Farewell from Utah!
July 7, 2026
Hello from Salt Lake City!
Somehow, our final week flew by even faster than the first. After so much anticipation, it was finally time to begin our rafting adventure, and it quickly became a favorite part of the trip. Before launching, we made one last stop at Utahraptor State Park to see real dinosaur tracks. Hank wasted no time bringing them to life with his own dinosaur reenactment, which had everyone laughing, and after grabbing dinner from some of Moab’s food trucks, we packed our dry bags and prepared to trade camp for the Colorado River.
Life on the river quickly settled into its own routine. Mornings started with coffee, breakfast, and breaking down camp before spending the day floating through some of the most incredible scenery in Utah. Of course, the highlight for many was Cataract Canyon itself. Lila claimed the front of the raft whenever she had the opportunity, proudly taking the biggest waves and ending up much wetter than everyone else. Between the excitement of the rapids were long stretches of calm water where everyone had time to relax, talk, play games, and simply enjoy being together.
Some students became experts at river relaxation. Violet stayed true to the spirit animal she chose at the beginning of the trip, an iguana, happily spending hours soaking up the sunshine whenever we stopped. Sally mastered the art of napping on the sand, although one particular nap ended with her waking up completely covered in sand, creating one of the funniest moments of the week. Rhodes found his own way to entertain the group by using sunscreen to draw silly pictures on anyone who happened to be sunbathing nearby. By the end of the trip, no one was safe if they fell asleep in the sun.
The downtime on the river created some of our favorite memories. Creek spent hours kicking around a hacky sack with Chester, and it was fun watching his skills improve throughout the week. Robbie also found himself repeatedly stumped by the famous hat riddle. Somehow, no matter what conversation we were having, it always circled back to the hat, and watching everyone try not to give away the answer became almost as entertaining as the riddle itself.
The Fourth of July gave us another reason to celebrate. Betts served as our Leader of the Day and decided to invite our river guides to join our evening Moonup. It turned into one of those simple but memorable nights where everyone sat together swapping stories, reflecting on the trip, and enjoying each other’s company under the Utah sky.
After four unforgettable days on the river, it was time to return to civilization. We celebrated with a big breakfast before tackling the impressive amount of sand that had accumulated on both ourselves and the vans. Once everything was clean again, we spent one last afternoon exploring Park City. The thrift store run before banquet dinner quickly became the highlight of the day. Reece proudly walked out with an enormous pink prom dress that he wore around town, while Hayes also found an outfit that fit right in with the spirit of the afternoon. The confidence with which they both embraced their new wardrobes kept the whole group laughing.
That evening, we gathered for our final banquet and Moonup. Along with celebrating everything the group had accomplished over the past two weeks, everyone shared what moondance meant to them. One reflection that especially stood out came from Faye, who shared that the trip helped her realize she was more capable than she had ever believed. Hearing moments like that is what makes leading these trips so rewarding, and it is a reminder of why we love what we do.
Before we knew it, airport day was around the corner. While everyone is excited to see family again, it is clear that saying goodbye is not easy. Throughout our final day in Park City, strangers repeatedly stopped us to ask about Moondance. More than once, they were shocked to learn that these campers had only known each other for two weeks. Watching them laugh together, support one another, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company, people assumed they had been friends for years. We could not think of a better reflection of this group or of the friendships they built over the course of this adventure.
Thank you for trusting us with your children and allowing us to be a part of these past two weeks. It has been such a privilege to watch each of them grow in confidence, embrace new challenges, and create friendships that we hope will last long after this trip has ended. We are so grateful for the opportunity to spend this adventure with such an incredible group.
Gratefully,
Lillian, Chester, Hunter
Some words of gratitude from your kiddos!
Hey mom and dad! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip, the counselors are the best! The views are awesome and I have made so many new friends.
-creek
Hey mom and dad, this is Reece. I am having a great time on this trip, thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I love the views and I loved white water rafting. Love you guys a lot.
-Reece
Hi Mom! I’m having the best time ever! Thank you so much for sending me here. I’ve had the best time. And met so many new friends that hopefully can come visit (; I hope you are having fun with Trey or whatever you’re doing. So excited to see you! Can’t wait to do whatever we’re doing after this! Thank you! love you!
-lila
Hi mom and dad! Thank you so much for taking me on this trip! I’ve made so many new friends and so many new memories. I hope you are having fun with Annie and Baker! I can’t wait to go to Wyoming in a couple weeks!
Love,
Robbie
Hi mom, I’ve had so much fun on this trip and I’m so happy to see you in August after I get back from Colorado. I’m so thankful for you sending me on this! And I’ve had the best time! Tell Axel I said hi and also tell bebe and poppy thank you so much!
Love Rhodes
Hey mom hey dad!
I can’t believe moondance is already coming to an end!! I’ve had an amazing time and I am sad to be leaving. I’m excited to see you guys at home! I’m so grateful that I’ve had this experience to grow and make new friends.
Love Betts
Dear mom and dad,
Thank you so much for sending me on moondance! It has been a blast!! I have made so many friends and so many memories that I can’t wait to share with you when I get home. Happy Fourth of July! See you in North Carolina.
Love, Sally
Hey mom and dad,
Thank you so much for signing me up for this moon dance trip and for pushing me to go. I’ve had so much fun! I also made so many friends and memories!
Love Faye
Dear mom and dad,
I have made some of my favorite memories on this trip! I got to try so many new things and meet so many different people!! Thank you so so so much for giving me this amazing opportunity!! I am so sad that my trip has come to an end!
Love you lots,
Violet
Hey mom and dad, I have had so much fun on this trip and can’t wait to sleep in my bed and see the dogs. But I appreciate you bringing me on this trip and letting me buy all of the cool trinkets love you lots
Hayes
Hi Mom, Dad and, Palmer I miss you lots and can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Thank you so much for allowing me to come on this trip, I have met lots of new friends and can’t wait to do it next year!
Love you,
Hank
New Friends and Beautiful Views!
June 30, 2026
Hello from Utah!!
It’s hard to believe we are already one week into our adventure! From the moment everyone met at the airport, this group has brought an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm. They have bonded so quickly, and one thing has become very clear. This group loves games!! It has been so fun watching friendships form so naturally, and we have loved seeing everyone encourage one another while also keeping each other laughing.
After picking everyone up at the airport, our adventure officially began with a long travel day to Southern Utah, right outside of Bryce Canyon. It did not take long for the group to name our trusty van “Clark,” inspired by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Clark has officially become the twelfth member of the group. The next morning, we spent the morning fly fishing before heading to Pine Lake and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Robbie quickly earned bragging rights after winning our rock skipping competition, while the rest of the afternoon was filled with fishing, card games, and plenty of laughter around camp. That evening, we headed to the local rodeo where Hayes proudly won himself a free shirt after being the first person to pull the bandana off the calf. The whole group was cheering him on, and it quickly became one of the funniest moments of the trip so far. By the end of our first couple of days, it already felt like this group had known each other much longer than they actually had.
Our next stop was Bryce Canyon, where everyone was amazed by the towering hoodoos and incredible overlooks before we continued on to Zion National Park. The following day brought one of the biggest adventures of the trip so far: 16 miles through the Narrows! Although the chilly water caught a few people off guard, nobody hesitated to embrace the challenge. Rhodes, our Moondance alum, was always the first one to jump into the deeper pools, setting the tone for an adventurous day and reminding everyone that getting a little wet is part of the fun. By the end of the hike, tired legs were well worth the unforgettable scenery and countless laughs shared along the river.
After Zion, we made our way toward Moab, stopping for what quickly became one of our favorite moonup locations yet: Arches National Park. Sitting together while watching the sunset over the Utah landscape gave everyone the chance to reflect on everything we had already accomplished during our first few days together. Hearing so many campers talk about how proud they were after hiking the Narrows truly filled our cups. Those moments remind us that while the adventures are incredible, the friendships being built around camp are what make this trip so special.
Moab has brought no shortage of excitement. During our rock climbing day, Creek immediately looked right at home on the wall and impressed everyone with the skills he has developed as a competitive indoor climber. Watching him climb inspired the rest of the group to push themselves as well. Faye challenged herself on every climb and left the wall feeling proud of what she had accomplished. Seeing her confidence grow throughout the day was one of our favorite moments. After climbing, we made our way to Delicate Arch for the afternoon. During the hike, Reece quietly volunteered to carry everyone’s water bottles, making the climb a little easier for the rest of the group without ever asking for recognition. Violet has also consistently been someone others can count on. Whether it is helping with camp chores, lending a hand while cooking, or checking to see if someone needs help, she is always one of the first people to step up.
Some of our favorite memories have happened during the moments between adventures. Lila has naturally become the organizer of the group’s games, somehow convincing everyone to gather for another round of hidden Nalgene or Two Truths and a Lie every chance she gets. Those games have become one of the things this group will remember most. Betts can often be heard breaking into one of her favorite camp songs, and before long, Sally is right there singing along beside her. Whether we are driving between destinations, cooking dinner, or packing up camp in the morning, the two of them somehow manage to keep everyone smiling and laughing.
Our week wrapped up with an unforgettable day of canyoneering through the beautiful sandstone around Moab before enjoying some well-earned time exploring town together. When it was Hank’s turn to rappel, the entire group began chanting his name from below, creating one of those moments that perfectly captured how supportive this group has become. After a week filled with hiking, climbing, fishing, and exploring some of Utah’s most incredible landscapes, it was fun to slow the pace a bit, grab some good food, and spend time together. No matter what the activity is, this group has a way of making every moment memorable simply because they genuinely enjoy being together.
As leaders, we could not be more excited about this group. They have embraced every challenge with positive attitudes, celebrated one another’s accomplishments, and formed friendships that continue to grow stronger each day. We are so excited for everything still ahead and cannot wait to share even more memories with you in our next update!
Gratefully,
Lillian, Chester and Hunter
Student Shoutouts:
Hey Queeeen! Hi dad!! Hey little man!! Guess what… I hiked 16 miles and my knee didn’t hurt!! I miss you guys but I am having an amazing time! Can’t wait to tell you everything about the trip!
Love you lots,
Vi
Hi Mom and Dad, (and Palmer) the trip is going good and I am having a great time and can’t wait to come back and say hi to the puppies! Also Palmer don’t forget to do my Duolingo.
Love you,
Hank
Hi Mom, Dad and Liv and Morris, the trip has been great so far and I’m having a good time. We did a BIG hike and we’re only gonna shower once. I’m excited to come back and see you again and tell you about the trip!
Love you – Faye
Hey Mom and Dad, I am having a great time here and have forgotten to miss you guys, even woody and lucy. I hope you guys are having a great time. I have made a lot of friends and I know a bunch of people now. I miss you guys a lot.
Love you-Reece
Hi mom and dad I’m having so much fun we have gone to a lot of national parks and made so many new friends we have gone rock climbing canyoneering fly fishing and gone on a couple hikes tell me what’s going on and what happened as soon as I get back I love y’all so much and miss you lots I’ll see you in a couple of days
love you-Rhodes
Hi mom and dad
Moondance is so much fun!! It is really a new experience and a lot of the stuff I have never done before. All of the other students are the best and we all have so much fun together. Also sleeping outside is definitely different! Some nights we sleep outside of the tents! Everything we have done is so much fun and new. Also one time we hiked 16 miles! Tell Vern I said hi
Lots of love-Sally
Hi mom! Hi dad!! Moondance is a blast!! We’ve gone cowboy camping, hiked 16 miles, rock climbed, repelled and so much more!! Time is flying by and I can’t believe we’re halfway through! I’ve made so many new friends, laughed out loud and had experiences of a lifetime!!
Love you so so much!!!-betts
Hi mom and dad! I am having a great time at moondance. We have rock climbed, hiked 16 miles, and repelled into a canyon. I hope you are having a great time with baker at home and I can’t wait to go to Wyoming with yall! I have made so many new friends and learned so many new things.
Love you guys so much!
-Robbie
Hi mom, I’m having so much fun. We have gone rock climbing and hike 16 miles and I have had so much Friend with everyone in my group. Hope you’re having fun wherever you are. When I get back, can we not go to Roaring Gap because I wanna be home for banks and taylor’s birthday since I never am. I also haven’t been home in like a month. I’m having so much fun. Love you!
-lila
Hi Mom and Dad moondance has been so fun the fly fishing was amazing but there weren’t a lot of big fish. The camping has been super fun. I will be coming home soon so hang in there and give Scooby and Palmer a big hug. Love you.
-Hayes
Hey mom and dad!! Moondance has been so much fun, the counselors are awesome and the views are amazing. I’ve seen so many beautiful places, and I learned to fly fish! And I caught my first trout! I’ve seen so many beautiful places and the people I’m hanging out with are so cool, the camping has been super fun. I’ve cowboy camp the last two nights and it has been awesome. The stars are amazing out here and the moon was orange and it was so pretty this camp is definitely a lot different than I thought it would be and I’ve made a ton of friends, miss yall so much and love yall give Hank and Huck a hug for me!
-Creek
Howdy from Utah!
June 24, 2026
Hello Canyonlands 2 Families!
We heard from our leaders this afternoon that the group has landed safely! 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 couple weeks! 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
