Rafting, Memories, and More!!
July 13, 2026
Hey again everyone, it’s Henry and Kiki here for the last time reporting on our final few days of our past two weeks! It’s been an amazing adventure, and we can’t wait for you to hear all about it.
On our first day of rafting, we woke up bright and early to make our way to the rafting put-in on the Salmon river. We enjoyed our breakfast to-go including cream cheese and bagels, muffins and fruit. When we got to the river, we met our guides to get all packed into our dry bags and listen to their safety briefing. Once everyone was ready to go, we hopped on the rafts to start our 50 mile journey on one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the country. On our first day, we experienced the natural beauty of the Salmon and its rich history while splashing through class 2 and 3 rapids. Caroline and Eva served as the captains on the paddle boat for the first part of the day while Reid kayaked through class 3 rapids. James and Hodges kept everyone laughing, planning secret attacks to get everyone in the water. We pulled off for a delicious lunch of chicken caesar wraps, only to arrive at our gorgeous campsite a bit further down the river. We set up camp and swam in the refreshing water while our guides prepared a stellar belated 4th of July meal of burgers made with local wagyu beef, potatoes, cauliflower, and a peach cobbler for dessert! Ella and Eleanor volunteered to help the leaders of the day Caroline and James clean dishes, and afterwards our LODs led us in an amazing Moonup before getting some sleep after a long day.
Day two of rafting we woke up to scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon served for breakfast by our awesome guides. We hopped onto the river for a big rapid day, going through our first class 4 rapid cold Snow Hole. With Eva and Fisher leading us on the kayak, we went through multiple class 3 rapids with huge waves and fun splashes. We had many wildlife sightings like a group of big horned sheep, chucker birds, and bald eagles. We pulled off the river to scout out Snow Hole, and then conquered the rapid together. Lizzie led the group on the paddle boat and we pushed through and got to camp in time for lunch, where our guides prepared taco salad and burritos for us. The leaders of the day Ella and Hodges were quick to help with lunch and dishes. We had a fun-packed afternoon at camp, consisting of a lazy river in the cove beside us, swimming, card games, Jenga, spike ball, and even a BGW 4B Dancing with the Stars competition. Our guides made us an incredible dinner of chicken fajitas with cornbread and honeybutter, topping it off with brownies for dessert. With full bellies and smiles, our leaders of the day used our Moonup time to talk about things that this trip has made us grateful for, and all fell asleep under the stars with the lull of the river beside us.
The following day we woke up to another delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage, fruit, and yogurt before packing up camp to get back on the river for another day of rafting. We started the day passing through a class 4 rapid called China, where we pulled off to scout and see Chinese mining ruins from the 1800s along the bank. Berkeley and Caroline went down the next few rapids in the kayak while everyone else enjoyed the paddle boat in the beautiful canyon we passed through. Not long after, we pulled over for lunch and group games. Our guides helped us set up a raft slide where Hodges and got the most airtime, meanwhile others fished or played ‘the paddle game,’ similar to Simon Says. Our leaders of the day Berkeley and Elizabeth helped assemble a delicious Mediterranean lunch of pita with different salad fillings, chips, fruit and homemade cookies. After a fun lunch we hopped back on our rafts to crush out some more miles on the Salmon. Eventually, we made it to our campsite for the night, where we set up our things and all took afternoon naps in the shade. Harper caught the biggest fish of the trip so far while we all listened to music, lounged on the sand, and swam. Our guides prepared a spectacular dinner of pork tenderloin, mac & cheese, broccoli, and fresh rolls with butter. We even got a special dessert for our last night on the river: pineapple upside down cake with whipped cream and caramel! The food was shared over many laughs, with James and Hodges never failing to make us all laugh and Eleanor prompting fun topics to discuss. Our LODs ended the night with an amazing Moonup discussing our favorite moments from the trip and things that we’ve learned so far.
The next morning, we woke up to french toast, eggs, and bacon to fuel up for our last day on the water. We packed up camp and slid back on the river, Elizabeth and Harper leading us in the kayaks. We pulled off for a cliff jumping spot of basalt columns along the river, with Reid bravely leading the jumps. Later down the river we pulled off for a short uphill hike to a scenic overlook of the Salmon below us. After taking in the gorgeous views and a group photo or two, we hiked back down to the rafts and got back on the river. We passed through one of the most beautiful stretches of the Salmon River, chugging along to the confluence- the point where North America’s two deepest river gorges (the Salmon and the Snake) meet and flow outward, eventually making it to the Pacific Ocean. We stopped and had lunch here, where our rafting adventure ended and the journey back to our van began. After unloading our gear and sharing an appreciative farewell with our guides, the group got to ride a big jet boat upriver to Hells Canyon and back to the put-in where we left our beloved van. We embarked on our journey back to Jackson with a soft serve stop and jamming out. A surprise trip to Chick-Fil-A revived everyone as we approached our campsite for the night in the sand dunes of Idaho. Our leader of the day Harper and Fisher led us in Moonup while watching the sun set from the dunes, feeling sentimental on our second to last night of the trip.
Yesterday, we piled back in the van to continue our journey back to Jackson. The morning drive consisted of naps and quiet music before stopping for breakfast and gas along the way. We had a great jam session with everyone’s favorite pop bangers as we pulled into town to grab pizza from the best spot in Jackson. We enjoyed lunch at our campsite while cleaning and organizing all the gear we used during our amazing session. Next, we made our way back to town for some afternoon shopping and treats. Sweatshirts, t-shirts, pajamas, and more, everyone found something to bring home with them! The group also indulged in a famous local ice cream stop before following Moondance tradition and grabbing funny thrift outfits to wear for our final banquet night. With Eleanor in her sparkle top and Lizzie in her scrubs, we had an amazing final dinner at an American joint in town. The night wasn’t over yet, though, as we surprised everyone with a trip to the Jackson Hole Rodeo. Hodges was persistent in starting the wave across the stadium and ended up winning fan of the night! We took the group to a scenic spot to see dusk fall over the Tetons as we completed our final Moonup of the trip. Takeaways, memorable moments, appreciation for the outdoors, and things we learned about ourselves were great topics of conversation as we closed the night with more treats, hugs, and a few happy tears.
Henry and I would like to close with a thank you to the parents who made this trip possible for your student. The growth, leadership skills, laughs, and memories formed over the past two weeks have been just as impactful for us as leaders as we hope it has been for them. Sending everyone off in the airport today was difficult, but we are lucky to have spent this trip with such a special group of kids and are grateful for the time we shared with them. This group touched both of our hearts, thank you so much for everything BGW 4B!
Signing off for the final time,
Kiki and Henry
Update from BGW 4B!
July 7, 2026
Hello again Moondance families and friends! Kiki and Henry here to report on the next few days of our amazing adventure so far!
We woke up this Independence day feeling patriotic and ready to conquer some mountains, as today was our first day of climbing school in Grand Teton National Park! We enjoyed a speedy breakfast of bagels with cream cheese, fruit, and yogurt before piling in the van to make our way into the park. After Hodges and Eva started a circle to practice our group hacky-sack skills for a few minutes, our guides from Exum helped us get suited up with helmets, harnesses, and ropes for the day ahead. We made our way to the boat ramp where we had a quick scenic boat ride across the lake to the base of the mountains. After a short hike up, our amazing guides helped teach us basic bouldering and climbing skills by the gorgeous rushing waterfall. Reid showed off his pro climbing skills while zipping up the boulders before we all headed to a higher section of the mountain where our guides set up several pitches for us to practice. Eva inspired everyone by immediately conquering the most difficult pitch, and Fisher showed everyone his technique through perfect use of hand and foot-holds. Everyone enjoyed their packed lunches and snacks between climbs before heading down past the falls to the boat ramp where we made our way back across the lake. With a pit stop at camp to grab our festive outfits and bathing suits, we decided to go out and celebrate the holiday after crushing it during climbing! We went to a local lake to swim, toss the football, and play frisbee before an amazing Fourth of July cookout. Everyone swam out to the jumping rock in the middle of the lake despite the brisk water, making for a refreshing pre-dinner dip. Henry was the grill master, whipping up burgers and hot dogs while Leaders of the Day Lizzie and James helped with slicing watermelon and queuing up a patriotic playlist. After dinner, we drove over to Teton Village for their Fourth of July festival. Elizabeth and Eleanor grooved to the bluegrass music while we found a perfect spot to watch the famous firework show. The show was beautiful with the colorful fireworks in front of us and the Tetons behind us, and then we headed back to end the night with a meaningful Moonup led by our LODs reflecting on the challenges we have overcome in our lives.
The following morning we woke up to a quick breakfast of cinnamon rolls, muffins, fruit, and yogurt before heading to meet our guides for another day of climbing! We hopped in the van and returned to Teton Village, where we started our second day of climbing school featuring mutli-pitching and rappelling. After getting geared up with our guides, we got to ride the gondola taking us up from the village towards the famous restaurant at the top of the mountain. We made another hike to our climbing location, where we split into groups for an awesome multi-pitch climb and a few rappelling runs. After a long day of climbing, short uphill hike, and ride back down the gondola, the group enjoyed a well deserved afternoon of shopping in the village! Everyone loved browsing the outdoor gear, especially the boys who are still on the hunt for the perfect beanies. We headed back to our campsite where everyone had some downtime, played spikeball, threw the football, and played cards together. The LODs Elizabeth and Eva helped prepare everyone’s favorite dinner yet: build your own Greek bowls with rice, chicken, fresh veggies, hummus, tzatziki and pita! Hodges, Berkeley, and James were very helpful in volunteering to help clean group dishes, and then we all piled back in the van for a special new Moonup location. We found a beautiful spot overlooking the cool blue and yellow sunset over the Tetons, enjoying cold smores with the silhouette of the mountains behind us. Our LODs led an inspiring Moonup where we closed the night talking about our most impactful moments and favorite life lessons.
Today we made our long drive from Wyoming to Idaho to transition into our rafting section of the trip. We started the day with an early wake up followed by breakfast on the road. The first part of the drive consisted of morning naps and calming music, and later on sharing favorite gas station snacks, playing mafia, making friendship bracelets, and sing-along karaoke. We made a sur[rise stop at everyone’s favorite for lunch- Chick Fil A! After cranking out the rest of the drive we arrived at our gorgeous campsite on the banks of a lake in a national forest in Idaho. We set up camp quickly so that we could head down and jump off the dock, lay in the sun, and play games by the water. Caroline and Eva were quick to jump in first, quickly followed by the rest of the group. Our swimming was followed by a campsite luxury- hot showers! After getting clean, our LODs Reid and Lizzie prepared an amazing Mexican dinner for everyone. Chicken and cheese quesadillas, chips and dip, and yummy smores were almost as good as the laughs we shared around the campfire over our meal. Ella and Harper volunteered to clean dishes before we all headed back down to the water to have Moonup by the water under a spectacular sunset. Our LODs prompted us to think about our ideal summer days and our proudest accomplishments. Moonup may have ended with Henry and I jumping in the lake in our clothes before all getting to bed for a good night’s rest before rafting.
We can’t believe how quickly our trip has gone by already, Henry and I are so grateful for the time we still have left! We have already formed so many special memories with this outstanding group and are looking forward to the new ones we will make while rafting the Salmon and Snake Rivers these upcoming few days!!
Until next time,
Henry and Kiki
Thank yous:
Hey mom and dad! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. It’s been so much fun and I’ve learned so much too. Miss you! Love, Lizzie
Thank you mom and dad for sending me on this trip I’m so grateful and I can’t wait to tell you about it. Love, Elizabeth
Heyyy! Thanks for sending me on this trip, having so much fun and I’m so excited to see you – Ella
Thank you mom and dad for sending me here, it’s fun. Can’t wait to see you -Berkeley
Hello!!! Thank you so much for sending me on this Moondance trip. The group is so funny and the leaders are amazing. Love you!! XOXO, Eleanor
Hey mom and dad! Thanks for letting me go on this trip, it’s lots of fun. Love y’all! -Harper
Hey mom and dad, thank yall for sending me on this trip it’s so fun and right now we are otw to go rafting love y’all and miss you guys -Reid
Hey mom and dad!! Thank y’all so much for sending me on Moondance! I am having the best time and can’t wait to see y’all soon!! Love y’all and miss yall!! – Caroline
Hey Mom and Dad, thank you for sending me on this amazing trip. I’m having a great time and about to get on the river. Love y’all and miss y’all! – Hodges
Hello! I’m about to go white water rafting in a heshtechnails fit. This trip is so fun thank you so much for letting me go everyone here is so funny, and starting a podcast with fudge. Mama we gon make it out with fudge(Hodges). -James
Hi mom and dad! I’m having so much fun and I’m so happy I’ve been able to go on Moondance I’ve learned so much and love my group. Thank you and I can’t wait to tell you all about it whenever I get back!! đź’• -Eva
Hello mom and dad, I am having the time of my lifeđź‘Ťđź‘Ť. We are leaving to go rafting. The group is really funny can’t wait to see you guys. -Fisher
Big Wild Begenning!
July 4, 2026
Howdy Moondance Families!
It’s Henry and Kiki here with our first trip update from Big Wild 4B—we’re so happy that everyone is finally here!
Our day at the airport was full of fun games like contact and entourage, sharing snacks, and listening to music while the group got to know each other. After everyone arrived, we headed into town for a local pizza spot. We enjoyed a great meal together while sharing hometowns, fun facts, and what everyone was excited for on the trip.
When we arrived at camp, Henry and I showed everyone how to set up tents, went over camp etiquette, and reviewed Leave No Trace principles. We had our first Moonup with a view of the Tetons and shared excitement for the two weeks ahead.
The following morning, we woke up to Henry’s famous breakfast burritos, with help from our Leaders of the Day (LODs) Reid and Harper. After breakfast, we led everyone through the duffle shuffle—the system we use to organize and pack for our upcoming time in the backcountry. Berkeley and Hodges were especially good at this.Â
After packing up camp, we headed into Grand Teton National Park where we hiked along a beautiful lake and enjoyed lunch with an incredible view. The group had the chance to take a refreshing swim in the cold alpine water, and several kids bravely jumped right in and followed along after the first splash.
We then continued on to a fly fishing lesson where we learned about fly selection, fish behavior, and proper casting technique, along with some knot tying skills. After an awesome session, we headed into town for a surprise burger dinner, which was a big hit with everyone.
We then made our way to a scenic campsite near the mountains and set up tents before getting ready for our backpacking section. That night, our LODs Harper and Reid led a thoughtful Moonup where the group reflected on goals for the trip and shared fun ideas like “ideal superpowers.” We fell asleep under clear, star-filled skies.
The next morning, we woke up early and enjoyed breakfast sandwiches prepared by Henry, with Kiki helping the group get organized for the trail. We met our outfitter and her dog and began our backpacking journey.
The trail started with a steady climb followed by rolling terrain alongside a creek. Midway through the day, we stopped for lunch in a scenic meadow, where our LODs Fisher and Ella helped set out PB&J sandwiches and snack items.
Later in the day, we were met with a light rain shower, but the group kept great attitudes and continued hiking strong with Eva making everyone laugh. We eventually arrived at a beautiful backcountry campsite near a lake surrounded by mountains. After setting up camp, some of the group chose to jump into the cold water for a quick swim, while others spent time fishing along the shoreline.
Dinner was enjoyed together with warm meals and lots of laughter, and we ended the night with a meaningful Moonup led by our LODs while looking out at the stars.
The following day, we slept in and started with pancakes made by our LODs Hodges and Caroline. After a relaxing morning, we set out on a day hike to a nearby ridge and meadow area with incredible views of the surrounding peaks and lake. The group played games in a snowy patch, including hacky sack, snowball fights, and building small snowmen.
In the afternoon, weather moved in and we spent some quiet time in our tents resting and recharging. Once it passed, we regrouped for card games and then enjoyed a Mexican-style dinner together. The day ended with a beautiful sunset and a reflective Moonup led by Caroline and Hodges.
On our final backcountry morning, we woke up early with hot chocolate and oatmeal, packed up camp, and headed out on trail. James helped set a strong pace at the front while Elizabeth, Eleanor, and Lizzie supported the group in keeping steady energy throughout the hike.
We arrived back to the van and surprised the group with warm showers and a hot meal. On the drive back toward town, the group enjoyed music and downtime together. After arriving at camp, we set up tents and cooked a special Italian dinner with pasta, meatballs, Caesar salad, and garlic bread.
After dinner cleanup, we surprised the group with a quick trip into town to pick up Fourth of July gear for the days ahead. We ended the night with Moonup under the stars, followed by an incredible surprise sighting of the northern lights over the Tetons.
Thanks for tuning in everyone! We are about to begin our climbing section of the trip and celebrate America’s 250th!
Talk to everyone again soon, Henry and Kiki
Shoutouts:
Hey Mom and Dad, I’m having a great time in Wyoming—backpacking and much more. Love y’all – Hodges
Hey mom and dad, I’m having a blast in Wyoming/Idaho so far. Backpacking was so fun shout out Fudge. – James
Hey mom and dad!! I am having the best time in Wyoming! My group and leaders are amazing and the activities have been so much fun!! Love y’all and miss y’all!! – Caroline
Hey mom and dad, I’m having the best time, see you guys soon! Much love – Ella
Hey mom and dad, I am having a really good time, love you guys! – Harper
Hey mom and dad, I’m having a great time and doing super fun activities. The views are great and we just got back from an amazing 3-day backpacking trip. Love y’all ❤️ – Reid
Hey mom and dad, I’m having a great time and I’m glad I went. I miss you guys so much – Elizabeth
Hey mom and dad, the views here are incredible and I hope y’all are having the best time at the beach! Love y’all and miss y’all – Eleanor
Hey mom and dad, Wyoming is so fun! I’m so happy to be here and we are doing so many cool things. I miss you and love you! – Lizzie
Hi mom and dad, I made it here. It’s really fun and I went fly fishing after a backpacking trip. Love you guys. – Fisher
Yo mom and dad, this trip is pretty fun. Love y’all! – Berkeley
Hi mom and dad!! I’m having so much fun—we went backpacking and even saw the northern lights, and today we’re going climbing in the Tetons. It’s so so pretty here, and my group is so much fun. Love y’all and miss you guys, hope you are having fun at the beach – Eva
Safe Arrival!
June 30, 2026
Hello Big Wild Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group is finally complete and the last student 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
