Final Days in Paris!
July 19, 2025
Dear friends and family,
Hello from Paris! Yesterday we rolled in to the Gare de Lyon train station in the late afternoon following our ride from Geneva. Tecla took her final opportunity to purchase an engraved notebook from the train station as excitement to explore the city built waiting in the warm sun. We took off for a baby hike (that we had been training for the past three weeks) to make it to our hostel, Oops! (yes that’s the name). The group walked down a quaint street, popping in and out of little shops and boutiques. After some time to shop we enjoyed street gyros topped with tzatziki and fries. Mac fed bits to surrounding pigeons, revealing his animal whispering talent. After enjoying delicious crepes and gelato, we closed the night with a moonup between the hedges of the Luxembourg Gardens. Our LODs, Ella and Tecla, closed moonup with one final game of zumi-zumi, where Valentina took the win. We walked back as the sun set, then settled in for a long night of rest.
This morning we slept in before dressing up for our day in the city. The early risers enjoyed breakfast from the hostel, while the rest made a quick stop at a supermarket for fruit and croissants on the way out. The girls enjoyed time to shop, buying gifts and treating themselves to deserved new outfits following two long treks. Valentina and Kate bought charm necklaces before the group grabbed lunch supplies. We got an assortment of pizza and pre-made rice bowls to enjoy beneath a tree adjacent to the Eiffel Tower. Shaffer grabbed photos of the landmark for his video before the rest of the group took pictures with the world wonder in the background. Before continuing our tour around Paris, we formed one final human pyramid.
We passed by the Arch de Triomphe and grabbed sips of water at a close by tourist stand before hopping on the metro toward the Notre Dame. The girls explored Zara, and the guys found a nice resting spot in the air conditioning. Despite the fire five years ago, the beauty of the cathedral still shone through. We took one final group picture, then continued the shopping spree. Vaeda found the Sonny Angel store she had been looking for, and Jack bought a Hawaiian shirt from a pay-by-kilo thrift shop. Everyone passed through the historic Shakespeare & Co. bookstore, convincing many to make purchases. We headed back to the hostel, returning to a couple stores from the day before. Ella bought a watch, and both India and Reese bought final gifts.
We took a short break in our rooms then headed to a classy Italian banquet dinner next door. After one final round of bread for the trip, the group devoured pizza and pasta, discussing the many memories made over the past three weeks. Rated one of the top meals of the trip, the group left with full stomachs. We walked off a little food then enjoyed our final sweets with a brisk breeze.
The group gathered on the floor of the boys room for the last Moonup, led by Mac and Kate. We laughed and enjoyed bittersweet moments before stuffing our backpacks to the brim. The group is tucking into bed before an early morning tomorrow.
(Beautifully written by our very own, Shaffer Broughton)
To our kids, we love you all so much and it has been an absolute honor to have led you this summer. You are all deeply special and unique and capable of anything you put your minds to. You will always have a friend in us. All the love ❤️
-Grace & Vann
Thank You to our Amazing Parents!!
July 18, 2025
Shaffer: Thank y’all so much for sending me on this trip to explore Europe. I’m so grateful for y’all allowing me to have these experiences (I’m currently eating bread on a street in Paris). Can’t wait to see y’all soon.
Jack: Hey Mom and Dad, we just finished our Tour du Mont-Blanc, and it was some of the coolest views and places I’ve ever been. I have so many stories to tell you about that hike and the whole trip and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I am so greatful for being here and I love you both so much.
Ella: Hi Mom and Dad! I cannot express just how grateful I am to have gone on this trip as well as all the ones I’ve gone on in the past. I can’t wait to tell you all about it and I am just so so thankful to have the opportunity to experience such amazing things. I love you both so much!
Tecla: Hi mom and papa, Thank you for sending me on this trip! I had such a good experience and made great memories with amazing/cool people. See you guys soon!!
Vaeda: Hi mom and papa!! I miss you guys so much! I cannot wait to see you! I found the Buddha key btw OOPS! Love you guys so so much. 🫶🫶Vaeda
Valentina: Hey Mama and Papa, I love you, and I’m so thankful for this experience!!! Thank you so much!! I miss you guys more than you guys know. I love you guys so so so much!!
Kate: Hi family!!
Thinking all y’all today and everyday through this experience and remembering how lucky I am to have you guys! I chose right! Infinitely grateful and cannot wait to share with you all! Next family trip to Chamonix! See ya soon!! Tell Eisi it’s okay and I will be home before he knows it❤️
India: Hi mom and dad!!!
I am currently eating pizza on the streets of Paris. This has been the coolest, most impactful experience of my life. I am forever grateful and cannot wait to tell you all about my travels! Btw mom you skiing Mont Blanc is the coolest thing ever. Ok love y’all so much and I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YALL!!
Reese: HELLOO FAMILY!!!! I just finished a fantastic meal and am on the way to get crepes, and if you couldn’t tell I’m having lots of fun. I cannot wait to talk to you all and tell you about all the fun stories. I’m so excited to see you mom so we can continue exploring Paris! Love you all so so much! Best, ❤️
Mac: Yoooo fam Just finished the trip and this was definitely one of the coolest things I’ve done in my entire life and I owe it all to you guys. If I don’t say it enough I love you guys and I really appreciate the opportunities you guys have given me in my life. Love you so much. -Mac
Alps, Anthems & Alpine Dreams
July 17, 2025
Hello, friends and family!
Wow, does time surely fly when you are having fun! We’ve just finished an incredible 5-day trek full of delicious meals, beautiful scenery, mountain naps, and countless unforgettable memories, following the south bend of The Tour de Mont Blanc.
After a long travel day from Costa Brava, we arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, excited and ready to see new places and start another trek. We appreciated our brief moments in Switzerland, admiring the beautiful city at night while listening and sharing some of our favorite songs with one another, and yes, even singing all together in the van as we crossed the border back into France.
We arrived at our hostel in Chamonix very late, and we hit the hay almost immediately in order to rest up for the next day when we’d hit the trails once more.
We awoke and packed our bags with everything we’d need for our trek before enjoying a wonderful breakfast together with some fan-favorites- bread, Nutella, and yogurt. We then met our new guide, Xavier, a Moondance expert who the kids were unsure would be able to measure up to Mateo, our guide in the Pyrenees, but I’d say he came pretty close! Before leaving, we all received matching Tour de Mont Blanc shirts, which made a reappearance on our final day of hiking together.
We set out for the mountains, beginning our travels on a trolley where Shaffer and Kate continued to plan and execute some shots for the video they plan to create of the entire trip. After our ride through the pretty town of Chamonix, we made it to a gondola where we rode up the mountain and gained an even better view of the scenery before beginning our trek. Running through fields of flowers and crossing a suspension bridge over a glacier, we arrived at the pass and enjoyed our sandwiches we had prepared the day prior. Still craving more adventure even after a few miles, Mac, Shaffer, Jack, Reese, and India climbed to the peak while the rest of us proceeded with book club and nap time.
After lunch, we only had an hour of downhill before we made it to our first hostel in the Alps, Miage- a wonderful place with great ice cream and many dogs running around. Valentina and Kate made friends with a Weimaraner named Sky, whom we continued to cross paths with over the next few days. After some downtime, where Reese, Shaffer, Mac, and India continued their competitive spike ball competitions, we sat down for dinner, enjoying salad, a classical French dish of potato and eggs, some special cheeses from the region, and finally some blueberry pie for dessert that we continue to rave about.
After dinner came Moon-Up, led by our two New-Jersians, Valentina and Jack. They picked a spot in a field that we later nicknamed “cow haven” for its abundance of cows and mystical, sunset feel. After a wonderful Moon-Up, where we got to know each other even better, the group ran around together and cherished every moment of the sunset, taking in the views of the Alps and the pretty colors of the sky. Mac even made friends with one of the cows, feeding her a piece of grass and naming her Bea.
The next day was an easier day of hiking, which was great because it allowed us more time to walk around the small town of Les Contamines-Montjoie, a small mountain town containing our hostel for the night. However, all plans to explore and shop were quickly dismissed when Shaffer spotted a guitar in the hostel’s common room. After that, the group spent hours sitting in a circle under a beautiful tree in the park adjacent to the hotel, singing and playing together. Jack, Shaffer, and Ella impressed everyone with their guitar skills, even writing their own song about our days in the mountains that the entire group ended up performing for our closing ceremony in Moonup. For dinner, we had carrot salad, rice and meat, and ice cream.
Our third day in the Alps was the hardest, but the group totally crushed it. Reese and Vaeda kept everyone distracted on even the steepest of inclines with interesting questions, conversation topics, and hypotheticals. While hiking, we stopped at a refuge at the peak, where our guitar session commenced. We enjoyed hot chocolate while Jack stole the show and captivated the entire room with his Ventura Highway, Black Bird, and Revival.
We made it to our next, and possibly “coolest” hostel, the “cheese factory”. Once a farm, we had this place entirely to ourselves, and you guessed it, we had a guitar! The group still thinks about the magic of the “cheese factory”, Ella and Reese saying they can’t even believe it was real because the scenery felt so much like a dream. Xavier cooked us dinner- Raclette, where the group each melted their own cheese and poured it on potatoes or enjoyed it with meat and pickles.
During our fourth day in the Alps, we trekked to the peak of a gorgeous mountain and crossed into Italy! During our lunch break, just about everyone took their final and best mountain nap. In the afternoon, we walked down to catch our bus to Courmayeur. On the way down, we spotted multiple bunkers and tunnels used by the Italians during the Second World War as they fought against the French.
Our place in Courmayeur was incredible, and it wasn’t long before we were heading to dinner- a classic Italian restaurant where we stuffed our mouths with delicious pizza and salad, many saying that it was the best they ever had! It was Italy after all! After a heartfelt Moon-Up, our last with Xavier, everyone headed to bed for a good night’s rest.
On our final day of hiking, we all matched in our Mont Blanc shirts and set out for our bus ride that took us to our hiking spot. On the bus, the group made friends with a bunch of Italian kids, thanks to Tecla’s Italian and translation skills. Our final hike was beautiful and bittersweet. We finished by taking a bus through the 30-minute tunnel under the mountains surrounding Mont Blanc. We arrived back in Chamonix, where we had time to explore the town. Everyone found some exciting souvenirs. The boys had their fix of McDonald’s, and the girls found a Matcha spot. For dinner, we had ribs and chocolate cake, and we had moonup in a grassy field, littered with pretty flowers that we all put in our hair. We then packed up all our stuff for Paris. This morning we leisurely awoke and bid our farewell to Chamonix. We’re now heading to Paris on the train, gearing up to cherish every single moment of our last two days together! Until next time!
-CHA 3B ❤️
(Nugs to our very own trip update assistant, Kate McDonald)
Singing, Sights, and Chefs
July 11, 2025
Hello friends and family!!
It’s been another eventful few days here in Europe! Since we last spoke, we’ve spent three amazing days on the Mediterranean Sea in L’Escala, in Costa Brava, Spain. When we arrived at our campsite, we were welcomed by huge canvas tents-complete with beds, a fridge, a porch, a stove, and everything we might need to cook a good meal. We threw our things down and settled into the place that would be our home for the next three nights.
For our first full day on the coast, we all slept in as late as we wanted. Then, Shaffer organized a cook crew to whip up a delicious breakfast burrito bar for the group. After a nice, slow morning, we headed to the beach where we spent hours soaking up the sun and swimming in the warm coastal water. After a full day of rest and relaxation, we had a lovely dinner at our campground’s local restaurant. There was live music during dinner, and India, Shaffer, Ella, and Jack hopped up on stage to sing “Revival” for everyone. They drew quite a crowd!
After a big meal, some singing, and lots of dancing, we returned to our tents for a heartfelt Moonup led by Kate and India before crawling into bed for a good night’s rest before sea kayaking.
The next morning, we woke up eager to begin our next adventure. The group rallied together and made crepes before heading out to kayak on a nearby river. We used open-top double kayaks, which served as a great warm-up for the true sea kayaking to come. Mac even caught a turtle with his bare hands! After kayaking, we went “home” for naps and some reading time (a book club is going strong!).
Once we felt rested, we set off to explore more of the town of L’Escala. After some light shopping and a lot of walking, we made our way back to the beach where we ran into another Moondance group. That’s when we came up with the brilliant idea to host a “Hell’s Kitchen Cook-Off” against them-two teams from our group and two from theirs. Each team had five minutes to plan a three-course meal, 20 minutes to gather all their ingredients, and a very strict budget.
We set up a world-class “kitchen” with four stations and a judging panel. The teams had one hour (and some change) to create their dishes. To put it simply, we leaders have probably never eaten so much-or so well-in our lives. It was magnificent. After feasting on 12 total courses and sampling every dish, we cleaned up and held an award ceremony with paper plate awards and first-place prizes. It was close, but the winning team took it with their cohesive menu.
After that crazy, fun, and amazing dinner, we ended the night with another Moonup and went to sleep, ready for another day on the water.
The next morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast and hopped into our kayak guides’ vans for an early start. This time, we used single kayaks for a more intense coastal paddle. It was gorgeous-we explored sea caves, kayaked alongside steep cliffs, and found a beautiful rocky beach to stop for lunch and a swim. After our break, the group spontaneously swam out to a nearby jumping spot. Reese led the way with a big leap off the highest ledge, inspiring the rest to follow.
After a final stretch of kayaking, we cruised to our takeout spot and wrapped up our last day on the water.
Back at camp, we got ready for our dinner plans. Kate and Valentina took quick naps by the pool, Tecla found a sunny reading spot, and the rest of us rinsed off to freshen up. That evening, we had a cooking class in an outdoor kitchen just off the beach. While everyone helped with appetizer prep, Vaeda and Tecla took the lead on the flames and cooked our main dish and grilled lettuce heads for our tapas. It was one of the most delicious meals of our trip so far.
Stuffed and happy, we headed to the beach one last time as a group. After a beautiful Moonup and a group pyramid in the sand, we returned to camp to pack up and prepare to leave the next morning.
This morning, Jack, Shaffer, Mac, and Reese woke up early with Grace to walk to the beach and watch the sunrise before we left Spain. Once the rest of the group was up, we enjoyed pastries and yogurt and began our travel day to Chamonix.
We’re currently on a train to Switzerland, where we’ll be picked up and taken to Chamonix to prepare for the Tour du Mont Blanc. We can’t wait for what’s ahead and are finding it hard to believe we only have one more section of the trip left.
We’re having so much fun and sending lots of love and light back to all our friends and family. Until next time!!
– CHA 3B ❤️
From Paris to the Pyrenees!
July 9, 2025
Hello dear friends and family!
What an unforgettable past 12 days it’s been here in France (and now Spain)! We’re so excited to share all the moments, laughs, challenges, and memories we’ve made so far.
Our adventure began in Paris, where our group finally came together as one. From there, we jumped headfirst into a long travel day that took us by plane, train, metro, van, and finally on foot to our new home away from home-Hotel des Cimes in Luz, France. Exhausted and hungry, we celebrated our arrival the best way we knew how: with our own personal pizzas from a cozy spot in the town square. We devoured them riverside, followed by our very first Moonup under the stars, and then fell into a well-deserved, deep sleep.
We kicked off the next morning with a slow start and a delicious hotel breakfast-think buttery croissants, homemade yogurt, fresh fruits, warm breads with jams and honey, and made-to-order espresso. With bellies full, we spent the day exploring Luz and preparing for our upcoming trek through the Pyrenees. We wandered through quaint shops, indulged in local ice cream, and hiked to castle ruins where we shared lunch and stories. Later, we cooled off with a swim in the river before heading to Mr. Vagabond for burgers and fries that hit the spot. That evening, Tecla and India stepped up as our first Leaders of the Day (LODs), leading us through prep and another special Moonup before calling it a night.
The next morning, we met our guide, Mateo, and were shuttled to the start of our trek. We began with a scenic day hike from a hostel in Héas, nestled in the foothills of the mountains. It was the perfect introduction-challenging but rewarding, with stunning views all around. That night, we stayed in cozy rooms (the girls even got to stay in Mongolian-style yurts!) and shared a hearty meal before resting up for the journey ahead.
Day two of trekking was our first full day with packs. We crossed a high mountain pass to reach Refugio Espuguettes, surrounded by fields of wildflowers and crystal-clear streams. At lunch, we braved the icy snowmelt rivers-Ella led the charge! Later, a surprise hailstorm added an exhilarating twist, which made all of us feel very alive, very human, and ultimately very capable of anything else that we may encounter on our journey. At the Refugio, Shaffer, India, Mac, and Reese played countless rounds of homemade spike ball before we enjoyed an authentic mountain dinner and tucked ourselves into bed, content and tired.
Day three brought a descent into the magical town of Gavarnie. After a forest hike and a warm welcome at our hotel, we spent the afternoon eating local ice cream, meticulously looking through every shop, trying handmade candies, and drinking small espressos – surrounded by breathtaking views we could hardly believe were real. Dinner was a highlight: fresh trout lovingly prepared by our hotel host, Kristoff.
The next morning, we faced a thrilling challenge-crossing a mountain pass into Spain! After a strong start through Gavarnie, we climbed steadily until we had one foot in France and the other in Spain. We enjoyed a peaceful lunch perched on a boulder just past the ridge before continuing to our new home for the night, Bujaruelo. There, we jumped in the river, snacked, and had what we like to call a “listening party”. In this specific hostel we got to stay in the same room all together. Because of this, we had lots of space to sit around a small speaker and listen to music with more intention and attention than we probably have in ages. We sang, we laughed, we made friendship bracelets, but mostly we just truly enjoyed the company of each other. Valentina and Kate even discovered they could harmonize beautifully!
On day five, we journeyed from Bujaruelo to Ordesa. Reese and Ella have become our resident Spanish speakers and translators. This trek took us up steep trails, then along a cliffside path before scrambling over rocky terrain to Refugio Goriz. After arriving, we played spike ball, read, and Jack showed us leaders all of the different ways to whistle which, when you don’t have any electronics or things to distract you, is actually extremely entertaining and can take up an almost embarrassing amount of time.
The sixth day brought us down into the charming town of Torla. Torla is an exceptionally small town with a medieval vibe that almost makes you feel like you are walking through a time capsule to days of knights and princesses. It felt like stepping back in time. We explored, ate another delicious dinner, and settled into our hostel for a restful evening.
On our last day of trekking we woke up with a hum of confidence and a sense of pride for all we had done. We hit the road running and after another taxi back to Bujarelo to cross over the border from Spain back into France, we took off onto the trail as though trekking was just our new life, like it was all we knew anymore. Once we had hiked back to the saddle between the two countries, we were met by our drivers who were going to take us back to Luz and back to our beloved Hotel des Cimes. Naturally however, we hiked a little further than planned to a beautiful alpine lake to eat our lunches before heading back into Luz (our drivers decided to join us on this excursion).
From Luz, we traveled to L’Escala in Costa Brava for a much-deserved rest day. We’ve been swimming in the Mediterranean, sunbathing, cooking, reading, and reflecting on everything we’ve done. Vaeda even finished her first book since school! Looking back, we’re deeply grateful for the challenges we’ve overcome, the lessons we’ve learned, and the friendships that continue to grow.
So… what’s next? Sea kayaking on the Mediterranean! We’re sending love and light back home and can’t wait to share what the next chapter brings.
Until next time!
India- Hi mom and dad! I just want to say thank you for sending me on another Moondance trip! I am so grateful for all you do for me! This has truly been one of the best trips of my life! We just finished our trek in the Pyrenees and hiked a total of 70 MILES. I miss y’all but I’m having the best time here and have made so many new friends! Please tell Lyndi I say hi and Doug if you’re reading this hi too! Hug my dog for me! Love you all so much!
Ella- Hey mom and dad! This trip is absolutely incredible and I’m so grateful to be here!! I am having so much fun- we did the Pyrenees section and hiked 70 miles, it’s insane! It was like doing Mt. Elbert every day but it has been such a good experience and I’ve made so many new friends. I miss you all so much and give my animals lots of love for me!! Lyla and Sadie, I didn’t forget about y’all. I actually think about y’all everyday and can’t wait to see you soon. Anyways, I love all of you so so much!
Vaeda- Hi mom and papa! Miss you guys so much!! I can’t wait to see you! We did some serious hiking. 70 miles!!! I hope ruby and syd had a great time on their Moondance and the white party was fun. Give naigel a hug XOXOXOX
Jack – Hey Mom and Dad, having a great time out here in France. Right now we hiked through the Pyrenees and are now in Spain in a beach town on the Mediterranean. This place is so beautiful, and I’m so grateful for you guys sending me. I can’t wait to tell you all about it and see you again. Miss you and love you, Jack.
Shaffer – Hi Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for sending me on Moondance for a third year, giving me the opportunity to see new places and meet new friends. Hope y’all enjoyed the 4th and are looking forward New York. Can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! Love y’all!
Tecla – Hi! I am having a great time at Moondance. I’m socializing, making friends, and great memories. Thank you for saying yes to me going on this trip! I’m having one of the best moments of my life! We have walked 80 miles on the Pyrenees section. Now we are chilling at the beach and getting the rest we need for the Mont Blanc section! I can’t wait to see u guys in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to talk about this trip and debrief. Love you guys so so so much! Byee!
Valentina- Hi mom and dad, this has been so much fun. I am so happy I have met some amazing people, and I am excited to share everything with you guys! I have found a girl who appreciates music and art like I do!!! Tell Darian and Laurel I miss them!!! We have trekked to some really amazing places so far around 80 miles. Can’t wait to see you guys soon! Love you!!
Kate- Hi family!! I hope all is well in Atlanta! It is absolutely beautiful here, and I feel like the luckiest person ever. We just finished a 7 day trek in which we hiked 11 miles everyday (and yes, I somehow enjoyed every minute). Tell Kiks and Marg that I miss them dearly and found myself a friend to harmonize with who also has a Monet phone case. (PS I think I forgot my retainer but it’s all good) Miss y’all so!! Best, Kate
Reese- Hi everyone!! I’m having the best time ever and this is such a cool trip. We just finished our first trip which was over 70 miles and now we’re hanging out on the beach. My group is so amazing and we’re having the best time! I’ll see you guys soon and I love you!
Mac- hey, I’m having fun at camp. I hope you and Corbitts trip was fun and dads golf trip to. See you soon and love you.
Safe Arrival!
June 28, 2025
Hello Chamonix Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Paris! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure as they prepare to begin their trekking section!
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
