Hello one last time!!
June 30, 2025
We are writing to share that all of our new best friends are safely on the plane back to you!!
After regrouping following our trekking section, the group was excited to explore a new town! Our first day out of the back country was so much fun! We started the day with a big breakfast before hitting the road to Lake Bled, a lake that holds the only island in the entire country of Slovenia! The LOD’s, Bizzie and Charlotte led the group the entire day and manned the cameras, making sure everyone had photos to remember our last few days together.
Once we arrived in Bled, we took row boats out to the island to explore a bit. Mason and Grant gracefully rowed the two boats and delivered everyone safely and happily to the docks. We climbed up 99 stairs before reaching an ice cream stop. We all grabbed a cone and looked around at the lake below us. Tory and Millie curiously explored all the island had to offer before we headed down to the dock to take a dip. Caddie, Margaret, and Sarah showed off their tricks as we all soaked up the sun. We all picked out which house we would want to live in when we move back to Slovenia as a group in a few years. After our dip we rowed back to the mainland and hopped in the vans to head into the town.
We grabbed some poke bowls and sat by the water for some lunch. This was by far one of the groups favorite meals and the view made it even better. After lunch we walked around for a bit, where Tristan and Dylan did some shopping and others enjoyed another ice cream cone.
We headed back to the hostel for a dip in the lake and to regroup before rock climbing! The group loved rock climbing and some of them learned how to belay for the first time! We headed for dinner at a pizza and pasta spot where everyone ate as much as they could until they felt like they were going to pop. We all jumped in the lake post dinner before having Moonup as the sun set.
The following day we started the morning with breakfast and our group’s new creation: hot chocolate and coffee mixed. We headed up the mountain for a hike at a ski resort. Now that we are seasoned vets at hiking, the group had a great attitude about this one. We made it up to the ridge where we overlooked a shepards barrack and a ton of sheep. We kept going a bit and discovered an old cable car and bunker. We eagerly walked through the bunker before heading back downhill. We ran through the wildflowers on the way down and said goodbye to our cow friends. Everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch before we headed back to the hostel for the afternoon. Everyone took some time to pack before we headed out on paddle boards for a few hours. Brady paddled out as far as he could while some of the girls tried to balance and do some yoga.
We headed off to our final dinner with Jaka and Sara where we shared stories over a massive pig roast. Everyone was so full! We came back and had Moonup as we listened to live music coming from the hostel. As we shared compliments with each other the theme song from “Friends” started to play. We watched the stars and tried to pick out the constellations. We headed off to bed with the final day in sight.
Our last day together had a late start which everyone was so excited about. We packed up our things and headed for Ljubljana. One last ice cream stop was due before we made it to our final stop. We dropped our things at the hostel before heading for the cobblestone town of Ljubljana. We ate some delicious burgers and sweet potato fries before wandering around to shop for a bit. We spent the afternoon by the water writing letters to ourselves and reminiscing on the amazing two weeks we’ve had together. We ended our last night with a banquet dinner at a pizza spot on the water where everyone enjoyed their own personal pizza and we all shared what we were going to miss most about this trip. As the sun set, we grabbed our last gelato and headed for the park to write personal nug jugs to each other. We shared our last Moonup and cherished our last moments together before a couple people slept for a few hours and the rest stayed up to hang out.
Sleepy eyed, we hopped on the bus to Venice and arrived to the airport to say goodbye. We kept reminding one another that is it not goodbye its simply a see you later! We cannot express how special your children are and how much of an honor it was to lead them through Slovenia for the past two weeks. Our trip would not have been the same without each and every one of them and we can’t wait to continue to watch them grow as leaders. Here’s to “see you laters” instead of “goodbyes.” We miss them so much already!
All the love, one last time,
Kate and Nate
SLO 1B Finished Trekking!!
June 26, 2025
Hi everyone!!!
SLO1B just finished our trekking section of our trip, and it was absolutely fantastic! All of the kids killed it, and all of the views were breathtaking.
Day 1 began with Bizzie and Mason serving as the LODs and getting everyone packed and ready to hit the trail. We said goodbye to the Soca Valley and headed up into the mountains, jamming to some Mt. Joy.
Once at the trailhead, Jaka and Sara showed the group what our path would look like for the next few days. With big smiles and a few nerves, we took off up into the clouds.
Our first day was pretty steep; however, our group took it like champs and found the positive in every moment. We shared stories and exchanged advice as we continued to trek up to the top. Grant kept everyone laughing throughout the entire day and always made sure everyone was feeling their best. Charlotte smiled ear to ear, which spread contagiously throughout the group.
We reached our first mountain hut just after lunch and quickly untied our boots and dropped our packs. We had our first of many types of mountain meals and celebrated making it to our first stopping point. As we scarfed down lunch some familiar faces appeared from the trees. SLO1A arrived and greeted us all with big hugs and a boost of energy. We shared the hut with them and got to make some new friends!
In the afternoon we walked to a local cheese maker’s farm and got to see how she makes her cheese from scratch. After that exciting stop we meandered down to a breathtaking lake where we skipped rocks and took some awesome photos.
As we got hungry for dinner, we headed back to have some more traditional Slovenian food and some delicious desserts! A quick rain shower brushed through before we headed down to play some hacky sack and laughed until our stomachs hurt as the sun went down. Sarah showed everyone how to make some great friendship bracelets which we all traded to remember our time in the mountains.
We all excitedly headed to bed after a long day on our feet. The next morning our LODs, Tory and Millie woke everyone up to start our day and continued to step up as leaders as the day went on. We ate some breakfast quickly before saying goodbye to the other group and getting on our way. Our second day was a bit less strenuous but still took it out of us. A couple candy stops and some music for motivation got the group to a stopping point full of World War II remains. Jaka gave us a history lesson as we climbed around old barracks and remnants of the war. Tristan explored a cellar in one of the buildings as Dylan kept everyone’s vibe high during the break. We continued on and stopped at another spot to explore an old bunker, which the whole group found fascinating. We snapped some photos and used our knowledge from past history classes to talk about the views we were enjoying.
Onward again, Caddie led the group on our final push to our hut for the night. Everyone was so excited to make it to the end and eat some lunch before taking a much deserved nap. The group was elated to find out that this hut served buttered noodles! We moved into the sun to make bracelets and play some games as the afternoon passed. The LODs surprised everyone with ice cream which was a great pre dinner snack!
For dinner we had sausage and French fries before we went back outside to play some more hacky sack and enjoy the 360 degree view of the mountains around us. We had a vulnerable moonup as we talked about our favorite compliments we’ve been given and tough things we’ve overcome in our lives.
Talk of our reunion began as we watched the sun disappear over the tallest peak on the horizon. Everyone was off to bed with full hearts and stomachs ready for the next day.
Our third day of trekking was a long one, but a very rewarding one. Brady and Margaret served as the LODs and led the group on our longest day yet. We climbed up and trekked down as we made our way to the last of the three huts.
We made it in time for lunch where everyone enjoyed some macaroni and goulash before grabbing some tiramisu and apple strudel. In the afternoon we hiked to a lake called “Kidney Lake” and took in the view as we reflected on our time in the mountains. We ended the day with some yummy dinner and an amazing moonup as the sun set.
Our last and final day of trekking began with some eggs and Nutella toast before putting our packs on one last time and hitting the trail. We climbed up a steep section before coming to a via ferrata which was a first for many of us. We worked together to climb up the rock and cheered one another on as we got to the top. Continuing on, we came across some cows and a cheese farm where we stopped for some cheese, salami, bread, dumplings and coffee. Our last push was downhill until we hit the vans. We gave high fives and hugged it out to celebrate making it to the end.
We are now by the Bohinj Lake settling into our hostel for the next two nights! Everyone took a much deserved shower, had an ice cream cone and a nap. We are headed off to get some burgers before snuggling into real beds for a great night’s rest.
Our group has come so close and had the best time exploring this beautiful country! We can’t wait to continue cheering your kids on and watching all of the amazing things they do!!
All the love,
Kate + Nate
Thank You Notes to Parents:
Charlotte: Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I really appreciate having this experience!! Miss yall!
Grant: Thank you for letting me come on this trip, I love it here!
Margaret: Thank you Mom and Dad for sending me here, I’ve had the best two weeks of my life and met the best people ever! Love you!
Tory: Thank you Mom for sending me on this trip I’m so grateful for all of the experiences I’ve had and I can’t wait to see you
Millie: Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! Loving the experiences I’m having, miss yall!
Dylan: Thank you Mom and Dad for sending me here, I’m beyond grateful for both Moondances you have sent me on!
Caddie: Thanks Mom and Dad for sending me on this trip, I’m having so much fun! Love and miss you!
Brady: Hi mom and dad, thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I’m so fortunate and grateful!
Tristan: Thank you guys so much for giving me the opportunity with these cool people! I am really enjoying this trip!!
Mason: Thank you Mom and Dad for sending me on this trip, it’s amazing! It’s been a great experience! Love you so much
Bizzie: Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! Miss yall and I can’t wait to tell you about it!
Sarah: Hi Mom and Dad, I’m so grateful to be on this trip and I’m so excited to see you!
Greetings from Slovenia!!
June 22, 2025
Coming at you from the Soca Valley!! Our trip has been off to an amazing start and we already have so many stories to share!
Once everyone safely landed in Venice we quickly grabbed some croissants and coffee before hitting the road for our first adventure. Our guides Jaka and Sara were eager to meet the kids and finally begin our journey.
Along our beautiful drive to Croatia, we stopped for lunch to have our first of many pizzas. We discussed things we were excited to see on our trip and fought the jet lag with some more coffee. Before we even left the parking lot everyone knocked out for a much needed nap as we finished our drive down the coast to Pula.
Everyone quickly regained energy when Jaka showed them the amazing beach we were in walking distance of. We jumped into our suits and plunged into the water before even unpacking. We shared laughs and stories about back home as we got to know one another.
After a dip, we ate some local food that our gracious campsite hosts cooked for us and had our first Moonup on the beach during sunset – it was quite picturesque! We opened the Nug Jug, where you can share compliments with one another, and our alumni students jumped to share nugs and show the new students how it was done. We closed Moonup by passing the pulse around the circle before slipping into our sleeping bags to try and regulate our sleep schedule.
On our first full day together, we quickly hopped up and enjoyed a Croatian breakfast and, of course, some coffee. We headed out for our first activity – sea kayaking!! Our first duo of LOD’s, Caddie and Dylan helped get everyone into their tandem boats before we headed down the beach taking in some insane views of the Adriatic Sea. Teams of two worked together to paddle down to a cave where we docked, grabbed our goggles, and swam in to explore. The deep crystal clear water was mesmerizing and the arching rocks kept everyone’s head on a swivel. Mason and Brady showed off their climbing skills and scaled the rocks up the sides of the cave. After exploring that, we all excitedly took a leap off of the cliff beside the caves. We watched as fish swam around us and cheered one another on to make the jump.
After paddling back down the coast, our LOD’s surprised everyone with a couple hours on the blob out in the water, a large inflatable, which got the group extremely excited! Following that fun, we headed for lunch at an olive oil vineyard. We shared some prosciutto and cheese and then all happily enjoyed our delicious homemade pasta dishes. We were then back into our swimsuits to head down to the beach for a post lunch dip and nap time for a few of us.
The next surprise in line was some more cliff jumping in a famous part of the Premantura National Park. Some brave souls did the high jump while some of us explored another cave and encouraged them from the salty water. We couldn’t believe how buoyant we were in the water because of the salt! Next, we headed to town for our first taste of gelato! Tory shared stories from back home that kept everyone entertained as we winded down our afternoon. For dinner we checked out the city of Pula where we enjoyed some more pizza and caprese salads before walking around one of the ancient Roman arenas. Someone shouted out “they stole that from Rome” since it looked so similar to the Coliseum. Post dinner, we washed the salt water out of our hair and had Moonup under the stars. After a long day in the sun, everyone was sleepy eyed and ready to hit their sleeping bags.
The following day, we packed up camp and headed for our trip’s namesake, Slovenia!! Along the route, we stopped for an outstanding cooking class. Bizzie and Sarah cheffed up the most amazing peach pie that topped off our meal of soup, pasta, and turkey and mashed potatoes. Tristan taught everyone some Croatian and gladly educated us on this part of the world. Once we bid our teacher farewell, we finished our drive to our campsite in Slovenia.
We were greeted with a storm, which called for an obvious ice cream stop. Once the rain passed, pink clouds took over the sky. We ate some yummy dinner and had Moonup under the haze. Everyone settled into their bungalows after a hot shower and dozed off dreaming of our next activity.
The next morning we scarfed down some oatmeal, toast, and fruit before heading to explore the canyons. We suited up and hiked down to our first spot to slide through the waterfalls. Grant and Margaret served as our LODs and got everyone excited to start such an exciting activity. The entire group loved jumping, sliding, and rappelling down some awesome waterfalls! We ate some lunch and explored the beach from Narnia where Charlotte and Millie fearlessly dove into the ice cold water and the rest of the group followed. We ended our afternoon with a hike to a waterfall where the boys were quick to jump into the water while the girls enjoyed it from afar. We talked about our favorite types of potatoes and what we want to be when we grow up as we descended back down. Following our hike we played hacky sack and cards after we ate some much deserved dinner. Our LOD’s led us through a hysterical Moonup and we all drifted to sleep ready for the next adventure.
Up and at ’em early, we headed back to the Soca River for some white water rafting. The water looked like blue Gatorade as we navigated the rapids and slid headfirst down our rafts acting as slides. Fearless leaders commanded their raft and kept everyone in line as we paddled our way down the river. Jaka and Sara surprise us with secret spots so next we headed to a small hike down to an amazing beach where we skipped rocks and listened to some music before heading back for lunch. The afternoon called for some naps and downtime before heading into town to collect a few things, and an ice cream cone for our trekking section that begins tomorrow!!
This group has meshed together so well and we are so grateful that you are sharing your children with us. We have learned so much from them and can’t wait for you guys to hear all about the stories and memories we’ve created together over the past few days!
We are off to the Julian Alps to trek for the next few days and can’t wait to share our stories from this section of the trip!!
All the love,
Kate + Nate
Updates from Slovenia:
Grant: Hey Mom and Dad, love you guys! Hope you’re doing well! This trip is amazing, we just went canyoneering! Miss you
Bizzie: Hi Mom and Dad I am having so much fun, we just finished canyoneering! Miss you and love you!
Brady: What’s up Mom and Dad, everything is amazing! So happy I’m here, hope y’all are having fun on your trip! Love you guys!
Sarah: Hey squad! Hope the lake is fun! I’m having a lot of fun and its going by really fast! See you soon love yall! Someone please tell Gabe that I say HI and I love and miss him! Ok peace out
Caddie: Hi! Miss y’all, I’m having a great time! Slovenia is so pretty and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Tell Emma I miss her!
Tristan: Hey I love y’all, having a great time! I’ve met some pretty cool people and I can’t wait to see you guys
Charlotte: Hey I miss you all! Hope you’re having fun on your trip! I’m having a great time in Slovenia!
Margaret: Hey guys, I miss and love you! We’re about to go trekking in the Alps and I’m so excited! Tell the dogs and my friends I miss them
Tory: Hi! I miss you and I’m having so much fun! I can’t wait to come back to Nashville and tell you about all of the things I did and all of the people I met!
Millie: Hi! I miss you guys so much! I’m having a really good time and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. I hope Lila Grace is doing okay and I hope that y’all are having a great time in Nashville
Dylan: Hey hope y’all are doing good back home! I hope Charlotte is good and I can’t wait to tell you about my trip
Mason: Hi! I hope yall are doing well! Miss you guys, this trip is super fun! Can’t wait to tell you about it, love y’all
Safe Arrival!
June 18, 2025
Hello Slovenia Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Venice! 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
