Endings, In-N-Out, and Everything in Between
July 25, 2025
Day 10 – July 21 – Today we woke up and got ready for our first day of rock climbing. We headed to Tuolumne Meadows and met our guides at Yosemite Mountaineering School. We got our gear and headed to Puppy Dome. The guides set up the ropes and gave a demo on tying knots, using the harness, and belaying. We spent the day belaying each other and climbing nonstop! Mae and Bea were an unstoppable belay and climbing pair. Grant helped Ellie get some action shots of everyone climbing. We enjoyed our lunch as a break to refuel. Over half of the group climbed all of the walls. We finished up our day of climbing and headed back to Camp Oh Ridge. We got back to camp and spent the evening playing cards, reading, playing guitar, and enjoying each other’s company. We had pita pizza for dinner and followed it with another great Moonup led by Camille and Will.
Day 11 – July 22 – Today we woke up for our second day of rock climbing. We enjoyed breakfast and got on the road. Today we were climbing at DAFF Dome. Our guides, Josh and James, helped us get our gear before heading there. We hiked up to the rocks and they gave a demo on crack climbing. Annabelle, John Mills, and Paul were killing it. Everyone did an awesome job trying the different techniques. Caroline did an amazing job belaying everyone. These climbs were more technical, but we enjoyed the challenge. We enjoyed a full day of climbing and good conversations. Grant and Ridley ended by making rock towers around the base. We thanked our guides and headed back to Camp Oh Ridge. The group enjoyed card games and then headed down to June Lake. Everyone took a cold plunge and enjoyed the sun. Afterward, we showered and came back for dinner! We enjoyed dinner together with a great sunset. We closed out with Moonup on our last night at Oh Ridge.
Day 12 – July 23 – Today we woke up and enjoyed pancakes! We packed up camp and got ready to head back to the Bay Area. We enjoyed singing and games in the car. We drove through Yosemite for the last time. We enjoyed beautiful views on the road. We were surprised with In-N-Out for lunch! It was amazing and everyone enjoyed burgers and fries. We got fun photos in front of the sign in our new In-N-Out shirts. Ellie was wearing her hilarious nightgown. We got back on the road and arrived at Anthony Chabot. Our campsites had a view of Lake Chabot and it was so beautiful. We played Shake and Pop, followed by many veggie-offs. We enjoyed dinner and dessert with the sunset. We got ready for bed and enjoyed our second to last Moonup! We talked about how we will be intentional tomorrow, knowing it is our last day.
Day 13 – July 24 – Today we woke up and enjoyed breakfast by the lake. We hung out at camp and got our layers ready for sailing. We loaded up the van and headed to Goodwill to get our outfits for the banquet dinner! Annabelle, Camille, Brynn, and Bea tried on their outfits early and were making everyone laugh. We took off our outfits and headed to sailing. We enjoyed lunch with a treat and went to meet Captain Rod. We enjoyed sailing in the Bay Area and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Mae spotted some porpoises. Those in the front were in the splash zone, especially Ridley and Mary Brooks! It was a beautiful day on the water with sunshine. We finished sailing and thanked the boat crew before heading to the Golden Gate Bridge lookout point. We walked around and took some great photos. We can’t believe this is the last session! After exploring the bridge, we got in the van and headed to our banquet dinner! We all got dressed up and sat down for our final meal together. We enjoyed burgers and fries for dinner, discussing our favorite memories from our trip. We drove back to camp at sunset, singing music and having so much fun. We packed up our duffels and got organized before doing our final Moonup.
Day 14 – July 25 – Today we woke up bright and early and headed to the airport. We packed up camp quickly and closed all the duffels for the last time. We loaded up the van and headed to the airport. We handed out snacks and donuts on our way. We unloaded the van, gathered our stuff, and got ready for security. We did one last group hug before saying goodbye. We are sad to leave each other after this incredible two weeks in California. We love Moondance Adventures
Update from California!
July 21, 2025
Day 6 – July 17: Today, we woke up and took down camp at Tahoe SRA. We enjoyed breakfast and made sandwiches before heading to Tahoe Adventure Company. We were sad to leave this wonderful campsite! Bea and Camille led the morning huddle, and then we were on our way. We put on sunscreen and hit the water. We played many games on the paddleboard, including races and “infection.” After a long battle of trying to get each other off, John Mills won. We finished paddleboarding and enjoyed lunch by the lake. We changed and were surprised with an ice cream stop! Everyone was excited to get Cable Car Ice Cream. We got back in the van and headed toward Camp Lotus for rafting! We arrived at Camp Lotus and set up camp. We played games, enjoyed our book club, and hung out by the river until dinner. We had ramen and chicken skewers, and it was delicious! We ended with Moonup and rested up for our day of rafting.
Day 7 – July 18: Today, we woke up excited for our first day of rafting. We enjoyed breakfast together and a relaxed morning before heading toward the river. Brynn and Mary Brooks led the morning huddle. We got to the river and met our guides, Sophie and Charlotte! We went over safety, got our gear, and loaded up our boats. Today, we rafted the Lower section of the river, “The Gorge,” and enjoyed Class 2 and 3 rapids. John Mills and Grant did a great job paddling. We had fun playing river games, spinning the raft, and getting each other into the water. Sophia’s boat came up with a master plan to get Charlotte, Grady, and Ellie in. We pulled off the river and enjoyed lunch with the guides. The second half of rafting featured a lot of Class 3 rapids, where everyone enjoyed getting splashed by the big waves. We finished rafting and were greeted by sparkling water from the guides. We went back to camp and showered before snacks and dinner. Our guides cooked us pasta with chicken, steak, and salad. It was amazing! We helped clean up before enjoying our brownies for dessert. We spent the evening playing Spikeball, Blazo, and cards. We ended with a great Moonup and got to bed!
Day 8 – July 19: Today, we woke up for our second day of rafting! We enjoyed breakfast cooked by our lovely guides. We had eggs, potatoes, fruit, and hot chocolate. We packed up camp and loaded up the van. We got to the river entry point, and Sophia gave us glitter to wear down the river! Tommy, Grady, and Ellie were stylish with their fun sunglasses. We got our gear and loaded up the bus to the Upper Section of the River, “Chili Bar.” This section had many Class 3 rapids. We paddled hard and enjoyed all of the splashes and bumps. Grant and Will attempted to get Tommy in the water but were not successful. We pulled out our boards and cleaned our gear before eating lunch. We had an amazing time with our guides and were sad our rafting trip was over. We loaded up the van and got on our way to Yosemite! We got to Yosemite and set up camp at Sherwin Creek. We enjoyed quesadillas for dinner and prepped for our hike tomorrow.
Day 9 – July 20: Today, we woke up early and headed to Yosemite Valley. We ate a good breakfast in preparation for our Nevada Falls hike via the Mist Trail. We packed our bags, put sunscreen on, filled up water bottles, and hit the trailhead! Grady and Ellie led a huddle to get everyone in the right mindset for our challenging hike. The group did a great job, with John Mills leading the way and Grant taking some awesome photos. This was our fastest hike time yet! We enjoyed the rainbow at Vernal Falls and swam at the top of Nevada Falls. We enjoyed the sunshine and GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts). Annabelle was the first to get in the water. After resting at the top, we took in the view once more and began our hike down. We enjoyed great conversations and views. It was an amazing day of hiking. We got postcards to send to friends and family and then headed to Oh Ridge Campground. Ellie made her specialty hibachi dinner, and we had fruit with Nutella for dessert. We had Moonup under a full sky of stars. What a great day
Thank you’s:
Ridley: Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me come on this amazing trip! I will tell y’all all about it when I am back! Thank you Ellie, Grady, and Tommy for an awesome trip! I have had so much fun!
Will: Thank you for sending me on this amazing trip Mom and Dad! I will tell you all about it. Thank you Ellie, Grady, and Tommy for the great trip. It’s been so fun!
Paul: Thank you Mom and Dad for giving me this awesome experience. I can’t wait to see you! Thank you to the counselors for making this trip really fun!
John Mills: Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me go on this amazing trip and for helping me prepare for it. Thank you Tommy, Ellie, and Grady for managing all of the things we have done on this trip.
Grant: Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me come in this amazing experience. I am making so many friends and can’t wait to tell y’all about it! Thank you Ellie, Tommy, and Grady for making this trip so much better!
Mary Brooks: Thank you Mom for letting me come on this amazing trip. I am having so much fun! I cannot wait to tell you all about it when I come home. Thank you Grady, Ellie, and Tommy for this awesome trip. I have had the best time.
Camille: Dear Mom and Dad, Thank you so much for letting me come on this trip! This has been the time of my life! And thank you Grady, Tommy, and Ellie for making this trip even more special! Love, Camille
Annabelle: Dear Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for letting me come on this amazing trip! Thank you so much I am having a blast! I miss you guys and love you!
Brynn: Dear Mom and Daniel thank you so much for letting me come on this trip. It has been so much fun! I can’t wait to tell you about it when I get home. Also thank you Tommy, Ellie, and Grady for making this trip so fun. Love and miss you.
Bea: Thank you for letting me come on this trip. I am having so much fun! Thank you Ellie, Grady, Tommy, and my group for making this so fun! I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Love you!
Mae: Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me come on this trip! I’ve been having the best time ever! Thank you Ellie, Grady, and Tommy for making this trip so fun! I love you guys.
Caroline: Thank you Mom, Dad, and Grandma for letting me come on this trip! I’ve been having the best time and I’ve met the best people. Thank you Ellie, Grady, and Tomcat for making this trip so fun! I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it! Love and miss you guys! P.S. snuggle the kitties for me!
Good Morning From CALI
July 17, 2025
Day 1 – July 12: Today, we picked up the kids from the airport! Everyone was so excited to start our final session. We played games and ate sandwiches while everyone arrived. Afterward, we stopped by a park to do introductions and play icebreaker games. We got to watch a glimpse of a baseball game, too! We headed out to our campsite at Olema and stopped to grab pizza on the way! We were so excited for dinner and enjoyed a soda surprise, too! After dinner, we set up camp and prepared for Moonup. We were all exhausted, but the laughter continued. We went over the structure of Moonup and gave each student their journal, stickers, and t-shirts! Everyone was so happy to get their merch. Today got us very excited for our adventure ahead! The first LODs are Caroline and John Mills. We can’t wait for these two weeks.
Day 2 – July 13 – Today, we woke up in Camp Olema to the smell of pancakes and bacon! We enjoyed our surprise breakfast before taking down camp. Paul definitely ate the most pancakes! The boys and girls helped each other take down tents and pack up their stuff. Everyone did a great job working together. We loaded up the vans, and Caroline and John Mills led the morning huddle. We drove to Point Reyes, specifically Drake Beach, to explore. On the way there, Camille and Caroline were taking the best photos of the view. We got to the beach, and Grant, Mary Brooks and Ellie immediately whipped out their cameras. They took the best photos exploring the beach, finding sand dollars, and climbing the rocks. We stumbled upon this natural amphitheater and were amused by the rock structures. Grady showed us how to play Hacky Sack. Afterward, we went to the visitor’s center and ate lunch. We headed from Point Reyes to Half Moon Bay. On the way, we all added our music to the queue, enjoying singing, storytelling, and bracelet making. Tommy, Will, and John Mills had a great conversation about football. We crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge again and headed to Half Moon Bay. We got to Francis Beach and set up camp before going to play games on the beach. We enjoyed spikeball and the World Cup. Mae and Bea finished out strong! After playing, we enjoyed tacos and guacamole for dinner, followed by a great bonfire with s’mores. We closed out with Moonup and rested up for another fun day!
Day 3 – July 14: Today, we woke up and had a quick breakfast before heading to surfing. We watched the ocean as we ate and saw some early bird surfers at Francis Beach. We headed to Pacifica Beach and met our guides. They helped us with our wetsuits and boards before heading to the beach. Everyone did great practicing our pop-ups, hand signals, and safety. The sun was out, and the waves looked great for us! Grant caught the first wave. Annabelle, Camille, and Mae were catching waves non-stop. Everyone did an amazing job handling the water! We stayed out the entire session and were sad when it ended. Afterward, we thanked our guides and changed. We ate lunch by the beach and enjoyed the sunshine. We were surprised by a visit to town and spent an hour around Half Moon Bay. Brynn found a delicious açaí bowl, and Caroline found her favorite candy. After exploring, we headed back to camp. We did a book club with Mae, Bea, Tommy, and Grady. Ellie played some guitar while the rest played spikeball at the beach. We enjoyed our downtime after a long day. A few of us went to shower off the sand before dinner. We had pasta with meatballs and salad for dinner. Mae and Bea were the best cleaning crew. After dinner, we played on the beach and finished with Moonup! We had the best day!
Day 4 – July 15: Today, we woke up and packed up camp. We enjoyed bagels and muffins for breakfast before heading to surfing! We were all sad to leave the Half Moon Bay campsite. We arrived at Pacifica Beach and learned about swimming out to the line, reading the waves, and recovering from a fall. We got our boards and headed into the water. We spent an hour catching waves closer to the shore. Afterward, half of the group swam out to the line. Our guides Dave and Travis helped us catch some great waves. John Mills, Ridley, and Paul did a great job catching big waves. We ended the session, thanked our guides, and got changed. We were surprised with a stop at Taco Bell! We enjoyed our food and headed to Lake Tahoe. We got to Lake Tahoe and set up our tents with a beautiful sunset. We skipped rocks and enjoyed pita pizza. We had a great Moonup and went to bed under the stars.
Day 5 – July 16: Today, we woke up to the smells of Eggs in a Nest! We changed into our bathing suits and got ready for kayaking. We got to Tahoe Adventure Company and met our guide, Peter. We put on our sunscreen and packed our lunch before hitting the water. We kayaked along the shore, playing games and swimming. We stopped at a beach to enjoy lunch and some sun. Our favorite game was “Dead Fish Ball,” where we tossed a ball amongst teams to score points. We learned many facts about Lake Tahoe as we paddled back to TAC. We thanked our guide and headed to a surprise destination: Hidden Beach! We walked to the beach and enjoyed an evening of swimming and rock jumping. John Mills and Will discovered some small underwater caves to swim through. We had so much fun at this secret spot. Afterward, we headed into town for our Local Food Stop at Inclined Burgers and Brew. It was so good, and we all enjoyed burgers and fries. We headed to our campsite and changed before Moonup and sunset by the lake.
Shoutouts-
Will – Hey mom and Dad, I am having a ton of fun making friends. I did meet Paul. Surfing was fun and we are on our way to Lake Tahoe right now. I love yall and hope you’re halving fun!
Grant- Hey Mom and Dad, I cannot wait to see yall and Rudd again! I am having lots of fun surfing and cant wait to go rafting and hiking, we are on our way to Tahoe right now! I hope yall have fun in Mexico and can’t wait to see yall! I love yall!
John Mills- Hey Mom and Dad im doing good, i am having a lot of fun. Surfing was really fun and I cant wait to tell yall about the rest of the week.
Paul- Hey Mom and Dad I am having fun on this trip and I really miss you. I can’t wait to see you in a week and I love you!
Brynn- Hi Mom, Daniel, Riley, and Abby I am having a lot of fun and love yall and miss you. I cant wait to see you in a week!
Mae – Hi Mom, Dad, Henry, and Anne! I miss you guys! I miss hopie too. I am having so much fun in Cali, it is the best. We just went surfing. I cant wait to tell you guys all about it!! I love you guys so much!!
Bea – Hi Mom, Dad, and Sam! I am having so much fun and meeting a lot of nice people. I am so excited to see you and tell you all about it! I miss you soooo much and love you!
Mary Brooks- Hi Mom and Dmitry! I am having so much fun in Cali! We just went surfing and now we are on our way to Lake Tahoe! I can’t wait to tell yall all about it. I love you and miss you! I miss Chasey and Scoutey too!
Camille – Hola Mom and Dad! I miss you all soooooo much! I am having so much fun and met so many new people and I love them so much. I have so many new experiences and its so fun! I love you!
Caroline – Hey Mom and Dad! Cali is so fun! Today I went surfing and I got lots of Taco Bell. I miss you guys and the kitties. We call my leader Tom cat and Meow Meow and we call Grady young gravy. It’s kinda cold here but its not that bad. I have the best group, everyone is so funny. I cant wait to see everyone in Nashville!
Ridley- Hey Mom, Dad, Lillie, and MC! I am having so much fun in California! I love Moondance so much and my girls! This was our second day of surfing and I was trying to be brave and went far out with the instructors and got demolished! I love yall!! And miss you and all my friends! See you in a week!
Annabelle- Hey Mom and Dad, I miss you soo much! I stubbed my toe but am having a great time! I love everyone here and the counselors. I was buns at surfing but went to this beach and there were these rocks like bouldering. This is so worth it and everyone is cool. I can’t wait to see you guys. Love you so much!
Grady- Shoutout Mom and Sanders for visiting me in San Francisco. I am excited to see y’all soon!
Ellie – I am having the best time! I can’t believe it is session 3. I miss you Mom, Dad, and Lee! I’ll see you soon!
Tommy – Hey Mom and Dad, I am having so much fun in California and I am loving this session so far. We have had so much fun exploring and surfing! I am so lucky to be with these awesome students. I love and miss yall!
Let the Fun Begin!
July 13, 2025
Hello California Families!
We heard from our leaders 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
