Big Fun in Big Wild!
June 17, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Kiki and Henry here, and we’d LOVE to share our trip updates from this amazing adventure so far.
Our airport day was spent getting to know such an amazing group of kids, playing games including shake and pop, Calabria, hacky sack, icebreakers, and more. We later relocated to a park in downtown Jackson where we enjoyed some delicious pizza from a Jackson hotspot. Driving past the majestic Tetons, we made our way to our campsite. With a beautiful sunset behind us, we went along with our lessons on tent set ups and our first Moonup! All students got a new Moondance t-shirt while we talked about our excitement for the adventure ahead of us.
We began our next day bright and early with quite a crisp temperature but smiles and bright eyes for the day ahead. We showed everyone the ropes with camp cooking and where future meals will help be cooked by them cheffing up cheesy egg and potato breakfast burritos for an amazing start for our first day of activities ahead. After breakfast we packed up camp and moved into some backpacking prep, where I (Kiki) led students in “the Duffle Shuffle”, the formula we use for bringing everything we need to get us ready to have an amazing next three days in the backcountry!
After that we headed to a beautiful lake- the famous glacial lake below the Tetons, where we walked to a small beach along the bank to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy a sandwich bar for lunch! Despite the chilling water temperature, Bryant, Bradley, and Will were quick to wade out to the nearest big rock to enjoy the water and breathtaking view.
Marian and Henry K helped out as our LODs (leaders of day), aiding in our transition to our next activity which was fly fishing in Pinedale. Our guides taught lessons about the different species of flies we fish. All the girls casted like pros during the casting clinic, with Ali demonstrating a perfect whip of the fly. After fishing, we headed to a local burger joint to fuel up for backpacking with a dinner of burgers and fries. Demonstrating amazing leadership qualities, Julia, Henry, Dutch, and Brad volunteered to help fill up the whole group’s water bottles across street. We ended the night with karaoke and sing along songs on the way to our pre backpacking campsite, where we all got a good night’s rest before heading into the backcountry .
On the morning of backpacking section we whipped up bodega style bacon egg and cheeses while leading everyone in packing their packs and distributing tents and group gear for the next three days. We met our incredible outfitter at the trailhead and embarked on a beautiful hike past Darwin ranch. We stopped at a rushing waterfall for lunch and power naps. Our hike continued and opened up into a beautiful meadow with Black Peak mountain in the distance and red clay sandstone to our right. Gabby carried the group with her great attitude, and we arrived campsite and to swim and hang out by the nearby river after a long day. Our LODs Julia and Will cooked personal pita pizzas for everyone, and we ended the night with surprise hot chocolate and Moonup.
On our middle day of backpacking, the group enjoyed a lazy morning with delicious chocolate chip and strawberry pancakes cheffed up by our LODs Connor and Dutch. Our guide led us on a gorgeous day hike loop past the waterfall, enjoying lunch on a plateau between snowy peaks at 9,300 feet. After lunch we descended passed crater lakes and swam at a river at the base of Gros Ventre wilderness. Following swimming, we hiked to an overlook at the top of the falls and saw the breathtaking view of the valley below us.
Bryant spearheaded the group in the idea to fly fish along banks of the river. Bess showed off her natural casting skills. Back at the campsite, the group played card games around the fire while the smell of burrito bowls grew stronger. Everyone fueled up on dinner over laughs and conversations about their hometown favorite treats. We ended the night with Moonup led by our LODs, where we talked about our dream superpowers and challenges we have overcome. Everyone then got cozy in their tents to rest up for a big day tomorrow.
Our last day backpacking was a hike out through the meadows which we came in. The group pressed on through the elevation, with Carter’s enthusiasm leading us through. Everyone was surprised with skittles and starbursts before the final push of the hike, making for an exciting and rewarding race to the finish line. The afternoon was a hit with soft serve, burgers, and warm, clean showers on the agenda. We ended the night with Moonup led by Brad and Carter who never fail to make us laugh. The past few days have truly been a joy and we can’t wait for the rest of the adventure to come!
Signing off,
Henry and Kiki
Shoutouts:
Hi mommy and daddy, can’t wait to see you guys and Maggie, love you so much I’m having a blast! -Bradley
Hi fam miss you guys a ton and can’t wait to see y’all soon. We just finished backpacking and it was pretty hard but fun ( my hips hurt), love you guys so much and I’m having so much fun love – Ali
Hi Mom and Dad! I miss y’all so much, and I am having an amazing time! The trip has been so cool and quick, see y’all soon!😉 – Marian
Hi mom and dad! Miss you lot but I’m having so much fun! I have done so much fun stuff and have had the best time! Love you and miss you! – Gabby
Hi mom and dad! I miss y’all so much and I can’t wait to see you. I have had so much fun and everyone is so nice and I’m so excited for the rest of the trip I love y’all and see you soon! -Bess
Hey mom and dad having a lot of fun and Kiki and Henry are great -Will
Hope y’all are having as much fun as me. Btw we packed way to much- Bryant
Hi mom I’m having a lot of fun learning new things. I am doing great . – Dutch
Hi mom and dad! I’m having so much fun hiking and backpacking. I miss everyone so much! I love you and I’ll see y’all soon! – Connor
Hi! Mom, Dad and Ben I miss y’all and am excited to see you soon! It is very pretty here and I have been having fun! I love you guys! – Carter
Hi mom and dad. I am at a campfire right now. I backpacked 13 miles over the three days. Ok bye. I love u guys -Julia
Hello family, I am well, I am having fun and I am enjoying the trip. Tell Lila I am looking forward to seeing the interior plans for the A frame. – Henry
Safe Arrival in Jackson Hole!
June 13, 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 trip, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
