Living the Dream!
June 20, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Our last few days in Canada were nothing short of dreeeeaammm !!
After an awesome few days of rock climbing on Vancouver Island, we said goodbye to our lakeside campsite, made our way across the Campbell river, and then ferried over to Quadra Island for our last few activities. Throughout all our time riding in “the battle bus”, the energy of these kids never fails to keep us smiling and having fun, and the views never cease to amaze us. Our short ferry ride across the river brought us to one of the most beautiful and wildlife-filled places we’ve ever been, and our afternoon flew by as the group crushed the hike to both the north and south peaks of the mountain. On the way up we got the coolest view of another bald eagle sitting in a tree – I don’t think any of us have seen one that close before. From the top we could see all the land we’ve covered throughout our time in British Columbia, it really put into perspective how special this experience is. As we admired the sights around us, we enjoyed some sour patch kids – the perfect treat after a long and challenging walk in the woods. There was lots of great trail talk on the way down the mountain as AJ, Helen, and Mack told stories of back home, being outside, and other places they’ve traveled to, but we also had time to enjoy the quiet sounds of nature around us. When we got to the van and left the trailhead, we were all singing along to our favorite songs before driving to what ended up being the group’s favorite campsite of our two weeks together. Getting to camp and sitting on the beach, looking out over the sound to the mountains was absolutely magical and made for a perfect night for some cooking, watching the sunset, and stargazing. Mary Brooks and James started dinner, cooking ground beef, rice, and beans for the tacos we all enjoyed. When we were all full, we walked down to the rocky beach, sat on some driftwood, and did one of our last Moonups as the sun set. We stayed up late tonight to watch the stars, and wow was it so worth it. Franklin and some of the others even slept in their hammocks and got to fall asleep looking at the milky way.
When the morning came, the island got even better. Sam and Whit braved the early morning to watch the sun rise over the mountains, and more than that, got to see some whales as they migrated south past our campsite, as well as a few energetic sea lions swimming in the sunlit water. We had a slow morning before our last formal activity, and then we got to fishing in the afternoon. The salmon were jumping and the boats were buzzing as we spent a few hours on the water. Hudson, Maggie and Liles caught us dinner before we got to see a Humpback whale out in the distance. Our afternoon on the boat was a great mix of rest and excitement before we began our journey back to the states the next day. Leaving the island and heading back, we brought our prized salmon and cooked it at camp for the night – this is probably the freshest meal we have all ever had, and we were all so proud to have been able to have the experience of being fueled and simply enjoying what we worked so hard to catch. Night fell and everyone slept well after a day in the sun and to prep for a long day of travel back to the states.
On day 13 we left the island for the last time, and while we were sad to go, the group buzzed with excitement to get back home to the US. We enjoyed one last ferry ride, and, after our couple of weeks abroad, were happy to sing along to “Born in the USA” as we crossed back over the border. Our next stop led us to a thrift store in northern Washington to pick out some fun outfits for each other before our banquet dinner, and, on top of the outfits, AP scored a deal on some sweet shoes. Traveling down through Seattle, we had our banquet dinner and got some incredible Mexican food, headed to our campsite, and spent our last Moonup around the fire reflecting on and laughing about the past couple of weeks we had together.
We could not be more thankful for this group and this experience. These kids are beyond special and we are so proud of them for all the ways they embraced the uncomfortable, tried new things, and loved each other and us leaders so well over the course of this trip. We are so lucky to know them, and we hope they enjoyed our time together as much as we did!
All the best!
BCO B – Huck, William, and Sofie
Surfs Up from BCO
June 17, 2026
Hello Moondance Families!
Although the days are long with the sun setting late, time is flying up here in Canada – and it just keeps getting better!
After spending our first few days in the chillier weather on the mainland, we made our way to and across the island for some much-appreciated time at the beach. We spent the morning and early afternoon of day 4 driving across the island through some of the most beautiful mountains we’ve ever seen, and eventually arrived at the coast with enough time in the day to explore a town. Sam and Whit discovered a surf shop in town, and each got a pair of stylish jorts, which have over the past few days become a staple of the boys in our group as they all got matching pairs. We then enjoyed some tacos and burritos from a local restaurant called “Tacofino”, and wow, was it the perfect dinner after a day of travel and getting ready for a fun few days in the sun. After arriving back at camp for the night, we headed down to the beach for Moonup and just in time to catch the sunset, but stayed up long enough to see the stars come out.
Waking up right by the beach on day 5 was a dream and set the tone for a day full of time in the water. Starting on the paddleboards, we made our way from shore and out around a few small rocky islands in the cove. Out between the rocks sat a forest of kelp, where we spent some time swimming around and playing a bit of bumper boats! It was a competitive game that continued as some fog rolled in over the water, making it even more interesting. In the afternoon, came surfing, which quickly became a favorite activity of the group and one that everyone thrived in. With the sun shining bright, the air warm, and the waves being ideal, we got back into the water and swam our boards out to the breaking waves. AJ and Liles immediately showed the group how it’s done and looked like pros all through the afternoon. Not far behind, Mack, Hudson, and Mary Brooks got a hold of the waves and were absolutely shredding. A perfect afternoon like this called for some ice cream, so we drove back into town for a much-deserved treat and some time in the park before making dinner back at camp and watching another gorgeous sunset on the beach. By tonight, staying up to stargaze for a bit while listening to some of our favorite music has become a nightly ritual and the best way to unwind after a day full of activities.
Day 6 came quickly, and the group was excited to get back in the water! Starting the day with surfing, we made our way to a new beach that we got to explore. AP and Franklin were quick to get up on the waves today, which were even bigger and more impressive than they were yesterday. After our morning of surfing, we headed back to camp for an all-American lunch break, where we enjoyed hot dogs and fruit before spending our afternoon paddleboarding. Getting back on the water and paddling out again around those rocky islands, Maggie and Helen found the coolest starfish chilling in the water. By this point, the sun had exhausted a lot of us, so after our activities for the day were done, the rest of the evening was spent playing spikeball and hanging out by the ocean. Our time on the beach was so restful that the whole group helped make our pita bread pizza – an incredible dinner for our last night in this segment. The sunset and stargazing were again a must for the evening and made for the best way to end this section of our trip. As we sadly said bye to the coast on day 7, we piled into the van, also known as “The battle bus”, and started our drive back across the island to our next destination. The drive brought karaoke and singing along to a perfectly curated playlist made by everyone for travel days, consisting of a lot of Justin Bieber, Jon Pardi, and Jack Johnson. Energy stayed high through the drive as we made a gas station stop and tried some new snacks that we hadn’t seen before. Ketchup chips and Skittles (which are equivalent to M&Ms) were recommended to us by many locals and were definitely worth trying. A few hours through the mountains brought us to our next campsite, where we got to spend some time at the lake and enjoy the nice weather. A long travel day tired us all out, so we got to bed early to prepare for the rock climbing and rappelling we had planned for the next day.
Days 8 and 9 were the perfect mix of challenge and fun as the group scaled ridges. Everyone in the group not only attempted but also conquered all the rock routes with impressive skill. When we all got done climbing for fun, the races up the wall began! James made it up in record time, reigning as the champion of rock climbing for the day. Going to a different wall on our second day in Cumberland, we rappelled down a massive rock face that took us down through the tall trees of British Columbia. The climbing guides were beyond impressed by the bravery and skill of this crew, and we as leaders couldn’t be prouder of them! Camping by the lake made for great afternoons of swimming and hanging out on the rocky beach before spending our evenings making some delicious dinner – chicken alfredo pasta was a fan favorite for sure. The lake was yet another perfect sunset and stargazing spot, and as our time together gets shorter and shorter, these nights mean even more to all of us.
This group continues to make us laugh, teach us, impress us, and exemplify leadership and love for one another in ways we could never have imagined before meeting them just a couple of short weeks ago. It has been such a blast, and although the time is going fast, the fun with them won’t stop. We’re so grateful for this time with them and excited to see what these last few days bring! What a joy it is to be their leaders!
All the best from BCO B! Will, Huck, and Sofie
Thank you’s
Mary Brooks – Hi mom thank you for sending me on this trip. I’m having so much fun, and the people on this trip are the best. I’m not ready to come home. I love y’all.
Sam- hello mudder I am having so much fun. Thank you for sending me on it. It is so much prettier than home. I love you, Franklin. Hello, Mom. I’m having fun, and I miss you so sad. There are only 3 days left.
Liles – Hi, Mom and Dad. I am having so much fun, and I’m not ready to come home. Thank you for sending me here. I miss and love y’all.
Maggie – hi mom and dad I miss yall so so so much and have had the best time. Thank you for sending me here. Tell Tripp I say happy birthday on the 19th, and tell Piper and the grandparents I miss them. Love y’all
Mack – Hi mom and dad thank you for sending me to Moondance. It is a lot of fun here.
AP -Hiiiiii Mama and Daddy! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip, I’m having so much fun! I’ve made so many new friends and memories! Love y’all so much! Tell the boys I love and miss them!
Helen – Hi Chandler fam!! Miss y’all soo much! But thank you so much for sending me on Moondance. It has been so much fun!! I love y’all!!!
James – Hi! I am having so much fun, thank you so much for sending me on Moondance. I havehad so much fun with all of the activities, I love y’all.
AJ – Hey, Mom, hey, Dad, thank y’all so much for sending me on Moondance this year. I am having so much fun, I can’t wait to see y’all in a few days.
Hudson – Hi, Mom and Dad, I am having a lot of fun. Thank you for sending me. I am sad to have to leave camp, but am also excited to see you guys.
Whit- Hi, Mom, thank you so much for sending me on Moondance. It has been so fun, and the people on the trip are the best. I’m so excited to come back and see you and love you
Bonding With BCO 1B!
June 12, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Time has been flying and British Columbia has welcomed us well! The past few days we’ve seen some incredible views, and there’s been a ton of laughter from this group. After everyone arrived in Seattle, we made our way through northern Washington, across to Canada, and, and after much anticipation, to our first campsite of the trip! When we finished setting up camp, we enjoyed some incredible pizza for dinner – a perfect first Canadian meal!
Day 1 began with our LODs, Mary Brooks and AJ, leading the group in a morning huddle to get hype for our first activity – whitewater rafting! As we made our way, we stopped at a park to admire the mountains and water by the sound. Once we got to the rafting base, we suited up in our wetsuits and got on the river! Mack and Hudson led the charge at the front of the raft through our first set of rapids, and through the cold and the rain, the group’s energy stayed high all the way to camp! After beaching the rafts and getting dry and warm, Liles and Sam showed off their hacky sack skill – a game that has definitely become a favorite activity for the group. As the light faded over the mountains, we enjoyed a delicious dinner, made by our outfitters, right on the river. The night was full of stories and conversations, ending with Moonup on our little island.
Waking up for our second day of rafting, the clouds were low surrounding the mountains, but they made way for beautiful views as we continued our travels on the river. Cruising down our section, we got sight of some pretty cool waterfalls and wildlife – Whit even spotted a bald eagle! With our days on the river coming to a close, we made our way back to the rafting base and enjoyed some much deserved lunch before heading to a gorgeous hike. Though the rain cut our time on the trail somewhat short, it never stopped us from having a good time! We still enjoyed some fantastic views of waterfalls and mist through the forest before heading to our campsite for the evening. We played many rounds of games and kept our spirits up! James, Maggie, and Franklin then helped cook some of our ingredients for taco bowls! As we fell asleep after a long day, the sound of rain on our tents made for a cozy night.
Along with day 3 came the sun and some warmth – perfect weather for a travel day on the ferry to Vancouver Island! As we said goodbye to Squamish, we spent our drive trying to figure out some riddles, which the group solved impressively quickly. After loading our van and Uhaul onto the ferry, we made our way to the observation deck where AP and Helen spotted a couple of whales out in the distance! We docked in Nanaimo and headed to our campsite for the night, soaked in the nice weather by a lake, and a few of us even jumped in the chilly water. Camp was filled with the most gorgeous trees, making it an awesome spot for hanging out in our hammocks – we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect night!
Now we are on our way to the coast to get started on some surfing, paddle boarding, and time at the beach. We can’t believe how fast it’s been going by and can’t believe it can get even better! What a gift this trip and group has been already!
All the best from BCO B!
Sofie, Huck, and Will
Shoutouts!
Franklin – Hello Mom and Dad! I’m having fun and hope home is good!
Maggie – Hey Mom and Dad! It has been very fun and I miss y’all!
Mary Brooks – Hi Mom! I’m having a lot of fun, and I have a good group!
Helen- Hey Chandler fam! Miss y’all, but I’m having so much fun! Love y’all🫰🫰
Hudson- Hello. I am having fun and miss you!
AP- Hey Mama and Daddy! I loved white water rafting, but right now we are headed on a ferry to Vancouver Island. I am very excited for rocking climbing and surfing. The views are incredible, you would love it here, Mama! Hope you have fun with Charles at his lacrosse tournaments! Tell William and Charles that I love and miss them! I love y’all so much!
Mack – What up father and mother! I’m having a ton of fun at camp
James- Hi, I am having a lot of fun the views are really cool. I love you. I have a great group, and I loved rafting. Bye!
AJ- Hey Mom, hey Dad! I hope y’all are having fun on your trip. I am having a great time! Love y’all bye.❤️
Sam – Hello Mommy and Daddy! I love you very very much and am having fun! Love you.
Liles – Hey Mom and Dad! I’m having fun, and I hope everything is good at home!
Whit – Yo what’s up Mom, Andy, and Dad! I’m having a good time. I’ve met so many nice people, and my group is good. It’s so pretty here! I’m having fun.
Safe Arrival!
June 7, 2026
Hello, British Columbia Families!
We heard from our leaders 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
