over to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to meet our guides. It turned out both of them were named Brendan, and they were joined by Arthur, who instantly made everyone feel comfortable and excited to climb. The scenic tram ride to the top left everyone in awe, and Callie made sure to point out how stunning the views were. From there, we took a short hike to our bouldering spot. Preston and Ellen absolutely nailed the technical side of bouldering with controlled moves and quiet confidence. Bennett and Malcolm attacked the rocks with energy and precision, climbing higher than expected. It was awesome to see so many people push past hesitation and go for it. Later in the day, we transitioned into multi-pitch climbing, which meant climbing in groups all the way up and down the rock. Every single person in the group successfully completed the climb, and the encouragement and teamwork among everyone were a highlight of the day. On the way back, the van was buzzing with energy. Ellen and Corbett kept the vibes up with some great song picks while others looked out the window, quietly taking in everything that had happened that day. That night, we got to work on dinner, chicken fried rice with a refreshing Asian-style salad. Callie and Leo led the way in the kitchen, and it turned out to be one of our favorite meals yet. We ended the night with a peaceful Moonup by the river. A few brave souls – Leo, Wilson, and Bennett – took on the freezing night plunge and emerged even more alive. The stars above us felt infinite.
Our final full day began with another early wake-up, this time headed to Jenny Lake for our second climbing session with Exum. Liam and Malcolm were ready to go from the start, and it was inspiring to see how far everyone had come since day one. We took the ferry across the lake, then hiked in to begin our climbs. After some light bouldering, we split into groups for more multi-pitch routes in the park. Leo showed a ton of perseverance, pushing past nerves and making it to the top. Wilson completely exceeded expectations and climbed with strength and control. Emily and Corbett also climbed with ease and confidence, making the wall look small. At the summit, we shared some well-earned sandwiches: turkey and pepper jack with chipotle mayo on ciabatta. They hit the spot. Rappelling down was an intimidating moment for some, but once again, the entire group stepped up and showed courage. We ended with some more top rope reps, with Liam, Mack, and a few others squeezing in every last climb they could. Back at camp, we capped it off with what may have been the best dinner of the entire trip: steak frites. Molly worked her culinary magic, searing flank steaks to perfection. Malcolm helped man the grill, and Bennett, Callie, and Mary Wells sliced up the potatoes into beautiful homemade fries. Everyone ate together under the soft glow of the evening sun, chatting and laughing about the day. After dinner, we headed to the Wedding Tree overlook for our final Moonup. The sunset over the Tetons was nothing short of breathtaking. We tossed the football, sat in the grass, and shared our thoughts from the trip. It was one of those perfect moments that felt frozen in time.
Now that it’s come to a close, it’s honestly hard to describe just how much this group means to us. From the first day to the last, these kids have amazed us with their maturity, kindness, humor, and willingness to step into the unknown. They came into this trip not knowing exactly what to expect and left it having grown in ways that will stick with them long after they unpack their bags. We watched them try new things, support one another, rise to challenges, and laugh so deeply that the sound will stay with us for a long time. This group became a family.
As leaders, it’s hard to put into words what it feels like to spend two weeks with such special people. We are leaving this trip feeling incredibly lucky to have known and grown with your kids. They reminded us what it means to live fully in the moment, to connect with others quickly and deeply, and to step into adventure with open minds and open hearts. We feel like we’re walking away with 12 new best friends.
To the families, thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your kids, for allowing them to have this experience, and for raising such compassionate, curious, and brave young people. These past two weeks were unforgettable, and we carry so much gratitude for every single day we got to spend with them.
This wasn’t just a trip. It was a chapter. And it meant the world.
With all our love,
Molly and Brendan
Shoutouts!
July 8, 2025
Ellen: Thank you Shayla’s I love y’all. I am having so much fun, y’all are the best. I miss you Gunther.
Corbett: Thanks bruda for being awesome and sending me here. Tell Artemis I say hi.
Emily: I am having so much fun miss y’all. Thank you so much.
Mary Wells: Thank you so much for letting me go on this I’m having so much fun. I’ve made so many new friends and done so many new things. I miss you guys so so much, tell Charlie happy birthday and I miss him so much.
Preston: Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip it’s so fun I’ve met so many cool people and have had so many new experiences, love and miss you guys. Tell Poet I say hi!
Callie: thank you so much for letting me go on this trip I’ve had an amazing time and met great people. I love and miss you guys and can’t wait to see you soon!
Bennett: I miss you guys so much. This was an incredible experience thank you for sending me on this trip. It truly was amazing and I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.
Wilson: thank you for sending me to Moondance. I’ve had a lot of fun and I’ve met a lot of cool people.
Malcolm: Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip. It’s been really great so far and I’ve met a lot of cool people and been to a lot of cool places. Love and miss you.
Mack: Thank you dad for sending me to Moondance, I know it’s a lot especially sending me to Austria. Thank you for making this happen.
Leo: I really love this opportunity, I’m having a great time and making new friends in a great place. Love y’all and miss y’all.
Liam: Thank you for sending me, I’ve had a great time and met a lot of cool people. Love you and say hi to Winnie!
Salmon River Rafting, Fourth of July, And French Toast!
July 7, 2025
Dear Friends and Family of Big Wild 4A,
Big Wild 4A is back at it again with a fun rafting adventure. Our journey started bright and early at Ponderosa State Park. The group was up early to the smell of eggs, bacon, and sausage as we got ready to raft. Leo and Bennett got after the food quickly, making a nice bacon, egg, and sausage sandwich. We had to hustle to get to Wild River Adventures, a rafting outfitter based out of Riggins, Idaho. This was about an hour journey from our former camp at Ponderosa State Park.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted warmly by our awesome rafting guides. Zach was a school teacher and football coach, eager to get back on the Salmon. Larkin was a 20 year old student at Prescott University, a small outdoor school in Arizona, studying adventure education. Lastly, Finn was another student at Prescott University also studying adventure education.
The group quickly packed up and got their clothes into dry bags so nothing would get wet during the rafting trip. Mary Wells and Callie led the pack with their quick packing and even helped out the rest of the group. We then followed the Wild River guides to the Hammer Creek put in, where we would hop on the rafts and enter the Salmon River.
The Salmon River is Idaho’s longest free flowing river (425 miles without dams) and has an elevation drop of 7,000 feet from Hammer Creek to the Heller Bar take out.
Upon arrival at the river, the team split into two rafts. The blue boat held 9 people and carried no cargo. It was faster in the rapids. The white boat held 5 people, carried some cargo, and was a bit slower. There was a third boat called the gear boat, rowed by Finn, that held no passengers and just carried gear.
We then got going, floating down the Salmon River. We quickly made a stop to go cliff jumping on a rock formation. There was a log along the rock that we were able to jump off. The whole crew loved it, especially Corbett and Ellen, who said it was super thrilling. Everyone was able to make the jump despite some initial fears.
Shortly after, we stopped at a beach for our Asian themed salad lunch with soy sauce. Wild River is known for serving great meals, and they definitely delivered. It was the first meal of this kind for some of the boys. Leo and Liam loved the unique taste and the soy sauce add on.
After some bull riding from Wilson, Bennett, and others, we arrived at the final campsite for the night. Bull riding is where someone hangs onto the front of the raft and faces the gnarly rapids of the Salmon River head on. The group loved this thrill.
For dinner, we had a fan favorite: burgers, beans, and potato salad. Just about everyone finished their plate after a long and fun day on the river, especially Mack, who made it back up for seconds and thirds. The group then did a scenic Moonup with the guides and made their way to bed after a memorable first day.
No better way to wake up than to the smell of French toast and bacon. Wild River never disappoints. It was a great way to get up and get pumped for a big rapid day on the Salmon River. Shortly after breakfast, we helped the guides pack up the camp and get the boats all set. Bennett, Liam, Malcolm, Wilson, Mack, and Leo helped get the boats pumped up, while the girls created a fire line, handing each of the dry bags up to the raft guides on the boat.
Preston and Mary Wells were especially helpful, constantly checking in with the guides and asking if there was anything more they could do. Helping others and being kind is the name of the game for this Big Wild group.
As we approached a big rapid, the blue boat hit a rock wall, knocking Zach, the raft guide, into the water. All of the kids and Brendan stayed put in the raft. Liam quickly moved to the side of the raft and heroically pulled Zach up to safety. Everyone laughed and joked about it afterward, but Liam’s help was greatly appreciated.
After more fun on the rapids, we made our way to a beautiful lunch spot where we got to try the world famous Wild River chicken Caesar wraps. This was a hit among the girls, and to the surprise of many of the boys, they were delicious. It was Bennett’s first time having one, and he loved the taste.
Next came a historical stop before hitting the daunting China rapid, one of the bigger rapids in the lower Salmon. Finn, the raft guide, showed us a rock formation created by Chinese miners in Idaho during the mid 19th century gold rush. At one point, Chinese immigrants made up 68 percent of the mining population in the Salmon Falls region.
As planned, we took the far left line through the China rapid and avoided any danger, while Wilson took a few rapids head on as the bull rider. Then it was cliff jumping time again. We hiked up to another rock formation and jumped off for another exciting thrill. Yet again, everyone stepped up to the challenge and jumped successfully. Mack even let out a silly yell as he dove into the water, which had everyone laughing.
It was Mexican night tonight. The cook crew of Mary Wells, Preston, Wilson, and Bennett helped prepare food alongside the guides. This was a huge help. After some delicious fajitas and a High, Low, and Buffalo discussion, we settled in for our nightly Moonup led by Callie and Mack. This was a deeper discussion that brought us closer as a group. Our leaders of the day asked great questions, and the raft guides were open and vulnerable, helping us have a true breakthrough. It was a fantastic day.
Rain on the 4th of July? That is not right. Our celebration started by waking everyone up with Born in the USA blaring on Molly’s speaker. It was a great day to have a great day on America’s birthday. After the vibrant wake up, we dug into pancakes, bacon, and hot chocolate. Who doesn’t love pancakes? Certainly nobody in this group. Leo, Emily, Mary Wells, and others made quick work of the pancakes and even helped the Wild River guides with the dishes.
We would take turns going on dish crew to help the guides clean up. Despite the positive vibes and fun morning, rain started to come down on the Salmon River. Still, many jet boats were out celebrating the 4th of July. Even with the drizzle, some in the group found the water warmer than the air and went for a dip. Wilson, Bennett, and Mack floated alongside the boat and warmed up.
We decided to have lunch next to a beautiful waterfall. Wilson even hopped in it and said the water felt like a cold plunge. For lunch, we had sandwiches with ham, turkey, and pepper jack cheese. The kids also enjoyed the Oreos and Nutter Butters on the side.
We continued through some thrilling rapids and eventually found a beautiful beach to set up camp for our final 4th of July destination. As soon as the tents were up, the sun came out. We split into teams of one boy and one girl and began the 4th of July Olympics, starting with Bocce ball. Each team chose a name and selected an object like a rock or a feather to represent their place in the bracket. Leo and Mary Wells cruised to victory.
Shortly after their win, Bennett found a shovel and started digging a hole in the beach. This quickly became the theme of the afternoon. Wilson, Ellen, and Corbett soon joined in. Molly got some festive tunes playing and the digging continued. The small hole that Bennett started eventually resembled something out of the movie Holes. Everyone climbed inside, took a picture, and then we had our best dinner yet with pork chops, potatoes, and seasoned carrots. Easily the fanciest feast on the Salmon. We capped it off with the best dessert of the trip: pineapple upside down cake. After a warm Moonup, we headed to bed.
Our last day started with a comedic wake up from the raft guides. They had egg omelets waiting for us as we rose. It was sadly our final day on the Salmon River. Everyone got into boats, and many of the kids, including Mack and Leo, shared how sad they were that the rafting was coming to an end. Everyone had a blast on the last day, with Callie, Preston, and Corbett even taking turns rowing the boats with help from the guides.
Unfortunately, we received news that a landslide had caused a road closure through Riggins, so we had to take a new, longer route. That just meant more car time before arriving at the Bruneau Sand Dunes. Wilson called it the best car ride yet.
Once we got off the river and unpacked our bags, we realized the drive would be longer than expected. Instead of going through Idaho directly, we traveled through Oregon and Washington. Corbett, Emily, and Ellen passed the time by playing My Cow, a game where you claim cows on the farms we passed.
The scenic drive came to a halt when we made a stop at Culver’s, a famous Midwest burger spot based out of Wisconsin. Burgers, fries, and concretes were favorites of many, especially Mary Wells. After many loud songs, fun car games, and mystery podcasts, we finally made it to the sand dunes. It was a late arrival but a very fun day.
Everyone is excited for what’s next. So proud of this group for all their hard work and growth.
Thank you all!!
Brendan & Molly
Fly Fishing and Forest Fun
July 2, 2025
Dear Big Wild 4A Families,
We are thrilled to share that your amazing group of adventurers is off to an incredible start here in the Big Wild! From flight delays to fly fishing, ropes courses to rodeos, the group has already created unforgettable memories together. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to so far:
Friday – Arrival Day & Jackson Exploration
Big Wild 4A got off to a hot start on Friday! Despite several flight delays and a few late arrivals, nothing could slow us down. While airport day is often slow and uneventful, that was certainly not the case for this crew.
Liam, Wilson, and Bennett were quick to head outside and toss the football around with Brendan. Soon after, the whole group joined in for a fun round of volleyball “categories,” where each student called out a name within a category-like “Illinois” for U.S. states-while volleying the ball.
Afterward, we headed into the town of Jackson to explore. We grabbed dinner at the iconic Pinky G’s Pizzeria and gathered in the town square, surrounded by incredible mountain views. Mary Wells, Callie, and others agreed-the pizza was delicious! Then we took a “hot girl walk” around Jackson to take in more sights. In a fun twist, we even ran into former Moondance leaders from years past. Small world! We finished the evening at our campsite in Gros Ventre, just 20 minutes outside of town. After a tent setup lesson, everyone settled in and got some well-earned rest under the stars before our first full day.
Saturday – Ropes Course, Zipline & Rodeo
Although our trip had officially begun, we were still waiting on one last member of our team! While Molly took the group to Snow King Mountain for a challenging ropes course, Brendan headed to the airport to pick up Malcolm, who would join us just in time for ziplining. At Snow King, Ellen and Mack were standout stars-tackling the courses with strength and focus. Corbett and Emily also shined as they climbed and maneuvered across each element. Most of the group even reached the “orange” course, the most difficult on the mountain! By afternoon, Malcolm had arrived, and the group was ready for ziplining on the steepest and longest zipline in North America. The adrenaline was high, and everyone had a blast. Preston showed incredible determination after getting stuck at one point but conquered the course with persistence. The fun continued with rides on the Cowboy Coaster and some laid-back games. Even after a tumble from Mack, everyone came out smiling! We ended the night with a classic cookout of burgers and hot dogs before heading to the Jackson Rodeo. It was a huge hit-especially for Ellen, Corbett, Emily, and Preston, who took a spin on the mechanical bull. A beautiful end to a big day.
Sunday – Travel to Idaho & In-N-Out Pit Stop
We hit the road bright and early to make our way to Idaho. After a long day of driving (with some necessary gas station snack runs), we had one special stop along the way: In-N-Out Burger!
For many in the group, it was their first time-and it did not disappoint. We all rocked the classic hats, and Bennett and Liam wasted no time crushing their burgers, while Wilson enjoyed one of their world-famous shakes. Ellen and Callie gave high praise to the fries!
That evening, we wrapped up with our nightly Moonup, where we reflect on the day and connect through meaningful conversation. A perfect end to a travel day.
Monday – Fly Fishing Prep & Peninsula Hike
Time to learn the art of fly fishing! But first, the boys were up at 5:30 AM for a mile run and a chilly lake dip with Brendan. Leo led the charge with his strong cross-country stride, and Malcolm joined in-wearing hiking boots! Serious grit from this group. We then made our way to McCall Anglers for an introduction to fly fishing. Our guides-Cooper, Trevor, and Tristan-were incredible teachers and made the session fun and engaging. We practiced knots, learned about local bugs, and felt ready to fish. Mary Wells impressed everyone with her knot-tying skills! In the afternoon, we hiked the Peninsula Trail, a scenic 6-mile loop through Ponderosa with lake views and the stunning Osprey Viewpoint. Though there were some early doubts, everyone pushed through and ended up loving the hike. We wrapped it up with a swim and some relaxing beach time. Dinner was a major hit: Mexican night! Barbacoa bowls with rice, beans, corn, and the star of the show-Wilson and Malcolm’s lime and garlic-seasoned avocado. Safe to say, everyone cleaned their bowls.
Tuesday – River Day & First Catches!
It was finally time to put our fly fishing skills to the test. After a scenic drive into the Payette National Forest, we split into small groups and headed to the river. Before casting our lines, we took a short hike to see ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks by native peoples. Our guides shared powerful stories about their history, and Liam asked thoughtful, engaging questions during the talk.
Then it was time to fish-and the excitement was real! Bennett landed 3 fish, Mary Wells caught 4, and Callie reeled in her very first trout! The whole group cheered each other on throughout the day.
Back at camp, Leo and Callie led the charge in making quesadillas, while Molly surprised everyone with popsicles to beat the heat. That afternoon, we headed to the dock-some tanned, while others took part in Brendan’s Swim School, swimming out to different rope markers. Wilson and Bennett were all in, with Emily, Ellen, and Corbett joining in the fun.
We ended the day with pesto pasta, a cozy fire, and of course-s’mores. It was time to pack up for the next chapter: rafting the Salmon River. This group is strong, enthusiastic, and ready for whatever adventure comes next. We got off to a hot start-and we know the momentum will continue!
We’ll be in touch with another update soon. Until then, thank you for sharing such an awesome group
-Brendan, Molly & Big Wild!
Safe Arrival in Jackson Hole!
June 28, 2025
Hello Big Wild Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely in Jackson Hole! The trip is off to a great start, and we are so excited to hear more stories as they begin 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
