Rapid Ending On The Rapids!
June 18, 2026
IT’S BGW 1B BACK WITH OUR LAST UPDATE!!! On day nine, we got up early, yet again, to get to the first day of rafting! Once getting to the rafting location, we went over water safety. Then, we split into two groups and set off on the water. We were on the water for couple of hours before lunch. We stopped on this small beach, and while the guides were making our lunch, Nathan started a group game of ultimate frisbee! It was totally one of the highlights of the day. After lunch, we had about 10 more miles on the river before reaching our first campsite. We decided to cowboy camp that night, so there was no need for tents. For dinner, we ended up having grilled chicken with green beans and rice.
Day ten was our first full day of rafting, a total of 26 miles traveled! We ended up mixing around boat groups so that everyone could be with each of the guides. There were plenty of big rapids this day, ranking from class 1 all the way up to class 4 rapids! Everyone was getting splashed and wet, but that felt great, since the temperature was in the mid 90s. Ford took the front of the boat with Miles to set the pace during rapids. Luci and Windsor kept the slow parts of the river fun with some great games and questions. For lunch, we stopped yet again on a small beach and hung out for almost an hour playing games, swimming, or just chilling. The sandwich bar for lunch was a hit! Everyone loved it. The second half of the day was when we had our first class 4 rapid. The guides pulled the boats over before the rapid to discuss the best rout possible for safety while also showing us some old Chinese gold mine ruins. Once we got back into the boat, we put the helmets on and went for it! We were rowing like crazy to keep the boat going forward and we ended up getting out of the rapid fast! Shepard thought that the class 4 rapid was easier than some of the class 2-3 rapids. While there was lots of rapids, there was also time for some good naps during the calm sections. Everyone took use of that! Rafting is exhausting. Once we got to our second campsite, some of the rafting guides showed everyone these unique and cool types of rocks called “agate.” Additionally, one of the rafting guides made this tug of war game we could play, which was super fun. It was very hot this day, so we spent a lot of time under the umbrellas. Dinner that night was pork chops with potatoes and rice. We had brownies for dessert too!
Day 11 was the second full day of rafting! It was another really hot day out on the water and Leah started a chain of jumping in to cool off. There was some extra smooth water today and we played some balance raft games, Carter and Lucy Grace were extremely impressive. There was a pretty long rough patch of water, so we had helmets on for about an hour ,but looking back on it, all the kids loved it. For today’s lunch, it was a little different! We ended up making chicken caesar wraps and sandwiches. The guides set up what turned out to be one of the highlights of the trips for the kids- a slip n slide made with one of the rafts flipped upside down! After lunch, we connected all the rafts into a mega boat and used a motor since we were entering a really slow portion. On one side of the boat, Vivienne struck up a long conversation about what we think all the other campers think they want to do with the rest of your life. After this, the guides had us stop at this orchard in Oregon! Unfortunately, none of the fruit was in season, but it was so nice to see grass and not just sand. This was our last night camping, and we ended up staying on a connected beach with one of the other Big Wild groups who was also rafting. We walked with some of them to a different orchard and ate some fresh cherries. Dinner was a hit! It was taco night with plenty of food for seconds! After dinner, when we were getting ready for bed the other Big Wild groups pulled a prank on us by scaring us in our sleep. Don’t worry we will get them back…
Day 12, the last day of rafting, was planned to be short, so we could get right on the road towards Jackson. The morning raft lasted about two hours and we ended mid-morning in Washington! Then, we hit the road again! On our drive, we stopped at an ice cream store in Idaho. The kids definitely appreciated this little treat. For dinner, we stopped at In-N-Out! Lots of yummy eats for the day! Lila and Meredith struck up some great conversation with our table while we waited for our food. We discussed some of our favorite memes and internet references as we enjoyed our burgers! While we drove to our campsite, we all JAMMED OUT to music in the van. We listened to everything from grunge to rap to pop music. At camp, we got to shower again! It felt great to wash all of the sand off. We then headed to bed!
On day 13, we woke up SUPER early to drive back to Jackson! On the way, we made stops at a grocery store to get breakfast, Costco, and a Goodwill to get silly outfits! Once we got back to our campsite, we cleaned all of our group gear and packed our duffels. Then, we hit the town! In Jackson, all decked out in our thrifted outfits (which included a giant American top hat, neon shorts, and silly T-shirts), we walked around the souvenir shops. People bought some super cute merch to take home! Then, we headed to our banquet dinner! We ate Mexican food and all went around sharing our first impressions of each other. It was funny to hear how right and wrong everyone was at the same time! Next, we headed to a famous spot in the national park, to watch the sun set behind the Tetons. This is when things started to get sentimental. Back at camp, we all wrote letters to our future selves. We also had our final Moonup. We all wrote each other “Nugs” (compliments) to keep in our own personal “Nug Jugs.” It was a super sweet way to close out the trip- expressing our immense gratitude for each other. Right before we went to sleep, we snuck over to the other Big Wild group’s campsite and SPRAYED THEM WITH SILLY STRING! It was great payback!
This morning, we woke up before the sun rose and drove to the airport. Throughout the day, one by one, people got on their planes to go home. It was very sad. We had the most incredible two weeks, and we can’t believe they’re already over. All of the kids are incredible people, and we have become our own little family. We could not have asked for a better group of people. We miss everyone already! Until next time! Peace out! —Big Wild 1B
Bliss in the Backcountry!
June 16, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
It’s BGW 1B back with another update! Day six we woke up early to get up and moving for our first of two rock climbing days! After breakfast we drove around Grand Teton National Park admiring the views before we met up with our climbing guides. When we got all situated with the rock climbing guides we ended up taking a boat across a beautiful lake which was very scenic. This lake is over 200 ft deep in some places and it sits right below the jagged peaks of the Tetons. Luckily, Leah vlogged our day and caught everything on video. After a short hike to the crag, we split into three groups and went over some basic climber safety and a necessary climbing knot called the “figure of eight.” All three groups did a slab multi pitch which got more challenging as we got higher up the wall. This was many people’s first time climbing but as the day went on, they got more and more confident. Ford overcame his fear of heights which was very cool to see. After lunch the guides taught us about rappelling and everyone got to practice on a short one before doing a more challenging but fun rappel. Rappelling involves lowering yourself down a climb. Lila was super brave and eagerly volunteered to repel first. Next, we finished climbing and we saw a female moose laying down right off the walking path. We all admired it very quietly. At the Grand Teton National Park, Meredith found a new friend: a stuffed animal fish she named Pickle! When we got back to our campsite, there was a cold and strong windstorm. Thankfully, Lucy Grace and Luci helped us set up a tarp so that we could cook dinner under shelter. It even started to snow! Carter was really excited about the snowflakes. Finally it was time for the Jackson Rodeo! We all bundled up and headed into town to watch cowboys and cowgirls compete. While the rest of us looked a little silly in all of our layers, Nathan was perfectly dressed in his cowboy hat and jeans. At the rodeo, we were riled up by bull riding, barrel racing, and team roping. We headed back to our campsite and had Moonup in the van and braved the cold for the night.
Day seven was the second day of rock climbing. We got up early to make it back to the guide office. It was a lot busier at the park so we decided to hike 2.5 miles to the crag instead of waiting in line for the boat across the lake. When we got to the crag we split into 5 different climbing groups and all headed up into the Tetons. Each group focused on more vertical climbing which was pretty awesome. After some groups finished the climbs we shared lunch on the top of the rocks and ended up playing cards! On the way back we did wait in line for the boat to come across and pick us up which took about 1 hour. When we got back to camp we spent about 15 minutes taking a break before spending some time packing up our campsite before driving to Idaho! After packing up we all drove to Dairy Queen to grab some ice cream before dinner. For dinner we decided to drive to one of the most famous places to view to Tetons. We cooked some delicious grilled cheese and then played the guitar and watched the sunset in this beautiful place.
Today, we took a long road trip to Idaho! We woke up early to get on the road. As we drove, we passed through the Tetons and headed into the plains. The kids slept, talked, and ate snacks in the back. Vivienne would tell everyone crazy stories to pass the time. They also made friendship bracelets and Windsor helped to teach people how to do them! We got to stop at Chick-fil-a for lunch which the kids were very excited about. When we arrived at our campsite in Ponderosa, we all quickly changed into our bathing suits and hopped in the lake! Shepard was the first to jump in and the last to come out of the ice water. For dinner, we had quesadillas and the kids got to shower which was a pleasant surprise. After dinner, we built a small campfire and ate tons of s’mores. Can’t wait to raft! Until next time!
Thank you’s:
Carter – Thank you so much for this amazing experience! I am so beyond grateful for being able to go on this trip. I had lot of fun trying new things. Thank you so very much & see you soon!!
Shepard – Thank you so much Mom and Dad for pushing me to do this trip. I’ve had so much fun and can’t wait to see y’all! Love shep and see y’all soon.
Luci – Thank you all so much for letting me go on Big Wild! I love y’all so much and have had a ton of fun. See y’all soon!!
Meredith – Thank y’all so much for working so hard so I get to come here and make new friends I am so grateful for y’all and all these trips.
Vivienne – Hi! Miss y’all – but more importantly – thanks y’all for working so hard to be able to send me on this trip. I’m having a great time and I really appreciate y’all’s hard work.
Lila – Hey y’all, thank you for sending me on this trip! It’s been challenging but I feel stronger. It’s also beautiful and fun. Thank you again!
Ford – Hey I really appreciate you sending me here and I’ll tell you about it when I get home!
Nathan – Hey! thank y’all for working hard to send me here. I’ve been really enjoying it and have done so many fun things and have learned a lot about people from different states so thank you. I’m really glad I’m able to go on this trip.
Love y’all, Nathan
Leah – Thank you guys so much for everything you did that let me go on this trip. I’m so grateful for all of it I can’t say thank you enough. I love you guys and I miss y’all so much and I can’t wait to see you soon! Love y’all!
Windsor – Hi! Thank you guys for all that you do for me and for allowing me to go on this trip. I know I don’t always show how grateful I am, but y’all truly do so much for me and it doesn’t go unnoticed and this is an amazing experience! Love y’all so much. Love, Windsor
Lucy Grace – Thank you SO much for letting me go on this amazing experience. I’m so grateful for this opportunity you gave me to grow in all aspects and make lifelong friends. I love y’all so much and can’t even express my gratitude. LOVE YALL SO MUCH & THANK YOU!!
– CF & MA
Tons of Fun in Tetons!
June 10, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Wow. What a wonderful few days we have had here in Wyoming. The views in every direction have been spectacular but the views of the Tetons are just incredible. We cannot believe we get to spend so much time in these beautiful mountains this summer. On the first day, while we waited for people to arrive at the airport, we played A TON of games with all three Big Wild groups. We played hacky sack (and may or may not have gotten two sacks stuck on the roof…), card games, Calabria (a dancing game), and got to know each other! After everyone arrived, we drove to our first campsite, which sits in the valley just below the Tetons. We raced to set up our tents and Leah was basically a pro already and really helped out her team. Then, we hopped into our van, picked up some pizza, and headed to a park to watch the sunset and do our first Moonup. As we ate our pizza in the shadow of the Tetons, Meredith asked us lots of questions about our pets and some silly would-you-rather questions. Tired from a long day of traveling, we went to bed early to prepare ourselves for the awesome activities ahead.
On day two, we woke up and started off our morning with pancakes and sprinkles! After breakfast, we had to run some errands, like getting some extra food items and our Wyoming fly fishing licenses. But first, we had lunch in the park and played a game “Birdy on a Perch.” After lunch, we sat in the van waiting for all of our licenses to be processed. We talked in the van and shared lots of riddles. Windsor figured out the riddles the fastest out of anyone. We were very impressed. We also talked a lot about everyone’s favorite movies. After the fishing licenses were processed, we took a scenic drive to Pinedale Wyoming where we had our first official activity of the trip: Fly Fishing Clinic! We all learned how to set up fly rods and all the different types of flies the fish like to eat. We also got some time to practice casting. Carter caught on super fast and had amazing technique! After fly fishing we stopped at a local grocery store called Ridley’s where Ford picked us up a new hacky sack! We ending up driving to Soda Lake for dinner. While everyone enjoyed the sunset with the mountains in the distance, we played hacky sack and told stories. Ford’s hacky sack did not last long and burst in about 20 minutes. Another sack lost… After Moonup, we drove to our campsite for the night where we quickly fell asleep, tired from the day’s festivities.
On day three, we woke up early to begin preparing for our big backpacking trip. All of the kids learned how to pack their backpacking backpacks and we learned about all of the gear that is necessary to head into the wilderness. Once packed, we drove to our campsite to meet our backpacking guide, and her dog! Then, it was time to say goodbye to civilization and head out into the wild. The first part of our hike was difficult but Shepard took the lead, pressing ahead at full speed. We passed through the most remote guest ranch in the lower 48, which was really beautiful. We stopped for lunch at a HUGE waterfall. Then, we hiked farther into an alpine meadow. When we finally made it to our campsite after six long miles, we got to lounge in the sun. The views from our campsite were stunning and we could even see another big waterfall in the distance. For dinner, we ate burrito bowls and we sat around telling stories about our families.
On day four, we slept in! We didn’t have to set any alarm and got to wake up to the sun shining through our tents. The kids learned how to use WhisperLites, special backpacking stoves, to make our oatmeal! Then, we got to go on a day hike. Luci was really excited to get to hike without our big backpacking backpacks. The first part of the hike was a steep uphill, but it brought us to some awesome views. We took a long lunch break at over 9,000 feet of elevation and talked about our favorite Disney princess movies. Then, we hiked farther and saw snow! So exciting! From our hike, we could see the tops Black Peak and Darwin Peak. As we walked, Vivienne told us tons of facts about history and shared her love for Roman history with us. We also played “Wavelength” as we walked. At the top of another waterfall, we admired the spray of the water and tried to guess how fast the water was moving. When we got back to our campsite at the end of our three-mile-loop, we played card games. Lucy Grace dominated in “Egyptian Rat Slap,” a high speed game that requires a lot of brain power. After dinner, we packed up camp, admired the stars, and got some good rest.
Day five! Our last day of backpacking! We woke up super early to get a head start on the day. We needed to hike back out of the backcountry to reunite with our van. Everyone kicked it into high gear and we CRUSHED the hike. We made RECORD TIME. Despite some rain, we sprinted through the trails and climbed the uphills with ease. When we got to the van, everyone was cheering and screaming because we were so stoked. We said goodbye to our outfitters and drove back into the front country. We jammed out to some music while we drove and Nathan was really feeling the music in the back of the van. When we got back to Pinedale, we took showers! Yay! Lila was especially excited to wash the dirt and grime from backpacking off. Once we smelled fresh, we went to a local burger and hotdog joint for a big meal. Once we got back to Jackson, we went grocery shopping and unpacked from our big adventure. We had some delicious tacos for dinner and then had a chill moonup at our campsite. We can’t wait to see what fun the rest of our trip brings and we are so excited to go rock climbing!
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Ford: This group of people is pretty cool and I feel safe traveling the country!
Shepard: I love this trip! We finished backpacking yesterday, and it was lots of fun. I miss y’all and can’t wait to see y’all.
Nathan: I am enjoying it! We just went backpacking in the backcountry for 3 days and it was fun. Hope y’all are doing good.
Carter: I am having lots of fun! We just finished backpacking, and we are about to go rock climbing. Love you and miss you!
Meredith: Hey y’all! I am having tons of fun. Thank you for sending me here. I miss Marty and Coco. Love and miss y’all so much!
Luci: Hi! I miss and love y’all a lot. I’m having a lot of fun so far, we just finished backpacking which was super pretty. Love y’all bye!
Windsor: Hii! I miss y’all! I am having so much fun and I love everyone! Backpacking is all we have done so far and it was challenging but beautiful!
Leah: Hi! I am having so much fun we’ve been doing so many fun things I can’t wait to tell y’all about it! I love y’all and miss y’all!
Lila: Hey love y’all, miss you. Everyone is very funny and nice! We went backpacking which is everything done so far. It was soo pretty.
Vivienne: Hello! I miss y’all so much, but I’m having fun! Backpacking was very challenging but super rewarding. Can’t wait to see y’all! Love y’all!
Lucy Grace: Hi! I miss y’all so much but I’m having so much fun! We just finished backpacking, it was very pretty and a good experience. Can’t wait to see y’all and tell you everything about it! Love y’all!
Safe Arrival in Jackson Hole!
June 5, 2026
Hello Big Wild Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Jackson! 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
