Closing Time on COT
June 22, 2026
Hello Moondance Families!
Our rock climbing adventure kicked off with a hearty breakfast of eggs and hash browns to fuel up for the exciting day ahead. After meeting our climbing instructors and reviewing safety procedures, we hiked out to our first set of cliffs and got our first look at the routes we would be tackling. The climbing area featured several routes of varying difficulty, and everyone was eager to give them a try. A huge shoutout goes to Sienna for leading the charge and taking on the toughest route first, encouraging others to step outside their comfort zones and give it a shot. Every camper completed at least one climb and learned the climbing commands and communication used on the wall. Throughout the morning, students challenged themselves, cheered each other on from below, and celebrated every success along the way. After a great morning on the cliffs, we enjoyed lunch at a local park before beginning our drive toward Crested Butte. Along the way, Grady and Sienna had a great opportunity to demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace after a cheese ball incident required some extra cleanup efforts. After arriving in Crested Butte, we made a well-deserved stop at a chocolate factory for ice cream before spending time exploring the beautiful mountain town and soaking in the incredible scenery. Back at camp, Bailey prepared his famous Mississippi Mac and Cheese with help from Eliza and Thomas. To make dinner even more memorable, Grady and Miller cooked up a trout they had caught near camp, which turned out to be a delicious addition to the meal. We wrapped up the evening with a Moonup led by our Leaders of the Day, Clayton and Hampton, followed by a no-hands Fruit Roll-Up eating competition. It was a close race that had everyone heading to bed laughing.
The group headed into day two of climbing with much more confidence after the previous day’s success. We returned to the cliffs ready to tackle more challenging routes, and Miller wasted no time stepping up to the plate. So eager to get back on the wall, he tackled both more difficult routes early and even returned for additional climbs throughout the morning.
Kieran demonstrated some creative climbing techniques of his own, proving there is more than one way to make it up a rock face. Throughout the day, students continued to push themselves outside their comfort zones while encouraging one another every step of the way.
After climbing, we made a grocery stop before spending a relaxing afternoon enjoying lunch and playing soccer at a local park. Clayton and Katherine demonstrated their defensive prowess on the field shutting down Jackson’s fancy dribbling, and Coco showed off some talented passing to create goal scoring opportunities. After a bit of lollygagging, we loaded back into the vans and began the scenic drive toward the sand dunes. That evening, we settled into our campsite and enjoyed a feast of burgers and hot dogs while talking excitedly about the next morning’s plans. As the sun set over camp, we gathered for Moonup led by Fredrick and Jacqueline before turning in early for our upcoming sunrise adventure.
Our day at the sand dunes began bright and early with some wake-up music to wake up for our drive into the park. After making our way up the dunes, we were rewarded with one of the most beautiful sunrises imaginable. Watching the first light spill across the sand while surrounded by mountains was an unforgettable experience and one of the highlights of the trip.
After enjoying the views and collecting plenty of sand in our socks, we headed to Salida for lunch and some time exploring town. The group loved checking out local shops, finding souvenirs, and wandering through one of Colorado’s most charming mountain communities.
One of the biggest surprises of the day came when we discovered the man-made river wave running through downtown of the city we were in. Kieran was the first to step up and give surfing a try, and before long the rest of the group was eager to jump in as well. For many students, it was their first time surfing, and despite a few wipeouts, everyone had an absolute blast. The cool water was a welcome break from the warm afternoon and quickly became one of the most talked-about experiences of the trip. That evening, we returned to camp along a river where we enjoyed pita pizzas for dinner, spent time fishing, and watched the stars come out overhead. It was the perfect way to end an incredible day of adventure.
The next day began with a quick breakfast before heading to the ropes course and zipline park. Throughout the morning and afternoon, students challenged themselves on a variety of obstacles high above the ground and soared across the hills on multiple ziplines. It was awesome to watch everyone encourage one another while stepping outside their comfort zones. A special shoutout goes to Coco for earning the unofficial award for best zipline pose of the day.
Afterward, we returned to experience the famous Tenderfoot Hill Climb, one of the signature events of America’s oldest whitewater festival. The town was full of energy, with local artists, vendors, live entertainment, and countless pop-up shops. The group had a great time exploring and soaking up the atmosphere. Back at camp, it was time for one of Moondance’s favorite traditions: Iron Chef. The students split into two teams and were challenged to prepare a meal for the leaders to judge. Team Taco, led by Jacqueline, prepared beef tacos with chips and queso, while Team Alfredo, led by Eliza and Miller, served up chicken alfredo with asparagus. Some internal debate on whether the noodles should be cooked in lemon water sparked a bit of controversy, but regardless, both teams impressed the judges with their teamwork, creativity, and cooking skills. The competition sparked plenty of laughs, friendly debate, and great memories around camp. We ended the evening with Moonup led by Coco and Miller as everyone reflected on another unforgettable day together.
After a beautiful night of cowboy camping beneath a sky full of stars, our final full day together began with a massive pancake breakfast prepared by Eliza. The menu featured syrup, honey, chocolate and and peanut butter chips, making it one of the favorite breakfasts of the trip.
We then began another drive, fueled by a fun playlist featuring our future DJs, Miller and Hampton. Along the way, we made a quick stop in Bailey, Colorado, where Bailey finally got the photo he had been waiting for with the town’s welcome sign.
Once we arrived and got camp set up, it was time for the important task of cleaning the van. What began as a simple trip to the car wash quickly turned into a soap battle for the ages. Clayton ended up with a new shade of pink in her hair, Katherine’s hat received an unexpected makeover, and Fredrick somehow almost managed to avoid the chaos until the rest of the group finally tracked him down and covered him in soap. Needless to say, everyone left the car wash much soapier than expected. After cleaning both the van and ourselves, we kicked off banquet night with a trip to Goodwill, where students picked out outfits for one another to wear to dinner. The results were exactly what we’ve come to expect from a Moondance banquet. Grady stole the show with an adorable Minnie Mouse hoodie, while Hampton, Katherine, and Bailey arrived as a trio of particularly tuff fashionable grandmas. Dressed in our finest Goodwill attire, we made our way to a burger bar where the laughs never stopped. Whether it was Sienna’s excitement causing the occasional spilled drink, Miller’s ambitious attempt to conquer the the largest burgers on the menu, or Jacqueline and Katherine confidently asking strangers what they thought of their outfits (with varying degrees of success), there was never a dull moment.
After making it back to camp, we gathered round for our final Moonup, with an especially ginormous Nug Jug expertly identified by Miller and courteously of Grady’s many compliments to others. Despite a very long ceremony, accompanied by Coco’s caffeine-fueled pacing, everyone shared meaningful reflections during our “Before We Leave, I Want You To Know” activity. The group’s adoption of Miller’s signature “thank you so much” expression brought plenty of laughs, while the thoughtful words shared by everyone reminded us how much this group has grown together over the past few weeks. Our final Moonup concluded with laughs, smiles, hugs, and a few yawns as we prepared for a short night of sleep before our departure.
Following an early wake up with the sun, we departed from our campsite for the final time and made a very heart aching drive into the airport which wasn’t lacking a tear or two from the leaders. We set up camp outside baggage claim and began saying goodbyes filled with long hugs, tear stained cheeks, and exchanged phone numbers. Some of us left the airport with newly crafted bracelet courtesy of Bailey’s arts and crafts talents to commemorate our Moondance experience, while Frederick and Kierin got to leave the airport with the leaders for a couple hours of additional fun due to a change in flight. Our final goodbyes were said at the airport under the light of the moon, and as the leaders departed the airport for the final time, we couldn’t help but think how much we disliked the quiet and empty state of the van without all of our favorite new found friends. We miss yall already and hope to see you again so soon!!! to see what everyone can accomplish in their bright futures.
Sienna-Hi mom and dad! Thank you so much for letting me experience moondance. It is a experience l will never forget!
Jacqueline – Hey mom and dad thank you for this wonderful trip that I will never forget. It was a great experience that changed my life.
Katherine -Hey mom and dad thank yall so much for this trip! I met so many wonderful people and im so thankful for both of y’all.
Coco-Hi mom and dad thank you so much for sending me to Moondance. It was so much fun and I’m so thankful.
Hampton- Hey mom and dad! I had so much fun at Moondance! Thank y’all so much for giving me the opportunity to go!! can’t wait to tell you guys all about it!
Grady -Hi mom and dad i am very grateful for y’all giving me this opportunity. it helped me become a better person and i made lots of friends.
Clayton-Thank you so much for making this trip possible, without your hard work I would have not been able to have as much fun as I did. Thanks!
Miller -Hey mom and dad thank you so much for everything yall have done. I had so much fun and can’t wait to do it again next year.
Thomas-Thank you, Mom and Dad for this amazing opportunity and experience and had a time of fun with all the friends that I made and had a multitude of activities to have fun.
Kierin-Hi mom and dad, thank you so much for this great experience and I’m glad I got to meet all these amazing new people. Love you so much!
Frederick-I can’t wait to see you so soon. Moondance was fun and I’m happy I went.
Eliza- Hi Mom and Dad! I am so happy I got to experience Moondance and can’t wait to tell you about all our adventures. See you so soon!
Jump, Skip, and a Hike Through Colorado
June 15, 2026
Hello Moondance Families!
We began our backpacking adventure with a breakfast of champions: chocolate chip pancakes! Before hitting the trail, the group learned the art of the “duffle shuffle,” working together to divide personal gear, sleeping equipment, and kitchen supplies among everyone’s packs. It was a great first opportunity for the group to support one another and prepare for life on the trail.
After loading up the vans, we enjoyed an absolutely beautiful drive through the mountains, singing along to everyone’s favorite songs as we made our way toward a national forest. Once we arrived, we filled water bottles, double-checked gear, and took one last look at the van before beginning our backpacking journey.
Our first afternoon on the trail featured a scenic 2-3 mile hike through towering forests, multiple river crossings, and incredible mountain views. One of the highlights of the day was spotting a large 10-point buck along the trail. Jacqueline showed great resilience after taking an unexpected dip during a river crossing and quickly bounced back with positive attitudes and plenty of laughter. After arriving at our campsite tucked away beside a river, everyone jumped into setting up tents and setting up camp. Dinner featured cheese and pepperoni pita pizzas before we gathered for a chilly but memorable Moonup led by our Leaders of the Day, Sienna and Miller. Wrapped in sleeping bags beneath a sky full of stars, we reflected on a fantastic first day and looked ahead to our hike the next day.
Day two was our biggest challenge yet: a seven-mile climb into the heart of the mountians. The group tackled the trail one section at a time, encouraging each other through steep climbs, water breaks, and plenty of morale boosts along the way. We stopped for lunch overlooking a breathtaking valley sponsored by Katherine’s backpack space and enjoyed some of the best views of the trip so far. Throughout the day, conversations flowed easily as the group shared stories about hometowns, favorite TV shows, family vacations, and future adventures. Games of Wavelength and constant laughter thanks to Hampton helped pass the miles and kept spirits high.
All the hard work paid off when we arrived at our stunning campsite beside a lake. Surrounded by famous mountains and peaks, the group was rewarded with some of the most beautiful scenery Colorado has to offer. Before dinner, several students grabbed their fishing rods and headed to the water. Shoutout to Grady and Miller for successfully reeling in trout! We ended the evening with delicious Mexican bowls and a Moonup led by Coco and Grady before settling into our tents for a well-earned night’s sleep.
The next morning, Jackson led a small crew back to the lake for one last round of fishing before everyone packed up camp and prepared for the hike downhill. The descent gave us a chance to reflect on how much we had already accomplished together as a group. With the fast downhill pace, the group ended up finding the motivation to do the entire 10 mile hike in one day and finished out the whole trail! After arriving back at the trailhead, we celebrated Grady’s birthday with cookies, candles, and of course a birthday song. As if the celebration wasn’t memorable enough, a curious red fox wandered up to our camp, giving everyone an incredible close up wildlife sighting to cap off the evening. Moonup was led by Kieran and Jacqueline, and featured what felt like never ending stories of fun from our journey through the mountains, as we enjoyed our final night in the backcountry.
Day four brought a peaceful morning in the mountains. We woke to the sound of birds and cool mountain air before packing up camp one final time. Eliza cooked a celebratory breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes while everyone worked together to break down camp and prepare for the drive out. A special shoutout goes to Clayton, Hampton, Thomas, Fredrick, and Kieran for stepping up throughout the trip to help with dishes and camp chores. Their willingness to jump in and help made camp life run smoothly for everyone. As we drove out of the mountains, there was a real sense of pride throughout the group. Over the past four days, everyone had pushed themselves, supported one another, and created memories that will last long after the trip ends. We are incredibly proud of everything this group accomplished and can’t wait for the adventures still ahead.
After a quick drive out of camp, we stopped in telluride for a fantastic lunch at the Cornerhouse Grille. Afterwards, we finally got all showered up and clean as we began to head to our next campsite excited for rock climbing the next day!
Here are some words from the kids:
Hampton: Hey mom, dad and Char! I am having so much fun! My lips are really chapped but other than that this has been awesome! I have made so many new friends, like Grady, Coco, Thomas, Eliza, Katherine, Sienna, Jacqueline and of course Miller! I love my leaders, and it’s beautiful! Hopefully Char is keeping my streaks… Love y’all!
Eliza: Hi mom and dad! I am having the best time, and my group/ leaders are awesome! Backpacking was hard…but rose trained me well 🙂 I love you! Also mom did you fix your phone? Please tell me you did. Love, Eliza.
Thomas: hey guys the views here are awesome wish you were here. I’ve made lots of friends and I’ve laughed Like never before. Cant wait to see you again!
Frederick: hey mom can’t wait to see you at home. Backpacking was challenging but fun and the distance that we hiked was 10 miles in one day. Love you.
Kierin: Hello mom and dad. I’ve had lots of fun at this camp. We hiked 20 miles in 3 days, it was very hard but now we are in the van and listening to music. I have seen some amazing views and can’t wait to show them to you! Love you so much!!
Grady: Hi mom and dad I am having fun and my birthday was fun and we hiked 20 miles and I caught some trout at a lake called Navajo lake it was really cool and I love you guys I can’t wait to see yall.
Miller: Hi mom and dad I’m having lots of fun so far we have hiked 20 miles and kayaked rapids. I now haven’t showered in 8 days but otherwise it has been rly fun. I can’t wait to see y’all and I love y’all.
Jacqueline: Hey mom, dad, Jackson, and John. I am having a great time here and have made some great friends. I have made so many new friends and everyone is so nice. We just got done with our 4 day hiking trip and that was hard to climb up all the huge mountains. I have taken some great pictures and can’t wait to show them to y’all. This trip has been awesome so far and all my leaders are very funny, but anyways I love y’all a lot and will see yall soon.
Clayton: Hey mom and dad i am having such a fun time at Moondance. Everyone is so nice and the experience has been so amazing, it has been awesome. We just did a 4 day backpacking trip and it was so uphill, like we got so tired. Love and miss y’all.
Katherine: Hey mom and Dad I miss y’all so much, but I am having a lot of fun! I love my leaders and all of the new friends I have made are so nice! I can’t wait to see yall when I get home, and I hope yall are having fun in Mobile. I hope y’all are listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s new album! It came out today btw, anyway I miss y’all and love yall!
Coco: Hey family, I’m having a great time at Moondance. I’ve made many new friends and the counselors are very nice. We have done white water rafting, fly fishing, and backpacking.
Sienna: Hi mom and dad, I miss you guys so much but I am having a really fun time at Moondance, I also miss Otis, How is he? We have done whitewater rafting, fly fishing (I caught one fish!), and backpacking trip. It has been so fun besides hiking 20 miles, I can’t wait to see you but the community I have built here has been the best and I wouldn’t wish to be in any other place. I have made some really close friends like of course Coco but also Grady, Miller, Hampton, Katherine, Jacqueline, and Clayton. I can’t wait to see you bye!💕
Rushing Through Rapids!
June 12, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
We kicked off our adventure with an exciting day on the river! Our Leaders of the Day, Eliza and Fredrick, started the morning strong, as we met our rafting guides, got geared up, and prepared for a day full of fun. The river did not disappoint! Anna’s raft kept everyone entertained with riddles throughout the day, and Hampton gave us all a good laugh when he took an unexpected swim. We stopped along the river for a delicious lunch of sandwich wraps, chips and salsa, and cookies before heading back out for more rapids. Fredrick amazed everyone by solving the famous “Grandma loves coffee but hates tea” riddle unbelievably fast, leaving the rest of us scratching our heads.
Following lunch, we took on a number of rapids, including pinball, raft ripper, and widow maker, all of which were conquered smoothly thanks to strong paddling by Thomas, Eliza, and Keiren in the four person raft. After an awesome day on the water, we arrived at our new campsite and worked together to get tents set up before jumping into games of Signs and Imposter. As the sun began to set, our guides prepared a delicious dinner of chicken, rice, egg rolls, and vegetables. Sean made it his mission to keep Sienna’s plate full, which kept everyone laughing throughout the meal. We wrapped up the evening with a special Moonup led by our amazing LODs, Eliza and Fredrick. It was the perfect way to reflect on a fantastic first day together, and we headed to bed excited for all the adventures still to come.
Day 2 brought another exciting day on the river! We woke up to a delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage, and potatoes prepared by our guides, before heading out for a day of rafting and inflatable kayaking. Our Leaders of the Day, Clayton and Thomas, helped get everyone ready and excited for the adventures ahead. The river started off with plenty of action, and the first rapid quickly introduced us to a few swimmers. Katherine, Grady, Clayton, and Miller all took unexpected dips after falling out of their kayaks, but everyone was all smiles and eager to keep going. Coco and Eliza jumped into action from the raft to help Miller get back into his kayak.The excitement continued at another rapid, where nearly every kayak ended up in the water at some point! Although it made for a challenging section of the river, it also provided some of the biggest laughs of the day, as everyone climbed back into their boats and kept paddling. We stopped for another great riverside lunch with incredible views of the surrounding fourteeners before heading back onto the water. One of the highlights of the afternoon came when the raft crew found themselves wrapped around a rock and had to work together to get free. After some quick teamwork, and a lot of laughter, we were back on our way and finished out an awesome day on the river.
Back at camp, we spent the afternoon playing games while Anna, Bailey, and our LODs made a grocery run to pick up supplies for dinner and a special surprise. As cook crew, Coco, Jacqueline, and Miller braved the wild wind and set up behind the van to prepare delicious chicken quesadillas for the group. The campsite was full of excitement, as tents threatened to take flight and cooking supplies seemed determined to blow away. After dinner, we surprised everyone with fresh cookies, which were a huge hit. We wrapped up the evening with a wonderful Moonup under calmer skies before heading to bed excited for the next day’s fly-fishing adventures.
We traded paddles for fishing rods on Day 3 as we headed out for a beautiful day of fly fishing. After breakfast, we met up with our guides and made our way to a stunning alpine lake surrounded by incredible mountain views. It didn’t take long for the fish to start biting, and Kieran proudly landed the first fish of the day! Throughout the afternoon, Miller, Katherine, Jacqueline, Grady, Fredrick, and Sienna all reeled in fish as well. Fredrick had an especially successful day on the water, catching three fish. After celebrating everyone’s catches, we enjoyed a relaxing lunch of sandwiches by the lake and spent some time soaking in the scenery before packing up and heading back to camp. That evening, we enjoyed a fun dinner in town and took advantage of our last bit of civilization before our next big adventure. With full stomachs and lots of excitement, we began preparing for our upcoming backpacking trip into a beautiful national forest. We can’t wait to see what the next few days have in store!
Safe Arrival!
June 8, 2026
Hello Colorado Trail Families!
We just heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely in Denver, CO! The group is headed to their first campsite, and we can’t wait to hear 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
