Our Final Farewell!
July 30, 2025
Hi everyone! Writing to you one last time from SLO3B! All of the kids are safely back on the plane headed home to you!
After we last checked in, we began our last few days together in Bohinj. Our first full day began with a yummy breakfast and everyone’s favorite coffee and hot chocolate of the trip before we were off for the day. We headed up to a ski resort for a short hike up to see some WWI bunkers and barracks. Although everyone was a bit apprehensive about another hike after four days of trekking, we got to the top and Mary Blake said, “This was totally worth it!” We were able to see the tallest peak in Slovenia and the sea where we had kayaked at the beginning of the trip. We slowly headed down, ready for some lunch, as the conversations about when we would see each other next began. Eli finally got to try sour milk (a traditional Slovenian treat) at lunch, which he had been looking forward to all trip, and some other brave souls followed after him.
Feeling accomplished and full, we headed back down into town and jumped into swimsuits to go hang out by the lake. Some went off the rope swing while others worked on their tans as the afternoon passed. We headed to rock climb in the evening, and everyone was surprised at how much they liked it. Hunter was a superstar and climbed the hardest wall in record time!
We headed off to dinner to enjoy a local pig roast, which was one of our favorite meals. We all ate as much as we could, but left just enough room to try a local cream dessert. Jaka and Sara surprised us all with gifts to remember the trip as we headed home with full stomachs and happy hearts! The rain rolled in, so we had a cozy Moonup in one of our rooms and talked about what animal we’d be and how our perspectives have changed over the trip. We were off to bed after a full day of activities and yummy food!!
The following morning, we headed over to Lake Bled, which is home to the only island in the entire country of Slovenia! Madeline flawlessly rowed her boat out to the island as the girls in her boat cheered her on. We climbed 99 stairs to find a famous church and, of course, a cone of ice cream. Back down and across the blue lake, we headed into the town of Bled to walk around and explore. Henry W. shopped around for local souvenirs, making sure to snag some gifts for his family. We took our Poke bowls back to the hostel and scarfed them down – another top-notch meal. We had a slow afternoon, enjoying time together before it was time to paddleboard. Meriwether and Dilara were super excited to get out on Lake Bohinj and explore from the water. After some showers and warm clothes, we headed out for our final meal with Jaka and Sara. Our big group squeezed into a local pizzeria and all thoughtfully decided what we wanted for dinner. Tate took down his own pizza plus some, always offering to finish up whatever someone else doesn’t want! Post dinner, extremely full again, we headed back and showed Jaka and Sara a video we put together thanking them for all they have done for us this summer! Jaka dropped some knowledge on the group before he left saying: “There is no right time. There is only time and what you do with it.” That was the perfect segway into an awesome Moonup led by Joey and Julia. They were great LODs for our last full day of activities!
Our final day together began by packing up our stuff and eating one last of our favorite breakfasts at our hostel. We headed for Ljubljana with mixed emotions, being both excited for town day but sad that it’s our last day together. Henry C. kept the boys van laughing, as he had all trip, while Ella and Campbell sang along to our favorite 2010s hits in the girls van. After unloading everything into our last hostel of the session, it was time to bid Jaka and Sara goodbye. We made promises to see each other again and hopefully cross paths when we have a reunion trip in Europe!
Next, it was time to explore Ljubljana! We grabbed burgers at a delicious spot and then started shopping! The girls spent the afternoon in and out of clothing shops while the boys explored the old streets of town. We headed back to get changed for dinner before heading off for one last meal together! We had one last pizza stop, which only felt right to end the trip. We headed off to the park for a special final Moonup and the beginning of goodbyes. The kids pulled an all-nighter and are now headed your way!
We can’t thank you enough for sharing your kids with us for the last two weeks! They were the absolute best final session and created friendships that we know will last a very long time. They’ve taught us so much about living life with curiosity and authenticity!! We can’t wait to see them again- here’s to “see you laters” instead of “goodbyes.”🥹
All the love, one final time,
Kate + Nate
Tales from Triglav!
July 26, 2025
Hi everyone! Checking in to report from our time in Triglav National Park!!
We’ve had the absolute best couple of days trekking and this group has become close as ever!
After preparing for our trek, we had to make the call to combine our first two days into one to try and outrun a storm. Everyone was all in for it and excited to push ourselves even harder than we had anticipated to. We set out to the trailhead and got the energy high before hitting the path.
Our morning section was a pretty steep climb up into the mountains and the group completed it in record time! Dilara hung at the front and helped to keep the pace and the vibes high as we pushed to the lunch spot. Henry W. hiked up with Jaka as they exchanged stories about their lives at home.
As we turned the corner for lunch, everyone was so excited to see the first building after that long push. We quickly untied our hiking boots and laid out in the sun to warm up before lunch. We played a quick game of Calibra, a dancing game that has become a group favorite. Julia dominated the round with her dab moves while the boys climbed down and around on the rocks below.
We scarfed down some bolognese and rice pudding before we were surprised with the arrival of SLO3A! Everyone was excited to see some familiar faces and share some encouragement before we continued on.
We threw our packs back on our backs and headed out with full stomachs for our long afternoon. We had a quick stop at a cheese farm to meet a local 24 year old who makes her own cheese. Eli, our very adventurous eater, absolutely loved the cheese and learning about how it was made.
Our afternoon hike was up and over a saddle as we watched the storm we were avoiding come over the mountains behind us. We played wavelength and the name game and before we knew it we were at our big stop post lunch. We came across an old World War I remains sight and the kids were so interested as to what all of the buildings were. We snapped some pics and ate some well deserved Oreos before pushing on.
Eventually, we came up to the highest point of our entire trek and the entire group felt on top of the world! We celebrated, took more photos, and each enjoyed a snickers that Jaka and Sara surprised us with for completing that tough section. We were able to see the Adriatic Sea where we sea kayaked and the hut we were sleeping that in from that point! The rest of the afternoon was a slow descend down to the campsite and the sun came out – it almost felt like a reward for our hard work that morning! We finally arrived at our hut just before dinner and all hugged and high fived our trail partners for accomplishing such an amazing day. We are so proud of how this group pushed each other and themselves on such a tough day and surprised themselves with just how much they are capable of! It was amazing!!
Everyone changed out of their hiking clothes and into some sweatpants so that we could enjoy our card games and friendship bracelet making in comfort. The rain came in and created a haze over the peaks, which was beautiful and we were glad to be watching from inside! We had some delicious beef stew and apple strudels for dinner, which everyone cleared both of their plates. Post dinner, Campbell and Henry C. led us in a thoughtful Moonup where we gave out a ton of Nugs from the day and watched the sun set over the horizon. Everyone was off to bed fairly quickly after our day on the mountain and ready to see what the weather had in store for us the next morning.
We were up pretty early to move our legs before the big part of the storm rolled in! We had some eggs and cereal and grabbed our raincoats to go find an old WWI hospital. Tate led the group this day and continues to step up as a leader who leads by example in our group! We hiked up and over a ridge and down into a valley to see the old building, which is now a grazing area for the local cows. As it began to drizzle, we zipped up our raincoats and finished the loop back to camp. We made it just in time to escape the rain and cozy back up into our booths by the window to watch the weather. Some napped, some played cards, and others watched the Tour De France as we waited for some lunch. Mary Blake and Ella have been the queen of card games the past couple of days making sure everyone knows how to play and that the competitive spirits are high. We ate some chicken and potatoes for lunch before it was back to the poker table for tjthe boys and braiding hair for the girls. We kept saying how glad we were that we pushed the day before and were not trekking in the storm that was passing outside.
Dinner time finally rolled around and we ate some meatballs with veggies and crepes before it was time for Moonup. Our LODs led Moonup in our favorite spot just after the sun had come out after the rain. We talked about goals for our lives and how we would want to be remembered before passing it to the next set of LODs and closing with a competitive game of Calibra. We still had more energy in the tank so we played a fun game of Shake and Pop that Joey was a star at. His competitive nature shined and he kept everyone else playing on their toes. The sky began to turn pink as we headed in for the night. We packed our belongings and were quickly in bed for a good nights rest.
We were up and at em on day 3 to get to our next hut. After day 1 the group felt like we could accomplish anything so this day was a breeze. We descended downhill and Hunter kept us all distracted with meaningful conversations to pass the time as the rain began. Before we knew it we arrived at 7 Lakes and took off our rainy clothes, eager for lunch. Everyone was so glad to have a warm hearty meal and the card games quickly started back up. Some napped and others played chess as more of the storm passed in the late afternoon.
We gathered for dinner as the rain continued and some brave boys tried the famous sauerkraut soup. We closed the night with Moonup and some more cards before we had a giant sleepover!
Our last and final day of trekking began with a warm breakfast before we were out into the foggy morning to descend down our final section of the trek. Meriwether kept everyone positive as the rain trickled down onto us and Madeline encouraged the rest of the crew to keep pushing so we could get to our lunch spot and get warmed up. Everyone’s mindset today was so optimistic and no one ever let the rain ruin our mood over the past few days!! We stopped for lunch and then finished out the trek all the way to the vans, which everyone was so excited to see!
We are now all clean and dry, headed off to grab a very well deserved dinner to celebrate our time in the mountains!
This group has continued to blow us away with their positivity and love for one another! They are so excited to see all of you and share all of their stories from our trip, but we sure will be sad to see them go!
All the love,
Kate + Nate
Thank yous:
Eli: Thank you Mom and Dad for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip. I am having loads of fun and have learned a lot but I also miss you guys and am excited to see you soon.
Henry C.: Thanks mom and dad for sending me on this trip. I know it was really expensive but I am super happy that you guys gave me this opportunity. I am really grateful and am having a lot of fun. Love you and see you soon.
Tate: Hey mom and dad, thanks for sending me on this trip. I know that sending me on this trip is a big commitment and because of that I am having a lot of fun so far. Hope I can talk to y’all soon, bye.
Julia: hey mom and dad!! I’m so so appreciative that yall gave me the opportunity to go on this trip! It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m so grateful for yall and all you do for me! Miss ya and see you soon!!
Dilara: Hi Mom and Dad, I hope you guys are doing good! I am having a great time thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip. I am having the time of my life thanks to you guys. I love you guys!
Ella: Hi Mom and Dad!! I am having the best time on this trip and I am sooo grateful that yall sent me on this trip! It is so fun here in Slovenia and I am loving everything!! Thank you guys so so much and I love yall!! Can’t wait to see you!
Joey: Hi mom Dad and Cody, I am having the absolute best time here and don’t want to leave. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come on this trip!!
Love Joey can’t wait to see u
Madeline: Hey Mom, Dad,and Nat!! Thank you guys sooooo much for giving me the opportunity to come on this trip. I’m seriously having the best time ever and never want to come home!!! I miss yall soooooo much and can’t wait to see yall!! Another shoutout to ML Mama, Ford, Aunt Mary, Evan, and Cattie!! I miss and love yall!!!!💕😊
Campbell: Hey everyone!! Thank you guys so much for allowing me to go on this trip I’m having the best time ever like actually. I miss you guys so much but I don’t want to come home ever. This has been the best experience everrr!!! 💕💕💕💕🕺🕺🌕🌕🌕 Love you guys and see you soon!!! Love cam
Henry W.: Hey mom and dad, thank you for sending me on this trip! I’m having a very fun time with everyone and all the activities they’ve had us do. I hope you are all doing well in Nantucket, love you and see you soon.
Hunter: hey mom and dad thank you so much for sending me on moondance. I am having so much fun and can’t wait to tell you all about my new friends. Love yall!!
Mary Blake: Hey everyone!!! Thank you guys so so so much for sending me on Moondance again this year. I am having the absolute best time ever but I miss yall so much! I can’t wait to tell yall everything about my adventures and show yall pics for hours! I love yall so so much, see you soon ❤️😁
Meriwether: Hey Mom and Dad!! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I am having the best time and am so grateful to have experienced such an amazing country with such amazing people! I’m excited to see y’all so soon! Love y’all the most ❤️❤️
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
