Commemorating Canyonlands!
June 20, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the end of our trip. The past two weeks have flown by, and this group has packed every day with adventure, laughter, and memories we’ll be talking about for a long time.
As the trip continued, one of our most inspiring moments came from Harper, who faced her fear of heights during our canyoneering day outside of Moab. She rappelled down an 80 foot drop, which took a tremendous amount of courage. It was amazing to see her confidence skyrocket and the rest of the group cheering for her. To reward the group’s positive attitudes and willingness to try something new, we spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out in Moab! Here, we stopped at a quintessential burger spot, and meandered through the shops of the desert town!
After spending our last hours in Moab, we fueled up with a massive breakfast before exploring the incredible landscapes of a national park. The group walked a beautiful trail with enthusiasm before celebrating with food trucks and preparing for the next chapter of the trip. Sydney made sure our transportation reflected the group’s personality by decorating the van and adding some extra fun to every mile we traveled.
Soon enough, we traded our hiking boots for life jackets and launched our rafting expedition. During the quieter moments on the river, Sadie and Millie sat shoulder to shoulder sharing a book while the rest of the group got in a much needed nap. The river also gave us plenty of opportunities for laughter. Will became an unexpected style icon after letting his hair be braided by all six girls, creating a look that provided entertainment for the rest of the day. Channing tackled her very first rapid, meeting the challenge with enthusiasm and courage. Throughout the journey, Ben kept spirits high by serving as the dramatic narrator of the group game. To cool off from the hot Utah sun, Hunter got the group involved in a game sparked by a tennis ball someone found along the way- even the rafting guides joined in!
Between rapids, the group found countless ways to have fun. An intense sandcastle-building competition brought out everyone’s creative side, while the stunning scenery around us, including Native American granaries, served as a reminder of how special this landscape truly is.
Eventually, our time in the canyon came to an end, and we began our long drive back toward civilization. Hunter and Henry passed the time with a fiercely competitive game of Counting Cows, while Johnny made sure nobody got too sleepy by providing plenty of entertainment with his dancing in the van.
Our final town day gave us one last chance to enjoy our time together before heading home. During our car wash, the girls had a much needed dance party in the van, before the drive truly began. A surprise snowball fight quickly broke out, and Sadie demonstrated that her softball skills transfer remarkably well to winter sports, launching snowballs with impressive accuracy. That evening, we gathered for our final Moonup, reflecting on all the challenges, laughs, and memories from the previous two weeks. During our superlatives ceremony, Tucker was voted “Most Likely to Be Everyone’s Favorite Teammate,” a fitting recognition of his positivity and kindness throughout the trip. Addie earned “Most Likely To Be In The WNBA,” a title that perfectly matched her athleticism and competitive spirit.
Before we knew it, airport day had arrived. Saying goodbye is never the fun part, but this group made it easy to feel proud. They encouraged each other, took on challenges they didn’t feel were possible, made each other (and the leaders) laugh constantly, and built friendships that we hope will last long after the trip is over. Thank you for sharing your kids with us these past two weeks! It has been a privilege to watch them grow, support one another, and make the most of every opportunity. We couldn’t be more proud of this group!
With gratitude,
Lillian, Hunter, Chester
Dear Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for signing me up for this moondance. It’s been such an amazing trip! This experience will stick with me forever! Love you so much, Addie
Hi mom and dad! Thank y’all so much for the opportunity to enjoy such a great experience on Canyonlands! I can’t wait to do another trip! Johnny
Hi mom and dad Thank you for sending on moondance! It was a great experience. I’m so excited to do another one next year.Henry
Hi mom and dad! I am extremely grateful for you guys letting me do this experience. I had the best time and I am so happy I got to do this trip! Thank you! I want to go back next year!!!Harper
hi mom and dad!!I’m so happy I got to do this trip! It was one of the best experiences ever!! Thanks for putting in so much effort to pack me and get me ready to come! Channing
Hi mom and dad! Thanks so much for sending me out to canyonlands with new opportunities every day. I had so much fun and made so many new friends! Ben
Hey mom and dad, Thank you for signing me up for Canyonlands!! I had so much fun and can’t wait to do another trip next year! Sydney
hi mom and dad! i am so grateful you guys signed me up for this trip! i had such an amazing experience and i thank you for helping me pack and get ready for this trip. i am excited to do another trip next year! i love you guys! Sadie
Hey mom and dad! I had the best time on canyonlands and I appreciate y’all so much for giving me the opportunity! Yall are truly the best parents ever!! Love you guys Millie
Hi mom and dad! I had the best time on Canyonlands! Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity! You are the best parents ever! I love yall so much! Hunter
Hey Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for signing me up for Moondance. It was such an awesome experience and I had the best time! I love yall so much! Tucker
Hi mom and dad Thank you so much for signing me up for moon dance! I had such a great time. love you so much! Will
Chilling in the Canyons
June 14, 2026
Hello Moondance Families, and hello from Utah!!
What an incredible week we’ve had! Between fly fishing, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, and countless laughs, this group has already packed so much adventure into our first few days together. Every day seems to bring a new inside joke, a new challenge, and a new reason to be grateful!
Our trip kicked off with airport pickups and a scenic drive to our first campsite in southern Utah . For some of the kids, it was their very first time setting up a tent, and everyone worked together to get camp established. Harper and Johnny were selected as our very first Leaders of the Day (LODs) and did a fantastic job helping the group bond and settle into camp life. We also quickly learned that Johnny was an experienced camper, as the only alumni on our trip! His leadership came in hand as he helped others with tent setup.
The next morning, we headed out for our first day of fly fishing on a beautiful river. Henry quickly established himself as one of the group’s fishing experts as he was crushing it on the water. Henry, Ben, and Hunter were especially successful, collectively catching around 35 fish throughout the day! Addie also reeled in an absolute monster brook trout that had the entire group celebrating! While some campers were focused on landing fish, Sydney spent part of the day creating beautiful wildflower bouquets along the riverbank. Watching everyone learn new skills, encourage one another, and celebrate each catch was the perfect way to kick off our outdoor adventures.
Our next day started off with a classic mega pancake breakfast. We learned that Millie is a huge fan of extra-gooey pancakes, and Ben stepped up to help with cooking and camp chores. Just when breakfast seemed to be running smoothly, we discovered that a chipmunk had somehow found its way into our van. The group’s solution involved blasting music and hoping the chipmunk would decide to leave on its own. Whether or not it worked, it definitely gave us one of the funniest stories of the trip so far.
That same day, we tackled the challenging trails in the canyon. It was a tough hike, but this group impressed us with their determination and positive attitudes. Channing’s energy remained high throughout the day and helped keep spirits up when the trail got difficult. Sydney also made sure to capture the breathtaking views on her camera. Trail talk was flowing and we got to see plenty of spires, arches and hoodoos. After earning some tired legs, we rewarded ourselves with a much-needed ice cream stop!
We then headed to Zion, where we took on another unforgettable adventure: hiking through the Narrows! The water was definitely cold, but Sadie and Harper bravely decided to jump in and swim anyway. Their enthusiasm quickly spread throughout the group, and before long, they had convinced everyone else to join them. Talk about leadership by example!
We then packed up camp and made our way to Moab. But not before singing a BIG happy birthday to Sadie! We kicked off the day with donuts and candles! The drive flew by thanks to a steady stream of song requests. Hunter introduced the group to some absolute bangers (thanks to his aura) while Johnny helped expand everyone’s playlist with some of his favorite songs. Our LODs, Millie and Will, were incredibly helpful during our grocery stop, assisting with organization and making sure plenty of snacks found their way into the carts. Once we arrived at camp, we enjoyed an incredible Moonup overlooking one of the most beautiful sunsets we have ever seen. The boys decided to cowboy camp under the stars with Chester and were rewarded with a shooting star!
On day six, we headed out bright and early for our first day of rock climbing. Everyone challenged themselves and encouraged one another throughout the morning, but Tucker stole the show on one of the more difficult routes. After working his way all the way to the top, he arrived just in time to proudly shout our word of the day: “Skadoosh!” After a full morning on the rocks, we hiked an iconic trail, which leads to a massive free standing arch. To help the time pass, Addie and Channing pretended to be British True Crime podcasters, which kept everyone laughing. We made sure to take plenty of pictures to capture the awesome view! Back at camp, Henry and Will transformed into chefs, making quesadillas for everyone. The meal was a huge hit and the perfect way to end another awesome day together.
Our favorite things about this crew is how much fun they have together and their adventurous spirit. Our hearts have been overflowing these past couple of days and we couldn’t feel luckier to have such an awesome group of kids. Whether they are fishing, hiking, singing in the van, helping around camp, or laughing at the unexpected moments that seem to happen every day, they bring enthusiasm and positivity to everything they do. Chester, Hunter and I have enjoyed every second of laughing alongside them and we can’t wait for the rest of the trip!
From the luckiest leaders in the world!
Lillian, Chester, Hunter
Tucker- Hey Mom and Dad! I’m having so much fun! There’s been a lot of really cool views! We’ve gone on some really cool hikes, been fly fishing, went rock climbing, and today we went canyoneering. I love y’all so much!!
John John- Hi Mom and Dad! I am having a great time. I hope Figgy and Gladys are doing well. All of the activities have been fun. I have really enjoyed meeting new people. Love y’all
Will- Hi Mom and Dad! I am having a great time. We have visited so many places and parks and the hikes have been really fun. Can’t wait to see you.
Addie- Hey Y’all,I’m having an amazing time! Utah is so beautiful and amazing. I’ve met so many new people and made some amazing friends. Every day I’ve done something new! I don’t want to spoil the trip but I LOVE y’all so much and cannot wait to tell you all about it!
Sadie- Hi mom and dad, This trip has been so much fun so far. Everything is so pretty and different than anything I have ever done. I have met so many new people that I have gotten so close to. I can’t wait to tell you everythingwhen I get home and I love you so much!
Henry- Hello Mom and dad, I’m having a good time. We’ve been to so many cool places. The heat hasn’t been that bad at night. We are allowed to cowboy camp (which is sleeping without a tent.) Miss you guys!
Hunter- Hi Mom and Dad! I am having the best time ever. We have been to Zion, Bryce, Canyon, Canyonlands, Arches and Dead Horse Park. The views have been amazing! I love y’all so much!
Harper- Hey Dad and mom! I miss y’all so much! I am making so many new friends and memories here. I hope every thing is good at home. I love y’all so much and I will tell everything when I get home. I don’t want to spoil anything. BYEEEEE
Channing- Hey mom and dad! I’m having so much fun! We did some rock climbing and canyoneering! It’s really beautiful here!! I miss y’all and love y’all so much ! I will give detail when I get home! Love you so much!!
Millie- Hey mom and dad! Utah is so lit! I have seen the most beautiful sights and made so many memories. Moondance is one of the best experiences EVER!! I love you guys so much and appreciate y’all!
Syd- Hey guys! Utah is the coolest place ever! It’s so pretty here and I’ve done such cool things. My group is so fun and I’m having the best time! See y’all soon!
Ben- Hey mom and dad! Canyonlands is so fun and we’ve done amazing stuff everyday. I’ve made so many friends and my group is awesome. We did a famous hike through water in a canyon and the rivers are super trout heavy.
Love you,
Safe Arrival
June 7, 2026
Hello Canyonland Families!
We heard from our leaders today that the group has landed safely in Salt Lake! 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
