Cool Days and California Ways
June 13, 2025
Day 1: Arriving in Half Moon Bay (June 8th)
We started the day with the arrival of all the students at SFO airport. Even while waiting, the group quickly bonded! Grace, Maggie, and Madelyn were already engaged in a lively hacky sack game, getting to know Tommy. Once everyone was together, we spent some time connecting before hopping into the U-Haul and van, heading straight for the beautiful Half Moon Bay – Francis Beach campsite.
Upon arrival, Tommy and Grady gave a fantastic lesson on how to set up a tent, and it was great to see each student working together to set up our three tents. We introduced them to the “Camping Triangle” and the essential “Leave No Trace” backcountry logic that guides our sleeping arrangements. After a thorough gear check and setting up our sleeping bags, CJ and Christian wasted no time setting up spikeball, and the group played enthusiastically until Tommy arrived with a surprise pizza dinner for “banquet night”! We all enjoyed our delicious meal at the picnic table, which provided the perfect transition to teach the students about dish cleaning and more Leave No Trace ethics.
As the sun began to set, we grabbed our crazy creeks and headed to the beach for our first “Moonup.” We reviewed crucial rules such as expedition behavior, clean-up and cooking crew rotations, “Leaders of the Day” (LODs), and our “Good Decisions Agreement.” The students were thrilled to receive their own Moondance journals and t-shirts! During Moonup, Maggie and Madelyn even spotted a seal in the ocean! It was a cool surprise for all of us. We wrapped up the night discussing our trip goals and electing the LODs for the next day, followed by music, more spikeball, and cozying up in our tents.
Day 2: Surfing at Pacifica Beach & Beach Baseball (June 9th)
June 9th kicked off with a delicious breakfast of pancakes and eggs, expertly cooked by our fantastic crew, Lola and Christian. After the meal, Madelyn and Grace, our LODs, led a morning huddle, and the cleaning crew did an excellent job tidying up camp. We were then off to Pacifica Beach for our first surfing session! We met our guides and even ran into another group, CAL C, on the way. The guides taught us surfing techniques and how to “pop up.” CJ was shredding the waves, making everyone excited to hit the water again tomorrow.
The drive back to camp was incredibly scenic, with sightings of whales and dolphins! Back at camp, we enjoyed some well-deserved downtime with spikeball, cards, and Gabby even found some quiet time to crack open her book. Tommy surprised us with a soccer ball, and Virginia quickly organized a small match. Dinner was a delightful pasta bar with many toppings. We ended the day with an epic baseball game on the beach, where William and Louise were hitting dingers left and right. In a thrilling finish, the “Saucy Nugs” beat the “Plain Dogs.” Our evening Moonup on the beach brought another seal sighting, marking a great first full day in California!
Day 3: Yosemite Bound! (June 10th)
On June 10th, we woke early to pack up camp at Half Moon Bay. After a delicious breakfast, we loaded the U-Haul for our second day of surfing. The morning was chilly, but our wetsuits kept us perfectly warm. Maggie and Louise continued to impress, catching some great waves! We honed our skills, learning how to paddle out to the line and read the waves. After thanking our guides, we made a fun stop at the famous Taco Bell Cantina right on the beach, where everyone enjoyed a refreshing Baja Blast.
Our next big adventure was Yosemite, so we hopped in the car and began our trek. The drive was filled with games, funny stories, and jamming out to music. We made a quick stop at a gas station, where CJ and Christian made a beeline for the sunflower seeds! It was a beautiful drive, building our excitement for the wonders of Yosemite. We set up our tents and bundled up, ready for a good night’s rest.
Day 4: Nevada Falls & Yosemite Exploration (June 11th)
We started bright and early with a journey to the Nevada Falls trail. Our scenic drive through Yosemite treated us to sightings of several deer and other wildlife. We prepared some delicious GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) for our hike, along with our pack-out lunches. We drove into the valley and found our way to the Nevada Hike via the iconic Mist Trail. Virginia led the pack as we hiked up to Clark Point, where Grady, Madelyn, Maggie, and Virginia spontaneously broke into a dance break.
From there, we ascended to Nevada Falls, where we were met with a breathtaking view. We sat at the top, enjoying our GORP, and then came the polar plunge. William was the first to dive in, and the rest of the group quickly followed-it was the perfect way to cool down after the hike. We then descended to Vernal Falls, experiencing its refreshing mist and marveling at the lush surroundings with a beautiful rainbow arching across the waterfall. We ended the hike feeling accomplished and proud. Back at Yosemite, we celebrated with an extravagant taco spread for dinner, closed out our day with Moonup, and got some well-deserved rest, excited for what tomorrow holds!
We’re incredibly proud of how the students are embracing every challenge and forming strong bonds. Stay tuned for more updates as our California adventure continues!
Shoutouts:
Lola- “Hey Mom and Dad! The views at Nevada falls were beautiful. I miss you and can’t wait to see you. The lake was so fun today. I love you so much!”
Louise- “I really enjoyed laying at the top of Nevada Falls. I can’t wait to see you! We had fun at June Lake today. I miss you so much!”
Virginia- “Dear mom and day, I miss y’all and love y’all so much! We have done so much cool stuff in California which I cant wait to tell you. Tell all the dogs and dats I love them. Tell Rainey I love her and hope Lillies has a blast. I am making so many fun memories and can’t wait to see y’all in 8 days!!”
Gabby- “Dear Mom, Dad, Dylan, Holland, Bella and Wilson. I miss y’all so much and I love y’all so much. I can’t wait to see you soon. But I am having so much fun fleeting new people, trying new things, and having new food. I also miss the dogs and Holland and can’t wait to see you guys! Yosemite is so pretty and the counselors are so nice! Give the dogs a pet for me and tell Holland I love her!”
Maggie- “I miss y’all so much! California is so pretty. We did a hike with an awesome view. We are just getting started and I can’t wait to tell yall the rest. I can’t wait to see y’all in 8 days and tell Lucy, Dilly, and Clyde I say hey! This is such an awesome experience. Love yall!”
Madelyn- Mom, Avery, Charlie, and Pinky, I miss y’all so much and I am having so much fun in California. My favorite thing so far has been rock climbing and repelling. I love y’all so much! I have such a fun group and such good leaders!!! I miss y’all but I am having so much fun. The views in Yosemite are the prettiest thing I have ever seen. I Love you!”
Grace- “Mom and Dad, I miss you so much and love you. I am excited to tell you about all my adventures. Give all the dogs, especially Masy and all my horses, especially Cally. I love you so much and will see you in 8 days!”
Christian- “Dear Mom and Dad, This Trip is so fun. My favorite so far was rock climbing in Yosemite and surfing was fun too but cold. The other boys are chill and fun.”
CJ- “Dear Mom and Dad, This trip is very fun and the activities are awesome. My favorite activities are rock climbing, surfing, and swimming. Thank you so much for this awesome experience. Miss and love y’all a lot!”
William- “Hey Mom, Dad, and siblings. I am having a great time. We started out by the beach where we surfed, the water was cold but we were in wet suits that made it warmer. We are now at the second campsite in Yosemite and hiked to the waterfall. The views are amazing. We went rock climbing and repelled down like Tom cruise. I hope you are having a great time there. I love you and see you soon.”
Safe Arrival!
June 8, 2025
Hello California Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in San Francisco! 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 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
