Final Update from BCO 2A!
July 7, 2026
Happy 4th of July!!! We had quite the early morning to catch our ferry, but that didn’t stop the fourth festivities! We picked up Tim Hortons, Canada’s version of Dunkin’ Donuts, for the kids this morning so they could experience it! We got all kinds of breakfast sandwiches, chocolate chip muffins, and donuts, they reported that the breakfast sandwiches were good but that donuts were delicious! We drove to our ferry blasting USA music all the way there! MC’s contagious happy energy spread to all the other kids so much that you would have no idea we had gotten them up early! Once on the ferry the kids spread out making friendship bracelets, enjoying snacks, watching the World Cup, and hanging out! All while wearing USA headbands, glasses, and beads! The time on the ferry flew by and before we knew it we were back on the mainland. We had a quick drive to our campsite where we set up camp then changed into our hiking clothes. We did a beautiful hike with insane views. Everyone got lots of pictures at the top and we hung out for a little before heading back down! James and McAlister did an amazing job, making the harder hike look effortless! After the hike, we hung out at the lake for a little bit. We pulled out all kinds of snacks and the girls painted their fingers and toenails while the boys played a spikeball tournament. It was all great fun but the fun was nowhere near over. Since it was the 4th we had to get ice cream so we stopped at a delicious ice cream shop where the kids got huge ice cream cones! France laughed as she got her ice cream cone because of how big it was! Everyone played outside for a little more than we headed back to camp. We all hung out at camp and played our normal games before it was time for dinner. Since it was the 4th we had to do a big cookout! We had burgers, hot dogs, fries, Broccoli, watermelon, and lemonade! For dessert to finish out our USA day, we had red and white cupcakes topped with blue Sour Patch Kids! Larkin and Roey laughed at this new homemade cupcake and sour patch combo they had never seen before. After our all American dinner, we cleaned up and headed into moon-up which was led by our great LODs Roey and Larkin! Full and tired from a day of fun everyone headed to bed!
We had a slower morning today which was very nice! The kids were able to sleep in and when they woke up we had cinnamon rolls, biscuits, bacon, and eggs. The kids ate breakfast before packing their bags for our rafting overnight. We packed up camp and got in the car, the kids were so excited to go rafting the car was full of energy! Once we got to the rafting place we had crazy salad wraps while we got into our wetsuits. Either all the stuff we hopped on their bus and drove to our put-in spot and before we knew it we were in the rafts on the water. Even though it was Bob’s first time he eagerly hopped in the front of the boat taking every rapid like a champ! We had some pretty awesome rapids as well as float time! Nina “rode the bull” where she sat on the very front of the rapid! She did amazingly and somehow managed not to fall off! Before we knew it we were at our campaign spot for the night, it was a beautiful island in the middle of the river. It was so cool and all the kids loved it. We took off our wetsuits then were served a delicious charcuterie board for a snack right from our rafting guides. Gracie especially enjoyed this expressing her love for cheese especially Brie. We all set up our tents and hung out for a while before dinner was served. Dinner was absolutely delicious. The rafting guides cooked pork chops, salmon, salad, potatoes, garlic bread, and topped it all off with a divine chocolate cake with whipped cream for dessert. It was such a beautiful dinner that we all headed to the beach of our island. There was a competition of who could throw a rock and hit the rocks across the river. Jude got closest falling just short of the other side but still very impressive. We continued hanging out on the beach Claude and Peter had a pretend sword fight with some of the sticks on the beach making everyone else die with laughter. The time on the beach flew and before we knew it it was time for moon-up. Bob and Frances were our LODs tonight absolutely knocking it out of the park. We headed to bed tired but excited to get back on the water tomorrow. We were all in agreement that this was the perfect way to spend our last full day and night in Canada!
Our guides woke us up on our little island with breakfast ready! They served us another delicious meal of fruit salad, sausage, and pancakes. It was quickly eaten up then we packed up camp and loaded up into our boats. Today was just a float on the river, no rapids, so we didn’t have to get into our wetsuits which was so nice and relaxing. The sun was shining brightly, so it felt nice to be on the water. We floated for about an hour before hopping out of the river and loading up gear. All the kids were so helpful loading gear the guides were so appreciative! We grabbed lunch, repacked all our rafting stuff in our duffels then hopped in the car for our drive back to America! We decided to stop for ice cream as our last stop in Canada right before we crossed back into the States. The kids happily enjoyed their last Canadian food. Claude especially loved his smore ice cream and McAllister felt the same with her Oreo ice cream! We continued on our drive and soon enough we were back in America! We all cheered and blasted American music to begin our return! We continued our drive and since the kids had been deprived of Chick-fil-A for two weeks naturally that was our stop for dinner. The kids enjoyed all kinds of chicken, mac and cheese, fruit cups, and drinks while we hung out and reflected on the trip. Peter and James especially enjoyed this meal letting us know how much they really missed it during the two weeks we were out of the country! We got back in the car and continued on our drive to the airport. Everyone slept on the van ride which was very nice they were able to get some rest! When we arrived at the airport we unloaded all our stuff, walked inside, and got to repacking our duffle bags with everything. We were all impressed with Gracie and Nina who had quite a bit of stuff but were able to make it all fit beautifully! We had snacks, laughed, and hung out until it was time for moon-up. Our incredible final LODs were Jude and MC. They did a fantastic job guiding us through our last moonup with thoughtful questions reflecting on the amazing trip we were wrapping up. Before we knew it it was time for the kids to go through security. We said bitter sweet goodbyes with big hugs then the lease headed to their gates. All the kids got on their flights on time and safely.
We were so sad to see the kids go but overwhelmed with gratitude for the past two weeks we have had. It has been an absolute joy watching these kids grow, laugh, learn, and build meaningful friendships. Each one of these kids impressed us so much I can not wait to see all the incredible things they go on to do. Thank you again for sharing your wonderful kids with us this summer. It was truly a magical experience and we couldn’t be luckier that we got to experience it with them!
Until next time,
Livvy, Roxie and Will
Update from Beautiful BCO!
July 4, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!!!
The kids woke up buzzing with excitement for a fishing day. For breakfast, we cooked pancakes with sprinkles and chocolate chips, along with bacon and bananas. Everyone topped their pancakes with maple syrup and enjoyed a big breakfast before getting ready for the day.
We headed out to the pier and split into three boats for a day on the water. It was a beautiful, sunny day, though a bit windy at times. While the guides rigged the rods, Bob jumped in and helped steer the boat—he did an awesome job and was a natural leader on the water!
The kids had a great day fishing and caught several fish, including salmon and a few other unique catches. Peter caught a shark, and Larkin caught a lingcod, which was especially exciting. The guides were also really impressed with Jude’s knowledge and enthusiasm for fishing! After a successful day, we headed back in and had some of the salmon prepared for us to take and cook later. Before leaving, we stopped for ice cream, which was a big hit. The kids enjoyed it while sharing stories and highlights from their boats.
Back at camp, we started prepping the fresh fish for dinner. MC was especially helpful with getting everything ready. For dinner, we enjoyed the salmon we had caught earlier—half prepared with a maple soy glaze and the other half with butter and lemon. It was a special meal, and everyone enjoyed the experience of eating something they had caught and prepared themselves. After dinner, our LODs Roey and MC led a great Moonup, and we enjoyed the beautiful evening before heading to bed. Since it was such a nice night, a few of the boys chose to sleep outside in ENOs.
The next morning was a slower start as we prepared for a travel day. We had sausage, egg, and cheese bagels for breakfast, packed up camp, and headed out. We took a ferry ride and then continued driving, breaking up the trip with a fun stop at a country store with goats on the roof. The kids enjoyed exploring, getting treats, and ice cream.
We also did a fun Iron Chef-style cooking challenge during the travel day. The kids were split into teams with a budget and worked together to plan meals. McAllister and Nina did a great job helping lead their teams through shopping and planning.
Later, we arrived at our next campsite, where the kids had time to relax by the beach before dinner. We enjoyed orange chicken with rice and stir-fry vegetables for dinner, which was a great way to end the travel day. Our LODs Frances and Claude led a thoughtful Moonup before bedtime as everyone rested up for the next day.
The kids slept in a bit and woke up to sprinkles pancakes in celebration of Canada Day! We started the morning with high energy and got ready for our first activity: paddle boarding. After changing into wetsuits, we headed out to the water and explored along the coastline. The kids tried different games on their boards, including balance challenges. Gracie gave it her best effort trying something new, and Bob even found a small crab during the outing! Larkin stood out with her strong paddle boarding skills during the games.
After a few hours, we returned for lunch and then headed out for a surfing session. After a quick lesson from the guides, the kids did an awesome job getting up and riding waves. James and Peter especially picked it up quickly and had a great time in the water.
That evening, the kids participated in an Iron Chef cooking competition. Each team planned and cooked their own meal, and both groups did an incredible job. One team prepared chicken teriyaki with rice, vegetables, and dessert cookie dough balls, while the other made pasta with shrimp, bread with dipping oil, and chocolate cake for dessert. It was a close competition, but the chicken teriyaki team came out on top and earned a fun soda prize!
After dinner, the kids helped with dishes and we had Moonup led by our LODs McAllister and Peter before heading to bed after a full and exciting day.
The next morning, weather conditions shifted and we adjusted plans accordingly. We started with a warm breakfast and spent time together under cover, staying cozy and making the most of the morning. When conditions improved, we were able to get back out for surfing, and the kids were excited to return to the water. Despite the change in weather, everyone kept great attitudes and made the most of the day.
Later, we headed into town for a fun outing where the kids explored shops and local foods. Frances especially enjoyed trying a local kombucha. After exploring, we stopped at a beautiful lake with incredibly clear water before continuing on to our next campsite.
At camp, the kids helped with dinner and we enjoyed spaghetti with broccoli and garlic bread—one of their favorites. After dinner, we cleaned up together and organized gear before Moonup, led by Claude and Gracie. Everyone headed to bed tired after another full and fun day.
We have had the best time with your kids on this trip and truly cannot believe how quickly the days have flown by. They have all shown so much growth—trying new things, supporting each other, and stepping outside their comfort zones throughout the journey.
Will, Roxie, and I feel incredibly proud of every single one of them. They are truly an amazing group, and we are looking forward to savoring every moment of these last few days together.
Cheers,
Livvy, Will, and Roxie
Thank Yous!
Hi, mom and dad! Thank you so much for sending me on this Moondance trip, I am having the best time ever! I am making so many memories that I will cherish throughout my entire life and I have met the best people! Love and miss you guys so much! – Gracie
Hi guys!! Thank you so much for sending me on this Moondance trip, I appreciate you guys so much. I am having so much fun with everyone and meeting so many new people. I will never forget this experience. I miss and love you guys so much! – Nina
Hi Mom and Dad! I can’t thank y’all enough for sending me on this Moondance trip! I am having so much fun and I have met so many new friends who are amazing! I am so excited to tell y’all all about Canada! Love y’all so much! -Frances
Hi mumzs and dempsey! I’m having the best time ever and have made so many friends and memories. I can’t wait to tell y’all all about my experiences I’ve had. I will never forget this. Give Tess the biggest hug ever for me. I miss y’all so much- Mary Catherine
Hi parents! Camp has been so amazing. Thank you so much for sending me on this Moondance trip. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I have had so much fun on these fun activities and great people. Love and miss y’all!
-Roey
Hi Mom and Dad, I have had so much fun so far. Thank y’all for sending me on Moondance. I have learned a lot of new things and made many memories. I have also met so many new people from all over the world. I love and miss y’all. -Bob
Hi mom and dad! I’m having so much fun! Thank you for sending me on this trip. I have met so many cool people and done so many cool things! I can’t wait to tell you all about it when I get home! I’ve made some incredible memories! Love you, McAllister
Hi mom and dad! I’ve had so much fun so far and I have made so many new friends and memories. Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip and be able to experience new adventures. I’m so excited to come home and tell you all about what we’ve done. I miss and love y’all so much. -James
Hi Mom, Dad, Abigail, and Maple, I am having such a good time on this trip and I’m making so many new memories and friends. I’m really enjoying it because it reminds me of Whistler. I miss y’all a LOT and I’m excited to see you guys in four days. Love y’all and Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. -Peter
Hi mom and dad Sadie, Mimi,Grandma, poppi, Gypsy, POPPI(dog) I’m having such a great time thank you so much for sending me this amazing camp I can’t wait to be home and I miss you all so so so much. Love you guys.–Jude S Manaster
Hey mom and dad, thanks you so much for giving me this great opportunity to go on this once and a life time trip. I am having the best time and I am so exited to see you. There has been lots of rain but it’s okay because we still got some good surfing in. See you in 4 days, love you.
-Claude
Hey everyone!! I’m having so much fun. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I have learned so many things and had some amazing experiences. Love y’all.
Rock Climbing Rock Stars!
June 29, 2026
We were so happy everyone had such an easy and safe arrival at the airport! While waiting for the whole group to arrive we played games, listened to music, and started to get to know each other! Once everyone was finally here we hopped into the van and headed off for our drive to Canada! It was a great drive, full of happy get to you know you chatter and listening to lots of music! We crossed the border seamlessly and our Canadian adventure began! It was many of the kids’ first times in Canada, which was so exciting!! Before we knew it we were at our campsite, we unpacked our stuff, set up tents, and picked up pizza for dinner! It was delicious and once everyone was stuffed on pizza and Cesar salad we did our first moon-up! Peter and Gracie were picked to be our first LODs (Leaders of the day) for tomorrow! Everyone was tired from a big day of travel so we headed to bed excited for our first full day tomorrow!
We woke the kids up with breakfast ready! We had English muffins with sausage for our first breakfast. While we ate they told us some of their favorite foods so we can incorporate them into our meals for this trip! After everyone was ready we got in the van and headed to our first ferry. It was about a two-hour ferry so the kids were able to get up and walk around! Roey and Jude got a tour of the boat with the captain, and he even took them up to the control center to show them how everything worked! Everyone was having so much fun that the time flew and before we knew it we were at our port on Victoria Island. We got back in our van and drove to our next campsite which was located on a beautiful lake! It started to rain a little bit so we quickly set up tents and tarps. Bob and James were especially helpful with setting up tents! The rain let up for a little while, and the girls all played volleyball together while the boys played spikeball. Everyone was starting to get hungry so we had an appetizer of chips salsa and queso and for dinner, we had cheese quesadillas with lots of toppings! The meal turned out great and all the kids loved it. Our wonderful LODs Peter and Gracie led us in moon up and everyone headed to bed.
The kids woke up even before we were going to wake them full of excitement to start our first day of activities! We had sausage and egg biscuits for breakfast and the kids filled up on those while we talked about our first activity, rock climbing! We made some hot chocolate and walked over to meet our guides for the day. They were wonderful and got us all ready to go climbing. On the hike up to our rock climbing spot our guides pointed out a berry called a salmon berry. He told us it was totally safe to eat but might not be ripe. Peter and Claude were brave enough to try it and reported to the rest of the group that it actually tasted pretty good, like a sour raspberry. We continued up our hike through the beautiful forest until we got to our rock climbing spot. The rock was a little slippery because of the rain but that didn’t stop the kids! Bob and Frances were the first to get on the rock and start climbing! They were so fast that before we even knew it they were at the top, we were so proud of them and they set an amazing example for the rest of the kids! To finish out our rock climbing day the kids got to do something rappelling. Nina did an awesome job repelling despite heights not being her favorite thing! The whole group cheered her on and she crushed it! After we finished climbing we walked back to our campsite where we changed and went and sat by the beach. The kids swam, played games, and sat on the beach having a grand time soaking up the sunshine! Before we knew it it was time for dinner, tonight we had burgers with mac n’ cheese and green beans. The kids were big fans of this meal and filled up on it! After dinner, the kids played some games and tossed the football around and before we knew it, it was time for moon-up. Our wonderful LODs Frances and Jude helped the rest of the group get their stuff packed up for the night then we headed down to the beach for moon up, it was an absolutely beautiful night and we all admired the views as we talked. Everyone was tired from a big first day of activities so we headed back up to our campsite and headed to bed excited to do another day of rock climbing tomorrow!
The kids woke up super excited to go back to rock climbing! The weather was great today and the sun was shining! We woke the kids up and they got ready for the day then had sausage and egg bagels for breakfast! Once everyone was full we headed to meet up with our guides for our second day of climbing! We tried a new spot today and the kids got to try some harder climbs. McAllister and Larkin especially loved climbing and spent lots of time on the rock taking turns belaying each other! They were absolute rockstars! MC was crushing it on her climb making us all laugh as she stopped along the short climb for snack breaks. While half of the group climbed the other half did a 75-foot rappel! Every kid went down it despite some being scared and they all said they had lots of fun! After lunch, we switched so everyone could try both! All of them did such an amazing job the guides along with us were so impressed with them! After climbing we headed back to camp then got in the van to go get ice cream! We stopped at an awesome local spot and the group was in agreement that the ice cream was delicious. After everyone was full on ice cream we went back to camp to cook dinner. Tonight we had protein pasta with red sauce and meatballs. We also served that with broccoli and garlic bread! Once everyone was full our wonderful LODs, James and Nina helped the rest of the kids get their stuff together before we headed back down to our spot on the beach for moon up. After a great moon up led by our LODs, we decided it was too beautiful a night to go right to bed so we stayed by the lake enjoying each other’s company. Jude and Claude showed off their rock skipping skills which were quite impressive. Before we knew it everyone was tired from a long day of activities and we headed to bed!
This morning we woke the kids up with cinnamon rolls which made them eager to hop up and pack their stuff up. Since we are traveling to Cumberland today we had to fully pack up our campsite. The kids enjoyed their breakfast of cinnamon rolls, yogurt, and sausage before finally packing everything up and hopping in the van. We took a quick ferry to Quadra Island and then a short drive over to the trailhead for our day hike. We did a nice loop with incredible views at the top. Everyone was in great spirits and we were all blown away by the view. The kids are all crushing the hike especially McAllister and Roey. When we got back to camp we hung out on the beach for a while. The girls sat on the rocks hanging out and chatting while the boys took a quick swim in the chilly water then built a fort out of sticks. We started to get a little hungry so we headed back up to cook dinner. MC and Nina were eager to help with cooking dinner and they were so helpful! We had walking tacos tonight which the kids were so excited about. After we finished dinner we surprised the kids with a cookie skillet. We ate until we were totally stuffed then spent some time making friendship bracelets and hanging out in our enos. Our amazing LODs Bob and Larkin led us in moon up tonight and they did a fantastic job. Everyone headed to bed full of excitement to go fishing tomorrow!
We have had the most incredible first days of this trip. Each one of these kids is so special and brings so much to the group. It had truly been such a joy getting to know each and every one of them. We are so proud of how amazing they have been in their first couple of days and we can not wait to see what they accomplish in the rest of this trip! Thank you for sharing your amazing kids with us this summer!
Talk soon!
Livvy, Will and Roxie
Student Shoutouts!
Hi mom and dad! I’m having so much fun on this trip and I miss y’all so much. My group is awesome and everyone is so nice and thoughtful. So far we have gone rock climbing and we are driving to a new campsite right now. I can’t wait to come home and see y’all.-James
Hi Mom Dad Cooper and Anne! I miss y’all so much but I am having so much fun. I have made lots of new friends and my group is awesome. Everything has gone good so far, fingers crossed. We have gone rock climbing and rappelling so far and it was so much fun. We are going hiking today and fishing tomorrow for king salmon. I love y’all- Bob
Hello Mom, dad, Ella, and everyone back home! Camp is great. All the activities have been fun and the people are great. I miss y’all so much. Yesterday we went climbing and rappelling. I am looking forward to fishing tomorrow. While camp is fun, I can’t wait to come home and see y’all. -Roey
Hi everyone! I’m having so much fun on this trip. Everyone is amazing and so so nice. I rappelled down a huge rock yesterday. The snacks are great too. I can’t wait to see you guys, but I also don’t want to leave. Love y’all so much! -Larkin
Hi Mom, Dad, and Abigail, I’m having a lot of fun and it is ten times better than last trip. I miss you guys so much and I’m so excited to see you guys when I get back. The next things we have on this trip are Surfing, paddle boarding, hiking, town day, fishing, and white water rafting, I’m mostly excited for surfing and town day. Say hi to maple for me. -Peter
Hello mom, dad, sunny, lady, fox, Elle, and Frances , I am having a great trip so far and have an awesome group. I hope you take care of sunny well and that y’all are having a good time at home, I am really exited to surf. It would also be nice to get me a haircut after Moondance. I hope y’all are having a good time at home. I love you. – Claude
Hey, Jude here I miss y’all so much and by y’all I mean Sadie, dad,mom, grandma, Mimi, poppi, Michael, August, gypsy and so much more. I am having such a great time and has met some great friends along with so many memories tomorrow were going salmon fishing and I can’t wait. Today we’re going on a hike and I can’t wait, the food is great and I can’t wait to be home give the best love to all the pets. I can’t wait to see y’all, Love you!!!–JUDE
Hi mom, dad, Ainsley, and Devon, I miss you guys so much! I am having the best time ever! My group is so good and everyone here very nice! We just finished rock climbing and repelling and now we are heading to go hiking and fishing! Love you guys so much and I hope you are having a great time back at home and in Quogue! Say hi to Hunter for me, love you! – Gracie
Hello mumzs, Dempsey, birdy, and my dearest Tess, I miss y’all so so so much. I’m having a great time, I love my group so much. We just finished rock climbing and repelling and I went down a 75 foot cliff but now we are on the way to go hiking and fishing. I hope Laura has kept my streaks and tell my friends I love them and give Tess the biggest hug for me! THANK YALL AND I LOVE YALL SO MUCHH!!- MC (your favorite)
Hi mom, dad, Zoe, Henry, and Otto, I miss you guys so much, but I’m having the best time. My group is awesome. Everyone is so nice and funny. I also really like the leaders, they are great. So far we have been rock climbing and repelling. The rock we repelled was 75 feet! Now we are going to a hike. I can’t wait for the next activities. Give Otto extra love from me! I hope you guys are having a lot of fun at home. I love you guys and miss you guys all so much!!!- Nina
Hey Mom, Dad, Cece, Mary, and Henry!! I am having the BEST time! My group is amazing and we have already gotten so close! My leaders are the best! So far we have gone rock climbing and repelling and I made it up multiple walls! Our campsite also had a really pretty lake and we got to swim! I love y’all and miss y’all so much!
-Frances
Hey mom, dad, George and Hana! I am having a great time! I have met so many cool people and done so many fun things! We have gone repelling and climbing. I have loved all the beautiful scenery and meeting so many cool people. I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see you! Love you!
-McAllister
Safe Arrival!
June 24, 2026
Hello British Columbia Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely in Seattle! Please remember that our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will post trip updates throughout the trip! This will allow you to follow along with their adventure. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
