From Mountains to Moonup!
July 22, 2025
Dear friends and family of BGW 6A,
Greetings from the wild and wonderful heart of Idaho. It’s hard to believe how much has happened in just a few short days, and yet here we are, full of stories, sore muscles, and smiles that come from doing something real. Since we left Bruneau Sand Dunes, this group has leaned into every challenge and experience with wide eyes, open minds, and a whole lot of heart. Whether it’s been taking down camp in the early morning chill, casting flies into rushing rivers, or cooking dinner together under the pine trees, these kids have shown resilience, teamwork, and the kind of spirit that makes adventures like this unforgettable.
After one last stargazing session at Bruneau, we got up early and packed up camp. Colin and Harrison were already in gear helping break down the tents and keeping us on track for the long drive ahead. With three hours to go before fly fishing lessons in McCall, we knew we had to move quickly. The drive itself was stunning, winding through big skies and wide-open valleys, setting the stage for our next adventure.
When we arrived in McCall, we were welcomed at the angler’s shop by our guides for the week, Trevor, Tristan, and Cooper. They brought the energy and knowledge right away, taking us to a nearby baseball field for our first lesson in fly casting. Sara Grace and Blakely were laser-focused and absolutely crushed it with their form and technique. Harrison and Camp, both seasoned saltwater anglers, picked things up quickly and helped show others the ropes.
Next up came knots, which turned out to be a strong suit for Lily, Elle, and Annabelle. Their confidence and attention to detail kept us moving and made the rest of us feel ready to handle our own rods. That afternoon, we made our way to a new campsite. Stewart, Lily, and Annabelle had Spikeball set up in no time, and it wasn’t long before a full-blown tournament was underway. Harrison and Camp took the win, but Lily and Brendan came in hot with a competitive spirit that kept everyone on their toes.
Dinner that night was a group favorite: pita pizzas. Rawles, Annabelle, Stewart, and Blakely formed the cook crew and knocked it out of the park with toppings like pepperoni, chicken, and ground beef. As the sun set, we gathered on a dock by the water for Moonup, where we reflected on the people in our lives who have shaped us. The setting was calm, the sky was glowing, and the conversations were heartfelt. It was the perfect ending to a day full of learning and connection.
The next morning, with yogurt, granola, and Belvitas in hand, we loaded up and headed back into McCall. Rawles and Shelby took DJ duties and kept the van buzzing with early morning hits. “Hollaback Girl” may now officially be our group’s 7:30 AM anthem. We met our guides once again and made our way to the Payette River, which was as stunning as it was peaceful. Groups split up to find the best fishing spots. Annabelle, Stewart, and Lily had a stellar morning with Cooper and pulled in fish near a bridge just upstream. Not long after, Harrison and Colin hit the jackpot with a couple of beautiful rainbow trout. Shelby and Camp joined in with some catches of their own, showing just how dialed in this crew has become.
The fishing bug bit hard, and after a quick stop at Ridley’s, Harrison and Camp got some rods set up for the group so we could fish right by our campsite. That afternoon we explored a nearby beach, where Colin and Rawles took the plunge early, swimming out to a buoy. Reese and Sara Grace strolled the beach, soaked up the sunshine, and joined in for some extra casting practice. Before dinner, Molly organized an epic game of Fishbowl, which had everyone laughing and cheering.
Then came one of the most anticipated meals of the trip: Steak Frites night. Blakely led potato prep like a pro, while Reese handled the steak cutting with precision. Sara Grace and Stewart wowed the group with their homemade fry sauce, and Colin kept things sizzling on the skillet. As dinner came together, the rest of the group took turns casting into the lake. Elle had a few promising bites, and even though no one landed one right at camp, everyone was having so much fun it hardly mattered.
The next morning brought wind and rain, but that didn’t stop this group. Lily and Elle were up early making huckleberry pancakes using the fresh berries that Annabelle, Stewart, and Lily had picked with Cooper the day before. Harrison, ever the early riser, had already been out fishing for hours and landed two more fish. That kind of dedication has set the tone for our whole group. Everyone pitched in, and the pancakes were a hit.
We packed up and made our way to Ponderosa State Park for a hike to Goose Creek Falls. Even with cold weather and steady rain, no one complained. The hike was beautiful and full of energy, with Shelby leading the way through a group game of Wavelength that kept spirits high. The waterfall at the end was the perfect reward. Afterwards, we headed into downtown McCall for some well-earned exploration. Colin picked up a t-shirt, Lily found a great McCall hat, and everyone left with some new swag and a scoop (or two) of ice cream.
We ended the day down by the lake. The water was cold, but that didn’t stop anyone. The boys swam in the lake while the girls showed off their dive skills from the dock. It was one of those golden hour moments we’ll all remember. That night’s dinner was stir fry, and Elle, Camp, and Harrison led the cook crew with creativity and hustle. The meal came together beautifully, and we shared it with full bellies and full hearts. Stewart and Elle even bumped into some friends from home in the park, making the evening feel all the more special.
We’ve come a long way in just a few days. These kids have pushed themselves, supported each other, and embraced every opportunity to grow. From knot-tying and casting lines to cooking for the group and hiking in the rain, they’ve taken it all in stride and found joy in the process. We couldn’t be prouder of the way they’ve leaned into every challenge with grit and grace.
Now, it’s time for the next big adventure. We’re off to raft the Salmon River, ready to take on some rapids and make even more memories. Thank you for sharing these amazing humans with us. They’ve made this trip something truly special, and there’s so much more still to come.
With love and gratitude,
Brendan and Molly
Thank You's!
July 22, 2025
Shelby- Thank you so much for signing me up for big wild it has been so much fun being disconnected and doing challenging activities with new people. Love y’all tell Bebe and Butters I said hello.
Blakely- Thank you mom and dad so much for sending me on this trip, I’m having a lot fun. I’m having a ton of new experiences and I’ve made friends on this trip. Love you
Sara Grace- Hey mom, dad, and Davis! I miss you guys so much but I am having so much fun. Thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip. I have made so many new friends and can’t wait to tell you everything! Love you!!
Stewart- Hi nom and dad! That you so much for sending me in this trip. I caught a fish fly fishing! I miss you guys, can’t wait to see you. Love you!
Rawles- Hey mom and dad I have been having a ton of fun here wondering if I can spend more time jk but it’s been so much more than I expected and I expected a lot but nothing like this I miss y’all especially someone special bye love you.
Colin- Hey parents, I hope yall are having a blast in the Bahamas. Thank yall so much for the trip, it’s been awesome, and I love the fudge pops, they’re great. Miss y’all and Lily and immy/the dogs.
Camp- Hey mom and dad moon dance is so fun thanks for letting me go. My group is very good. See you soon! Miss y’all
Harrison – hi mom hi dad this trip has been a lot of fun thanks for letting me go on this trip. And the food has been really good and I get along with everyone. Miss you see you soon.
Annabelle – Hi mom and dad camp is so so fun and actually one of the best experiences ever it’s been so good and I really like the kids it’s such a good group and we’re going white water rafting and everything else is so fun. Also I need to get my camera fixed cause the zooming thing won’t work love you miss u
Lily – hi mom hi dad camp is good I hope Leo is good camp is fun seen you soon bye I’m so excited for the Hamptons and to shower love you!
Elle- hi mom and dad I’m having so much fun at moondance and I miss y’all so much. Tell my friends hi! Love and miss y’all see u soon
Reese- Hi Mom Dad Maggie and Avery, I miss y’all so much I’m having so much fun. I have made new friends and learned so much. Love you can’t wait to see you!!
Rock Climbing, Rodeo and more...oh my!
July 20, 2025
We have had an absolutely incredible start to our trip, and we cannot believe how fast it feels like it’s already flying by. Spirits were high from the moment the first students arrived at the airport to the last. We kicked off our first night with some pizza from a local pizza place in Jackson called Pinky G’s. We ate in the town square and then headed to a beautiful sunset spot for our first Moonup, The Wedding Tree. It was stunning, we took some photos, and nominated our first leaders of the day for the next day, Stewart and Harrison. After a long day of travel, everyone slept well the first night sleeping in tents and woke up excited for a great first full day of ziplining and climbing on a ropes course at Snow King Mountain. Elle took the lead on the ropes course and blew everyone out of the water, and everyone enjoyed zipping on the steepest zip line in North America! We had our first cook crew, Lily, Harrison, Camp, and Elle, get to work on dinner that night with a cookout. They did a great job cooking through some rain and we ate a delicious dinner of burgers and hotdogs courtesy of the first cook crew!
Our next full day consisted of our level 1 climbing school with Exum Mountain Guides. We went over to Teton Village and took the Jackson Hole gondola to get up to where we would be climbing for the day. This was the majority of the students’ first time rock climbing outdoors, and especially in such a place as this, and everyone took the challenge by storm. Shelby took caboose in one of the climbing groups but proved to be an extremely speedy climber, impressing the climbing guides and she discovered a new hidden talent! That night, we ended off a great day by going to the Jackson Hole Rodeo! This was absolutely a highlight as our hilarious and passionate group of students, spearheaded by Lily and Rawles, ended up winning the award for rowdiest fans in the whole rodeo. They led cheers and started a wave throughout the whole arena, and they were rewarded with a Jackson Hole Rodeo yeti cup. The evening ended in laughter and it was quite a feat and a memory that we know they will all keep dear to them for the rest of their lives.
In the second day of climbing many students overcame fears of heights and climbing and killed it! Stewart and Reese challenged themselves with the climbs around Jenny Lake, as they both expressed how fulfilled they felt after completing the climbs and achieving something new. Shelby and Sara Grace ended up taking a more difficult climbing route with one of our guides, and although it proved to be hard both mentally and physically as they were challenged to stretch themselves in different ways, they showed up and proved they could do it! Our day ended with a beautiful hike back around Jenny Lake and a quick swim in the beautiful lake to cool off after a long day of climbing in the heat. The view was absolutely amazing and we talked about how cool it was to be able to swim in a body of water while looking up at mountains that are covered in snow. How lucky are we to be here? We roasted s’mores and played games during our last night in Jackson for a little while, and the group has already felt so solidified and bonded.
Our last day in Jackson consisted of a farewell to our sweet and amazing HQ member who has spent the last few days with us, Caroline, and our trek to the Bruneau Sand dunes began. We woke up early to get some yogurt bowls and muffins going. We then put down tents, packed up camp, and got on the road. Rawles kept the vibes high with great song requests throughout the drive. Upon Arrival to the sand dunes, we got going on Tent setup and getting dinner started. We had chicken caesar salad with buttered bread on the side. We then set out to climb the tallest single structured sand dune in North America. At 470 feet the “big dune” in Bruneau sand dunes was a tough task, but we all completed it! Colin was the first one up, sprinting up the dune and motivating others to keep going so that we could all reach the top. We had a great Moonup on top of the dune, with many members of the group sprinting down. Lily even decided to barrel roll down the dune. After getting to the bottom we made it back to the campsite and enjoyed our first showers of the trip. They felt well deserved after the hike up the sand dune, and after the showers the group stayed up looking at the stars over the desert. Blakely loved checking out the various stars and constellations in the sky and Rawles pointed out the Milky Way. Harrison and Annabelle also pointed out shooting stars and it was such a peaceful way to end the night. We are so lucky to be here and in the now, and especially with your wonderful children. Thank you for sharing them with us, and we will update again soon! Off to fly fishing we go!
Safe Arrival!
July 15, 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
