Last Hoorah from CAL 3C!
July 24, 2026
Hi Moondance families and friends!
We cannot believe that this is our final trip update of the summer! Getting to know all of the students these past two weeks and watching their personalities shine has truly been such a joy! Let’s delve into our final, but bittersweet, days of the summer 🙁
Day 10 kicked off with one of the group’s favorite breakfasts: pancakes loaded with just about every topping imaginable. Chocolate chips, blueberries, and strawberries galore. Eli even got a little creative, mixing in some Nutella and peanut butter for an extra scrumptious flapjack. Sadly, there was no whipped topping (whipped cream) this time around, and your leaders are so sorry again, Will. Once everyone had full stomachs, we packed up camp and hit the road for our new spot: Half Moon Bay!
Before we got too far, the group made a special snack stop at a gas station, where Dot’s pretzels, sour patch kids, and Dr. Pepper were the clear favorites. As we drove through Yosemite one last time, the girls’ car kept busy with an endless amount of fairy hair. Ella turned out to be a natural hairdresser and decked out all the girls’ hair, turning the backseat into a salon. The boys on the other hand had a heated discussion about which sport was harder, lacrosse or football.
Lunch was an In-N-Out stop, where Patrick loved exploring the secret menu, especially the Flying Dutchman, while Ash kicked off a trend of picking up In-N-Out t-shirt souvenirs. Not long after, we rolled into camp and set up the tents. While dinner cooked, the group learned one of the leaders’ favorite games, Shake and Pop, or “Chicken Pot,” as the kids renamed it. Emma Rose and Will turned out to be naturals. From there we moved on to Poison Dart Frog and Copy Cat, and when River took a turn being it, she absolutely nailed it. It took the group ages to even realize it was her! We wrapped up the night with a summer classic, nachos loaded with chicken, queso, veggies, and all the fixings. Afterward, the group voted to cowboy camp under the stars, with Elle among the first to say yes, and we all said goodnight moon.
We awoke to day 11 under a light sprinkle of rain, quickly followed by a beautiful double rainbow. After breakfast tostadas, we headed to the beach for our first day of surfing. And wouldn’t you know it, this turned out to be our very first sunny day at this beach all summer, with waves that were just about perfect for learning. Morgan and Ella shared a party wave on their very first try, Eli popped up on his first attempt, and Ash was catching wave after wave the whole session. It felt like the time flew by simply because everyone was having so much fun. Afterward, we relaxed on the beach, swam, and ate lunch before heading off to sail. The sun was so refreshing that nobody wanted to leave!
From there, we set off for a relaxing sail past the Golden Gate and Alcatraz. Back at camp, Patrick and Emma Rose fully embraced their leader-of-the-day duties, cooking up grilled cheese and tomato soup for the whole group all on their own. For dessert, you guessed it, ICE CREAM!! Cookies and cream and cookies coming together for the perfect ice cream sandwich. Once again, we settled in for a night of cowboy camping under the moon.
Day 12 allowed for a well-earned sleep-in, followed by hearty breakfast sandwiches piled with bacon, eggs, cheese, avocado, and veggies. After moseying around camp for a bit, we headed to the beach for our final activity of the session, and of the summer! The ocean was calm and peaceful, with the occasional break rolling through, but the kids made the most of it. Morgan and Emma Rose tandem rode wave after wave, while River, Ella, and Elle lashed their boards together into a makeshift raft to try their luck riding waves together. Meanwhile, Fritz and Mary Charles were determined to keep catching waves of their own, and they did! Nobody wanted to get out of the water by day’s end, so we lingered on the beach a while longer, playing touch football before the boys dug their way toward China and the girls buried Morgan in the sand, transforming her into a mermaid. Dinner delivered the one request students had been making all session: steak, paired with a summer salad topped with berries (and optional blue cheese), plus broccoli, asparagus, and baguettes on the side. With stomachs so full they felt like they were about to burst, we did a big clean, with Fritz being top helper once again. After, we settled in for one more round of cowboy camping.
Our final full day, Day 13, moved at a gentler pace. We started with a hearty breakfast smorgasbord. Yogurt, Nutella, steak and eggs, cinnamon rolls, cereal, you name it! Will got the group laughing with his catching blueberries in his mouth skills before everyone pitched in to clean up camp and all of our supplies. After the deep clean, we were off to the showers for one final time. Beforehand, Fritz, Ella, and Morgan took one last dip in the Pacific.
All fresh and clean, the group took a silly trip to Goodwill. The kids went all out for this one! Morgan got some bright red heels, Patrick rocked a dress, Mary Charles hit a green cinderella moment, some may say Will looked like Sombr, Elle, River, Ella, and Ash rocked some Adam Sandler outfits, Emma Rose and Eli got comfy in some Snuggie’s, Fritz really pulled off the mad hatter consume,
We wrapped up the evening with Mexican food for dinner, followed by Salt & Straw ice cream (again?!) for dessert, and one final moonup on the beach together. It was the kind of Moondance moment nobody will forget. We rocked out to Roar by Katy Perry one last time, and talked about a feeling we will never forget from Moondance. We soaked in every second, before settling in for our very last cowboy camp of the summer.
What a session it’s been! We were able to do so many cool and new things with this group and we can’t thank you all for sharing your amazing kids with us this summer! CALC over and out!
With love,
Katherine, Ella, and Charlie
Hello From Half Moon Bay!
July 23, 2026
After our amazing time in Tahoe, we packed up the U-Haul and headed to Yosemite! On our drive, we stopped at Daddy’s Burgers, and Fritz had the amazing idea to get the Nacho Fries, which he shared and were delicious. After a long and beautiful drive, we arrived at our campsite outside Yosemite National Park, and our LODs Mary Charles, and Patrick helped us make a dinner of spring rolls before we headed to bed to rest up for our day of hiking.
The next day, we hiked 6 miles along an amazing trail to a series of lakes, and at the top we stopped for lunch and a swim in some chilly water. Morgan and Ella sunbathed while the boys made what they called cologne but smelled more like pine sap. After our hike, we headed back to camp for a relaxing afternoon of cards, games, and just chilling out. Our first day of rock climbing started with an early wake-up call and yogurt with lots of granola, fruit, and peanut butter. We loaded up into the cars and drove through Tioga Pass, which is, in my opinion, the most scenic drive in America. We met up with our outfitters and headed to Puppy Dome for our first day of climbing. Everyone crushed it, but we are especially proud of Patrick for overcoming and climbing some of the hardest routes we had. We had some quesadillas for lunch and enjoyed Will talking about his favorite fillings for them, chicken heading up the list.
After climbing, we headed back to camp to cook up dinner before going to Inyo National Forest for sunset. On our way, we stopped to get some ice cream picked out by our LODs Elle and Ash, and they made a great choice with Oreo Cookie sandwiches. The sunset over the vast landscapes was amazing, and we had a great Moonup. On the car ride home, Fritz and Eli had a meaningful conversation about spending time with people you love and how important it is to tell people they are important. Day 2 of climbing was off to another hot start, this time with ham and cheese croissants, which were thankfully a hit. River rocked today, and every time she felt like giving up, she powered through and climbed the hardest route set up and told us how gratifying it was to overcome that challenge. Emma Rose also powered through a few annoying blisters and climbed every route! After climbing, we again had a Moondance classic… MORE ICE CREAM!
While everyone ate their soft serve enjoying one of the highest alpine meadows in the world, the leaders picked up some post cards for everyone to send a little note home, so keep an eye out for those!
Terrific Times in Tahoe!
July 16, 2026
Hello from Lake Tahoe!
We can’t believe how fast this session is flying by! Our last two days have been PACKED with epic activities and fabulous stories to bring home. Let’s get you caught up!
We kicked off day four with a killer breakfast: avocado toast on sourdough with scrambled eggs, whipped up by our LODs, Ash and Ella. Ash was a total natural in the kitchen, eagerly volunteering to scramble the eggs, while Ella muscled through mashing all 10 avocados like a champ. It was the perfect fuel for a big day of kayaking on the lake. We headed to Northern Tahoe to meet our guides and set out onto the water. As we paddled, we alternated between soaking in the stunning views of the crystal-blue water and diving into intense splashing contests, kicked off by Will and Morgan. Eli and Patrick led the charge for the day, paddling in perfect sync and setting the group’s pace.
We stopped for lunch at Moon Dune Beach, feasting on sandwiches atop a massive fallen log. Fueled up, Ella and Morgan took off for the sand hill, throwing themselves down it and making sand angels. Fritz couldn’t resist joining the chaos and sent himself rolling down the soft, warm, pristine sand.
We cooled off with a game of Star in the water, taking turns rattling off movie initials and racing to guess the film, with competitive spirits running high! Then it was back in the kayaks for the paddle home, with plenty of chilly-water dunks along the way. Fritz led the pack home, an impressive feat as our only solo kayaker.
Back on shore, we loaded up the cars and headed south to tackle Maggie’s Peak, a challenging but stunning 4-mile round-trip hike with 1,800 feet of elevation gain. We knew it would be a push, but we knew this crew could handle it! The climb was steep from start to finish, but we kept spirits high with trail games like “Fortunately, Unfortunately” and a steady stream of fun conversation and jokes. Through it all, River set the tone for the whole group, staying positive with a smile that never wavered.
Energy was fading near the top, but everyone pushed through to soak in the incredible overlook of Lake Tahoe and three neighboring alpine lakes. We celebrated with surprise Nutella-and-peanut-butter crepes (aka Nutella-and-peanut-butter tortillas). On the way down, Elle suggested one more adventure: a dip in Granite Lake. Elle, Ella, and Morgan sprinted in without a second thought, finishing the hike soaked but triumphant. Back at camp, the group teamed up to cook Mediterranean bowls for dinner, with Mary Charles bravely trying gyro meat for the first time! Emma Rose was on fire all night, cracking jokes left and right and keeping everyone in stitches. We wrapped up with a delicious dinner and a Moonup full of laughter.
Day two in Tahoe started with yogurt parfaits before we headed out to stand-up paddleboard. On the way out, Eli attempted a wheelie and became our first soldier to go down into the chilly water. Ash followed close behind with an equally valiant, equally unsuccessful attempt. Mary Charles gave a handstand a shot while Ella cartwheeled straight into the lake. After all that acrobatic glory, we eased off the gas and soaked up some sun, appreciating the lighter pace after such a big day before. A few rounds of Sharks and Minnows later, we headed in for lunch: chicken caesar pasta salad on the beach.
From there, we crossed the Nevada state line into Sand Harbor State Park. With the parking lot closed, we pivoted and found a trail down to Chimney Beach and wow, was it worth it. The water was an insane turquoise, and we got straight to rock jumping! We scaled the big rocks and launched ourselves into the water below. Emma Rose was the team supporter, motivating the group. Eli and River were huge fans, going back for seconds and thirds, while Patrick stole the show with an incredible cannonball. We explored the secluded beach and swam out around the bay, riding an infectious wave of good energy the whole time. What a spot!
We wrapped up rock jumping, headed back to camp for a quick change, and set out for a town day in Lake Tahoe. The group spread out to explore local shops, grab some well-earned ice cream, and pick up souvenirs to bring home. Back at camp, Will and Elle led the charge on a full Thanksgiving feast – mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn, chicken, and broccoli. Fritz and River kindly stepped up and helped clean LOD dishes.
We closed out the night with card games, laughs that had everyone holding their stomachs, and a Moonup as beautiful as the sunset behind it.
Thank you so much for sending your kids to us in California. This group is an absolute dream, and we’re having a blast!
Fritz
Hi Mom and Dad I love Moondance thanks for sending me.
Patrick
Dear Mom and DAd thank you so much for sending me/ I love Lake Tahoe and miss you guys.
Mary Charles
Hey agaibn! Thanks so much for letting me go to Moondance! I kmow packing was difficult, but it was so worht it! Thanks y’all!! We jumped off rocks and hiked. Miss you all!!
Ella
Hii! Thank you so much for letting me come to Moondance! I am having so much fun!
Elle
Hey Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for sending me to Moondance! It’s so much fun!! We are leacing Lake Tahoe and went cliff jumping uesrterday! Thank you1 love y’all!!
Eli
Hi Mom and Dad. Thank you both so much for sending me to this camp. I am having so mcuh fun. We wenmt cliff jumping in Lake Tahoe and that’s the clearest lake in th eUS! I love you guys so much.
Emma Rose
Hello Mom and Dad! I want to let you guys know how grateful I am to be here in California. Thank you so much for providing me with this experience! <3 ER
Will
Thank you so much for sending me to Moondance. I am having so much fun.
Ash
Thank you so much for letting me go to Moondance Mom and Dad. I am having so much fun. I miss you! From Ash
River
Hi! Thank you Mom and DAd for letting me go on Moondance! I think ots good for mem to get out of my comfort zone a little. I love you guys and can’t wait to see you!
Morgan
Wassupppp! Thank you so much for letting me go to Moondance! I am having so much fun! I love you byeeee
Greetings from California!
July 14, 2026
Hello from California!
Day 1: We had an amazing day with cousin reunions in the airport and lots of icebreakers before splitting up into boys’ and girls’ cars for our first long haul of the trip from SFO to the American River for our first day of rafting. In the girls’ car, games quickly ensued; black magic, snaps, and green mirror before switching to curating an amazing (and completely new) playlist for our trip. In the boys’ car, they cracked jokes about any and everything, discussed past travels and summer camps, and jammed out to lots of clean rap. About half way through our drive leader Ella called to ask what everyone’s favorite pizza toppings were and before she could even finish, Ash suggested Hawaiian which was an instant hit. The boys also suggested we get a bacon, sausage, and pepperoni pizza which us leaders thought of as meat lovers but were quickly corrected that it is NOT the same and that meat lovers had ham and that absolutely would not stand. The girls’ car stopped on the way to procure our fantastic dinner while the guys got to camp and started unloading the U-haul! We wrapped up an amazing first day with Moonup, our nightly roundtable where we answer silly and serious questions, listen to a quote, open the Nug jug, and more. Tonight’s Nug jug story got everyone a little nervous before we finally revealed that it was all jokes! Everyone then tucked themselves into their sleeping bags to get some rest for a fun day of rafting!
Day 2: We had a slow first morning with lots of french toast, eggs, and sausage cheffed up by our first Leaders of the day Fritz and River. River handled the french toast like a boss while Fritz had the semi tedious task of standing over our eggs cooking them to perfection. After breakfast, we hit the road to a nature preserve to fill some time before our first raft of the trip. While at the preserve we went on a quick walk and played an all time best Moondance game called “Dude! Don’t touch my rock!” ending in a Moo off between Patrick and Elle (A moo off is a tie breaker where competitors get on all fours and moo for as long as they can). After our stroll, we headed to our rafting center to meet our guides and get on the American River! The river was flowing quick today so we got to experience some wicked rapids and everyone had a blast. Morgan and River took the front seats in one boat and Will and Eli took the front in the other for our pre lunch rapids and enjoyed every splash and soak they could. We ate an amazing lunch cooked by our guides and Will got to try a Tim-Tam for the first time and instantly thought that if there was a caramel version it would be even better. After lunch, Ash and Patrick took lead and set a quick pace for our class 3 section, everyone loved the rapids called “Son of Satan” and “Hospital Bar” and we breezed through them only getting partially (completely) soaked. Our final rapid was calmer and we had the opportunity to jump out and swim it, Mary Charles and Charlie winded up in the back of the group and got to dodge waves and swim through the current to catch back up with everyone. We got to hang out on a calm piece of water waiting for our tow boat and one of the guides showed us how to get back in the boat legs first by flipping your legs up then almost doing a hand stand and Ella was one of the first to hop in and try. After rafting we headed back to camp and played lots of card games before Ella (The leader) got out some friendship bracelet string. Emma Rose quickly locked in on tying each strand perfectly and creating a masterpiece from 6 strands of string. Our guides made us a dinner that is sure to spoil the kids of steak, chicken, 2 types of pasta, garlic break, and to round it out brownies!
Day 3: Our second day of rafting started with all students’ favorite way to wake up, a breakfast cooked by someone other than the leaders! Our guides made us a buffet of eggs, potatoes, sausage, fruit, and most importantly coffee cake. Everyone enjoyed one last hot meal before we would be cooking for ourselves the rest of the trip. After breakfast we got back on the river for our final day of rafting and to conclude the first of many amazing activities. Today we hit the class threes first going through teacups, upper and lower haystack, and everyone’s favorite Troublemaker with a huge drop and lots of strong paddling needed. Everyone grinding out the paddling for the first half of the day and after lunch we enjoyed a calm float down the river. Our guides let some of the kids steer the boat and call commands and Patrick especially killed it guiding us between two rocks that guides struggle to get through. After rafting we loaded up into the cars for our journey to Tahoe, and arrived to a monsoon. We threw up our rain fly to make dinner while the rest of the team set up tents. Our LODs Eli and Morgan helped cook some Nacho’s with chicken, peppers, onions, and more. Everyone loved dinner and has hopefully realized that we can also make some amazing meals too! After dinner we enjoyed Smores while Ella told us stories of making them on the stove at home and an especially interesting one where she put it in the microwave for 5 minutes, unsurprisingly ours tonight were a bit better than the microwave one. We had a great Moonup then hit the hay early to rest up for our first full day at Tahoe!
With gratitude,
Katherine, Ella, + Charlie
Shoutouts:
Ella: Dear mom and dad, I am having so much fun and I’ve made so many friends. Rafting was so fun and I am so excited for Lake Tahoe
Elle: Dear Mom and Dad, I am having so much fun! I have made a lot of new friends. 2 of them went to Merri Mac too. Lake Tahoe is really pretty.
Mary Charles: Hey, Its been pretty fun so far. Everything has gone smoothly at the airport and stuff. I’ve made lots of friends and were at out 2nd campsite. IDK if were doing shoutouts but shoutout to reg and molly and AC and Lizzie. Miss Y’all
Emma Rose: Hey mom and dad, Moondance has been great so far! We rafted at the American River and now we’re paddle boarding and kayaking on Lake Tahoe. Say Hi to my dogs , Molly, and Meg.
River: Hi mom, dad, Vi, Wes, and of course Juno and Prince! It has been great so far. I miss you guys but I’m having a great time. We have rafted and travelled. I cant wait to see all of you!
Morgan: Hey Mom, Hey Dad, Im having a great time with my group I have so much to tell you when I get back :), I’ve made many friends you should try it! Love you Byeeee
Eli: Hi Mom and Dad. I am having so much fun, we have gone rafting and swimming. Today we are going hiking and kayaking. I cant wait to see you in two weeks. Love you.
Patrick: Dear Mom and Dad I miss you guys but I’m having a great time. We went rafting yesterday and were on the water again today. I love you guys!
Will: Dear Mom and Dad, I am having so much fun, were going on a cool hike today. Rafting was really fun and now were at lake Tahoe. Miss you so much!
Fritz: Dear Mom and Dad, I have been having so much fun! Its day 4 and we have white water rafted, and now were at Lake Tahoe which is really cool. I miss you guys, but this is awesome!
Ash: Hey Mom and Dad, I am having so much fun. We have been rafting, Hiking, Kayaking, and Paddleboarding. We are at lake tahoe right now. I miss you. Love, Ash.
Safe Arrival!
July 11, 2026
Hello California Families!
We heard from our leaders this afternoon that the group has landed safely in California! 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
