Final Update from Slovenia!
July 30, 2025
We are currently getting ready to leave our Soča Valley campsite and head to Croatia. But wait, there’s a lot to catch you up on. We’ve completed four days of trekking, a day of canyoneering, rafting, and visiting historic towns. We started off with our last breakfast at our hostel on Lake Bohinj before beginning our trek around 11 a.m. on the 21st. Our first day of hiking was the most challenging as we covered around six miles with significant vertical gain, hiking through the woods of Triglav National Park. Our first stop was a small mountain hut surrounded by a grazing pasture. Rain began to fall, so we huddled inside where Davies taught a group of us how to play the card game Presidents. Once the rain cleared, we continued our hike up through the woods until we reached our first mountain hut. That night, everyone stayed together in a small cabin just outside the main hut. It was a bit of a squeeze, but it made for some great storytelling and laughs. James led a great Moonup, giving thoughtful closing remarks that encouraged the group and reminded us how we were really beginning to grow closer. The food at the mountain huts is very traditional, with hearty stews and goulash including sauerkraut soup, bean stew, and sausage with sauerkraut. A couple of the kids, like James and Kayman, really enjoyed the sausage stews, while most opted for the goulash with macaroni. After lunch, some took naps while others played cards. Llew (Llewis) in particular is always on the hunt for someone to play cards or listen to music with. As the night wound down, we read a bit before bed. However, Hudson, Davies, and Kennedy stayed up a little later playing a card game Davies invented on the top bunk. We all managed a good night’s rest, except for those who had to deal with Wylie’s giant snores. Our second day of trekking was a bit slippery due to the rain, which hit about halfway through the hike. Everyone bundled up in rain gear and powered on. Before we knew it, we had arrived at our second hut, which offered a stunning view of Lake Bohinj, the very lake we had stayed at just a few days earlier. With the rain still coming down, we huddled inside and played a game called Golf that Maela taught us. After the rain cleared, some of us went on a short hike to explore the surrounding area while others napped. Emerson, James, Hudson, and Kayman got some much-needed rest. We walked around some old barracks built during World War I. Lula, Davies, Anna, and Kennedy decided to climb up one of the old buildings to get a good photo. The climb wasn’t high, only about seven feet. On the way down, Lula accidentally took out a chunk of rock from the ancient structure. The historic buildings that have lasted for almost a century are now being taken down by some adventurous Moondancers. I guess this is the cost of taking risks. We hiked back and sat down for dinner. Emerson arose from her six-hour hibernation. She had been struggling a bit with the elevation of the hikes, but she powered through with very minimal complaining. After dinner, we hung out outside the hut and watched as George and Maela showed off their athleticism with some impressive gymnastics. We soon went to bed after a beautiful Moonup on the hut’s helicopter pad. We started our third day of trekking with a long uphill section that lasted about an hour and a half but gave us beautiful views the whole way. We reached a saddle with incredible views of both sides of the terrain and could even see all the way to the Adriatic Sea. We took some photos at the top while Llew went a little ahead to get some cool shots with the mountains in the background. We began our descent and made our way to an old bunker used by Italian soldiers during World War I. We explored it with our headlamps. It didn’t smell great, likely due to some chamois or ibex that had taken shelter there during the storm. We continued past more World War I ruins and eventually arrived at a cheese farm. A Slovenian woman spends her summers there making cheese from the cows and sheep she raises on her pasture. She explained the cheese-making process and let us try some. Kennedy loved it and wanted to buy an entire block. The next morning, we hiked down from our final mountain hut, winding through a series of switchbacks. It started to rain again with about 30 minutes left on the trail. We made it down safely and celebrated with high fives and cold Cokes at the bottom. We then hopped in the vans and drove to our lunch spot. After lunch, we arrived at the Soča Valley campsite. The kids got into their tents and took well-earned naps while the rain came down. That evening, we had a delicious dinner prepared by Chef George. Afterward, we played more Golf, which Lula was always excited for. We went to bed ready for the next day of adventure. We woke up, had a quick breakfast, and headed to the canyoneering site. After a short 30-minute hike up a steep hill, we changed into wetsuits and put on our goofy helmets. We were ready to go. We slid and jumped down the river, clamping into different spots to hike between waterfalls and pools. The kids had a blast jumping off rocks and rappelling down waterfalls. Kennedy had her GoPro out the entire time and generously shared it with others. After about an hour and a half of canyoning fun, we returned to the campsite, had lunch, and headed into the town of Bovec. There, we walked around, shopped, and got ice cream. Anna bought a giant watermelon, and most of the kids grabbed some snacks. This group of kids is constantly bantering and cracking jokes. They are so comfortable with one another that it’s impossible for them not to have fun. Thank you so much for sharing your kids with us and giving them the opportunity to explore the outdoors, create lasting memories, and build meaningful friendships. It is truly something special. We feel so lucky to be a part of it.
Final Trip Update!
Dear 3A Slovenia Families,
Hi from Venice, our final stop in the Slovenian itinerary. We have had a packed two weeks traveling to Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy – three beautiful European countries that we were lucky enough to explore this summer. The second half of our trip has been pretty rainy, but luckily, Slovenian culture is not for the weak. We persevered through the rain and still canyoneered, rafted, and explored Croatia as much as we could. During rafting and canyoneering, it didn’t matter that we were getting wet because we were in and out of the stunning “Gatorade blue” Soca River. During these activities, we got to rep our funky looking wet suits, which kept us warm and made the activities so funny. During rafting, James and George headed up one boat, leading the group in synced paddles through the billowing rapids. Hudson and Wiley took charge of the other boat, making some fierce competition for boat one.
Later that afternoon, the sun came out which immediately lifted the group’s spirits. We took a much needed drive through the green mountains to an Italian town for some shopping, exploring, and ice cream. The town is made up of narrow alleyways and cobblestone streets that give it a classic European feel. Small shops, cafés, and houses are tucked close together, and it’s easy to spend hours just wandering around. The mix of old stone buildings and quiet side streets made it feel both welcoming and full of history. Lula, Anna, and Davies lead the girls to the shops around the town, with the boys close behind ready to be styled.
The rest of the evening was so nice – we headed back to camp for our home made barbecue and s’mores. Llewis stayed on aux the whole time, keeping the good vibes at a maximum. Maela chopped veggies, Davies prepped the salad, Lula buttered bread, Anna cut up watermelon and James and Hudson cooked hotdogs and sausages for us to soon devour. We ended the night, with a game of volleyball lead by George, Kennedy, Maela, and Lula, and then a great Moonup to finish out the day.
The next morning, we prepped to go to Croatia. Some of us got up to run – one of a handful of runs throughout our time here – and we all agreed that these top tier runs might be some of our favorites ever. It’s hard to not feel on top of the world after gliding through the valley below Triglav National Park – a place so beautiful that Narnia was filmed there. After the morning run, we hopped in the car for another much enjoyed ride; this time to Croatia. Along the way, we stopped for a cooking class in the western most part of Slovenia, where the hills are rolling and striped with vineyard trees. Kennedy and Hudson, our leaders of the day, stepped up during the class where we made vegetable soup, Istrian pasta, turkey and potatoes, and a peach pie to finish. Kennedy and Hudson served the family style table like professionals, and made our delicious meal feel even more luxurious. We hopped in the car after lunch for some good post-meal naps. We arrived in Croatia and finished out our night hanging out by the beautiful blue sea at our camp site.
Our big day in Croatia began early with a 5:30am stormy wake up. The entire group squeezed into the warm bathroom to wait out the thunder until we could go back to tents where we were serenaded to sleep by the padding drops of water on our tents. This morning was spent having a 10/10 rainy day with this group of troopers. We sat under the shelter playing games until lunch, and were most highly entertained by the music guessing game that Kennedy, Kayman, and George took by storm.
After lunch, it finally cleared up so we could go cliff jumping at the end of the peninsula where we would have gone kayaking. We weren’t prepared to swim, so most of us jumped in fully clothed, taking the Moondance slogan “Living In The Moment (LITMO)” to a whole new level. We ended the day with a much anticipated trip to Pula, Croatia, another historic European town to explore. Emerson and Kennedy roamed the streets arm in arm, already looking like the lifelong friends we believe they have become. Our last big dinner before heading to Ljubljana and departing from our incredible guides, Miha and Luka, was spent gobbling up pizzas and burgers that hit the spot after our unique Croatian day.
We ended the trip with a town day in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital, where we soaked up every last minute of time together. It’s hard to believe our time has come to an end already. We have had the absolute privilege of getting to know each and every one of your kids. For us, this experience has been life changing, and we hope the kids feel even a little bit of that after our two weeks together. We truly cannot think of a better way to have spent our summer, and we are so thankful that your kids took the leap to enjoy this experience with us. It’s been unreasonably fun, so impactful, and an experience we will never forget. We hope you all have a great rest of your summer and fantastic years going forward.
All our best,
Winborne Broughton and Brennan Humberston
Shoutouts!
July 25, 2025
James – Thank you Mom and Dad! I’m having so much fun and meeting so many new friends. I’m super grateful for y’all’s sacrifice to allow me to make these awesome memories!! I love yall!! Charlotte, I can’t wait to see you when I get back! I love you so much!!!
Hudson- Thank you so much mom and dad! Canyoneering was super fun today and the views while trekking was insane. I appreciate the opportunity to come on this amazing trip. I miss you guys, see you soon Mom, Dad, Hailey, Hannah, and Brooke.
Davies- Thank you mom and dad so much for sending me on this trip! I’m having so much fun and I’m trying so many new things. I can’t wait to see yall in a few days! And huiet and Sam I can’t wait to hear how Maui and garden city were. Love yall byeeee
Anna- Thanks guys! Love yall see you soon!
Llewis- Thank you mom and dad for sending me on this trip I am having a blast. Trekking was sick and i miss yall so much. Tell bossie I said hi❤️
Maela – Thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip! It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen and the activities are so fun. I miss you all so much and say hi to Mackenna and Charlie for me 🙂 See you so soon!
George – Thank you guys so much for sending me to Slovenia!! This country is beautiful and I’m having the best time exploring all of it. Love y’all!
Wylie- thank you for letting me go on this trip. It’s pretty fun and we are all having fun. We went canyoneering today and it was super fun. See you soon.
Emerson- Thank you guys so much for letting me go on this amazing trip! I am so grateful!! I have had the best time ever. Trekking and canyoneering were so awesome. I miss you guys so much and tell Louie I say hi!!
Lula- Thank you guys so much for this amazing opportunity!! It has been a great experience. We just got back from backpacking for 4 days and we went canyoneering it was awesome!! I miss you guys tell my friends I said hi!!!
Kayman-thanks you for sending me here. ive seen craziest views of my life and made really good freinds. the food has been so good and i cant wait to get back home .
Kennedy- Thank you so much for letting me come on this trip! I am having so much fun and trekking was lowkey not bad at all- we had some really good views. Food has been buss and I’m not homesick yet but I do miss yall. Love you!!
Greetings from Slovenia!!!
July 24, 2025
Dear Group 3 Slovenia parents,
Hi from our lakeside hostel in the quaint area of Bohinj, Slovenia. After two incredible trips around Slovenia so far, we can’t wait to go all out for our third and final group. Our energy is high, and we are excited for the things ahead, and every kid is matching the same enthusiasm. So far, this group is proving to be adventurous, kind-hearted, and extremely down-to-earth. It’s hard to believe how much we’ve packed into just a few days. Day one, we started off with a drive from Venice to Bohinj, a dip in the refreshing mountain lake, and two incredible meals. Lunch was enjoyed at a restaurant in the Kranjski area of Slovenia, which is a hub for bikers, hikers, and other outdoor adventurers. This is a stunning location with towering mountains all around. The drive was no different. While the kids are troopers for continuing their long travel day with a drive, I think it’s a great way for them to get a taste of the beautiful scenery they will be exploring for the next two weeks. Dinner was no less breathtaking. The Slovenian Alps, in addition to a painted pink sky, were the backdrop for our first dinner – a traditional barbecue. Maela, our photographer, and Kennedy, our videographer, wasted no time capturing the mammoth mountains.
Day two, we started out strong with a morning hike up what will be a ski slope in just a few months. The slope took us to the mountain peak that looked out over the Julian Alps, where we will be trekking, and over Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia. Llewis and Anna led the hike with impressive speed, while the rest of the group followed close behind. James and Hudson took initiative to get us to the top of the mountain, both determined to reach the highest lookout point. And boy was it worth it. Sheep climbed the hills in front of us and set the perfect scene in front of the miles of mountains ahead. After descending the slope and enjoying a classic Slovenian lunch at the mountain hut below, we headed to Lake Bled to row boats and have an afternoon by the water. We rowed to the island in the middle of Lake Bled, which is the only island in all of Slovenia. This island holds one of the many Roman Catholic churches that can be found around the whole country. But most importantly, there is a delicious ice cream shop at the top of the 99-step climb to the church, where our group devoured mostly tiramisu and stracciatella ice cream cones. After ice cream and a dip in the water below, we headed back to the mainland – some by boat and some by swim. Wylie, Davies, Llewis, James, and the two leaders swam across the lake for some extra boat-side exercise. After some time spent exploring the town of Bled and our very full day, we ended the evening back at the lakeside hostel with our second Moonup, led by Lula and Llewis.
Day three began with some challenging rock climbing and some card games on the side. Anna and James headed up the rock climbing wall first, while Emerson and George, our leaders of the day, led the group in our first rounds of poker and Egyptian Rat Slap. These games have continued to be our free time obsession, at any and every point of rest. In the afternoon, the whole group paddle boarded in Lake Bohinj. Some of the group, including Kayman, James, and Hudson, cliff jumped into the lake. These kids have taken every opportunity to make this trip the most fun it can be, which is a testament to their adventurousness, their go-getter energy, and their self-sufficiency. We spent the afternoon playing cards, setting up hammocks, and resting before our four-day trekking trip that we are about to embark on.
This has been an incredible start to our Slovenia trip. We are so excited to keep getting to know your kids. They wake up ready for each new day and have the best attitudes. They are kind, respectful, and so funny. Trekking is such an amazing part of the trip – one where we bond as a group in the middle of the mountains, dirty and exhausted, but closer than ever. It sounds crazy, but unplugging and living completely in the moment during this portion of the trip is what Moondance is all about. We can’t wait to tell you about it when we are done.
All our best,
Winborne Broughton and Brennan Humberston
Shoutouts!
July 21, 2025
George – Hey mom, dad, and Claire! Miss you guys and we’ve been having fun cliff jumping and paddle boarding. See yall soon
James – Hey! I miss you mom, dad, Lola, and charlotte!! I love you guys! We have been having so much fun cliff jumping and exploring lake Bled! See you guys soon!
Hudson- Hi Mom, Dad, Hailey, Hannah, and Brooke! I miss you guys. The views here are amazing. I’ve had a blast rowing the boats and swimming in the beautiful cold water. I love you and see ya later!
Lula- Hey mom and dad, I’m having so much fun, tell my friends I miss them to! Can’t wait to see you guys!
Maela – Hi Mom, Dad, and Mackenna!! Slovenia is so beautiful and the trip has been so fun! I miss and love you all so much! See you soon 🙂
Emerson – Hi Mom, Dad, and Elliott!! I miss you guys! It is so pretty here and this trip has been so fun. We’ve been on the lake a bunch and cliff jumping. I love you all and I can’t wait to tell yall all about the trip!
Kennedy- Hi Mom, Dad, Bennett & Dixie- I’ve had so much fun so far!! Slovenia is so pretty and I’m excited to show you all my pictures. Miss you and love you tons and excited to see you in a bit.
Anna- hey mom and dad! Love yall and can’t wait to see you soon
Davies: Hey mom, dad, huiet, and Sam I miss yall so much!! I’m having the best time, Slovenia is truly unbelievable. The first few days went by so fast, I love my group so much. We have done a hike, rock climbed and spent a lot of time swimming and paddle boarding. The views and weather are actually perfect. HI to my friends I love and miss yall so much and can’t wait to hear about everything! We are about to start trekking for the next 4 days, can’t wait to tell yall all about it!! See yall soon! Shoutout Ellie and kayra😘😜😘😘
Wylie: Hey mom and dad I’m doing good. Trip is pretty fun and we are doing a lot of fun activities. We spent a lot of time on the lake near our hostel and enjoying the town that’s close by. See you soon!
Kayman-hey mom and Joe having a great time out here so far the views are crazy .the lakes here are beautiful and I can’t wait to come back home and see everyone.love kayman
Llewis- Hi mom and dad I am having an amazing time in Slovenia. The views are sick there are mountains everywhere and we’ve done so much cool stuff only 4 days in. Can’t wait to tell yall all about it. Love Llewis
Safe Arrival!
July 18, 2025
Hello Slovenia Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely! 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
