Hello from the kids!
July 23, 2025
Kate: Thank you mom and dad for giving me this opportunity to go on Moondance, I have had the best two weeks. We have done so many cool things that I can’t wait to tell y’all all about when I get home. I am so grateful and can’t wait to see you soon!!
Andrew: Thanks mom and dad for letting go on this amazing trip, I am having so much fun and my group is really good and the activities are also a lot of fun.Love Andrew
Blythe: Hi mom and dad! Thank you so much for letting me go to this trip. It has truly been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and I’m so grateful for that. I miss yall and can’t wait to talk to yall about it when I get home. Love you guys so much, Blythe!
George: Hey mom and dad! Thank you guys so much for letting me go on this trip. I have met great people and made new friends. I can’t wait to see all of y’all on Friday. Love you guys, George
Nathan: Hey mom and dad! I’ve been having such an amazing experience and been having a great time. I’ve met so many cool new people and can’t want to tell yall about all of the cool and funny new experiences I’ve had. I’m so grateful that yall let me go on this trip thanks so much.Love you
Brooks: Hey mom and dad! Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. I have met so many great people and I can’t wait to tell you all about my new experiences. The leaders are super great and I’ve had the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. Thank you guys, and love you.
Bess: Hey Mom and Dad!! Thank y’all so much for sending me on this trip. I have had so much fun and done so many cool things. I have a lot of stories to tell y’all when I get home. I’ve made such great friends and have learned so many things. Once again, thank you! Love,Bessie
Louise: Hi mom and dad! Thank y’all so so much for sending me on this trip!! I am having the best time ever and can’t wait to tell y’all all about it when I get home! We have done so many cool things and I have made so many funny memories with my group. Love y’all so much and see ya soon! Love, Louise
Hugh: Hi Mom and Dad, thank you so much for the opportunity to go on this trip. I am having an incredible time and meeting so many new people. We have done lots of incredible activities over these 10 days so far from climbing the summit of a mountain to white water rafting the lower salmon fly fishing and so much more! GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH! The white water rafting revolution war. Love,Hugh
Willa:Hi mom and dad! Thank you so much for this trip! It has been such an amazing experience and I met so many great people! We’ve done so many cool activities. I had so much fun rock climbing and white water rafting and camping in these beautiful states. I can’t wait to see you guys and tell you all about it! Love you so much!!Love,Willa
Cassidy: Hi mom and Dad!! Thank you so so much for letting me go on this trip. I’ve had such an amazing time and met so many amazing people. I can’t wait to see you both and tell you about everything we did.Love you both!!⁃ Cassidy
Eliza: Hi Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. I have had such an amazing time, and I can’t wait to tell yall about it. Thank you again. Love you.Eliza
Casting Lines and Catching Lifelong Memories
July 23, 2025
We kicked things off with a fun morning of fly fishing instruction with McCall Anglers. Everyone picked it up quickly and got into the rhythm of casting along the river. We learned how to match our bait to local insects and enjoyed a peaceful morning soaking in the scenery. Afterward, we headed back to Ponderosa State Park and had chicken Caesar salads at camp for lunch. With full stomachs and good energy, we met with the Salmon Raft crew to go over the details of our upcoming four-day trip.
That afternoon we hit the thrift store in town to pick out our outfits for the final banquet. Some of the fits were absolutely ridiculous and had everyone laughing. Back at camp, we jumped off the dock into the lake and soaked up the sunshine. The water was perfect and the vibes were high. It was the perfect way to settle in before we launched into our backcountry journey.
The next morning started with bagels for breakfast before we hit the road to Hammer Creek. We met our Salmon Raft guides and got right on the water. Our first day brought a ton of fun through Class II and III rapids in Green Canyon. Lunch was a gourmet sandwich spread on the riverbank and spirits were high as we pulled into our first campsite tucked along the river. Brooks and James hiked up a canyon wall for a sweeping view while others journaled, read, or just relaxed on the pebble beach. Brooks was always at the front of the raft taking on the adventure, and even when he took a couple of spills, he got up smiling. After Moonup and a chicken dinner, we all fell asleep under the stars.
Day two was full of action. We rafted through Snowhole and China Rapids, two of the most exciting sections of the trip. We split into a boys boat and a girls boat and ended up having an all-out splash war. Hugh led the charge with full commitment, yelling Revolutionary War battle cries and cracking everyone up. Nathan brought his usual quick wit and kept everyone laughing between rapids. It was one of the best bonding moments of the trip. Louise took a surprise fall off a rapid that gave us a quick scare, but she popped up laughing and smiling which pretty much sums up her attitude the whole week. Eliza was loving every second of the big water, especially the waves, even though she cringed every time a cold splash hit her, which had the whole boat laughing. We ended the day at a beach near some old Chinese mining sites where we made pork chops for dinner and watched the sun dip behind the cliffs. That night, George was one of the first to jump in and help unload gear and get dinner going. He’s been that way all trip, always the first to ask how he can help while still keeping things fun. We wrapped up the night with a calm Moonup and more riverside reading and journaling.
The next day was packed. We jumped off cliffs as high as 25 feet and Cassidy was all in, loving every thrill and showing off her adventurous spirit. She and Blythe both brought great music to the car rides and always kept things upbeat. After the jumping spot, we floated some calm water, learned about Nez Perce pictographs, and passed the confluence of the Salmon and Snake Rivers. Andrew, our Moondance veteran, showed off his strength and leadership by hopping in and towing the raft through a flat stretch of water. That evening we motored through Blue Canyon and Hells Canyon with the rafts tied together and found the most beautiful hidden campsite yet. It had a secret orchard filled with apricots and blackberries and wildlife running around. Blythe was in her element, laughing and soaking it all in, really living in the moment. Eliza and Blythe both buried the boys in the sand, which had us all cracking up. Kate, who is calm, thoughtful, and always tuned into the group, really leaned into the rafting adventure and loved charging through the rapids with her boat. The orchard, the scenery, and the company made that night really special.
Our final morning on the river started with rain. We woke up on the beach to a soft drizzle after a night of scary stories told by James. The rain made everything peaceful and calm as we packed up and paddled to Heller Bar for our takeout. From there we made the full drive back to McCall. It was a beautiful drive through the Pacific Northwest with rain falling on the windows and music playing through the van. Once we got back to Ponderosa we set up camp again and laid out our gear to dry. Everything was soaked from the night before but the crew rallied and made the best of it. Bess had everyone laughing when she took her soaking wet sleeping bag into the bathroom and dried it off with a hand dryer. Classic Bess moment. That evening we had a big nacho bar cookout and everyone dug in. She also showed off her hacky sack skills back at camp while still managing to keep the group entertained with another one of her legendary stories. We wrapped things up with one last Moonup by the lake, right as the sky turned golden. Willa sat smiling at the view, soaking up every bit of it like she had all week.
Shoutouts!
July 22, 2025
Nathan:
Thank you so much mom and dad for letting me go on this trip! I’m having an awesome time, meeting lots of cool people, and enjoying new experiences!
Brooks:
Thank you mom and dad for letting me go on this trip. I’m having a lot of fun and meeting a lot of new cool people! I love you both.
Andrew:
Thank you mom and dad for letting me go on this amazing trip. Love Andrew
George:
Thank you mom and dad for sending me on this trip. I’ve met a lot of new people and made a lot of new friends. I’m having a lot of fun doing the activities but more fun doing it with my new friends!
Hugh:
Thank you mom and dad for allowing me to go on this great trip. I’m having a lot of fun and meeting new friends and finding awesome new hats! Love you both, Hugh.
Blythe:
Hi guys! I miss yall so so much! I am having the best time and I love everyone here so much. My leaders are the best and it’s so much fun. I know it’s boring without me but don’t worry I’m coming back soon. Keep on having fun and living to the fullest! Love you all lots, Blythe!!
Cassidy:
Hi mom and Dad!! I’m having an amazing time and have done soo many cool things. I miss you guys and love you so so much!! Tell Sadie and Wes I love them!!
Bess:
Hi Mom and Dad! I’m having such a fun time! The people in my group are so sweet and funny and my leaders are great too. I’ve done so many cool things and I miss y’all so much!! Love ya byeeeeeeee
Eliza:
Hi Mom and Dad! I’m having so much fun and have done so many cool things. I miss you guys. Love you!
Willa:
Hi Mom and Dad!! I’m having a great time! Thank you so much for this trip! Love you both and can’t wait to see you!
Kate:
Hi mom and dad! I love my group so much, we are all so close!! We have just got off the river for like 4 nights and got to white water rafts all day! I’m so excited to see y’all and get home but I’m gonna miss moondance so much! I already want to sign up for next year! Tell James and LG I love and miss them!! See y’all super soon!
Louise:
Hey Mom and Dad!! I am having so much fun! I love my leaders and group and have made so many new friends. Thank you so much for sending me on this and I miss y’all so much! See y’all soon!
Welcome to Wyo!
July 17, 2025
Our Moondance trip kicked off at Gros Ventre with Nathan, Bess, and Louise being the first to arrive. They jumped right into setting up camp and got everything ready for the rest of the crew. Once everyone else rolled in, we all headed into town to grab some pizza from Pinky G’s. George was the last to show up, and the group gave him a warm welcome. Just like that, our crew was complete.
That night, we went to the Jackson Hole Rodeo. Hugh and Andrew hyped up James until he fully leaned into the energy and became the loudest and wildest fan in the crowd. Everyone embraced the chaos and had a blast cheering and laughing under the stadium lights. We wrapped up the night with our first Moonup at the Grand Teton National Park sign, led by Bella and James, where we reflected on the beginning of our adventure and what we were most looking forward to.
The next morning, we took on the ropes course. Brooks absolutely crushed it with confidence and ease. George flew down the zipline with a huge smile, and Eliza took the lead on the toughest course and handled it like a pro. The whole group brought great energy and encouraged each other throughout the day. Back at camp, Kate relaxed and soaked up the sun in the river while Cassidy skipped rocks and played in the water. The boys got into a pushup contest in the river, which ended up being one of the funniest moments so far. For dinner, James manned the grill and all the boys helped out with burgers and hot dogs. Blythe stepped in to toss the salad and helped pull the whole meal together. That night’s Moonup was held at Schwabacher Landing with Bess and Andrew as our first Leaders of the Day. Nathan kept the energy alive back at camp with his constant love for spike ball and got a few late-night games going.
The next day, we drove to Teton Village for our first day of rock climbing. Cassidy stood out and climbed with total confidence. Willa really enjoyed the day and gave everything a shot. Bess showed great focus on the rappel and moved smoothly down the wall. Everyone picked it up quickly and supported each other from start to finish. After climbing, we drove into Grand Teton National Park and hiked 6.5 miles into Death Canyon. The trail was steep and scenic, and the wildlife was unreal. We saw a fox carrying a squirrel in its mouth, a snake slithering off trail, and even a black bear cub crossing in the distance. We reached the overlook at Phelps Lake and took in the views before hiking down to the jumping rock, where every student jumped into the cold water. Brooks launched off the rock multiple times, and Kate got some great footage on the GoPro. Andrew brought awesome energy on the hike and helped keep everyone motivated from start to finish. We came back tired but happy and made a late pesto pasta dinner at camp. Afterward, Blythe and Eliza helped James run into town to grab more groceries for the group. That night’s Moonup was led by Eliza and Nathan, who brought thoughtful reflections and good energy.
The following morning, we met back up with Exum and took the ferry across Jenny Lake. We started the day with some bouldering near Hidden Falls, and Hugh stood out right away with strong movement and energy. After warming up, we split into smaller groups, harnessed up, and started climbing real rock. Louise was a standout climber with great technique and confidence. Blythe loved the rappelling and kept everyone smiling. Eliza also crushed the climbs with focus and strength. Afterward, we hiked back from the lake, and Willa had an awesome attitude the whole day and really stood out. We had plans to swim in String Lake, but a thunderstorm rolled in, so we pivoted. We returned to camp to set up tents and cover our gear while James stayed back to watch everything. Bella drove the students into town, where they escaped the rain and grabbed gourmet sandwiches for dinner. Willa stayed incredibly kind and positive even through the storm and was a sweet, calming presence for the group. That night’s Moonup was led by Cassidy and George, who helped the group reflect on how far they had come in such a short time.
On our final morning in Jackson, we made pancakes and packed up before starting the long drive to McCall, Idaho. George kept the vibes up with great music recommendations, and we stopped for lunch along the way, where Andrew got to try Chick-fil-A for the first time. Once we arrived at our new campsite, Louise and Kate jumped right into helping with a Mediterranean dinner. Kate had the whole group laughing while helping prep and kept spirits high even after a long travel day. Brooks continued to be a steady voice of reason for the group and carried himself with quiet maturity throughout the entire journey. We finished the evening with a relaxing Mediterranean night at Ponderosa State Park, sharing food, stories, and another meaningful Moonup. Louise and Hugh were our Leaders of the Day and closed out the night with thoughtful words that brought everyone even closer.
We’re looking forward to more fun, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated!
-Bella and James
Safe Arrival!
July 13, 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
