Au Revoir Chamonix 1B!
June 24, 2026
Good morning Moondance! It is a sad day over here at the Paris airport – it is departure day. We cannot believe how fast this session went by, it feels like just yesterday we were here picking up everyone at the start of the trip! Ending our time in Paris has been the cherry on top of this great trip, and we spent our time here well.
After we finished our time in Chamonix, we headed to Paris! We arrived in the afternoon and booked it to the Eiffel Tower, where we sat on the lawn and enjoyed the view. We walked to a local dinner spot and enjoyed different types of pastas and triple-paddy burgers. We explored downtown after dinner, ending back up at the Eiffel Tower for moonup. Harper asked thoughtful questions about what we would miss from our Moondance trip, and it was then that it started to sink in that we were about to leave. At 11pm, the Eiffel Tower glistened, and we all sat there and watched with awe – a perfect wrap up to a perfect trip.
The next day was jam packed. We had a quick breakfast at our hostel and then headed to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to shop. We explored the street and everyone bought new fits to wear for the nights’ banquet! Brooks, Griff, Driggs, and Charlie shopped well and were repping Ralph Lauren. We ate lunch at a local sandwich place, and one half of the group kept shopping while Gunner, Driggs, Emory, Lila, Lovie, and Nate explored Notre Dame.
We had banquet dinner at a cute little restaurant where we feasted on even more burgers and other various kinds of cuisine, and then explored the area around the Louvre. We walked through Tuileries Garden and got ice cream, and then stumbled upon the Fête des Tuileries – a fair! We spent two hours going on rides and playing games at the fair – ask your kids about the Gravitron!Gunner and Nate went on that ride multiple times, while Louise, Walker, and others explored the fun house. Grayson and Harper got soaked on a water ride, and we all ended up having such a fun time.
After the fair, we went back to the garden for moonup. Led by Emory and Driggs, we were able to reflect on what we wanted to take away from the trip. We reminisced on the beginning parts of the trip and laughed recalling our funniest moments. Nate and Ellie bought French journals for everyone, where everyone wrote personalized notes for each other. It was a great last moonup.
Flash forward just a few hours and now the kids are off! We cannot even begin to describe how grateful we are for this group of kids and for these past three weeks. It has been such a privilege watching them grow as individuals and as a group. We are confident that these bonds they’ve made will last a lifetime, and are so proud of how every student embraced the challenges that came with this trip with grace and positivity. Thank you for trusting your prize possessions with us, and for giving us the opportunity to get to know them. They are all incredible people, and you should be proud! We will be thinking of them when we are back in the mountains again. CHA1B forever!
With gratitude,
Ellie and Nate
Summits + Sweet Memories!
June 22, 2026
CHA1B Trip Update #3
Hello Moondance! We are reporting live on our way to Paris!! We just had an incredible five days in Chamonix, trekking the north side of the iconic Tour de Mont Blanc (TMB for short). Our time in the Pyrenees prepared the group well, and everyone crushed it. 12 days of trekking over the whole trip is no small feat, and we are confident that everyone is leaving the trip as expert hikers. We hope they continue this at home!
We left off at the sunny Costa Brava and took several trains to get to Chamonix. We met our guide, Xavier, who spent the five days with us and was absolutely incredible. We couldn’t get enough of his stories from working on the mountain and admired his expertise and humor.
We started the TMB with a nice uphill, something we’ve become pretty used to over the trip. At the top, we stopped for lunch, surrounded by dramatic and humbling mountains. Walker, Emory, and Nate took the extra step to hike up a nearby trail with Xavier, which gave them a 360-degree view of the mountains. After our lunch of cuts, jams, apples, and honey, we continued on. There was lots of snow on the trail, which led to many snowballs being thrown and attempts to ski down mini slopes. Brooks especially enjoyed this part of the trek, noting that it was the most snow he had ever seen in his life. We embraced the snow and enjoyed the childlike whimsy it brought all of us.
Xavier took the time to teach each LOD the ins and outs of maps – how to read topographical lines, tell the distances and elevation, and how to orient. Charlie picked up this skill impressively quickly, and as LOD that day, he kept the group informed on what to expect. That afternoon, we made it to La Fouly, Switzerland, explored the town, and ended the night with a heartfelt moonup where we reminisced on our happiest memories.
The next day, we trekked nearly 8 miles to Champex-Lac, Switzerland. We were given Top of Europe shirts at the start of the TMB, and we all matched that day – looking like expert hikers with style. During our hike, we walked through a swarm of cows, which was hilarious and so much fun. Harper particularly enjoyed them! The speedy group finished the day quickly, ending with plenty of time to swim in a lake in town. Driggs spent a long time in the cold water, enjoying the mountainous view. Graysen and Lovie made friends with the ducks while we lay in the sun. Later that afternoon, we played card games before the rain set in, which made us all appreciate the beautiful weather we’ve had all session.
The third day was a steep one. We started early and climbed, climbed, and climbed. It was not easy, but everyone did an amazing job. The views were well worth it, with Lila noting that it looked like we were “hiking into the sky.” This statement could not be truer – picture turning the corner and only seeing mountains and blue skies. It was incredible. We celebrated the end of the climb with some cake, baked by a local shop right at the top! The remainder of the afternoon was spent descending down the mountain and enjoying everyone’s company. We eventually arrived in Trient and explored the small town, with Lovie admiring the small pink church in the middle of it. We are going to miss these cool tiny towns in the mountains!
The next day was our last full day of hiking! We were a few members short due to some knee problems, but both groups were determined to make it a great day regardless. The hiking crew climbed uphill all morning and kept their spirits up. After three hours, they made it to the top and ate lunch with the beautiful view of Mount Blanc – the tallest mountain in Europe! Louise took a nap in the sun, and Walker took great photos of the group, proving his photography skills. Ellie read her favorite poem, and eventually the group made it down the mountain to meet the other group. They had spent their afternoon exploring a nearby town, and later showed us around. That night, we played duck, goose, which included one too many wipeouts and a whole lot of laughs.
Last day in Chamonix! We quickly hiked back into town and said our goodbyes to Xavier. He gave us all certificates of completion for finishing the Northern Route of the TMB, which we will all cherish forever! We celebrated the end of trekking after Poco Loco burger, a delicious burger place recommended by Gunner, who had skied in Chamonix last winter. It definitely lived up to the hype, but we all know Luz burger took the cake for best burger of the trip. We explored Chamonix that afternoon and headed back after dinner to enjoy some ice cream and live music. Griff was eager to explore the town and find the best music stops, leading us to a street DJ where the girls danced with some locals. It was a blast. That night, we reflected on the challenges of the trip and what we learned from them. We said goodbye to our view of Mount Blanc and dreamed of Paris!
As this trip comes to an end, the kids have a few thanks to give!
Thank you’s:
Walker: Thank you mom and dad for letting me go on this trip and letting me have a life changing experience love you guys so much see you soon love you.
Charlie: Thanks mamma and Jordan for sending me on this trip! Headed to Paris now, Please Dish me some more bread tryna cop some new drip in Paris. Love and miss you guys!
Griffin: What’s up Mom and Dad. On my way to Paris for our last full day tomorrow. Just wanted to say thank you for sending me on this trip it’s been a blast. Love you guys, and see you guys soon.
Louise: Hi Momma and Dad! I miss you guys so much! Im having so much fun and can’t wait to see y’all in 2 days. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to explore and make new friends! We are otw to Paris right now, and I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! Love y’all!
Emory: Hi mom and dad!! I’m having the most amazing time and am on the way to Paris! Thank you so much for providing me with this opportunity, I am so grateful and have taken so much out of this trip. Can’t wait to see you all and love you so so much!!
Gunner: Hi Mom, Dad! I have had the best time in Europe and it has been so pretty. Thank you for letting me come on this trip, it has been super fun! I love and miss you all and, I can’t wait to come home and see all of you! P.S. Koji says hi.
Lovie: thanks mom and dad so much for sending me on this trip! We’re about to be in Paris and I can’t wait and I’m so grateful! I love yall so much, and tell Harper I miss her and love her and I can’t wait to see yall!
Lila: Hiiii!! Thank you so much for this trip and I cannot wait to explain how it has been. We are otw to Paris right now and I can’t believe I’ll be home in 2 days!! P.s (my card isn’t working again lol…I think it’s tweaking out because I’ve been in so many countries if u wanna call Wells Fargo that would be awesome)
Graysen: hi fam! I’ve had a blast and I am so grateful to have experienced this for the past 5 years thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I love you guys so much and are so excited to see you in Paris!!!!!!! Xoxo bug
Driggs: Hey family. Thank yall so much for sending me on Moondance again it was so much fun. I miss yall and will see yall soon.
Brooks: what’s up family. Thank you guys so much for sending me to Europe on this trip it was a lot of fun. I miss yall and I’ll see yall soon
Harper: Hi!! I miss you guys so much and I’m so grateful for this experience. Fam Thank you for sending me on Moondance. I can’t wait to tell you all about the past 3 weeks!
And that is where we will leave you! We are so excited to spend the last few days together and soak it all up before everyone goes their separate ways. We are so proud of them for killing the second trekking section and can’t wait to celebrate in Paris!!
With gratitude,
Ellie and Nate
Soaking it all in!
June 16, 2026
Helloooooo Moondance families!
It is truly crazy how fast time has gone over here in Europe – we blinked and already are on our way to the last activity! We can’t believe our time together is coming to a close, but are also so stoked for our time in Chamonix and think it will be an amazing end to this incredible trip.
We left off in the beautiful Pyrenees but have traveled far and wide since then. We said goodbye to the mountains and took a five hour van ride to L’escala, Spain to Costa Brava, where we spent the next few days sea kayaking. After arriving to Costa Brava, Griff, Charlie, and Driggs cooked everyone delicious burgers for dinner. We had been hearing about Griff and Charlie’s grilling club they started back at school, and can definitely say we were impressed by their skills. After a delicious meal, we headed to the beach for a sunset swim and moonup. Starting the day in the mountains and ending by the beach – not too shabby.
The next day was ours, and we spent it well. We had a well deserved beauty sleep and a late breakfast of eggs, avacado and bacon before making our way to the beach. We tanned and played water games all afternoon. That night we played “iron chef,” where we split the group into three groups, gave them a budget and free rein at the grocery store, and let them cook whatever they wanted to secure the title of the 2026 Moondance Iron Chef Winners. From Cacio e Pepe to Bolognese pasta to tacos, each group did a killer job and we were incredibly impressed. After a long deliberation, the tacos took the cake – cooked by team Walker, Grayson, Griff, and Driggs. It is important to mention Emory and Lila blew everyone away with their s’mores dip, as dessert was not required in the competition. That night we ate like kings – picture two picnic tables pushed together, a white linen cloth cover (bedsheet), flowers, name tags, gummies AND glass water cups. It was a feast that will go down in history.
A million dishes later, we had moonup led by Brooks and Emory. Brooks gave a hilarious nug jug story, and together they asked us thoughtful questions about values we seek out in our friends, which left us all feeling warm and fuzzy inside. That first day was filled with laughter, sunshine and food, and was the perfect start to our time in Costa Brava.
The next day we started sea kayaking! We met our guides on the beach and kayaked off the coast, gliding along crystal blue water while soaking up the sun. Louise impressed us with her kayaking skills from her previous years at camp, going tandem with Harper who crushed it as well. We celebrated the first day of sea kayaking with some ice cream before our cooking class, where we made paella, bread with tomatoes, and lettuce heads seasoned with corn nuts and homemade pesto. Harper and Grayson put their love and soul into that pesto, and it was amazing. Gunner was the chopper, who diced onions in style. Everyone was able to help out, and it was an amazing meal. We ended the day with moonup, where Lovie taught us a fun game where we ran around with our eyes closed trying to tag each other. The silliness has definitely increased and we are here for it.
The next day was our final day of kayaking. We drove 45 minutes to a different part of the town, which was worth the drive. There, we kayaked in the longest cave in Costa Brava. It was amazing. We ate lunch in a small cove where we were able to snorkel – seeing lots of little fish and cool rocks. After kayaking, we ate dinner by the beach and enjoyed each other’s company in the sand. We ended our last night in Costa Brava the same way we started it – swimming. It was refreshing and so much fun. These past three days have provided a nice reset from trekking, but now we are itching to get back to the mountains and explore the alps!
This morning, we woke up early with Gunner, Lovie, and Emory to enjoy a nice sunrise on the beach before bidding farewell to L’Escala. Gunner and Ellie participated in a quick morning swim before the group headed to Geneva – which we are en route to now!
We are so excited to finish this trip strong by completing some of the Tour du Mont Blanc in Chamonix this week. After getting practice with trekking in the Pyrenees and resting in Spain, we know the kids are prepared and are absolutely going to crush it. This will be an incredible way to finish out the trip, and can’t wait for you all to see how much stronger your kids and friends come out of this experience. You should be proud!
Until next time and with buckets full of gratitude,
Ellie and Nate
Fun in the Pyrenees!
June 12, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Greetings from France! We have had a busy first week hiking in the Pyrenees mountains, filled with beautiful views, marmots, riddles and great company. The kids are absolutely crushing it and we are so proud of them for finishing the first section of trekking strong. Days ranging from 6 to 12 miles – this was not an easy feat and they all did a amazing job.
The trip started off with a travel day with the kids landing in Paris. We ate lunch at a local park and spent time getting to know each other before our long train ride. Emory demonstrated her strong leadership skills right off the bat by helping us carry extra group gear, which we greatly appreciated in a busy Paris train and metro station! After a few hours we made it to Luz, and celebrated with delicious French pizza. We had an awesome first moonup where we were able to discuss our motivations for coming on this trip, and ended the day with a well deserved sleep.
The next day we explored Luz! We experienced our first European continental breakfast with eggs and jam and toast, and then walked up to the Luz-Saint-Sauveur. From here, we could see the whole town of Luz which was very cool. We explored the river, where Lovie successfully skipped her first rock! We headed back to town and ate jaw-dropping burgers (we have not stopped talking about them since) before heading back to the hotel to pack for our seven day trekking adventure. Later in the afternoon we ate dinner and played cards before moonup. Gunner taught the group the game Presidents, which has now become the favorite of the group. Driggs and Emory led a meaningful moonup after dinner, where they encouraged us to talk about who our biggest role model was. As a leader, it was special to hear about those who had inspired the kids and meant so much to both of us. We went to bed dreaming about the mountains and the adventure ahead!
The next seven days were spent exploring the Pyrenees mountains with our local guide. She helped us navigate through some strenuous uphill and downhill while offering insight on the flowers, trees and birds around us. The first day was a long, 12 mile day, but the kids crushed it and never complained. We were able to practice our French and Spanish, as we started the trek in France and crossed the border to Spain shortly in the hike. We begun early in the fog, but as it started to clear, we were greeted by ginormous mountains in the distance. It was truly magical. We stopped by the river for lunch where Griff, Walker, Charlie, and Driggs enjoyed an afternoon swim before we continued on to a little town in the mountains where we were spending the night. We explored the town and celebrated a successful day with a full course meal. We went to bed with tired feet and full bellies!
We started the next day with a well needed stretch circle before trekking once again. The first part of the day included some intense incline, and the group did an amazing job. Louise and Gracie kept a positive attitude even when it was difficult, and we were so proud of them for finishing so strong. After reaching the top, we stopped for a snack and admired the view before heading on. We were so impressed with the kids’ grit and attitude that made going up seem like a breeze! After a few more hours of hiking, we stopped in a beautiful grass field over a waterfall, where we got to watch marmots play together and enjoy the scenery. We played a game of Big Booty and Nate took the cake. After the needed break, we hiked a bit further to a remote mountain hut. Lila and a few others enjoyed a nice journaling session amongst wildflowers while admiring the stunning views, and it was a lovely afternoon. Day two of hiking was challenging, but the kids have been getting better and better every day!
The rest of the week flew by. We crossed the border back to France, which was a stunning sight to see. We were able to see it from afar on the trail, but also got up close to the tallest waterfall in France which was magical. The days were spent getting to know each other on the trail by playing games and riddles (with Brooks getting some of them in a minute or less), cracking jokes, and having meaningful conversations. How lucky are we that we get to connect in such a special and beautiful place!
On the last night of trekking, Harper and Gunner led a reflective moonup that gave everyone the chance to appreciate our time in the mountains. We have had such a special time and it’s been so rewarding watching the kids come together as a group and crush this first section of the trip. Time is flying and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip holds! Before we close, our kids wanted to say hi!
Shoutouts:
Walker: Hi Summy and Mom and Dad I am having a great time and this trip worthwhile the views are also great. Love you guys.
Gunner: Hey Mom, Dad, Tegan, Briggs, Dot Calvin, and Maeve. The trip has been great and I’m sure you’re all finding ways to have fun even without me there. I’ll tell Koji hi for you guys!
Lovie: Hi guys I love and miss y’all so much! Happy Father’s Day Dad I’m sad I can’t be with you but I’m having the best time here! Tell my friends I say hi and that I love them!
Gracie: Hi fam we just finished the Pyrenees and it was so pretty but a lot of work. We are now otw to costa brava. Also happy early Father’s Day KK I love you thank you for everything you do for us. I miss you guys so much can’t wait to see y’all in Paris also I can’t wait to see my sissies and Avery. Xoxo bug
Griff: What’s up family we just finished our first week. We hiked through the Pyrenees and have had amazing food. We are going to Costa Brava tomorrow where I’m psyched to spend some time on the beach. No complaints, miss and love you guys. Also thanks for everything Dad.
Louise: Hi family, I’m having so much fun! It’s been super challenging but so rewarding. I miss y’all so much and can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! I hope all is well at home! (Ps happy early Father’s Day dad, I love you!!)
Emory: Hi!!! I’m having the most amazing time and love my group so so much! This is so rewarding. Graysen is doing great too and we can’t wait to see you all!! Thank you so much for providing me with the opportunity to travel and do all of these amazing things, I’m forever grateful. Love you all so much and happy Father’s Day!🇫🇷🥖💞
Brooks: Hi family, I’m doing pretty good so far. My group is super chill. We just trekked for 7 day but we got through it. I’ll see y’all up in Leland.
Lila: Hiiiii! We just finished 7 days of hiking and it was challanging…but so awesome. It’s been such a different experience than I’ve ever had before and I’m having a great time. I love everyone and I have the best group I could ask for. I miss Ellie so so much and give her a bunch of treats for me. Tell Carly, jq, Ava, sari, Emme, Halle, Emma, Sarah Kate, Zoe, sophia, Hannah l, Hannah R, Lily, Mae Mae, Anne hardy, Allie f, Hadley T, cooper, and everyone in heatstroke (sorry if I missed anyone there’s just a lot of people and I can’t think rn) that I miss them so much and think of them all the time and CANNOT wait to get southern custard and debrief with everyone. and I forgot to say bye to boo Mimi poppy and aunt Caryn so I feel bad so tell them I miss them. See you guys soon:) Also happy Father’s Day dad!!! You’re the goat love you sooo much
Charlie: I just finished trekking through the Pyrenees currently on my way to Costa Brava. I’m having a great time. Happy Father’s Day Jordan love you, surf and golf when I get back. Love you mama. Miss you both!
Driggs: Currently on route to Costa Brava as we speak (June 11). I am having a great time and I am very excited to go hiking even more. We started in the Pyrenees so we have still yet to go to Chamonix. I love y’all so much and I miss you. Having so much fun.
Harper : Hi friends and family I miss you all so much but I’m having SO much fun. Trekking was super challenging but so worth it and awesome and I can’t wait for the next part of our trip. Happy Father’s Day dad and take good care of bear. I can’t wait to see and hug all of you soon and tell you all about it!
Thank you for trusting us with your kids — they have been such a joy to know and we are excited for the next two weeks!
With gratitude,
Ellie and Nate
Safe Arrival!
June 3, 2026
Hello Chamonix Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Paris! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure as they prepare to begin their trekking section!
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
