Bringing the Heat to the Ice!
July 19, 2025
Dearest friends and family of NLT 2B,
We are having the BEST time with Hadley, Lily, Gabby, Chelsea, Ryan, Carson, Oliver, Rowan, Hank, and Mason. The past two days of ice-climbing have been a blast!!!
We started our first day with a music-filled bus ride to the Matanuska glacier (the boys loved listening to Katy Perry). We then traversed a miles long ice field in our micro spikes and crampons! The kiddos then began their first ice-climb, and we were blown away by their enthusiasm, skill, and confidence on the ice!
As a rock climber, Chelsea immediately scurried to the top of a climb, showing us her skills with grace. Carson then had his first go and hacked his way up the ice in no time. Our guides were impressed by how fast all the students picked up on new techniques.
After everyone finished climbing, we came back to camp and had a FEAST prepared by our chefs of the day, Lily and Ryan. They cooked us burgers, hotdogs, and corn and sliced up some delicious watermelon. We then had a powerful Moon-up facilitated by our wonderful Leaders of the Day, Rowan and Chelsea. The students opened up about some of the challenges they have faced, and us leaders were inspired by their vulnerability and wisdom.
The next morning, Chelsea and Carson helped us whip up some breakfast sandwiches with egg and sausage, and we got back on the ice in no time!
Ryan impressed us all with his record of 5 climbs, and Hadley showed determination and grit when she attempted (and completed!) a climb that at first frightened her. Gabby also conquered her fear of heights, completing a challenging climb that had a very steep descent/rappel.
Oliver loved listening to music on the glacier, and he gave us a show stopping performance of Adele’s “I Set Fire to the Rain.” Hank also kept us entertained with his amazing dance moves and impressive repertoire of Hamilton and Moana songs.
When we returned to camp, Mason initiated a spike ball tournament, and all the students wanted to prove that they had the best skills. We then had a delicious taco dinner prepared by Chelsea and Carson, and headed to bed. Over the course of the past two days, multiple ice-climbing guides pulled us leaders aside to let us know that this was one of the best Moondance groups they have ever had. Your kiddos are truly special – mature, hardworking, hilarious, kind, thoughtful, and SO. MUCH. FUN.!!!
We can’t wait to start backpacking the day after tomorrow – we know they are going to crush our eight day route in the Talkeetna mountains!
With love,
Susanna, Bobby, and Lauren
New Experiences on Northern Lights
July 16, 2025
Here we are in the Land of the Midnight Sun! We are so happy to be writing our first trip update and to have the opportunity to get to know your kids. Everyone arrived safely into Anchorage, followed by a pizza dinner before getting picked up by a charter bus to take us to our first campsite. We had a great first moonup and everyone was off to bed exhausted from travel.
We started the first day with amazing egg and avocado breakfast sandwiches. We then were off to Whittier as we prepared for our 4 day kayaking expedition. We drove through a tunnel that only opens up every half hour, but luckily we made it in on time. Everyone was eagerly getting to know each other on the short bus ride. As we arrived, the kids set up tents and then explored the small town that inhabits only 250 people in one building. We ended up walking across the entire town! Later that day, Hadley and Lily came up with the idea to make s’mores and a fire and no one was disappointed by that. Carson and Ryan made us a delicious beef and veggie fried rice. Everyone has been astonished by the views and getting use to the constant light outside. Hank, Rowan, Chelsea and Mason enjoyed a game of catch as we wound down the night and prepared for tomorrow’s adventure.
The next day was off to a great start as we all headed to the beach for Alaska sea kayakers to take us on the adventure of a lifetime. We were chartered across the Price William Sound as the kids traversed around the boat taking photos and having our first glacier sightings. Once we got on the water, the kids got used to the kayaks as we paddled four miles to a beautiful glacier where we went on a brief hike to see them up close. Along the way Gabby spotted a few otters which amazed everyone. After a photo shoot and indulging in glacier water, we padded back to camp. That night, Ryan and Carson cheffed up some burrito bowls as we hid from the bugs inside of our lovely bug tent.
That following day, we woke up from our tents to go ahead and paddle 10 miles to Blackstone Glacier and Beloit Glacier. We pondered as we watched and reached to touch 400 year old ice that had fallen off the icy cliffs to eventually float up to our kayaks. It was incredible! We passed the time by playing games like contact and sharing memories from back at home. Along the way, Mason told us an incredible origin story about his 2017 Toyota hat. After some photos and a much needed moment of silence, we decided to paddle back to our campsite. Oliver and Hadley made a pesto pasta for dinner followed by Bobby’s famous pineapple upside down cake. Moon-ups have been so incredible and we are in awe of the support and vulnerability each one of your kids offers to each other. Carson and Hadley had a draw off as the night closed and it’s safe to say both are serious artists. We know that these next two weeks are going to be a ball.
On day four, we continued our paddling trip with another 10 miles. We stopped on the beach for some summer sausage and pepperoni sandwiches where we napped and listened to music. This hour in the sun rejuvenated everyone before the weather took a turn on us. The rain picked up and the kids experienced true “sea kayaking” as swells began to increase seriously “rocking the boat.” Then we arrived at a new camp site and the kids were stoked to walk through the enchanted Alaskan rainforest. Chelsea and Mason made us custom quesadillas as the rest of us played word games to pass the time.
On our last day of sea kayaking, we paddled back to Whittier and along the way we spotted starfish along the shore. We decided to stop on a nearby island and scope out the land before we arrived back. Once we de-issued our gear and moved the kayaks one final time, the kids made their way to the Lazy Otter Cafe and Hadley gave us leaders matching Alaskan bracelets! We then loaded up the van, gave our final goodbyes to the lovely town of Whittier, and drove back to Anchorage. We arrived at our local Walmart and the kids split up to gather different items for our second ration. This was an interesting way to engage with civilization again! After some hustling, we quickly packed the van and loaded into our bus to drive to the NOVA ice climbing base in Glacier View, Alaska. Hank passed around a birthday cake for the group and we all sang a happy early birthday to him. We continued to have some karaoke time on the mic brought to us by Bobby and Lauren. The energy was high rolling into camp, and so were our sugar levels, so we all sat down and feasted on steak, salmon and asparagus. We ate like royalty, and when our bellies were full, we rolled straight into Moon Up, where our LOD’s Lily and Oliver led us into some great, introspective questions.
Every day we are getting closer and closer as a community, and we are so excited to continue to build these relationships as the trip continues on. We are now entering our first day of ice climbing on the Matanuska Glacier and we cannot wait to update you with more memories to come.
A big thank you to everyone reading this, this group is undoubtedly incredible and driven to keep pushing further and further out here in the Alaskan wilderness.
All the best,
Bobby, Susanna, Lauren
Shoutouts:
Ryan- Hey mom, dad, and Kate I’m having a really good time, sea kayaking was super fun and it’s super beautiful here, and I can’t wait to show you all the photos I took. I hope yall are having a super fun time up in Newport and I can’t wait to hear about all the fun stuff yall are doing. See you soon !
Gabby- Hi guys! The people here are awesome and super interesting. I promise I’m in a few photos so I’ll have some to show you when I come home. Sea kayaking from Whittier(look it up) was great and our first day of ice climbing is today. Sending lots of love to you mom, dad, and mitz.
Heyyy Fam I’m obviously having the time of my life. This first week has flown by and has been filled with gratitude to the people here who will 100 percent have a forever impact on me. Had a slight mishap with my finger on the first night but I’m thriving and enjoyed are 32 mile sea kayaking excursion. Today we begin ice climbing and I just want to say thank you for this amazing opportunity. The views are insane and the sun Never goes down. okay love you to the moon and back ❤️ give ace a hug for me. -Hadley
Rowan- Hey guys. I’m currently in Alaska. It is pretty chill and I’ll be home later. Bye.
Lily- Family! Alaska is awesome! I have made so many new friends, and I am so excited for all of our new adventures. I found my luggage!! And I also got a new sleeping bag because I was suffering with Milla’s little thin one. I love you all so much and can’t wait to tell you all about the crazy things we’ve been up to!! 💖
Chelsea- Hey Ya’ll, don’t worry I’ve taken photos and will fill you in on the trip when I get home.
Carson- Hello fam. I’m having the bestest time out here. Also I bought SpongeBob Pajamas💛. Love you guys and I can’t wait to tell you all about everything.
Mason- Hey mom, dad, and Bentley. I miss you guys and love you very much. I had a great time sea kayaking and eating delicious food. It is so beautiful here and I think it has taken the #1 spot for prettiest state. I’m so excited for ice climbing and will see you in a few weeks!
Hank- To whom it my concern,
Alaska is very big. Everything is big. Mountains, glaciers, all so big and beautiful! All gear is serving me well, absolutely loving my group, never not having fun, not missing my phone whatsoever. Hope you guys are enjoying highlands! Ice climbing up next, PUMPED. Love y’all!
Oliver- Yo what’s up Alaska is crazy yo everything is very big I am getting some really good pictures on my camera I think I have like 117 photos/videos. There is this place in Whittier called the Lazy Otter and it’s like a little coffee place thing and I got a sweatshirt and next the lazy otter there is a fudge shop place and I got a really funny beanie and it’s a crab that like lays on top of my head and I will wear the in the airport on the way home that’s my airport fit. I’m having a lot of fun and I am sleeping really well surprisingly. Just finished a 32 miles sea kayaking trip and today I am doing glacier climbing. See ya 🍔😂😒🍔😂👣😇😊😒🧃😒😘👣🫡🙆♀️💖❤️🙆♀️🐻🫡😂⬆️😇😘🕍😂🫰😇🤠😈👩🦽➡️❤️🧃🍔🥺👩🦽➡️⬆️😂😊😂🫡🍔🕍🐻🕍❤️😘⬆️🥺🐻😈⬆️❤️🫰😇🤠🐻⬆️🐻🫡🍔🫡😂 –
Safe Arrival!
July 11, 2025
Hello Northern Lights Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Alaska! 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
