Here, There, and Everywhere
July 12, 2026
Hello Moondance Families!
Our morning was full of laughter and tears as we made our way to the Venice airport and reflected on the abundance of memories that have filled the past two weeks. The past few days have been full of movement as we finished our trek out of the Dolomites and made our way to a new location on the afternoon of Day 11. We went to a small mountain village, viewing a different range of the Dolomites than we had woken up to that morning. After reuniting with our duffel bags and taking a few minutes to settle in, we began our tour of the quaint town. We passed by the river, wandered by some chickens with interesting webbed feet, and found ourselves in a tiny park behind the central clock tower. We finished playing group games and headed back to our hotel for another Italian meal. We went back out into town after dinner before our LODs, Arlo and Arden, gathered the group on the porch for Moonup. We acted out different animals and talked about advice we would give to our younger selves before listening to music and heading to sleep.
Day 12 began with lots of pastries before heading out to a new activity, canyoneering. Everyone suited up in their wet suits, harnesses, and helmets for the short hike up the canyon. While the water levels were low, we made the most of it, Mont leading the way through most of the adventure, rappelling down different sections of the mountain and sliding on rocks. After wrapping up, we had lunch in the sun before making our way down to the river where the boys immediately began building a dam and pool out of rocks. George worked tirelessly to find the right rocks and assist the group in a job well done. We soaked in the warm weather and change of pace, cold plunging in the water and taking time to relax after lots of time on our feet. Lila loved the cold plunge, using the insane view as the perfect distraction from the cold water. After heading back into town, we made a pit stop at the market where we had an exploration of sweet and savory snacks, lemon sodas, and Italian candies. We tasted what felt like the entire store before stopping back by the hotel to change for our next activity. With the soccer ball pumped up and ready to go, we led the kids to a field, where our LODs became team captains and chose our new World Cup teams. In a rerun of USA vs. Belgium, JB took the goal for Belgium with Arden as his first line defender. They played a strong first half before a crazy turn of events where the USA came back for the win! The boys jumped back in the creek to cool off before we headed home for dinner. We spent the evening on the porch when a mountain storm rolled in. With thunder and lightning in the distance, a tree up in the mountains was struck, lighting a small area of the forest on fire. We watched the smoke roll out over the rest of the night as we circled up for our second to last Moonup where our LODs, Cate and Bennett, set the tone for our last day together. We sang songs on the porch to end off the night before getting our bags ready to head to Venice in the morning!
For our final full day, we loaded up on croissants and kicked off the morning by celebrating Albert’s 16th Birthday! Excitement was among us all as we hopped in our vans to head to Venice! After being dropped off on the edge of the city, we boarded our boat and rode through the canals to our hostel. We had pizza for lunch before the journey to see the city truly began. The girls were on a mission to find authentic Venetian flats, and Louise and Taylor were successful, finding beautiful blue flats that will serve as the perfect memento from our trip! We passed through Piazza San Marco and went over the Rialto bridge before stopping back by the hostel before dinner. We went to an authentic trattoria for dinner where we tried a variety of pasta dishes before the lights flickered and our waiter brought out tiramisu with candles so we could sing Happy Birthday again, but this time accompanied by an accordion and some Italian singers! We watched the water on the street next to us rise with the tide before heading out of the restaurant and to gelato spot! After enjoying our very last gelato, we went back to our hostel where we gathered together for our final Moonup. The nug jug could have stayed open forever as we recounted all the moments that made our trip so special, but we were reminded that Nothing Gold Can Stay, and the finite amount of time we spent together is part of what makes this experience so impactful. Maggie led the group as we all sang together one last time for a bittersweet ending to the night!
This morning, we made the trek across the water to the Venice airport where we said our goodbyes. It is truly amazing what an impact 14 days can have, and it is a true testament to what the Moondance experience is all about. Our hearts are filled with so much love for DOL 2A, and we have no doubt that all we learned from them will continue to play a role in our lives. Thank you for your trust in us and for the chance to know each of your kids! We couldn’t be more grateful for the Dolomites and the magic they brought to us. Ciao!
Delightful Days in the Dolomites
July 9, 2026
Ciao again from The Dolomites!
After closing out our most challenging hike up to our peak elevation in the Dolomites on Day 7, the adventures only continued when we woke up on Day 8. With the wind blowing strongly and a slight drizzle, we strapped on our harness and headlamps to begin our descent through the Dolomites. But rather than taking the same route down, we took a new path and climbed into the tunnels from World War I. While some of the boys had explored the entrance the day before, we were finally able to get the full tour. We descended stone stairs and saw old barracks, and JB, being the tallest of the group, had to duck through most of it. We made our way out of the tunnels and down a good portion of the mountain before heading to the start of a Via Ferrata! After splitting into groups and clipping onto the mountainside, Lila took the lead right behind our guide and began the climb. The climb was challenging, with an especially tricky section where we had to lean onto the wall and grab onto the wire to pull ourselves to the next part. To make the challenge even more difficult, Albert went for the “no silver” approach, completing the entire climb holding on to only rock and no wire! And while George was afraid at first, he kept a positive attitude and gave it his all, completing the entire climb and conquering his fear. We had a well-deserved lunch to round out the afternoon before hiking to our next Refugio. Located along a mountain pass of the Dolomites, Valporola is situated directly next to a lake sunk between peaks in every direction you look. We walked the short trail down to the lake, where a few of the boys took the plunge into the freezing yet refreshing water. We shared dinner together back at the Refugio before walking back down and circling up next to the view for Moonup. We ended the night with music by the water and soaked in the overwhelming presence of the mountains towering around us.
Our packs were on our backs again on Day 9 as we hiked through the pass and over towards a new area of the Dolomites, Cinque Torri. We lowered into the five fingers and settled in as our guides led the rock face to tie up our ropes. After a few lessons, we were ready to climb and belay, so we went straight to the wall. Arden flew up all of the routes, encouraging the other girls to give it a shot. In the midst of all the climbing, the singing trio, Maggie, Taylor, and Cate, kept us entertained with their own renditions of Mamma Mia and The Greatest Showman. While many members of our group had said they were afraid of heights and weren’t sure if rock climbing would be for them, everyone gave it a shot and truly embraced the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zones. Our guides even ended up setting up more difficult routes on another rock face with an incredible view. The panoramic views, great weather, and attitude of the group made for an amazing first day of climbing. We turned on the speaker and listened to music as we braved the climb back up to the Refugio to get ready for dinner. The meal was one of our favorites, with Bennett being completely satisfied with the portion size and variety of options! We piled into our bunk room to end off the night and get ready for another day in Cinque Torri!
Day 10 was off to a strong start with a delicious breakfast and lightened packs as we headed down towards our climbing spot. The air was a bit chilly, and the wind was gusting, so we stopped for hot chocolate along the way before putting our harnesses on. For our second day of climbing, our guides introduced the multi-pitch climb, where they would take pairs to climb up and over the rock face to rappel down the back side. Arlo and Mont, in almost identical outfits, were up first and successfully completed the climb, doing so directly next to the Alpini, or Alpine Corps, Italy’s mountain infantry, which specializes in combat and operations in high altitudes and alpine terrain! We spent the entire day testing out new climbs and pushing our limits, while also enjoying the slow pace of being in one spot all day. It was a favorite day for most of the group and one that definitely brought us all closer together. We headed back up for our Refugio, where we decided to switch things up and find a new spot for Moonup. We hiked down just a bit and circled up the grassy mountainside for our scenic Moonup yet! It was exactly what we needed to close out such a memorable day.
We woke up on Day 11 and packed up our packs for our very last day of trekking. After breakfast, we took a moment to reflect on how much ground we had covered during this portion of our trip before beginning our hike back down towards Cortina, the town we started in. While every day of trekking has brought stunning views, this one was particularly breathtaking, with multiple different landscapes over the course of the day. Louise had the camera out and was ready to capture the moment as we began our last night uphill push. We powered through before reaching an insane lookout spot for a quick rest. The boys had to pull out the hacky sack and managed to get one of the most scenic hacks on video, meaning every single person in the circle kicked the sack in the same round! We kept on hiking, stopping for lunch before making our way around the mountain. We passed a Refugio, and just when we thought we were done, we headed for a path through the forest to take us to a road where we would meet our transfer. We “followed the grass”, just as Marco told us to, and it was truly the most eventful trail possible to end our trekking section. After making it off the path, we piled into the vans to head off to our next destination! It was a bittersweet feeling to be back in the car, and while we can’t wait for what is to come next, we also can’t help but reflect on the growth, challenge, and pure joy that filled the past few days. There is something so rewarding about trekking hut to hut, and getting to experience it together was a true privilege. Thank you for giving your kids the chance to share this experience with us. We could not have more gratitude in our hearts for this place and these people. The Dolomites are unlike anywhere else, and while we have officially trekked off the trail, we still have lots more to come as we encounter new activities and places for the next few days!
Arrivederci!
SHOUT OUTS!
Hey mom and dad!! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I am so so grateful to be able to see Italy for the first time and be on this experience with this group! Miss and love y’all so much and I’ll be back so soon!! ❤️❤️
Love, Louise
Hi mom and dad!!!!! Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip and sending me here. It’s just as amazing as you said it would be and it has been an incredible experience for these past two weeks! I love you so much and can’t wait to tell you about everything I did on my trip!!! 💕
-Arden
Hello mom and dad! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip and it has been an awesome 2 weeks! I have had so much. I can’t wait to get back and tell yall about it. I love y’all so much and miss you.
-Mont
Hi mom and dad! Thank you guys so so much for sending me here! It’s so awesome and I couldn’t have wished for a better trip. 🧗😁🏔️I miss you guys and can’t wait to see you! Love you
-Arlo
Hey momma and dad!! Thank you to the moon and back for letting me come on this trip. I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity to be in the Dolomites. I love you guys so so so much. Thinking of you guys always, and I can’t wait to see all of you guys really soon. ❤️❤️
-Lila
Hi mom and dad! I’m having a blast here and am enjoying the last few days. Thank you so much for sending me here and giving me this opportunity! Love you guys so much and see you soon!
-Albert
Hi mom and dad!! Thank y’all so much for sending me on this trip!! It’s been so amazing and I have had the best time. I’m so grateful for opportunities like this. Love y’all so much and I’ll see yall in 3 days! 😁🏔️💕
-Tay
Hi mom and dad. I have been having lots of fun here. It’s been so great and everything is so fun. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity because it’s very special. I’m very thankful for you guys sending here and letting me do these amazing trips. Love you guys and I will see you soon.
-George
Hey fam
Right now I’m sitting I’m sitting on a wall looking at the beautiful scenery in the small town we are staying in. It is so awesome, thank you for this wonderful opportunity, I will truly remember this for the rest of my life, thank you for these memories.
Thank you and love
Bennett
Hi mom and dad! I’m having so much fun! I’ve had the BEST two weeks in Italy with this group of people and wouldn’t trade it for the world! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip!! Love y’all so much and miss you!!! ❤️
Cate
Susie and Slim,
Thank you so much for this great experience in northern Italy. I’m looking forward to laurel club and playing golf quite a bit. See you all on Sunday!
-JB
Hey mom and dad!! Thanks for sending me on this amazing trip!!!! It has been so cool and the best experience. The group is amazing and I’m having the best time! Love yall and see you so soon! 😘
Maggie
Ciao Bella!
July 5, 2026
Day 7 of DOL2A is in full swing and we are sitting at Lagazuoi, the second highest Refugio in the Dolomites! The past few days have been packed full of energy as our group has gotten to know each other while exploring this incredible place! With a smooth arrival in Venice, we were off to Cortina to kick off day 2. We wandered through the town, exploring the remains of bob sled track from the 1956 Olympics sitting next to the new track from the 2026 Olympics. We played a few icebreakers, powered through the jet lag, and shared our first Italian pizzas together to kick off our trip!
Day 3 got started with a short hike to lead us to the starting point of our very first Via Ferrata! As we all clipped in to the side of the mountain, we began the traverse across the cliff edge, JB facing his fear of heights and leading the group at the front. We saw two waterfalls flowing into the canyon, getting to walk behind one of them! It was the perfect activity to introduce us to the beauty of the Dolomites and give us a small glimpse of all this place has to offer. We hiked back down into Cortina where we spent the afternoon prepping for the trekking portion of our trip and playing games in a field next to our hotel! While we haven’t been able to watch any of the real World Cup games, we had an intense showdown of our own, playing in teams of 2, all against each other in a fight for gold. We also started working on our hacky sack skills, frisbee throwing, and of course had to play shake and bop. After dinner and Moonup, we settled in to rest up for our first big trek.
We enjoyed breakfast together on Day 4 before driving up to our trail head to begin making our way to our very first Refugio. With our packs on our back and full waters, Taylor strapped Monk Monk to the side of her pack as we eased onto the trail before making our first uphill pass. Our group absolutely crushed it, stayed focused the entire way up and pushing through the challenges, specially the massive ant piles, along the way. We all felt a sense of accomplishment when we finally arrived at Fodora Velda. Getting to watch the kids see their first mountain hut was such a cool moment, and the pride they all had for making it there together was a reminder of the impact these experiences can have. The boys walked down the hill for a scenic sack, while the girls enjoyed the view and listened to music. A ton of cows made their way right over to us, four of them eating grass out of Lila’s hand! We had an incredible dinner and Moonup before our nighttime exploration to the caves to wrap up the day!
Day 5 began with a farewell breakfast at Fodora Velda before making our way to Refugio number 2! We began learning trail games and dove deeper into conversation as we trekked along the Alta Via 1 to reach Lavarella, a family run Refugio with a warm welcome that makes you feel like you are at home. After eating our lunch on the lake, we spent the afternoon on the patio playing games and soaking in the sun. With the help of our outfitters translation skill, we all learned how to play Solo, the Italian version of Uno, but with many twists keeping everyone on their toes. After a few rounds, we made our way inside for dinner before heading right back out to the lake for Moonup to close out another amazing day!
Day 6 was not like any normal day, as we woke up the kids to courtesy of the red, white, and blue to bring a celebration of independence overseas! After surprising them with a flag painted on Dugger’s chest, the vibes were high as they all dressed out in patriotic colors and began to paint up. George followed in suit with a flag across his chest, sporting it all day to everyone we passed on the trail! We talked about favorite traditions from home and listed to lots of American themed music as we headed to a beautiful lookout spot for lunch! We played hacky sack at the top and sat for a while admiring the view before we began the decent back to Lavarella! The afternoon was spent playing games, with Arden dominating in Makato, a newfound group favorite stick game incorporating focus and skill to take the win. After having dinner together, we gathered outside of a small chapel where we had one of our Refugio friends join us for Moonup! Getting to show someone else the power of the Moondance magic was such a special moment for the group as we all talked about pieces of our life we have learned from and how we will continue to learn from this experience and everything else we will encounter in the future.
While we were sad to say goodbye to Lavarella this morning, the energy was high for our biggest trekking day yet. As we set out onto the trail, we received word that John Summit, a famous DJ, is currently trekking through the Dolomites in the same area we are in, so Cate and Louise immediately began plotting a plan to find him. After a slow and steady climb into to the trail, we made it to the first big pass up. The kids made killer timing before descending into the saddle where we sat by the lake for lunch. As the sun was beating down, Albert, Bennett, and Mont decided to take the plunge and swim all the way across the lake and back! It was the perfect entertainment to keep the group motivated before beginning the last leg of the climb. We stopped at a fresh spring for water and started to make our way up with Maggie leading trail games and keeping everyone distracted along the way! The time flew by, and the group pushed through until finally reaching 2752 meters and admiring the panoramic views surrounding us! After a little bit of rest, we gathered at the picnic table for a group game of Egyptian Rat Slap. After an intense round, Arlo locked in for a truly legendary win, finishing the game in perfect timing for dinner. We had a well deserved meal followed by ice cream before we heading up to a lookout for Moonup. With the cold wind blowing, we bundled up to enjoy the mountain air and spend some time reflecting on all of the challenges we pushed through today and the bonds we have built over the past week.
As we get prepare for all that is to come in the next week, we cannot thank you enough for the chance to share this experience with your kids. While the place we are in is incredibly special, it would not be breaks the same without the twelve unique personalities that make this trip exactly what it is. The constant chaos and thrill for adventure brings a new sense of joy to every day, and we have loved getting to see them soak in every aspect of this time we have together! Ciao and bueno note for now!
SHOUT OUTS!
Hey mom and dad!!! I’m having such a blast in Italy. I am LOVING the food. Like actually. Fourth of July was a ton of fun too. Today we did our longest trek and it was tough to say the least but we powered through and got to the Refugio. Don’t worry I am spending the euros you gave me. ✌️Also John Summit is in the Dolomites so stay tuned for a photo of us soon❗️
– Cate
Hey mom, dad, bailes, foster, and liv ☺️😘!!! I’m having a great time, and the food is amazing!! Hope y’all’s 4th of July was fun, we had a blast!!! Today we did our hardest trek and it was so hard but… I made it!!!! And the view is insane. I love the group and made so many new friends! Miss y’all and see you soon!
Love – Maggie.
HI FAM!! And Alice and Elle! I am having the best time ever! I love Italy and it is so so pretty. We’ve done a lot of trekking and it’s been such a cool experience. I miss y’all but never want to leave. My group and leaders are so fun and I love everyone. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity, I’m so grateful to be here. Also!! HBD Joe!! I can’t believe your 10 love you so much!! And happy 4th of course 🇺🇸🇺🇸. I’ll see y’all in a week unfortunately don’t forget to LOTE (live on the edge)
– Taylor❤️
Hi fam!! Miss y’all so much but never want to go home! I love Italy so much and I am having the best time with my group and leaders. We did a very hard hike today but trekking has been so much fun and the views are amazingggg. I hope yall had a good 4th and are having fun on vacay!! Miss y’all so much, see yall in a week!
– Love Louise ❤️❤️
Hi guys,
I am having so much fun and having the best time ever. The scenery is nothing you could imagine, it is truly beautiful. My group is so awesome and we are having the best time. I can’t wait to tell you all about the good times and the incredible landscape. I want to thank you for bestowing this incredible gift upon me it is truly amazing, I am so grateful. I love you guys so much and I hope you all are doing well.
Love, Bennett
Hey mom and dad, I am having a bunch of fun and today we hiked 9 miles to a new refugeo. The views are very cool and steep. I hope yall had a fun 4th and we celebrated here. I have made a lot of new friends. Love yall and can’t wait to see you in a week!🏔️⛰️🏞️🧗
-Mont
Hi mom and dad!!!! The views here are so good and today we hiked 9 miles. I miss y’all so much and tell Adelaide and Josephine and hunter I miss them. If yall went to ms for the 4th I hope you had fun and I love you guys so much! I can’t wait to tell yall about my trip it’s been amazing and everyone is so nice!
-Arden
Hi mom and dad! I’m having so much fun! We hiked almost ten miles today and are staying at the second highest Refugio in the Dolomites! It’s much more challenging than last year but so so much fun. Miss you guys. Love you and see you soon!
-Albert
Hi mom dad Augie and Willow! I’m having an absolute blast here in Italy. Everything is the sickest thing I’ve ever seen. Today, we had this super hard trek where we stopped at this cool lagoon for lunch and swam and ate and enjoyed and then we went to this place and there were so many sick caves and we explored and it was awesome. There are so many cows and they’re all lazy but chill. Im just a mountain dude now but I miss you guys and love you guys so much!! See you soon and hope wiz is doing better.
Love, Arlo
Hi, Mom and Dad. I am having fun. I hope Gigi stays at camp all summer. I hope Otis is good. We have trekked a lot, around 8 miles a day. I love my group and counselors. Lot of cows here and the views are incredible. I hope my friends aren’t having fun without me. The places we stay are very nice, like you wouldn’t expect it at all. You and dad would love it here, Henry would not.
Love you, George
Hi momma, dad, ford, nana, poppop,
Happy anniversary today! I miss y’all like a crazy amount. Ford, I hope all your lax tourneys are going well. Ellie, I miss you and your letters always give me something to look forward to every day. The food is so fresh and yummy, the views are so breathtaking, and the people are so fun.
I can’t wait to get coffee and tacos at brew when I get back, plus CAVA!!! Hiking is so fun, we need to do it more often. I love you guys so much, I can’t wait to see y’all soon! thinking of yall all the time ❤️❤️✌️
-Lila
Susie & Slim,
Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity in los Dolomites de Italia Norte. I’ve quite enjoyed the views, and especially the weather a high of 72 and low of 57. Very chilly at night, and limited sweat in the day. The trekking has been challenging however the views at the end have been more than worth it. Lastly , La comida es muy bien con mucho pasta y pizza con perciutto. I miss golf quite a bit , and mi aeroporto. Ciao! Hasta luego!
-JB
Safe Arrival!
June 30, 2026
Hello Dolomites Families!
We heard from our leaders early this morning that the group has landed safely in Venice! 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
