Cherishing Croatia
June 18, 2026
Hello Moondance Families
Our final trip update. We can’t believe these two weeks have already come to an end. These last few days have been full of adventure, laughter, and making the most of every moment together. Thank you for sharing your incredible kids with us this summer. We’re so grateful for this group. Now let’s catch up with what we’ve been up to
Chandler and Morris were our LODs for the day. We headed out to explore a huge cave, one of Croatia’s hidden gems. Before heading underground, we suited up with helmets, headlamps, and bright blue cave suits. Camille had us all laughing in her full caving gear, and after a quick safety briefing, we ventured into complete darkness.
We spent about two hours exploring the cave, which stays around 60 degrees year-round. At one point, our guide had us turn off our headlamps. For about seven seconds, we sat in complete silence and darkness before everyone burst out laughing. It was so dark you couldn’t even see your hand an inch from your face. After caving, we cracked open some cold Cokes before beginning our hike to a hut. The hike was around four miles with about 1,200 feet of elevation gain. We arrived at our mountain hut, it had beautiful red shutters and massive connected bunkrooms. For dinner, we had grah varivo, a traditional Croatian bean stew that was delicious after a full day outdoors. The evening was spent playing games, with Finn serving as our fearless narrator. Henry and Hudson lost a round of “What Are the Odds?” and took a quick plunge into the water. Later, we shared funny and embarrassing stories, and Corbett and Finn had everyone crying laughing with their stories.
This trip is flying by way too fast. Finn and Corbett were our LODs as we transferred for one final adrenaline-filled adventure: zip lining. The course featured eight different cables stretching over 2,100 meters across a breathtaking canyon, with the highest line soaring 150 meters above the ground. We were able to partner up for two of the zip lines. The pairings were Hudson and Henry, Corbett and Emily, Brendan and Morris, Marlin and Finn, Marian and Mary Walton, Chandler and Camille, and Davis and Joe. Everyone encouraged one another, and before long, every single person was flying across the canyon with huge smiles on their faces. That evening, we had another amazing local dinner. Our group favorite became the “Margarita pizza,” which is essentially Croatia’s version of a cheese pizza. And what better way to wrap up the day than gelato. We spent the rest of the night dancing through the streets and soaking in every last second together. For our serious Moonup question, we shared our favorite thing about the people sitting to our left and right. We often think kind things about one another, but hearing those words spoken aloud and expressing our appreciation for one another made for one of our most meaningful Moonups of the trip.
Our FINAL full day brought us into town. We woke up to Katy Perry playing through the speakers, and were surprised with fresh local croissants for breakfast. We loaded our bags onto the bus, turned the music up, and drove about three hours toward our final destination. After lunch, we headed straight into the Old Town. We wandered through the historic streets, explored hidden corners, and, of course, stopped for gelato. Later, we rode the cable car up a mountain. In just four minutes, we climbed 405 meters above the terracotta rooftops and were greeted with some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. That evening, Croatia was playing England in the World Cup. Chandler, Marian, and Mary Walton kicked things off by purchasing Croatian jerseys with Luka Modrić’s famous number 10. Before long, most of us had jerseys on too. Hudson, Henry, Joe, Morris, and Davis quickly became honorary Croatian fans as they ran through the streets jumping up and down and yelling, “Idemo Hrvatska!” meaning, “Let’s go Croatia!” The town loved it, and soon everyone around us was cheering and celebrating together. The game went back and forth and kept us all on the edge of our seats. Although Croatia ultimately fell short, it was an experience none of us will ever forget. What better way to finish our trip than fully immersing ourselves in the culture and celebrating alongside the Croatian people?
Saying goodbye is never easy. It’s crazy to think that just two weeks ago, we were complete strangers. This morning, we piled into two vans, headed to the airport, checked in for our flights, and shared our final hugs. We held each other tightly, a few tears were shed, and promises were made to stay in touch. Over these two weeks, we’ve cliff-jumped, kayaked waterfalls, explored caves, zip lined across canyons, played endless games, danced in the streets, laughed until our stomachs hurt, and had conversations we’ll remember forever. The people truly make the place, and we could not have asked for a better group of twelve. Thank you, CRO1B, for your willingness to try new things, your kindness toward one another, and the countless memories we’ve made together.
WE WILL MISS YOU❤️❤️
LOVE,
Marlin & Brendan
Soaking Up The Splash!
June 17, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
We have missed y’all and can’t believe how quickly this trip is flying by. We’ve packed so much into the past few days and have made memories that we know this group will be talking about for a lifetime. Our LODs, Morris and Corbett, got us prepared for a day of kayaking. Before hitting the water, we did an NFL Draft for our kayaking partners. Here were the results: Marlin and Finn, Joe and Chandler, Marian and Hudson, Corbett and Mary Walton, Emily and Henry, and Davis and Camille. After our safety briefing, we were immediately cruising over waterfalls! Hudson and Marian kept everyone entertained by flipping kayaks, throwing paddles into the water, and splashing just about everyone they could. Needless to say, most of us ended up soaked. We also had the opportunity to do some cliff jumping, and every single person was incredibly brave and jumped off the 20-foot cliff! We wrapped up our time on the river with a game of “Last Man Standing,” where everyone balanced on their kayak and tried to be the final one standing. Somehow, Chandler and Joe were invincible. Nothing could knock them into the water. After kayaking, we headed back to our accommodation, played games, and enjoyed a delicious pasta dinner.
The next day, our LODs, Henry and Emily, led us through a beautiful national park. The water was unbelievably blue, and we hiked around six miles while taking in all of the incredible views. On our way back, we stumbled upon an abandoned airplane near our housing. It was covered in stickers, and we even got to walk inside it. Later that evening, we had a surprise visit from some familiar faces. Duggar and Clare, who were Morris and Chandler’s leaders last summer, stopped by with donuts. Everyone was shocked and so excited to see them. Henry, Hudson, Chandler, and Davis got after it one morning and joined Marlin for a quick three-mile run to start the day. We packed up our bags and drove about two hours while listening to lots of music before boarding a ferry. The ride only lasted about fifteen minutes, but it gave us some of the most beautiful views of the bright blue water. We made a quick grocery stop to stock up on food for the next few days, before arriving at our accommodation. After dropping our bags, we headed to lunch and then it was BEACH TIME! We lathered up with sunscreen, broke out the soccer ball Joe bought at the store, and somehow turned it into volleyball. Brendan and Davis were diving left and right during Spikeball, and everyone was quick to jump into the water and soak up the sunshine. Once we wrapped up at the beach, we headed back to our rooms and started making dinner. Chef Chandler proudly presented hot dogs and hamburgers, and we all scarfed them down. Our amazing LODs, Mary Walton and Davis, then led Moonup. Our serious question for the night was, “What is one lesson life has taught you?” Sometimes these questions challenge us, but it has been so special to watch everyone open up and create such a welcoming environment for one another.
Our next adventure was sea kayaking, led by Joe and Marian. We explored even more of the island and had lots of free time in the afternoon. Finn declared a “water break,” which involved jumping out of his kayak and swimming around to make sure everyone else got in too, dunking nearly every boat he passed. We all laughed and appreciated the cool down. Of course, no beach day is complete without a sand fight. Corbett and Emily were running around with handfuls of sand, making sure everyone got at least a little sandy. Henry and Hudson transformed into “washed-up mermaids” and let everyone bury them in the sand. Morris, Joe, and Camille spent forever playing a game where one person launches a rock into the air and the other two try to hit it with their own rocks. It sounds much easier than it actually is. We also played beach volleyball, where Davis was diving all over the place for the ball and Finn showed off a wicked serve. Corbett brought out her beach volleyball skills, and after working up a sweat, we rewarded ourselves with ice cream from a local shop by the beach. We finished the evening with Moonup near our apartments as the sun went down. Finally, our LODs, Hudson and Mary Walton, led what was definitely a fan favorite: BOAT DAY! We lathered up with sunscreen and climbed aboard a huge boat that even had a top deck. Naturally, it quickly turned into a dance party with music blasting. Within the first fifteen minutes, we had already arrived at our first stop. We swam through a cave, watched bats flying everywhere as people jumped in, and were surrounded by colorful fish. We also got to jump off cliffs and even use a diving board. Every time someone climbed back onto the boat, we had a “mog off” while our “paparazzi” snapped photos. We swam, laughed, and loved every second of the day. We ended our adventure at a beach with the smoothest rocks, where we sat together, took it all in, and realized none of us want this trip to end.
We are having an absolute blast and are making the most of every minute here in Croatia. We miss our Moondance families, but please know that your kids are creating memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. More adventures to come!
Camille : Hey guys! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I have had so much fun! I miss y’all and love y’all.
Finn: Hi Mom and Dad, thank you so, so much for sending me on this trip. I am having so much fun and the activities were great. See you soon!
Marian: Hi! I’m having the best time in Croatia. Everything here is so cool. Thank you for sending me on this trip! I love and miss y’all. See you soon!
Mary Walton: Hi Mom and Dad! I’m having so much fun and am so thankful y’all sent me on this trip! I miss and love y’all. See you soon!
Chandler: Hey y’all! I am so grateful for this experience and have nothing but gratitude. I am so lucky to have parents who want to gift me with adventures of a lifetime. This trip went by so fast. I loved every second! Excited to see y’all soon. Sending all my love!
Davis: Thanks for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. So glad I was able to go, and thank y’all for helping me out along the way. This trip went by so fast and was once again a great trip. Love y’all.
Joe: Bok! I truly appreciate this opportunity to be in Croatia y’all gave me. I am really enjoying my time here and cannot wait to tell y’all all about it. I miss y’all.
Morris: Hey Mom and Dad! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I have learned and experienced so much. See y’all soon!
Emily: Hey Mom and Dad, thanks so much for letting me experience all the fun stuff we’ve been doing. We went and had a boat day. Can’t wait to see y’all soon!
Hudson: Yo, what up! I am having fun. Thank you. See you soon.
Henry: Hey Mommy and Dad, super fun over here. Love it. Thanks so much.
Corbett: Hi Mom and Dad, I am having fun and can’t wait to see you on Friday and give y’all so many holiday hugs. This trip has been amazing!
The Beginning of "CROcation"!
June 10, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
We finally met our crew in Zagreb, a moment we had been waiting months for! We kept things simple after arriving, loading the girls into one van and the boys into another before heading to the grocery store to stock up on food for our first few days in the mountains. Davis and Chandler were our personal shoppers, and we managed to walk out with everything we needed. While we shopped, the boys passed the time outside playing hacky sack while the girls slept in the van after a long day of travel.
After grabbing pizza and breaking out the card games, we made our way to our mountain hut just as the sun was beginning to set. We were greeted by what felt like at least fifty horses roaming around the mountain! Many of us immediately went over to pet them before settling in for our first Moonup together as a complete group. For those unfamiliar with Moonup, it is the heart and soul of Moondance. It’s a time each evening when we slow down, share gratitude from the day, and answer both thoughtful and silly questions together. We also announced our first Leaders of the Day, Chandler and Joe, who were excited to kick off the trip in style.
The next morning, we eased into the day after our long travel journey. Breakfast burritos were on the menu, and once everyone was fueled up, Chandler and Joe led an energetic morning huddle before we set off on our first hike. The trail was steep and challenging, but everyone pushed through and made it to the top. The cool mountain air felt incredible after working up a sweat on the climb. Along the way back, we stopped for lunch and, of course, more hacky sack. Hudson has quickly earned a reputation for giving 110% effort, often diving to save the hacky sack and ending up sprawled across the ground in the process.
Back at the hut, Chandler, Finn, and Camille took charge in the kitchen while Mary Walton and Marian handled chopping duty as we prepared a delicious pasta dinner. That evening, several of the boys decided they were going to sleep outside in their hammocks. Corbett and Emily had other plans. Before bed, they snuck over and jumped into two of the hammocks, successfully scaring the boys. The boys eventually surrendered to the mountain temperatures and made their way back inside around 3:00 a.m. We wrapped up another great day with Moonup overlooking the mountains.
Hudson and Camille took over as Leaders of the Day for our next adventure: a 10-mile hike through the Croatian mountains. One of the best parts of long hiking days is all of the conversations that happen along the way. Before heading out, Hudson and Henry put sunscreen under their eyes like football players applying eye black, saying it would help them get into the right mindset for the hike. The views throughout the day were incredible. We stopped halfway at a mountain hut for lunch before finishing the trek and making our way back to camp. That evening was full of card games, football tossing, and plenty of laughter. Morris and Hudson spent time throwing the football while others relaxed and played poker. Dinner consisted of taco bowls followed by trivia. Although we weren’t officially keeping score, Chandler would probably tell you she won by a landslide.
Today we traveled to Plitvice, with Finn and Marian as our Leaders of the Day. The morning started with pancakes, and once again Hudson and Henry proved they might be the most efficient clean-up crew on the trip. One washes, one dries, and both spend half their time dodging dish towels thrown at each other across the kitchen. After cleaning up camp, we piled into the bus and began our journey. We stopped at a local restaurant for lunch where pizza and steak were popular choices. During the drive, everyone wrote down one of their favorite songs, and we built a group playlist from everyone’s selections. The result was a pretty entertaining mix of genres and artists. Mary Walton also created our trip playlist, which has quickly become one of the group’s favorite things. No matter where we are, someone is always asking to turn on the speaker. When we arrived in Plitvice, everyone enjoyed their first real shower in several days before spending the evening playing cards and relaxing together. We were treated to dinner and ended the night with an intentional Moonup filled with laughter and meaningful conversations. It is amazing to see how much closer this group has become in just a few short days. This group is special, and we know we are only at the beginning of our adventure together.
Tomorrow Morris and Corbett will lead us as our next Leaders of the Day as we head out for our first kayaking adventure. We can’t wait to share more stories as the CROcation continues!!
SHOUTOUTS:
Hi Mom and Dad, I’ve been enjoying my time in Croatia—it’s awesome here! There are lots of cool views. Can’t wait to see y’all in a few weeks! Love y’all! – Morris
Hi Mom and Dad, I am having a great time. I am getting good at poker and I’ve been having a lot of fun. Bye! – Corbett
Hi Mom and Dad, I have been having a great time! There has been a lot of hiking, and I’ve been learning poker. We went kayaking today. Love you! – Finn
Hi Mom and Dad, I’ve been having such a fun time in Croatia. We’ve been hiking and doing lots of fun stuff. We are going canoeing today. Bye! – Emily
Hey Dad, I’m having so much fun! Thank you for sending me on this trip. I hope everyone is doing okay. I love you and miss you! – Camille
Hey Mom and Dad, I’m having so much fun. Thank you for sending me here. I love and miss you so much! -Marian
Hey Mom and Dad, I’m having lots of fun! Today we are going kayaking. Thank you for sending me here. I love y’all and miss y’all. – Mary Walton
Hi guys! I hope y’all made it to SFO smoothly. I am having a blast, and Croatia is so pretty! We did so much hiking in a mountain refuge, and now we are in bungalows doing rafting. Miss y’all, and tell the Brossaws hello for me. Love y’all the most! – Chandler
Hey Dad, I hope the kids are doing well in baseball. Things are going great here. Love you! – Davis
Hey Mom, I hope you enjoyed your trip. Things are going great here. Love you! – Davis
Mom and Dad, I’ve been having a great time, and Croatia is so cool! I miss you guys! Much love! -Joe
Yo mom and dad, I’m chilling out here in Croatia. It’s fun! We’re going kayaking over some rapids today, which is pretty hype. See y’all soon! Love you! -Hudson
What’s up Mom and Dad! I’m having lots of fun out here. The views were awesome when we were in the mountains. Love you guys! – Henry
Safe Arrival!
June 6, 2026
Hello Croatia Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Zagreb! 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 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
