Music, Moments, and Memories in Madeira
June 21, 2026
Hello Moondance Families!
Day One Trekking! Let’s get it! Woohoo! We kicked off our first day of trekking with some good tunes and lots of excitement for the adventure ahead. It was also our first morning cooking breakfast together! Liz was the first to jump in and help, doing a rockstar job preparing the eggs. Ceil, Abby, Lily, Virginia, and Maggie helped with the toast and set up breakfast. Berkeley was also amazing and jumped right in to help clean dishes without even being asked. Teamwork was already off to a great start! Once we finished eating, got dressed, and packed up our gear, we headed out for our first stop of the day: the beach! Not just any beach, though—a super cool volcanic black sand beach on Madeira’s north coast. It is famous for its lush green cliffs, dramatic scenery, and a waterfall that cascades right onto the beach, making it one of the most unique places on the island. Before heading there, we made a quick pit stop at a cute local café. Most of us grabbed either a coffee or a fun pastry. Liz treated herself to a raspberry macaron and homemade lemonade, while Berkeley and Maggie both went for iced vanilla lattes. Maggie also picked up a delicious chocolate chip cookie that looked almost too good to eat! After our café stop, we made our way to the beach. Even though the weather was a little overcast, it was still absolutely beautiful. We spent some time exploring the black sand shoreline, taking in the scenery, and snapping a few photos before lacing up our hiking boots and beginning our trek. The hike started with a pretty steady uphill climb, but the effort paid off. The trail led us to a secluded waterfall tucked away in the mountains, and it was incredible. Liz was the first to jump into the water and didn’t hesitate for a second, despite how cold it was! Not long after, Rachael and Janie joined her for a refreshing swim. Between the waterfall, the mountain views, and the cool mist in the air, it felt like something straight out of a movie. After spending some time swimming and exploring, we continued on the trail and hiked our way to camp, covering a total of four miles for the day. Once we arrived at camp, we went over the campsite rules and learned how to set up our tents properly. Izzy, Alice, and Abby were quick learners and became the first group to successfully set up their tent. Future camping pros! After unpacking and rinsing off from the day, it was time to start dinner. On tonight’s menu: a camping classic—hot dogs and hamburgers. Izzy and Alice took charge as the head chefs for the evening and did an awesome job cooking everything to perfection. We wrapped up the night with cookies, lots of laughs, and Moon Up, led by Liz and Alice. It was the perfect way to end an incredible first day of trekking and kick off what is sure to be an unforgettable adventure.
Day 13 June 17
Elevation day!! Whoop whoop! Today was a big day for us as we set out to ascend over 5,000 ft! We came prepared after fueling up the night before with hot dogs and hamburgers. For breakfast, Maggie, Virginia, Liz, Lily, Ceil, and Abby were on cook crew duty. Eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit were all on the menu. After breakfast, we packed our lunches, stretched out our legs, and got a motivational pump-up speech from Janie. With our packs on and excitement high, we were ready to hit the trail! The first few miles were definitely challenging, with a steady uphill climb right from the start. Liz absolutely crushed it, staying positive the entire time and leading the pack for most of the morning. As we continued climbing, the conversations flowed, the music played, and the miles started adding up. We took plenty of snacks and water breaks along the way, soaking in the incredible scenery around us. Every turn seemed to reveal another breathtaking view. Izzy, Alice, and Rachael found a dandelion along the trail and couldn’t resist making wishes before sending the seeds into the wind. Meanwhile, Berkeley, Virginia, Brie, Amaya, and Rachael kept themselves entertained with the ABC game, first naming countries and then challenging each other with states and capitals. Berkeley was absolutely on fire and seemed to know almost every state and capital without hesitation! The trail was lined with beautiful yellow flowers, which perfectly matched Brie’s adorable yellow outfit. The sun stayed out all day, giving us endless panoramic views of the mountains and clouds. At times, it felt like we were walking through the sky. Being above the clouds was such a surreal experience—they looked huge, fluffy, and close enough to touch. One of the coolest parts of the day was seeing the giant windmills scattered across the landscape. They were massive! Naturally, we turned it into a game, trying to guess how tall they were and how much they weighed. Some of the guesses were definitely more realistic than others! As the day went on, the views kept getting better and better, and luckily, the terrain got flatter and flatter. Walking became easier, which meant even more opportunities for talking, laughing, and enjoying the scenery without being completely out of breath. After plenty more miles, music, and memories, we finally arrived at our new campsite—7.67 miles complete! We could not have been prouder of the girls. They absolutely crushed today’s trek. The second we arrived, it was snack time. After a long day of hiking, everyone was ready to refuel. Cookies, apples, chips—you name it, we ate it! Once we had satisfied our snack cravings, we set up our tents and got settled into camp. Dinner prep started a little later, so while we waited, we played a few rounds of Headbands. Abby, Berkeley, Rachael, Janie, Lily, and Maggie all joined in. Berkeley was especially good at the game and took her role very seriously! For dinner, Berkeley and Abby were in charge of the salad. They recreated the salad we learned to make during our cooking class with Maria and even made homemade dressing using lemons, fresh olive oil, white wine vinegar, and seasonings. Liz did an amazing job cooking the meat for the pasta sauce and boiling the pasta to perfection. After dinner, we walked about five minutes up the road to watch the sunset, and wow—it was absolutely unbelievable. Truly jaw-dropping. The sky was painted with shades of orange, pink, purple, and blue, stretching across the horizon. We were above the clouds, surrounded by stunning mountain ranges, and it felt like something out of a dream. The girls snapped a few photos but also took time to simply sit and appreciate the view. As the sun disappeared, we decided it was the perfect time for Moon Up. Tonight’s Moon Up was led by our LODs, Izzy and Berkeley, and we even had a special guest—Amaya! After some thoughtful conversation and reflection, we walked back to camp under a sky full of stars and headed to bed, ready to rest up for another big day of trekking ahead.
Day 14 June 18
Good morning, Madeira! Today was the day we hiked to the highest point on an island, standing at a whopping 1,862 meters! After waking up and getting ready for the day, we got started on breakfast. Alice and Virginia were on bacon duty, while Izzy took charge of the eggs and toast. Ceil got extra creative and whipped up a breakfast sandwich using a toasted hot dog bun, melted cheese, eggs, and bacon. Future chef alert! After filling our bellies and fueling up for the adventure ahead, we piled into the cars and headed to the trailhead. The drive itself was absolutely stunning. Everywhere we looked there were lush green mountains, dramatic cliffs, and views of the sparkling blue ocean. It felt like we were driving through a postcard! Once we hit the trail, the adventure really began. The hike challenged us with plenty of climbs, rocky staircases, and winding mountain paths, but every step was worth it. The views just kept getting better and better as we gained elevation. We were surrounded by towering peaks, rolling clouds, and endless mountain ridges stretching in every direction. There were lots of snack breaks, laughs, encouraging words, and plenty of “wow” moments as we took in the incredible scenery. Reaching the summit of Pico Ruivo felt amazing, and we were all so proud of ourselves for making it to the top! After finishing the hike, we headed to the hotel… which, surprise, was right where we ended the hike! The girls had been convinced there was still more walking ahead of us, so everyone was pretty excited when we realized the hotel was literally right there. While waiting for our rooms to be ready, we hung out outside and soaked in the panoramic mountain views right in front of us. Some girls journaled, some read their books, and of course everyone found their way to the café for a sweet treat or coffee. To pass the time, the girls even broke out into singing a cappella, which definitely kept us entertained while we waited! Once our rooms were ready, everyone enjoyed a much-needed shower and some time to relax before dinner. We headed downstairs and ate outside with the mountains surrounding us. To start, we were treated to the most refreshing homemade ice-cold lemonade. Dinner was incredible—lasagna, salad, and plenty of bolo do caco, Madeira’s famous garlic bread. Then came dessert! Abby and Berkeley shared an apple tart with ice cream, while Liz went for the homemade chocolate brownie drizzled with caramel. Needless to say, there were lots of happy campers at the table. With full bellies and tired legs, we headed upstairs for Moon Up, led by LODs Virginia and Ceil. Virginia kicked things off with a thoughtful quote about how much we’re capable of achieving, which felt especially fitting after conquering the highest peak on the island. To end the night, Izzy, Liz, Abby, and Alice stepped outside to do some stargazing. The perfect ending to an amazing day came when Liz spotted her very first shooting star—and she was absolutely thrilled!
Day 15 June 19
“And she’s buying a stairway to heavennn”
Waking up in our gorgeous hotel with a view of the highest peak in the mountains of Madeira was beyond special! After everyone got ready for Day 4 of trekking, we had a glamorous breakfast with delicious yogurt, granola, fresh fruit, and pastries. Feeling fueled up for the day, we headed out to start our hike at the third-highest peak on the island. This portion would include the infamous Stairway to Heaven that all of our girls were psyched to finally see in person after seeing so many photos! Maggie got us in the right mood by adding “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin as soon as we got in the taxis. Once we arrived at the trailhead, Virginia picked out some candies to surprise us with along the trail. On the way to the staircase, we stopped at a couple different viewpoints to capture even more memories with the 360 views of the mountains. As we descended down the staircase, everyone loved snapping pictures at the infamous spot! After enjoying a scenic snack and ranking Virginia’s candies, the girls fearlessly crushed the uphill portion back to the trailhead – despite everyone still being a little sore from elevation day! The girls enjoyed the cafe and lunch at the trailhead, before we resumed our hike downhill to our campsite for the evening. We trekked through gorgeous fields of yellow flowers and the valleys – music was turned all the way up and vibes were high! Eventually we made it to our campsite, which we had all to ourselves for the night! The girls took full advantage of this by setting up hammocks, our tents, and making our little alcove in the trees really feel like home for a night. Mexican was on the menu for dinner, so we got to cooking right away! Liz and Izzy conquered the chicken, Rachael whipped up a fantastic guacamole, Alice perfectly cooked the fajita vegetables, and the group was quite happy with the turnout! The salsa, chips, and guacamole did not last long at all! After dinner, Alice, Izzy, Virginia, Maggie, Brie, and Janie grabbed a Nutella sandwich from the van and timed it perfectly with the sunset – they enjoyed soaking up our last sunset in the mountains! Simultaneously, Abby, Berkeley, Liz, Ceil, Lily, SK, and Rachael had fun in the Eno Olympics, with Lily rising to the top as the victor. A fun game of Shake and Pop turned into a spontaneous dance party before Moonup, with Berkeley, Abby, Maggie, and Virginia performing an elaborate routine to Come On Eileen! LOD Liz started off Moonup by having the group sing Taylor Swift all together, and then the girls bonded even more over their shared love of video games. Fellow LOD Lily had us all share our first impressions of each other and how those have changed positively since the beginning of our trip, which brought everyone even closer together. The girls relished every moment of our last night camping together – the trip is coming to an end so quickly, but there’s still plenty of surprises in store!
Day 16 June 20
Last day, best day!!
We started the morning off early, making yogurt bowls and packing up all of our stuff at the campsite. Once we were all ready to go, we headed out for our last hike. Five miles! All downhill! The girls were very appreciative of the downhill after our big elevation day. During the hike, there was plenty of music and laughter. Halfway through our hike, we stopped for a bathroom break and ran into some donkeys! The girls were so intrigued and went over to pet them and take pictures. Immediately after that, we saw peacocks! They were so cool! Their tails were so long and beautiful, with stunning blue and green patterns. During our hike, we also had to cross the road a time or two, and it was extra exciting because there was some sort of rally car event going on. We heard lots of loud rooooooommmms and car noises! We kept walking a little farther and then stopped for lunch with an incredible view overlooking Funchal. It was so cool to see it from so high up! After lunch, we walked a bit farther and then arrived at our last bathroom stop. After the bathroom break, Janie and Rachael surprised the girls with Madeira’s famous toboggan ride! Berkeley and SK rode together and had a great time, while Virginia, Brie, and Maggie all rode together in another one. After that, we stopped at a fun little café and gift shop. SK and Alice got Cristiano Ronaldo jerseys, and SK put hers on immediately and finished the hike wearing it! Afterward, we headed out to finish our final stretch—about a 25-minute walk to our hotel, located in the square of Funchal. Once we got checked in and settled, Liz, Alice, Izzy, Abby, Berkeley, and Janie went on a quick shopping spree. Berkeley found an adorable white set from Mango with cute matching earrings! Liz also found a pair of cute gold earrings. Right after that, we stopped at a gelato place across the street, and Liz got a scoop of pistachio gelato! Back at the hotel, we all showered and got ready for our final dinner banquet. Tonight, we went to a local restaurant nearby that served steak and fries, chicken, and other tasty dishes. Ceil and Lily have discovered a new love for chocolate mousse, so obviously they both got some for dessert. It was so yummy! It was a rich dark chocolate mousse topped with flakes of sea salt and coconut. Just as dinner was wrapping up, we started hearing music! There was a seven-person band with trumpets and drums playing in the square. They performed Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles and Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars. The girls immediately started dancing in the middle of the square! Brie and Maggie were the first ones out there, followed by the rest of the group. Ceil, Abby, and Lily all danced together, while Virginia and Maggie showed off the South Carolina state dance. After our little dance session, we headed back to the hotel. The girls all wrote letters to themselves that they will receive in six months. After that, we got our things together and organized for the morning. We then had our final Moon Up, led by Izzy and Abby. It was very heartfelt and sweet as we reflected on our favorite parts of the trip and what we would miss most. To end the night, all of the girls hung out, talked, and soaked in their final moments together before their early Sunday morning flight. It was the perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable adventure!
Day 17 June 21
Our last day is here, and we can’t believe how fast these 17 days flew by! Saying goodbye to this amazing group of girls is definitely the hardest part of the trip. Over the past two and a half weeks, we’ve shared so many laughs, adventures, inside jokes, and unforgettable memories together, and we feel so lucky to have been a part of it all. Thank you for trusting us and allowing us to spend these past 17 days with your daughters. It has been so much fun watching them step outside their comfort zones, tackle new challenges, cheer each other on, make new friendships, and fully embrace every adventure that came their way. Every single girl brought something unique to the group, and getting to know them has truly been one of the highlights of our summer. We are leaving Madeira with full hearts, lots of great memories, and probably way too many photos on our camera rolls! Thank you for sharing these incredible girls with us. We are so proud of everything they accomplished over the past 17 days, and we know they have so many exciting things ahead of them. We are going to miss them so much!
Obrigada, and we can’t wait to see everyone at the reunion!
Rachael & Janie
Making the Most of Madeira!
June 19, 2026
Olá Moondance Families!
We have been on some adventures since we last chatted – read more down below to see what we’ve been up to!
DAY 8 – Coastal Adventures
Friday June 12th, 2026
Gooooood morning Porto Santo! Girls got right up and enjoyed a quick breakfast at the hotel – Brie and Maggie got creative and made iced lattes and shared their newfound knowledge with the rest of the group. After arriving at the island, we hiked about 4.5 miles along the ridgelines of the mountains on the island. We witnessed stunning views of the whole island at viewpoints and the coastal towns of Porto Santo along the way, and eventually made it to a gorgeous secluded rocky beach. There were some awesome holes in the lava rocks that were filled with ocean water from the rising tide, so Abby, Alice, Izzy, Berkeley, Rachael, and Janie enjoyed jumping in and splashing about. Maggie, Liz, Janie, Abby, Berkeley, and Alice got some volleyball in at the beach as well! After another incredible beach day, we headed back to the hotel to refresh before dinner. Some girls swam in the pool, while Rachael was accompanied by Izzy, Abby, Alice, Lily, Ceil, SK, and Liz at the grocery store – and they may have popped into a swimsuit shop on the way back too. Ceil, Lily, and SK invested in some matching pink straw hats that would prove to be quite helpful to have later on! Later we walked to dinner, where we dined at a gorgeous outdoor table with great views of the ocean. The steak sandwiches, burgers, and ice cream went down easy after such a long day! On the way home from dinner, we decided to take the scenic route along the beach, and the setting was unbelievably serene and gorgeous. It felt like we had the whole island to ourselves! The girls ran down the white sand, and we soaked up every second of the sunset. We ended our evening walking along the pier, took a group photo in the Porto Santo sign, and then headed back to the hotel for a Moonup led by LODs Abby and SK. Rachael and Janie surprised the girls with KitKats to top off an incredible day!
DAY 9 – Uphill Trekkers 🤟
Saturday June 13th, 2026
Our first official day in Porto Santo! Woohoo! We woke up eager to start the day with bright, blue skies and nonstop sunshine! Once we all woke up and got dressed for the day we all headed downstairs for breakfast. After a yummy breakfast (and fully fueling up for our hike), we headed out for the day. We started by checking out these super cool sand walls with writing carved all over them, learning a bit about their history before beginning our hike. The hike was definitely a challenge—but so worth it! Ceil, SK, and Lily all wore their matching pink and white bucket hats for most of the hike! There were lots of uphill climbs, downhill stretches, and the most insane panoramic views the entire way. The trail was full of music, nonstop laughter, and the best, most lively conversations. After absolutely crushing the hike, we enjoyed a picnic. Then we made our way back into town on foot. Once we got back to the hotel, some girls chilled there while others decided it was officially time for a shopping spree. Maggie, Abby, Brie, Liz, Virginia, Alice, Izzy, and Rachael went out to explore the town, and everyone found cute souvenirs to bring home. Brie and Maggie even decided to twin and got matching adorable blue necklaces with little fish on them. Later, we grabbed our duffels and headed to the ferry back to FUNchal! The walk from the hotel to the ferry was absolutely gorgeous—right along the ocean with crystal clear, super calm water. On the ferry ride, we had dinner, and a few of the girls even went to the movie theater onboard! Once we got back, we headed to the hotel and had Moon Up on the rooftop, led by LODs Maggie and Izzy, with the most unreal views overlooking Funchal and the stars. We ended the night with an incredible fireworks show to top it all off.
DAY 10 – Canyoneering: Level Expert
Sunday June 14th, 2026
Time to put our new skills to the test! Canyoneering level 2 was bound to be epic, and the girls were so excited. After waking up, getting dressed, and grabbing breakfast from the hotel, our transports took us back up into the mountains. Maggie enjoyed singing Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ alongside our taxi driver, Frank. After meeting our guides we suited up in our booties, socks, wetsuits, harnesses, and helmets once again, feeling even more like pros this time around. The girls all did a fabulous job rappelling down the even taller waterfalls, navigating the rocky crevices, and even sliding down the rocks at the end. We got to jump in the crystal clear water. Everyone was so brave, and our guides were so impressed with how capable everyone was! The weather could not have been more perfect – the sun warmed us up and the cold, fresh water felt amazing. After hiking out of the river and enjoying our picnic lunch on the side of the road, we headed back into town. We walked around the water front and the girls all enjoyed popping into McDonald’s for a well-deserved mid-afternoon snack, while Maggie and Brie indulged in another iced matcha and mochi. After wandering around the city center for a little longer, we headed back to the hotel to prepare for dinner – a cooking class! We arrived at the gorgeous house with views of the ocean, and the girls got right to work. SK, Ceil, and Lily tackled the meat – they did an excellent job slicing the steaks, while Alice and Izzy helped season the skewers before throwing them on the charcoal grill. Maggie and Brie made the garlic butter and toasted the bread for the Madeiran classic, bolo do caco, a group favorite! Virginia, Liz, and Berkeley also helped chop up all the salad ingredients and learned a delicious homemade salad dressing recipe they can’t wait to share. Berkeley also bonded with the puppy, Kiara. Virginia really stepped in as chef and showed off her love for cooking! Once our delicious dinner of steak skewers, bolo do caco, fried corn, and salad was ready to go, we got seated at the gorgeous table in the yard surrounded by all the beautiful plants and dug in! The food was phenomenal, and felt even more special since the girls had all prepared it together. With full bellies, we returned to the hotel rooftop for Moonup under a cotton candy sunset sky. LODs SK and Lily did a fabulous job leading our conversation, and it felt surreal to be soaking in the stunning sky, mountains, ocean, and town all at once with this special group. We wrapped up the night with some Just Dance on the roof – Alice, Izzy, and Abby crushed Rasputin. Finally hit the hay after a long and rewarding day!
DAY 11 – Our Group Rocks
Monday June 15th, 2026
Another day, another adventure! Woke the girls up and shared the news with Izzy, Alice,and Berkeley that the Canes won the Stanley Cup – how exciting!! We packed up all our belongings quickly before grabbing breakfast and our picnic lunch from the hotel, before loading up in our transfers. This time we traveled from Funchal to a new town for our rock climbing activity. We met our guides at the trailhead before walking about 10 minutes, where we arrived at our rock climbing activity, with another gorgeous view of the coast! After the first group got suited up in our snazzy rock climbing shoes, harnesses, and helmets, we hit the rocks. Liz, our resident rock climbing pro, suited up first and scaled all three routes in no time before kindly offering to belay everyone else! Our guides were so thankful for her help, and we were all so impressed that she kept us safe as we tested our strengths! Alice, Izzy, Maggie, and Brie all got up there next and did an excellent job of tackling their fears and conquering the course. Berkeley drew a phenomenal sketch of our scenic view as everyone took turns rock climbing – she is seriously so talented, and we are so appreciative! As we waited for our rides, SK got another Super Twister popsicle while Ceil got a white chocolate ice cream bar – yum. After driving we arrived at our hostel! Truly a picturesque setting, and the girls loved grabbing some flicks of the view out the windows of their bedrooms. We headed into town, stopping at a souvenir store on the way, where Ceil, Lily, SK, and Liz purchased water guns and goggles. We eventually made it to the gorgeous natural salt pools, where Abby, Izzy, Alice, and Brie all had fun jumping off the diving board into the ocean. After soaking up the last bit of sun, we headed back to the hostel for pizza night! Our guide brought over all the tools we needed, from the oven to the dough to the toppings, and the girls had a blast getting creative. Virginia made a special concoction with olive oil crust, mushrooms, and all the cheeses, while Maggie and Brie made a scrumptious margarita pizza. Abby added honey to her pizza, which most everyone agreed was a nice touch. Alice and Izzy also flaunted their creativity, making a heart out of tomatoes on their pepperoni pizza. After our bellies were full with yummy pizza, we strolled into town in search of ice cream, but unfortunately were unsuccessful. Didn’t matter, the girls admired the sunset! Back at the hostel, LODs Brie and Maggie led an amazing Moonup where we discussed what state we would live in for the rest of our lives if we had to pick. Ended the night in our super fun hostel with our super fun group, ready to get started with trekking tomorrow!
THANK YOUS
Liz Curtis – Thank you Mom and Daddy for sending me on Moondance. I have loved getting to make new friends and try new things. My favorite so far has been rock climbing which we did today. Everyone here is sooo sweet! I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Love y’all!
Maggie Hodges – Hi Mom and Dad!! I just finished rock climbing and it was difficult I have ever done but it felt so rewarding. I have felt like that the entire trip with hard hikes and new activities; I’m so grateful to be able to experience all of these new adventures and can’t thank you guys enough! I love both of you guys and miss y’all so much.
Berkeley Burris: Hi Mom, Dad, William, and Nana! I miss you all so much and I am having the best time, I’ve made some great friends and new relationships. I love it here, we just went rock climbing and it’s our last day before we go trekking for a few days. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to see nana for her birthday, happy belated birthday, love you! I can’t wait to come home and see all of you! I just wanted to thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip. I’m enjoying moondance very much. Thank you. Also please tell Jackie and Aimee I really really miss them and I’m thinking of them, and tell William that I miss his cooking and I appreciate him always cooking for everyone, even though I know he enjoys it a lot. Hope you guys are doing well, don’t miss me too much. Love, Berks.
Lily Minor: Hi Mom, Dad, Paige, and Everett, I miss you guys so so much! Thank you guys again for sending me on this awesome trip I’ve made the best friends ever!! So far we’ve hiked a bit, rappelled down waterfalls, surfed, and rock climbed! We’re about to go trekking for about five nights! I love y’all so so much can’t wait so see y’all in about a week!!
Izzy Manix: Hi Mom, Dad, and Amber, I miss you guys so much and I can’t wait to see you all! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip it’s been so fun and very eye-opening! We’ve done lots of fun outdoorsy things and it’s been so beautiful. We are starting our trek tomorrow to the end of the trip but I’m not excited for the uphill but gotta thug it out. Also heard the Canes won!! Hello RLRL I miss you guys like crazy everything reminds me of you guys it’s insane. I’m excited to come home and see you all. I love and miss all of you more than you know! P.S Myra I can’t wait to eat cream cheese sushi with crunchies 🙂
Ceil Beasley: Hi Mom, Dad, and Gooch!! Thank y’all so much for working hard and giving me this opportunity to see the world. We have been rock climbing, lots of hiking, surfing, and spending lots of time together. This group of girls is really special and we have all gotten close. I have seen some really cool things and have met some awesome people along the way. Again, thank y’all so much for sending me on this trip and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!!
Brie Burns: Hi Mom, I miss you and I’m having so much fun. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip it’s been so fun and eye opening. We started our trek today and it’s so pretty. We are camping out and I have made so many best friends. Love and miss you.
SK Robinson: Hi Mom what’s up. Hi MV also I miss u guys a lot. We started our trek today and it’s so pretty. I’m having a lot of fun and I made a lot of friends. Bye love y’all.
Abby Cox: Hi Mom and Dad! I am having so much fun so far and I’m so grateful you guys sent me on moondance. Tonight is our first night of camping and the whole rest of the week we are trekking through the mountains. It’s so pretty here and I loved getting to be at the beach so far. I love and miss you guys so much. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it at the end of the week.
Virginia Parker: Hi Mom, Dad, Gigi, Tudie, Big Phil, and Cecilia! I am having so much fun here and have never been happier! It is so gorgeous and we have done so many cool things. We are starting our trek for these next few days and then I will see you!! Love you so much!!
Alice Long: Hi Mom!! I miss you so so much and can’t wait to see you frank and sam. Thank you for sending me on this trip. Thank you Bea and Rudy for getting me prepared for this trip and making sure I have all the things I needed, I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see you. RLRL I miss you guys so much can’t wait to tell you about my trip, love you guys!! P.S. Sophia I can’t wait to come home to you and hear about everything I’ve missed. Love you Mom and Sam, see y’all in 5 days!!!!
From the Leaders: Thank you so much for sharing your delightful girls with us! This trip has been so special thus far, all because the girls are who they are. We have absolutely adored getting to know each and every one of them, and we can’t wait for you to hear all the stories straight from their mouths. In the meantime – we’re off to trek across the island!
Hope you enjoyed following along, and we’ll talk again soon!
Obrigada!
Rachael & Janie
Surf and Sun!!
June 13, 2026
DAY 5 – Surf’s Up!
Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
Day one of surfing!!! Everyone woke up so excited for our big surf day, especially because they were able to sleep in again! On the way to the beach we knew we needed proper energy, so we decided to take a pit stop at a local coffee shop where the girls got their coffee and matcha, of course. Once the girls were properly caffeinated, we made our way to Praia Sao Roque, our surf spot for the day. Before our surfing guides arrived, we all soaked up the sunshine and journaled on the rocks. As we got ready in our wetsuits, we also applied some colorful zinc sunscreen provided by Janie so we were protected from the sun but also kept up the vibes. After carrying our boards over from the van to the beach, we circled up and stretched to get ready for the sesh. Our surf guides led us in some circle stretches to warm us up before a quick land lesson to review the basic mechanics of popping up on the board. Once we were ready, the waves were ripping, and everyone looked like pros paddling out in the water. Although Liz had never surfed before, she took to it like a champ and it was impossible to wipe the smile off her face – we could barely get her out of the water once it was time to go! Abby loved body surfing the perfect rolling waves and even had a competition against one of our local surf guide. Of course Ceil looked like a natural out there, considering she has experience as a surf instructor as well. After a gnarly sesh, we cleaned up the boards and our belongings and made it to the first sandy beach of the trip! The girls took full advantage of it by playing some beach volleyball. We were so grateful the sun finally came out! We ate the last bit of our picnic lunch from the hotel – the sandwich got rave reviews. On the way back, Rachael and Janie treated the girls to some local gelato! Everyone ate every last bite. After dinner at the hotel, Berkeley and Ceil conducted a fantastic Moonup on the rooftop, despite the wind, and many laughs and heartfelt conversations were had. The group is growing so close already, and we can’t wait for everyone to improve on their surfing skills again tomorrow!
DAY 6 – Time for the WSL
Wednesday, June 10th, 2026
Surfing day two!!! The girls woke up in high spirits, eager to go surfing again and put their newfound skills to good use. After eating some yummy breakfast, we headed out the door to the beach! We had an action-packed morning – full of spikeball, volleyball, and swimming! Maggie, Abby, Alice, and Izzy set up the Spikeball net and had a blast on the sand. After some local boys lost their soccer ball to the ocean, the girls challenged them to a game of beach volleyball on the courts. Abby and Maggie absolutely killed it at the net! After that, we ate our delicious sandwiches on the beach and got ready for surfing! Alice and Ceil crushed it today in surfing! Berkeley worked one-on-one with one of our surf guides, Gaia, and was looking like a pro out there! After surfing, we treated the girls to some more delicious local gelato at a spot nearby. For Ceil, Lily, and SK, they also enjoyed a hot dog from a local vendor by the beach! After gelato, we went back to the sandy beach for a short while and chilled – hung out, talked, read books, and journaled. Shoutout to Berkeley for keeping the tunes always good. Once back at the hotel, we all showered, packed, and got ready for yummy dinner at the hotel. While at dinner, Berkeley sketched a lovely illustration of our fun on Madeira thus far in the hotel guestbook, and we all signed our names around the page, a beautiful way to leave our mark on the town! The night ended with Moonup, led by Izzy and Abby. We had some laughs as they asked if we’d rather have three legs or three arms and if we’d rather be a mermaid or a fairy. Some real deep thinkers! The girls retired shortly after, since we had our earliest morning of the trip coming up tomorrow – lots of fun awaits us in Porto Santo!
DAY 7 – Porto Santo Here We Come!!!!
Thursday June 11th, 2026
Today we woke up bright and early to catch our ferry to Porto Santo! We woke up to a stunning sunrise of pink and blue skies. After a short drive to the port, we boarded our ferry. Ceil immediately let us know that the boat actually belonged to her, thanks to the giant seal that serves as the ferry line’s mascot and is plastered on the side of the boat. Izzy and Alice enjoyed exploring the movie theatre on board, while everyone else caught up on more sleep. Once we deboarded, we met our local guides, loaded up our bags and started walking into town! Strolling alongside the crystal clear blue water and the sandy beaches as we made our way into town was such a special welcome to this incredible island. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we changed into swimsuits and loaded up in the transport to soak up some sun, with breathtaking views of the lava rocks. The girls enjoyed tanning, swimming in the cool water, and taking advantage of the picturesque backdrop. Ceil, SK, Lily, Alice, and Liz climbed up the tall rock to get a better view of our surroundings. Before we knew it, we were packing up and walking over to our sea kayak launch point! After we met our guide Antonio and announced the kayak pairs, everyone applied some more colorful zinc to the faces to get hyped up for our adventure. After carrying the boats down to the beach, we launched right into the open ocean and hit the coast! We ventured around the southern point of the island and came up the western coast, paddling in and out of the volcanic caves along the way. Liz was lucky enough to be matched up with our local guide, while Alice enjoyed a smooth ride with our resident rowing expert SK. Pairs Maggie and Virginia and Abby and Ceil held down the front of the line, while Lily and Janie brought up the rear. Bri and Rachael enjoyed chatting and paddling. Reggae fanatics Berkeley and Izzy also loved bonding some more over their love for the vibes. Each and every girl did a fantastic job of following our guide’s instructions and masterfully exploring the caves along the coast! Halfway through, we stopped at a very secluded beach tucked away in the rocks for a well deserved break. We were able to cool off in the salt water, walk around and explore, and most importantly, rehydrate with the natural spring water that was flowing down from the mountains. Ceil, Abby, Maggie, and Berkeley even braved the high jump from the rock out in the middle of the cove. Thrill seekers! Once we were ready to get going again, we headed back to the launch point, this time with the wind at our backs, which made for a much easier paddle. The girls safely landed on shore and we helped bring the kayaks up the beach as well! After returning to the hotel to freshen up, we headed out to a pizza dinner, where just about everyone became a member of the clean plate club. After such a long, fun day of activities, the girls were still so hungry that we treated them to more gelato on the walk home. Berkeley tried the charcoal colored ice cream that left everyone confused, but made for some great laughs. After returning to the hotel, LODs Virginia and Bri led an incredible Moonup, where we all shared our dream shopping spree and more. A jam packed day and we cannot wait to keep exploring Porto Santo over the next few days!!
Thanks for following along on our adventures, and we can’t wait to fill you in very soon!!!
Obrigada!
Rachael & Janie
Portugal Summer!
June 10, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Olá from Madeira! The girls are having a blast so far – take a look below to see what we’ve been up to!
DAY 1 – Portugal summer here we come!
Departure day! Although travel days can be stressful, each and every girl did an amazing job traveling internationally and navigating the airports by themselves! Bri, Maggie, Abby, SK, Liz, Berkeley, and Virginia all connected in the Miami airport before their flight across the Atlantic, while Izzy and Alice flew from Boston together. Lily was already in Madeira before anyone else was wheels up, and Ceil successfully made it on her plane as well. So proud of all of them for completing the hardest part!
DAY 2 – Fun in Funchal
An overnight Atlantic flight calls for an early morning in the Lisbon airport! Rachael and Janie made it through security in plenty of time and set up shop in a large open area near our next gate. After everyone trickled through customs, the Miami flight found us, and we got to hang out and chat as we waited for the rest of the crew. Eventually, Izzy and Alice joined and we were almost at full capacity! It was also fun getting to connect with the other Moondance groups who will be exploring Madeira at the same time as us. The Lisbon airport is also where the matcha phenomenon began … more on that to come! After a successful flight from Lisbon to Funchal and a seamless landing at one of the coolest airports in the world, we clapped as the plane landed! In the Funchal airport our group finally became whole with the additions of Lily, Ceil, Alice, and Izzy! Our local guides greeted us in the airport before we took off across the island to our hotel right in the city center. The views along the coast with the dramatic peaks and valleys were stunning! After settling in quickly at the hotel, we strolled around Funchal, Madeira’s capital and the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo, and ate a quick snack. All the girls enjoyed a yummy meal, from avocado toast to hummus wraps, but most importantly – matcha. After taking our meals to go and eating by the water, we strolled around town and the port a little while longer, and then headed back to the hotel before walking to our first dinner together – pizza! Ceil and Janie tried the favorite local drink, Brisa, a sparkling pineapple delight, and many girls also indulged in the ice cream offerings. Once back at the hotel, we made our way to the rooftop to catch a beautiful view of the sunset over the town of Funchal and do our first Moonup – a Moondance tradition at the end of every day where we get to share more about ourselves and grow closer as a group. Every girl shared why they chose Moondance this year and a goal they would like to accomplish by the end of the trip, which was so lovely to hear and brought us all closer together already. After such a long and exciting day, everyone hit the hay pretty early, but Izzy made sure to catch the firework show from the rooftop with Rachael and Janie before heading to bed. We have a huge day of canyoning tomorrow so we’re so glad everyone got some much deserved rest!
DAY 3 – Slippin and Slidin
First full day in Funchal! Woke up the girls to get ready for our very exciting day of canyoneering – something no one had done before, even Rachael and Janie! Even though no one knew quite what to expect, boy did we have fun. After packing up what we needed for the day, our transfer took us from the hotel up into the mountains, with gorgeous views of the whole island, and eventually making our way up above the layer of clouds and into the sun. After greeting our guides, we suited up for the day – special canyoning boots, wetsuits, helmets, harnesses, and smiles! Feeling ready to rock and roll after our instructional lesson, we all followed our guides on to the trail and down into the river to start off our canyoneering level 1 experience! The best way to describe it is hiking in the river, and then reppelling down the steep parts when necessary! The sun was shining, the smiles were gleaming, and the laughs were laughing. Maggie set the tone at the front of the line leading the way, with Bri and Virginia not far behind. It was literally impossible to dampen Lily’s spirits – she was eating up every single second! Ceil mastered the GoPro and even got to film some shots of the other girls as they came down the waterfalls, plus some body cam footage of herself ziplining! Between the rappelling, ziplining, and sliding down the rocks in the canyon, the girls all agreed they had an absolute blast, and cant wait to go back later for level 2! After we made it to the bottom of the river, we hiked out to our transports, and enjoyed a lovely picnic in the sun. The girls also indulged in another matcha – rankings coming soon. We made it back to the hotel in enough time to change into swimsuits and head to the beach in the center of town. The girls were able to relax, take a dip in the cool, clear water, and snap some more photos. After freshening up, we enjoyed dinner at the hotel – the highlight was a traditional Maderian dish called bolo do caco, a delicious take on garlic bread! Pretty sure there were at least 5 plates consumed amongst the group. After dinner, the Leaders of the Day (or LODs) led us in our second Moonup on the roof of the hotel. Maggie and Alice asked us about what our last meals on earth would be, which ultimately just made everyone hungry again. After another long and exciting day of activity, the girls went to bed exhausted but content!
DAY 4 – Birthday Trek!
Happy Birthday Berkeley!!! What a day we have planned! Started off waking up the birthday girl with a matcha latte and a pastel de nata, a traditional Portuguese egg tart that she loves. Her alarm clock was a lovely serenade by the group – what a treat. After a yummy hotel breakfast and packing up all of our belongings, our transfer arrived to whisk us from Funchal to Porto da Cruz on the northeast side of the island for the start of our trek along the Vereda do Larano. The ride consisted of gorgeous views through the mountains and scenic ocean views along the coastal highway. Upon arrival at the trailhead, Rachael gifted Berkeley a birthday crown and sash to rock for the hike, we strapped on our packs, and hit the trail! Energy was high thanks to new friends and Celsius packets. The jaw-dropping views started immediately, looking at the little coastal towns tucked into the valleys along the coastline. There were plenty of opportunities for photos, which were all taken full advantage of. Although the trail was a little crowded to start, once we made it 2 miles in we turned up the tunes thanks to Berkeley’s immaculately curated playlists. Bri and Maggie held it down at the front of the line with our trekking guide, while SK, Alice, Izzy, Ceil, and Lily helped bring up the rear. A little ways into our hike, our guide surprised the group with birthday Oreos! Everyone enjoyed the pick-me-up and celebrating the birthday girl. Izzy, Alice, Rachael, and Janie noted how similar the coastline of Madeira felt to the Na Pali coast in Hawaii, which is quite full circle! About 4 miles in, we stopped for our picnic lunch at a gorgeous lookout spot where we hungrily devoured our sandwiches, fruit, and juice. Ceil, Lily, and SK filmed a mukbang of the process, which is sure to be a viral hit upon return. Maggie, SK, and Ceil also competed in a very tight handstand contest – winner is still TBD. After wrapping up lunch, we turned up the vibes with Berkeley’s 2016 bangers playlist. The second half of the hike was mostly all downhill, now working our way from the end of the trail into the town of Machico. It was so fascinating to walk along the flowing water in the levedas, trenches that deliver the water into the town from the mountains. You truly could not wipe the smiles off the girls’ faces! Coming down the final few stairs into the center of the beachy area of Machico could not have been more rewarding! After a quick change at our new hotel, we hurried back over to the sandy beach to enjoy some acai bowls and soak up the sun. For dinner we scarfed down some much needed cheeseburgers and fries – Liz especially loved the red lemonade and Izzy gulped down her glass of milk. The sweet potato fries were popular with Berkeley, Bri, and Maggie as well. Of course the birthday girl couldn’t go without dessert, so we surprised her with a lemon cake! After heading back to the hotel, the LODs Liz and Lily led a great Moonup where we all shared which celebrity we would like to have a dinner with. Virginia also has some incredibly insightful answers that the group all agreed with. Once it was finally time to rest, 8 miles and 31k steps later, we couldn’t have been more thankful for a comfy bed. Off to surfing tomorrow!
We truly feel so blessed to be spending these 17 days with your sweet girls on our little slice of island paradise! The girls have been better than we could have ever imagined thus far, and we’re so looking forward to all the fun we have left! In the meantime, here are some shoutouts from everyone – enjoy, and we’ll talk again soon!
Tchau tchau!
Rachael & Janie
SHOUTOUTS!!!!
Virginia Parker– Hi Mom, Dad, and Cecilia!! I’m having so much fun and Madeira is so beautiful!! I love and miss you guys!!
Brie Burns– Hii!! I’m having the BEST time in Madeira!! We went canyoneering and ziplined across a waterfall! I miss you guys!!
Maggie Hodges– Hi Mom and Dad! Miss you guys a lot! I’m having the best time in Maderia; it is so beautiful. Canyoneering was awesome and we are surfing the next couple days!
Abby Cox – Hi Mom and Dad! I miss you guys so much and I am having so much fun hiking, canyoneering and surfing! I love you guys so much!
Berkeley Burris – Hi mom and dad, I miss you guys so so much and I have had the best time so far. We’ve done so many activities and I can’t wait for you guys to see what I’ve been up to! Almost halfway there, love you and miss you. See you soon.
Liz Curtis – Hi mom, daddy, and Hill! I love yall so much and am having an amazing time here in Madeira. Tell Henry and Bear I say hi! It is so beautiful here and I am loving getting to make new friends and try so many new things. See y’all soon!
Lily Minor– Hi mom and dad I miss you guys already!! I’m having the most awesome time here! Yesterday we did a very cool hike, all the views are so so pretty and cool. Thank you guys for giving me the chance to experience this!! I love y’all!! Also both Margs, Eden, Lillian, Reese, Lauren, Evelyn, Lily, Harley (I know you’re on Moondance but if you see later), and Harrison, I miss you guys so so much and I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it and hang when we get back!! 6️⃣7️⃣
SK Robinson – Hi mom!! I miss you so much. I’m having the best time and the girls on the trip are awesome! Tell MV and Christian I said what’s up. Tell MV to tell all my friends that have their phones in town that I said hey. It’s so pretty here and we’re doing fun things. Thank you for letting me go on another Moondance this is awesome. Okay bye love all y’all ✌️ 6️⃣7️⃣😂
Ceil Beasley – Hi Mom and Dad!! I’ve been having so much fun. All of the girls are so sweet and we have all already gotten so close. It is so beautiful here and we have already gone canyoneering and trekking. My leaders are awesome and are like my older sisters I never had. Thank y’all so much for working hard to give me the opportunity to do this. I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! Love and miss y’all!!💕
Alice Long– Hi mom!! I’ve been having the best time here being so outdoorsy, hiked 7 miles yesterday and I propelled off of a cliff a couple days ago, you’d loveeeeee Portugal. Now to Sophia, hi I miss you so much and can’t wait to show you all of my journaling and photos that I’ve taken, and I bought this swim suit that’s really cute and you’re going to love. I can’t wait to hear all about Kesha and everything I’ve missed I love you so much and I can’t wait to see you. Tell RLRL I love them, miss them and can’t wait to see them!! Love both of you. Thank you I love you so much!💋💋💋
Isabela Manix– Hi Dad, Amber, and Mom, I miss and love you guys so so much!! We hiked 7 miles yesterday, we went canyoneering, and today we are going surfing. It’s super pretty here and everyone is so cool ! RLRL hi! I miss you guys so so much. Everyone please give Han-solo lots of love for me because I miss him, again I love and miss you all. I’m so grateful to be here!❤️❤️
Safe Arrival!
June 6, 2026
Hello Madeira Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely! 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
