A Smashing Time in Spain!
July 16, 2026
Hola!
We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in L’Escala, Spain! We traded in our hiking boots for flip-flops and embraced a few days by the Mediterranean. We got up early and packed our bags to catch a van ride to L’Escala. As soon as we loaded into the van, everyone was excited to listen to music. We passed around the trip phone so everyone could play their favorite songs. Elvis and Graham were especially happy to hear some of the music they had been missing from back home.
After a major jam session, everyone settled into their books. We have been surprised by the number of readers in our group and how many books have made their way through the van. The Handmaid’s Tale, Lonesome Dove, Life of Pi, The Housemaid, The Song of Achilles, and Endurance have all been making the rounds over the past two weeks.
We interrupted our reading session for a much-needed lunch. Funny enough, our only option was KFC, so we enjoyed a little taste of home before hitting the road again. Once we arrived at camp for the next few days, we settled in while the leaders, along with Sloane, Graham, Bella, and Ashlynn, headed to the grocery store to pick up everything we needed for taco night.
When they returned, everyone came together to cook our first meal as a group. It was fun stepping out of our comfort zones to prepare dinner for twelve people! After dinner, we still had plenty of energy from our long day in the van, so we threw on our swimsuits and ran down to the beach for a swim.
We raced through the waves (Ben won… but Nate almost pulled off the upset). Graham found a dead jellyfish, and once someone was brave enough to pick it up, we spent the next several minutes chasing each other around with it. Scarlet tried to take a bite, but Bella convinced her otherwise. Scarlet was understandably disappointed at first, so we made it up to her with a trip for ice cream.
That evening, we returned to camp for a great Moonup led by Graham and Elvis. They asked some thoughtful questions that got everyone reflecting before we circled up and elected Sloane and Campbell to lead us through our first full day enjoying the Mediterranean.
The next morning, we got to sleep in a little later than usual. Our only truly quiet morning of the trip. We took full advantage of it by trying our hand at making crepes. Campbell and Sloane took charge of delegating jobs, cutting strawberries, and figuring out what we could substitute for the eggs we had forgotten to buy. Bella came up with the idea of using Greek yogurt instead, and it couldn’t have worked better. The crepes were a huge success as we listened to music and got ready for a relaxing day at the beach.
Once we arrived at the beach, we claimed a spot in the sand and set up our home base. Some of the group swam while others read. The boys wandered through town exploring, and Charlie picked up a football that everyone had a blast throwing around in the waves.
We also welcomed a 13th member to the group, a giant pink flamingo float named Pinkie. Sloane and Campbell took her on her maiden voyage into the Mediterranean. Pinkie became a battleground in the ocean, a chair on the beach, but most importantly, a friend.
Around lunchtime, some of us grabbed poke bowls while others opted for smoothies. Nate and Elvis each managed to eat at least two ice creams that day, a luxury we hadn’t enjoyed very often while trekking in the Pyrénées. Once we were all worn out from the sun, we headed back to camp and found our long-lost hacky sack, which instantly gave the group a second wind.
That evening, we returned to town for a pasta dinner before playing hacky sack by the beach. Nate kept catching the hacky sack on his back and springboarding it toward Charlie, creating some impressive trick shots. After dinner, we gathered for Moonup, reflected on another great day at the beach, and got excited for our next adventure, sea kayaking.
The following morning, we got up early, ate a quick breakfast, and headed to the beach to meet our kayaking guides. After getting fitted with our gear, we launched into the water. The swells were fairly strong that morning, but we persevered. Graham attempted an advanced maneuver and flipped her kayak, but we quickly emptied it out and were back on our way. We paddled through caves along the coastline while battling the waves before stopping at a small beach for lunch. Our guides provided sandwiches and an extremely tart lemonade that definitely woke everyone up.
After swimming for a while, we suited back up and continued kayaking. This time we had both the wind and the waves at our backs, making for a much easier paddle home. Russell and Scarlet especially enjoyed riding the waves and picking up speed as they rolled beneath their kayaks. Before we knew it, we had made it back to our home beach. We unloaded our gear, picked up groceries for the next day’s lunch, and headed back to camp before our evening cooking class.
After a quick turnaround, we marched back into town for our cooking class. They put Elvis in charge of grilling the chicken and sausage for the paella, while Charlie and Bella made pesto. Campbell and Sloane roasted lettuce for our appetizer, while Dilara and Campbell chopped tomatoes and prepared guacamole. Graham and Sloane sliced the salmon. The entire experience was incredibly rewarding because everything came together beautifully, and by the end of the meal, we had all eaten until we could barely move.
That evening, Dilara and Russell were elected to lead us through our final full day in Costa Brava and our second day of kayaking. The next morning, we woke up even earlier to catch our van ride to a different beach, where we would launch for another day on the water. We explored a brand-new section of coastline filled with caves and rock formations. The swells were much calmer than the day before, allowing our guides to lead us through some incredibly narrow passages between the cliffs.
We stopped for lunch at a beautiful rocky beach, where Bella and several others helped set everything up. Along with our sandwiches, we tried some Biscoff spread that turned out to be a huge hit. After lunch, we went for another swim and even jumped off a few rocks before gearing back up for the paddle home.
With both the wind and waves behind us once again, the return trip flew by. We arrived back at our home beach, packed up all of our gear, and then our LODs, Dilara and Russell, headed off to grocery shop for that night’s dinner: vodka pasta. The grocery run was a success, and we hopped back into the vans to return to camp. Before dinner, we had a little downtime. Some of us headed to the pool, where Russell, Elvis, Charlie, Scarlet, and Ben spent over an hour playing monkey in the middle with a ball.
After cleaning up, we got dinner started just in time to watch the England vs. Argentina match. Elvis was especially excited to catch the game. As our time in Costa Brava came to a close, we began looking forward to our journey back to France. Next stop: Chamonix, where we’ll prepare for our next trekking adventure.
We have loved getting to know your kids as this group has grown closer each day. They have embraced every challenge, supported one another, and brought so much energy and positivity to this adventure. We are more than ready for this next challenge and can’t wait to share how it goes in our next update.
Adiós,
Scarlet and Ben
Update from CHA 4B!
July 11, 2026
Bonjour!
The first week of Chamonix 4B is officially in the books, and what a week it has been. We’ve spent the past several days hiking through the Pyrenees, crossing between France and Spain, eating plenty of baguettes, and getting to know one another along the way. The miles have been challenging, but the group has settled into life on the trail surprisingly quickly. There has already been no shortage of laughs, inside jokes, and memorable moments.
After everyone arrived safely in Luz-Saint-Sauveur, we had a chance to slow down, unpack, and start getting to know each other. The next morning, Nate and Ashlynn stepped into their roles as our first Leaders of the Day. They led us through town as we wandered local shops, visited the old castle overlooking the valley, and explored a historic church before grabbing dinner at a couple of local restaurants. We even caught part of the World Cup while we ate. That evening we played a speed dating game so everyone could learn a little about one another before finishing the night with our first Moonup. Nate and Ashlynn introduced the tradition and did a great job getting everyone comfortable sharing with the group. The following morning, it was finally time to start trekking. Russell and Bella led the way as we met our mountain guide, Mandy, and headed to the trailhead. There is always a little uncertainty on that first hiking day as everyone figures out how their pack fits, how fast they like to hike, and what life on the trail is going to feel like. Before long, though, everyone found their rhythm. Russell spent much of the day setting a steady pace at the front of the group while Bella jumped in wherever she was needed. At lunch, the LODs helped pass out our baguettes before everyone wandered over to a nearby river to cool their feet in the icy water. It didn’t take long before boots were off and everyone was enjoying the break before heading back up the trail. The next day brought one of our biggest climbs as Campbell and Charlie took over as LODs. We got an early start, and the long uphill gave everyone plenty of time to talk. Somewhere along the trail, Guess the Movie and a seemingly endless supply of riddles became the entertainment for the day, thanks to Elvis and Ashlynn. Later that afternoon we did one of our favorite trail traditions: a silent walk. For about thirty minutes, everyone spread out along the trail and hiked without talking. Afterwards, students shared things they noticed that they probably would have missed otherwise, the sound of streams, wildflowers, birds overhead, and just how big the mountains around us really are. The final climb into Góriz Refuge was steep, and Nate was the first to reach the top. Everyone rolled into the refuge tired but in good spirits. Before dinner, Charlie, Elvis, Ben, and Scarlet found ourselves in a very competitive game of Gin Rummy that somehow became almost as intense as the hike itself. We wrapped up the day with Moonup overlooking the mountains until a nearby French woman “politely” told us “dont play here” and that was our que to leave. It became a running joke whenever we are a little to roundy someone reminds us “don’t play here” and we always get a laugh out of it. Elvis and Dilara led us downhill the following day as we made our way toward San Nicolás. Although descending sounds easier than climbing, our legs would probably argue otherwise. We kept a quick pace to make our taxi on time, and by the time we arrived everyone was more than ready for hamburgers and patatas bravas. That evening Ben introduced the NOLS Leadership Grid, one of our favorite leadership activities. Students reflected on the different ways they naturally lead others and had fun seeing where there natural leadership style is. Afterwards, Elvis ran a game of Mafia that quickly became one of the group’s favorite evening traditions. Somewhere during the game childhood plays came up, and we learned about Sloane’s childhood performances. Her two roles as darkness, and sushi had everyone laughing because she floats from both roles throughout the day perfectly. Graham and Sloane(sushi) took over the next morning as we climbed back toward France. The group is already noticeably more comfortable with long hiking days. Packs seem to fit a little better, breaks happen a little quicker, and everyone knows what to expect. The boys passed much of the climb by attempting to sing as a hiking quartet, with Russell managing to keep everyone together. Whether they were actually in harmony is still up for debate. Near the border, Charlie and Nate made a new four-legged friend when an energetic puppy decided to join us for a while. Later that afternoon we reached Gavarnie, which was buzzing with excitement as the town prepared for the Tour de France the following day. Ice cream was an easy decision before finishing the evening with Moonup in the local park while French children played nearby. Russell and Bella led us to one of the highlights of the trek the next day: the tallest waterfall in Europe. Ashlynn, Russell, and Charlie wasted no time getting as close as possible and returned completely soaked from the spray. Thankfully the warm sun made drying off easy by lunchtime. The trail kept us entertained in other ways too. Graham took a tumble during a game of “The Floor is Lava,” and Charlie somehow managed to lose half of his trekking pole. We’re still not entirely sure how. By late afternoon we reached Refuge Espequette, surrounded by horses, sheep, donkeys, and goats. Dinner that night was a group favorite, with Nate confidently declaring the bolognese the best meal of the trip so far. As the sun set, Scarlet shared an activity, we paired up for a listening activity that encouraged everyone to simply listen without interrupting or offering advice. It was a nice way to slow down after another full day on the trail before Mandy showed us just how much of the Pyrenees we had covered and how much farther our adventure would soon take us. Dilara and Nate were our final full-day Leaders of the Day in the mountains. They kept everyone’s spirits up through another morning climb before we stopped for lunch beside a calm river. Later that afternoon we carefully worked our way through a field full of cows and, not surprisingly, plenty of cow pies. Not long after, we spotted several vultures gathered around a sheep not far from the trail. It isn’t something you see every day, and everyone stopped for a few minutes to watch from a distance. That evening the girls were excited to stay in an authentic Mongolian yurt while the boys settled into a more traditional room nearby. Before dinner we all met back up to play cards, relax, and enjoy blueberry and chocolate crêpes. Nate and Dilara led us in a very thoughtful Moonup. Ben introduced us to a silly, lay on your stomach and whisper your middle name game. This had us cackling before bed. Charlie and Ashlynn led our final morning in the Pyrenees. The hike itself was fairly short, which gave us time to pause for one last reflection before leaving the mountains. Everyone picked up a rock and thought about something they wanted to leave behind before we continued on to Spain. Students shared as much or as little as they wanted before placing the rocks back along the trail. It was a simple way to wrap up a week that asked a lot from everyone. We also said goodbye to Mandy, whose knowledge of the mountains and steady encouragement helped make the past week such a great experience. Back in town, showers, clean clothes, and a trip to the grocery store felt like luxuries before packing our bags for the next leg of the adventure. It’s hard to believe we’ve only been together a week. The group has already settled into a comfortable rhythm, and it’s been fun to watch friendships grow with each passing day. Tomorrow we trade mountain trails for the Mediterranean coast as we head to Costa Brava. We’re excited to see what the next chapter of the trip has in store. Thank you for sharing your kids with us!
Ben and Scarlet
Russell:Wassup brochachos, Russell in da hooouse! Ever been to the Pyrenees? Well guess what, I have now. These Pyrenees are pretty lit. Anywho, see ya later, 🐊.
Charlie:Yo wassup, been chillin in the mountains. Having a lit time, times are good here when time is not a focus. See ya😌
Nate:Hello family! I miss you guys so much! It has been hard but so worth it. So far the trip has been tremendous and I am so excited for Tour Du Mont Blanc. I will see you guys a little bit soon.🤩🐨
Bella:Hiii!! I have been having so much fun here. Right now we are in Luz but the Pyrenees were so pretty. Tomorrow we leave for Costa Brava which will be a nice break from trekking. Thank you and miss you!!
Elvis: what up guys we are in luz in France rn we just finished 7 days of trekking in the Pyrenees it was light work. we go to the beach tomorrow in Spain so very cool. Pet Theo for me!
Graham: Hey mom and dad!! I’m having so much fun on Cham. We just finished seven days of trekking in the Pyrenees. I miss yall and I hope yall had a good 4th! Also hey RK🤟🤟! I miss u guys so much and hope yall are doing well(xx)❤️
Campbell:Hi fam!!! I am doing great in Cham!! Our afternoon walks definitely prepared me well for our trekking lol. We just finished our 7 days in the Pyrenees and I had so much fun (like sSO much)I miss you guys and think about you guys a lot but I am enjoying our trip so much. Tell C I hope she is doing good!! Also to my friends GS I hope love island is good I’m so curious what is going on and I miss u guys so much and I got you guys presents 😊😊😊. Love you guys so much and will see you superrrrr soon
Sloane:hiiii! im having an amazing time and we just finished trekking for 7 days in the Pyrenees mountains. it was soo cool and awesome and i love it here. i miss yall but im having the best time ever😊😊❤️❤️❤️
Dilara:hi Anne and Baba I am having a great time and we just finished trekking for seven days in the Pyrenees. I miss you guys and boots and Daisy but I am excited for the rest of the trip and will see you soon, I love you! 😊😊
Ashlynn: heyy!! I am having so much fun! We just finished our 7 days of trekking in the Pyrenees. I cannot wait for the rest of this trip, it has been incredible! I love yall so much and will see you soon!!! 🩷�
Safe Arrival!
July 3, 2026
Hello Chamonix Families!
We heard from our leaders 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
