Dober Dan from Slovenia!!
July 22, 2025
Hello, or as we say in Slovenian, Dober Dan!!!
Sending our best from the wonderful Soca Valley! Our adventure is off to an incredible start, and we already have plenty of memories in the making.
After everyone arrived safely in Venice, we hit the ground running. Our Slovenian guides, Jaka and Sara, were so excited to greet the group and finally kick things off.
We took in the amazing scenery during our drive to Croatia and made a pit stop for our first meal together. Spirits were high as we talked about what we were most excited for on the trip. Before long, the van was quiet with everyone catching some much-needed rest before we arrived in Pula.
Energy came rushing back when we pulled up to a stunning beach just a short walk from camp. No time was wasted-swimsuits went on and we all dove into the water. Campbell and Julia encouraged the rest of the girls to hop in and float around in the salty water. Laughter and stories from back home filled the air as new friendships started to form.
After our swim, we enjoyed a local dinner made by our welcoming campsite hosts and gathered together for our first Moonup at sunset. We opened the Nug Jug-a space for sharing compliments-and the energy was full of encouragement and excitement. The alumni students were excited about their new swag and the new students were eager to learn about our nightly tradition of Moonup. We wrapped up and cozied into sleeping bags for a restful night.
The next morning began with a traditional Croatian breakfast and some much-needed coffee. Our day started with sea kayaking! Our first Leaders of the Day, Madeline and Tate brought high energy as we got paired up and into our boats. We paddled along the coast, soaking in jaw-dropping views of the Adriatic Sea. We stopped at a cave, jumped out, and explored the crystal-clear water and incredible rock formations. After that, everyone lined up to take turns jumping off nearby cliffs, cheering each other on along the way.
After returning to shore, we were surprised with some time on a water blob, which quickly became a group favorite. Lunch followed at a vineyard known for olive oil and wine, where we enjoyed fresh, homemade pasta.
Next on the itinerary was cliff jumping in Premantura National Park. Some adventurers went straight for the higher jumps, while others had a blast from the mid-level spots. After drying off, we headed back to camp to rinse off before dinner. We arrived in town early and took a stroll to explore shops before sitting down to a delicious dinner of pizza and pulled pork in the historic city of Pula. We ended the night with Moonup as love music echoed from our campsite and then turned in for a good night’s sleep.
The next morning, we packed up and made our way to Slovenia, our namesake destination. On the way, we stopped for a special cooking class where we helped prepare a peach pie and a hearty homemade meal of soup, pasta, turkey, and polenta. Our Leaders of the Day, Meriwether and Henry W. kept everything running smoothly as we worked together. Ella and Mary Blake cheffed up in the kitchen helping to prepare our delicious meal. After thanking our amazing host, we continued to our campsite in Slovenia.
Dinner that night was prepared by our incredible campsite chef, Chef George, and we wrapped up the evening with Moonup down by the river.
The following day kicked off with a quick breakfast of toast and fruit before heading into the canyons. We geared up for a full canyoneering adventure and hiked to the starting point ready to go. The group was all smiles as we slid down waterfalls and rappelled through cool, rushing water. Everyone embraced the challenges and kept spirits high throughout the experience. We returned to camp for lunch, followed by some quiet time-some took naps while others bonded over cards. We geared up for a short hike after dipping in the river to cool down. Everyone was excited to pull out their hiking boots for the first time and head out on our first hiking adventure! We headed up to a lookout point before a storm came out of nowhere so we booked it back down to camp. Eli and Henry C. led the group as we jumped around puddles. It felt like a movie as we all ran through the rain as fast as we could. Once back, we put on Unwritten and danced in the rain until it let up. For dinner we enjoyed another local dish from Chef George and then some Nutella crepes, everyone’s favorite. We headed back to the river for Moonup and an amazing sunset.
The next day started bright and early as we set out for white water rafting on the Soca River. The recent rain turned the water into a milky blue and low-hanging clouds created a mystical setting. Hunter and Dilara commanded the boat as we rocked through the rapids. The boats were full of laughter and teamwork. It was a highlight of the trip, and no one wanted it to end as we reached the take-out point.
After rafting, we returned to camp for a delicious lunch of stuffed peppers and mashed potatoes, which Joey was over the moon about. Our guides, Sara and Jaka, helped us prepare for our next chapter-trekking! We packed up gear, then went on an afternoon adventure to a spring to cool off after packing! We stopped in Bovec to grab a few essentials for the cooler temps ahead and to pick up souvenirs. Tonight, we’re enjoying a BBQ dinner and getting ready for the mountain journey ahead.
This group continues to impress us with their kindness, maturity, and strong connections. We feel so lucky to be spending these two weeks with your amazing kids.
Next up: trekking in the Julian Alps! We can’t wait to share what’s coming next!!
All the love,
Kate and Nate
Shoutouts:
Madeline: Hey Fam!! Having a great time in Slovenia!!! You’re gonna have to drag me out of here. My group and leaders are amazinggggg!!!! Shoutout to ML Mama, Ford, Aunt Mary, Natalie, and Evan!!! See yall!! Love yall!!!!🍉😁🧡
Ella: Hi Mom, Dad, and Fam!! I love all the girls and guys in my group and my leaders are soooo fun!! Tell Robert I miss him and tell BOT that I hope they aren’t having too much fun without me and I miss them!! LOVE YALL!!
Meriwether: Hi Mom, Dad, and Connor! Thanks so much for sending me on this trip I am having the best time!! Shoutout ML Mamma and Collier – can’t wait to show y’all my new necklaces and earrings! Miss everyone like crazy! Love y’all so much 😚😚 I never want to leave but still can’t wait to see y’all 💕💕 Tell the dogs I say hi!
Campbell: Hi everyone!!! I’m having soooo much fun and I have the most awesome group and leaders ever. We’ve done such awesome activities and met such cool people. Sorry about the BOA purchases lol 🥗🍕. I’ve been eating good food don’t worry and I’ve been sleeping really well. Tell everyone at home I miss everyone and say hi to the dogs for me. Love you guys so much. See you in a few days!!!! (I’m gonna watch the summer movies on the plane don’t worry) ❤️❤️❤️
Dilara: Hi guys! I am having a great time here we are doing so many great activities. We have gone white water rafting, kayaking, hiking and Canyoneering. We are starting a four day trekking trip tomorrow, I am super excited. I hope you guys had a great time on your trips. I hope Leyla had a good time in Colorado. I love you guys and boots and daisy so much! 💕💕💕
Mary Blake: Heyy!! I’m having the best time ever on this trip. I miss yall so much! We start trekking tomorrow and I can’t wait! Everyone here is amazing!! I’m already so close with all the group and leaders! I hope you guys are having a blast in Charlotte! I love yall so so much! I can’t wait to tell you everything! See you soon ❤️😊
Joey – Hi mom, dad and Cody!!! I’m having the absolute best time ever on my trip!! It’s been days since I’ve touched a phone and I’m already forgetting how to type, love yall and can’t wait to see u soon.
Tate: Hey Fam, I’m enjoying the time we are having and had in Slovenia and Croatia. We are about to start Hiking and I am wondering if it will be like the Walk in mounteagle. We have so far have rafted,cayoneered, cooked, and have also hiked a little. Bye
Henry: Hi mom and dad, camp had been super fun so far and I like everyone in my group. The activities have been super fun and tiring. Tomorrow we start our trekking for 4 days and I’m excited. Love you guys so much and miss you a lot. See you guys.
Eli: Hi Mom and Dad, I’ve been having so much fun and doing so much fun stuff. the guides, leaders, and other people in my group are all great. See you guys.
Henry W. : Hi Mom and Dad, this has been really fun and I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and exploring Slovenia. I hope you guys are having a great time, love you and see you soon.
Julia: Hey fam!! I miss yall sm! We’re having so much fun in Slovenia and my group and leaders are the best!! We’ve been doing so many cool activities and start trekking tmrw. I love and miss yall and hope yall r having the best time! Shoutout Betsy if ur reading this!! Can’t wait to see yall but these days have too much fun I don’t wanna leave!!
Hunter: hey people, miss yall I am having so much fun on Moondance and have found a new love for cliff jumping see yall. Love yall!!!
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
