Trekking and Making Memories Together!
July 6, 2026
DAY 8 – Mountains to Sea
Goooood morning world! Time to start trekking! We woke up in our hostel with the church bells and were immediately struck by the gorgeous views of the water and mountains. We got to cooking breakfast after packing up – enjoyed the classic scrambled eggs and bacon with plenty of juices and fruit. Cleaning up our hostel could not have gone more smoothly – especially since Addie and Lucy killed it on dish duty! Once we were ready to go, we loaded up and arrived at Seixal Beach, a gorgeous black sand beach with stunning views of the cliffs and waterfalls along the north side of Madeira. The girls got comfy at our favorite coffee shop, Obsidian, where they were able to order iced coffee and lattes for the first time in a while. After getting properly caffeinated for the day, we headed down to the beach for some time to chill before the trek! Carson, Emerson, Lottie, and Kiersi used the time to catch up on their journal, while Drew and Lucy read their book together. Harper and Riley enjoyed a little photoshoot with the gorgeous backdrop before joining Anna Reid, Bailey, and Addie playing over / under in the waves! The gang then enjoyed the thrill of jumping off the pier into the crashing waves. SO sick to start our trek on the beach and end up in the mountains! Once we started, we marched through the town along the levadas, taking in all the views and how far we had come along the way. All the girls were absolute troopers, not a complaint in sight. Anna Reid and Riley left part of their lunch for our dog friend we met along the way as well! When we needed to rehydrate, we were able to refill our water bottles in the springs along the way – so refreshing! Eventually, we made it to the riverbed, which we hiked on for about another half mile before arriving at the most stunning waterfall we had ever seen, tucked away in the lush greenery. The crisp water was much needed to cool off after hiking through the humidity! The girls jumped in almost immediately and enjoyed splashing around. Addie even dunked her head under the waterfall! Our LODs Harper and Lucy, the iconic kayak duo, passed out a surprise at the falls – some rainbow gummy strips! Lottie’s chalk markers that we had used at the beginning of the day somehow stayed on through the swim – quite impressive. We soon made it to our campsite for the evening, nestled in a valley with stunning views of the mountains on all sides. After a lesson on how to set up and break down the tents, the campsite’s owner baked chocolate cake for visitors, and boy did we enjoy it. Once everyone was clean and showered in the cold water, we made a yummy pasta and salad for dinner! Carb load necessary for tomorrow. Addie, Kiersi, Riley, and Lottie knocked it out of the park on cook crew, with Harper doing an especially expert job on the pasta. We chowed down after such an exciting Day 1 of trekking – Riley even tried ground beef for the first time! Once the dishes were cleaned, the girls had a load of fun playing soccer and practicing their Spanish with our camping guide Henrique! LOD’s Harper and Lucy led us in a fantastic Moonup under the stars, where we discussed some puzzling Would You Rathers.
DAY 9 – Head in the Clouds
Elevation day, baby! WOOHOO!!! We woke up excited and ready to take on the day. On breakfast duty this morning were Bailey and Emerson. Bailey made the world’s best scrambled eggs while Emerson cooked the bacon to crispy perfection. It was so good that Riley decided to give it a try… and she loved it! Even more exciting, Riley also tried prosciutto, ham, and turkey at lunch today!! We are SO proud of her for stepping outside her comfort zone and trying new things! Lucy and Drew were absolute rockstars and helped wash all the breakfast dishes. After breakfast, everyone packed their lunches. Anna Reid and Riley got creative and made a Nutella “crepe” using tortillas, which looked delicious! We also packed tons of fruit, cookies (especially lots of Oreos), and everything you could possibly want to go with sandwiches. Once everyone had full bellies and packed lunches, we took a quick five-minute drive to the trailhead. Before we officially started hiking, our LODs, Lottie and Carson, led us in a stretch circle with some hype music playing in the background. Then came everyone’s favorite part—Lottie broke out her colorful markers! Carson, Kiersi, Addie, Riley, Emerson, and Lottie all wrote “You can do hard things” on themselves (which definitely came in handy later on!). Riley and Bailey rocked “#LITMO,” Anna Reid proudly wrote “Moondance” in colorful letters on her legs, while Kiersi and Janie wrote “LITMO” on the side of their pointer fingers and turned it into a tiny Moondance mustache. It gave everyone a good laugh! Then… we began our trekking adventure! And immediately it was up, up, and UP! Despite the climb, every single girl had such a positive attitude. They encouraged each other the entire way and made the miles fly by. Riley was our DJ for the day and absolutely crushed it with the speaker. Anna Reid especially loved dancing along to “Peanut Butter and Jelly” and “Side Pony.” At one point, we realized we were literally hiking through the clouds… and before we knew it, we were ABOVE the clouds! It was unreal. At lunch, our amazing LODs, Lottie and Carson, surprised everyone with gummy worms and a local sour candy, which gave us exactly the energy boost we needed. Shoutout to the LODs for coming in clutch! While the hikers were busy tackling the trail, Janie and Harper spent the day exploring the adorable town of Ribeira Brava. They wandered through a local market and picked up some fun surprises for everyone to enjoy the next day! Their haul included dried mango, dried dragon fruit (which Harper was especially excited to try!), dried coconut, fresh mango, grapes, goji berries, and the juiciest strawberries known to mankind. But the most exciting find of all… a pineapple banana! Sadly, it wasn’t quite ripe enough for us to try yet, but don’t worry—we’ll definitely keep you posted once it’s ready! It looked so interesting! The outside had the texture of a pineapple, but it was shaped like an ear of corn. Needless to say, we’re all very curious to see what it tastes like! Toward the end of the hike, when the trail finally flattened out, we met up with Janie and Harper and refilled all of our water bottles. The final stretch was absolutely magical. We were surrounded by giant windmills, breathtaking mountain views, and clouds as far as we could see. The girls couldn’t stop taking it all in. When we finally finished the trek, everyone was SO proud of themselves. There was such a huge sense of accomplishment after conquering such a big day. As if the day couldn’t get any better… our campsite had cows! Naturally, the girls immediately made some new cow friends. Once we got settled and unpacked, it was time to start dinner. On tonight’s menu: taco bowls! Kiersi crushed it cooking the peppers and onions while Addie perfectly chopped the tomatoes and onions. Carson and Harper cut up and seasoned the chicken, and Riley cooked it to perfection. While dinner was coming together, we snacked on chips, salsa, and guacamole as the perfect appetizer. When everything was ready, our chefs announced the dinner spread, and everyone dug in—with the cooks getting first dibs for all their hard work! After dinner, we hiked up to watch the sunset… and WOW. It absolutely did not disappoint. Hands down one of the most beautiful sunsets ever. The sky was filled with pinks, blues, oranges, and every cotton-candy color you could imagine. Being surrounded by mountains while standing above the clouds made the whole moment feel unreal. And guess what?! We even got to witness a proposal!! It seriously felt like we were watching a scene from a movie. After soaking in the sunset and taking lots of pictures, we gathered for Moonup under the stars. Rachael even saw her very first shooting star! It was the perfect way to end such an incredible day. Then it was back to our tents for some well-earned sleep before another big day of trekking tomorrow!DAY 10 – We Peaked. Thursday Jul 2, 2026Another day, another mountain! We started the morning with some amazing yogurt bowls, thanks to Harper and Janie for picking out all the toppings the day before. The girls got creative with kiwis, bananas, apples, strawberries, goji berries, coconut flakes, different types of granola, honey, and so many more additions. After breakfast, we headed out for a short drive to the start of our trek at one of Madeira’s iconic viewpoints, Pico do Arieiro. There, the girls grabbed energy drinks, candy, and snacks to fuel up for the day—Addie even picked out a pink, orange, and yellow popsicle and said it was the best she’s ever had. Today’s hike included tunnels, so headlamps were a must! We got to see the “Stairway to Heaven,” reach the highest peak in Madeira, Pico Ruivo (6,109 feet), and take in so many incredible views along the way. It was amazing to stand above the clouds and even spot the windmills we had visited the day before in the distance. During the hike, Lottie and Riley spent most of the trek speaking Spanish to each other, while Harper taught Addie some French. We stopped for lunch with an unreal mountain view, shared some sour gummies, and had fun putting on colorful zinc sunscreen. The girls are lucky enough to be the first Moondance group of the summer to make this trek from Arieiro to Ruvio, since the trail only just opened this month! No better group to be the first. At the end of the hike, we surprised the girls with the news that we weren’t camping after all and instead would be staying in a cozy hostel for the night. While waiting for dinner, the girls enjoyed homemade sparkling lemonade, made friendship bracelets, and shared lots of sour candy. Bracelet-making has definitely become a group favorite lately, and they’ve even started adding beads—so impressive! Very much looking forward to our bracelet exchange on the last night. So thoughtful of the girls to come up with such a sweet memento. Dinner was delicious: salad, bolo do caco (Madeira’s famous garlic bread), lasagna, and dessert of choice. Emerson went with the brownie with caramel drizzle, Addie chose the chocolate and coffee mousse cake, and Kiersi picked an ice cream bar for dessert. After dinner, we headed upstairs for Moonup led by LODs Emerson and Bailey. We shared laughs, had some great conversations, and then headed off to bed after another incredible day in Madeira, our tiny little slice of island paradise <3.
DAY 11 – Final Stretch!
Good morning, Madeira!! Trekking Day 4 is officially underway! The girls woke up excited and ready for another adventure, and we were greeted with the most incredible mountain views right outside our windows—such a perfect way to start the day. Breakfast did not disappoint. We had freshly squeezed orange juice, delicious coffee, flaky croissants, eggs, bacon, and everything you could want for the perfect yogurt bowl. Once everyone was fueled up and ready to go, we loaded up for a short drive to the trailhead to kick off another day of trekking. Today’s car ride was filled with all Taylor Swift songs, thanks to DJ Janie. No better way to celebrate the closest America will ever get to a Royal Wedding… Once we got to our trailhead we began our trek. The beginning of today’s hike was a lot of uphill, but you honestly wouldn’t have known it from the girls’ attitudes. If anything, the challenge brought out even more positivity. They encouraged each other every step of the way, kept spirits high, and tackled each climb with smiles on their faces—it was so impressive to watch. Today’s hike was fueled by Taylor Swift – the constant theme of the day. Janie and Rachael were able to sync up their speakers today providing lots of T-Swizzle. We stopped halfway in a shady spot and ate some lunch that the hostel had prepared for us the night before. They knew that the girls loved bolo do caco, therefore they made our sandwiches using bolo do caco bread. The girls were so excited! After lunch, we went back to hiking. The Cool Kids Caboose Crew, Rachael, Emerson, and Harper were jamming out to Olivia Rodriguez’s new album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So In Love”. Emerson’s favorite song from the album is “Expectations” and Harper’s favorite song is “Stupid Song”. The cool kids hang out in the back. Funny enough, we took a wrong turn at the end and the Caboose Crew ended up in the front. When we pulled up to camp, we played “Hall of Fame” and “All I Do Is Win”. Harper popped off when singing “All I Do Is Win” when she rapped every single word that Ludacris said. Harper also knew all of the words to “End Game” by Taylor Swift. Once we got settled at camp, we all hung out and chatted, and of course, all the girls started making bracelets again. Emerson is working on a red, white, and blue bracelet right now, and Harper is working on a pink and teal bracelet. Carson, Riley, Addie, Bailey, and Lottie did lots of journaling when we got back to camp. Riley, Bailey, Anna Reid, Drew, Lucy, Lottie, and Kiersi explored once we got to the campsite too! Dinner tonight was burgers, mac n cheese, and coleslaw! Riley and Rachael whipped up the coleslaw. Riley and Harper cooked the burgers and Anna Reid helped stir the mac n cheese. Dinner was a 10/10! After eating and cleaning up dinner we began Moon Up, led by LOD’s Riley and Anna Reid. We did Moonup in the middle of the field under the most amazing sky full of stars. Lottie even spotted a shooting star! After hanging out for a little while longer, the girls headed back to their tents for some sleep to get ready to attack our last day of trekking!
DAY 12 – 4th of July (Trekking Style)
Goooood morninggggg Maderia! And happy Fourth of July!!!! Bailey, Anna Reid, Carson, Emerson, Harper, Riley, Addie, and Janie woke up to catch the sunrise at our campsite. They sat on the rocks overlooking the valley, and saw the sun rise above the clouds – truly a magical sight and great way to start the morning of a super special day! We got to work preparing yogurt bowls, cleaning up, and getting all our 4th of July gear on – bandanas, face paint (courtesy of Janie’s markers and Lottie’s chalk pens), and so much more. Bailey and Emerson rocked some epic socks. Everyone looked so patriotic wearing their red, white, and blue. We’re ready to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, even from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean! Once all the dishes were cleaned, we hit the trail and started our last day of trekking – this time all downhill into the city of Funchal! We walked through the valleys and saw all the gorgeous yellow wild flowers, even spotted some peacocks in the garden. We had classic 4th of July tunes carrying us the whole way down. We even recognized some of our trails from our first day of canyoning – so crazy to realize we had walked all the way from one side of the island to the other! We stopped at Pico do Alto for lunch, where we took in the view of the whole city of Funchal, with the mountains behind us. We crossed over some roads before walking along another levada that led straight into the city center. So crazy to see civilization again! The girls ran diagonally back and forth across the steep downhill and the residential streets, before ending at a gorgeous church, where Rachael and Janie had a surprise announcement – we were going to toboggan down the streets of Funchal before ending up at our hotel! The girls were super shocked and so excited to try out the traditional method of travelling in Madeira. Everyone partnered up, and Addie and Harper took the GoPro and captured lots of footage. Group of 3 Anna Reid, Drew, and Lucy laughed all the way down . The girls enjoyed the breeze in their hair and kicking up their feet after 5 long days of trekking, so much so a lot of them even purchased the souvenir pictures of them that were captured along the ride. At the bottom in the little cafe, the girls treated themselves to some cold soda and ice cream for the first time in days, and then even went crazy in the souvenir store, where we loaded up on Christiano Ronaldo jerseys, bucket hats, and more to prepare for the World Cup match on Monday! After our nice break, it was time for the very very last stretch of trekking – walking to our hotel in the city center of Funchal. More easy downhill and before we knew it, we were there! Every single girl enjoyed settling in, taking a much deserved shower, and getting clean before we headed as a group to the grocery store for some snacks to refuel. Riley and Kiersi tried KFC for the first time with Kentucky girls Emerson and Harper! They vlogged it for the record, and Harper introduced the other girls to the glory of the white donut peaches – even Georgia girl Anna Reid said it was some of the best she’s ever had. We then walked to dinner back at the hotel, where we feasted on more bolo do caco and a yummy salad. But there was still a little room left in our stomachs for dessert, so of course we headed to our trekking friend Henrique’s favorite spot in town, and boy he was right. Everyone enjoyed a double scoop and some even adopted Rachael’s strategy of getting a cup but adding a cone on top for extra crunch – genius. Once the sweet tooth was taken care of, we headed back to the hotel and started Moonup on the rooftop with the stunning views of the town, ocean, and mountains basking in the orange glow of sunset. It was seriously such an epic view, especially knowing we had now officially walked from the north coast through the mountains and down to the south coast! LOD’s Drew and Addie led us in a spectacular Moonup before everyone crashed for some well deserved rest – in beds this time instead of sleeping bags! .
We are seriously so proud of these girls for knocking it out of the park with trekking – we could not have asked for a better group of 11!! Now on to the last little bit of fun we have planned – can’t believe the trip is coming to an end so quickly. See below for some Thank Yous from everyone, and we’ll check back in again very soon!
Tchau tchau!!
Rachael and Janie
THANK YOU’S
Kiersi: Hi famili! Thanks so much for letting me come to Moondance again. I’m having the best time✌️✌️! See y’all soon
Drew: Hi Thanks everyone for making this trip possible and thanks for encouraging me to do this I’m having such a fun time love y’all
Anna Reid: Thank you so much Mom and Dad for this trip❤️❤️I love you guys so much and can’t wait to see everyone when I get home. This has been such an amazing experience and I feel so lucky!
Lucy: Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me go on this trip it has been such a cool experience but thank y’all for making it possible love y’all!
Harper: Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me go on moondance again! This year has been so fun and I’m so glad I went to Madeira this summer, and I’m so excited to see you all when I get back. I love y’all so much!!❤️
Addie: Dear Thompson fam, I love you all with my whole heart and can’t wait to see the faces that made this trip possible. I couldn’t be more grateful to y’all for paying (obviously) and supporting me through everything, all the way to the very end of the airport😂. (Tell Brady Nina Bella and Jullian I miss them) Much love – Adelaide
Emerson: Thank you so much Mom and Dad for allowing me to come to this trip!!! I’m having so much fun and Madeira is an amazing place! Thank you for all the opportunities you give me. I love you guys so much!!!!!!!!
Carson: Thank you so so much for allowing me to have the opportunity to do Moondance! It has literally been the coolest experience and I could never be able to do this without you two!! I love you and cannot wait to see you so soon and tell you everything! Also thanks to my amazing leaders Janie and Rachael for making this experience so extremely special andddd the 10 girls who are my new forever friends 💖💖
Bailey: Hi Mom and Dad, I wanted to thank you guys so so much for making this trip of mine possible and I’ve seriously had the time of my life. I’ve learned so much throughout and have made such amazing friends + memories!! I can’t wait to tell you guys all about everything see u so soon! 💖😁
Riley: Hi Mom and Dad!!! Thank you guys so much for making this trip possible, it has been an amazing time and I have learned so much. I’ve made the sweetest friends and every moment has been so much fun! I love y’all and can’t wait to see u soon!! 💕😁💕
Lottie: Hey Mom and Dad!! Thank you so so much for letting me come on this trip and spending so much of your time and effort to give me this opportunity! Miss y’all so so much and can’t wait to see yall and tell you guys everything! (Tell Peyto I said hi btw) 💕💖
Rachael & Janie: Obrigada for sharing your daughters with us for the last 2 weeks! This group of girls is so special, and we have thoroughly enjoyed watching every single one step out of their comfort zones, grow closer with one another, and try new things. We love them all so much, and we’re so grateful they are experiencing Moondance to the fullest!
Olá!!!
June 30, 2026
DAY 5 – Trekking 101
Last day in Porto Santo!!! Woke up with the sun, ready to crush the day. After the last yummy breakfast in this hotel, we packed up all our belongings and strapped on our hiking shoes for our day trek! Our transport whisked us to the northeast side of the island, where we started by learning about the natural sand structures from our trekking guide, Ruth. We walked about a mile in the sand along the Porto De Frades Beach, with gorgeous ocean views to our right. We made it to the Fenda da Dona Beja, where the girls loved snapping pictures in the sand cave. If we didn’t know any better, we could have been in the red rock canyons of Utah they looked so similar! Then we really got started on our trek – we made our way down the road and into the valley of the volcanic mountains. The girls absolutely crushed the changing terrain, and the great music certainly helped keep the vibes up! We stopped a couple times along the trail to take in the views and have a snack or two – the Miradouro da Portela served as a gorgeous backdrop to the never ending photos! Once we made it up the steeper rocks to the top of our hike, LODs Kiersi and Emerson passed out some much deserved gummy candy to everyone as we soaked in the views. Afterwards, we made our way back down the mountain and into town for our very last Goncalo special lunch, which hit especially hard today after all our hard work! In total, the hike ended up being 7 miles – we could not be more proud of the girls for their awesome attitudes the whole time! With some time to chill at the hotel, everyone relaxed and refreshed, before we walked back to the ferry. One last victory lap of Porto Santo, and from the walk we could see the points where we hiked today up in the mountains! We all enjoyed dinner on the ferry before catching up on some sleep. Once we arrived back in Funchal, we disembarked, grabbed our bags, and loaded up in the taxis to head to our hotel in Santana for the evening. It was a long night and day, so the girls definitely hit the hay as soon as we arrived, in order to be rested and recovered for our first day of canyoning tomorrow!
DAY 6 – Raining and Canyoning
Wooohooo!!! Canyoning Day 1!!! We all woke up SO excited for the day ahead! Once we were dressed, packed, and fueled up with breakfast, we headed off for our canyoning adventure. Breakfast was a hit—especially the mini chocolate croissants! Some of the girls even popped them in the toaster, and somehow they were even better. When we arrived, we got geared up from head to toe – neoprene socks, canyoning shoes, 5.5 mm wetsuits with hoods, helmets, and harnesses. The girls truly looked like pros! Since it was a little overcast and chilly, we all threw our wetsuit hoods on and couldn’t stop laughing at how funny we looked. We definitely had a little photoshoot and plenty of laughs before getting started! Our awesome guides, Edgar and Miguel, gave us a thorough safety briefing, and then it was time to hit the canyon! Lucy was the first one to go, rappelling down a waterfall like an absolute pro. She crushed it with perfect form, and everyone cheered her on! From there, the fun just kept coming. We rappelled down waterfalls, slid through natural rock slides, splashed through pools, and jumped into crystal-clear water. Addie especially loved the waterfalls and kept jumping back in every chance she got! Riley, Bailey, Harper, Addie, and Janie took part in an underwater photoshoot with Miguel at one of the waterfalls! There were smiles from ear to ear all day long, and we couldn’t stop laughing. After an action-packed morning, we made our way to a picnic lunch, which was delicious and devoured at a record pace. But the best part? We topped it off with coffee and artisan ice cream from a local café at the trailhead. It was hands down some of the best ice cream we’ve ever had! Addie got yogurt and strawberry, Lucy went with double cream and chocolate, Emerson chose strawberry, and Drew picked chocolate. You could absolutely tell it was homemade! With full bellies and happy hearts, we loaded up and made our way to our new hotel tucked away in the mountains. The girls took in all the views of the peaks and valleys, and enjoyed seeing the clouds roll in down the mountains. They even got to try some unique Madeiran dark chocolate with maracuja (passionfruit). LODs Emerson and Kiersi led us in a Moonup where everyone shared how you’ll know once we’ve won the lottery and what we want to take home from Moondance – two great questions that encouraged us to truly savor up every last second we can with these girls. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!
DAY 7 – Birthday Girl Bailey!!
HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY TO BAILEY!!! What a gorgeous view to wake up to, up in the mountains of Madeira! The girls surprised her by waking her up with a beautiful birthday serenade before everyone made their way to the delicious hotel breakfast. Riley grabbed a piece of cake from the buffet and added candles, and then everyone sang Happy Birthday once again – and there’s still more where that came from! After they were all packed up and ready to go, we took off for day 2 of canyoning up in the mountains – much better weather this time with bright sun and little clouds. This time we got suited up and were so warm we didn’t have to use the hoods on the wetsuits, which was a nice surprise. Once we were ready to go, we hit the trail with guides Edgar and Hugo and walked down to the start of our canyoning adventure! We walked along the cliffsides and took in the mountainous terrain that was no longer shrouded in clouds, with peaks and valleys all around us. When we got to the start, Janie supplied the war paint, and Anna Reid, Lottie, Riley, and others joined in as well. The girls somehow had even more fun this time around, rappelling themselves down the 15-meter-tall waterfalls, climbing over large boulders, jumping in and out of the crisp freshwater, and soaking up the sun as they waited their turns! Everyone agreed that Level 2 was even more entertaining than Level 1, and every girl did an incredible job of conquering their fears and succeeding in a new activity they had never done before! Our guides were so impressed with everyone’s attitudes, listening skills, and willingness to participate, which speaks volumes about how our group is performing. Kiersi has stuck with her goal of trying a new food every day, and she quite enjoyed the egg sandwich that we had for lunch!! After a delicious roadside lunch and a brief stop at the nearby cafe for caffeine and ice cream, we loaded back up in the taxi and headed out to Porto Moniz on the northwest corner of the island! The trip took us along tunnels and cliffside views of the Atlantic Ocean. Once we arrived at our hostel for the evening, the girls excitedly dropped off their bags, snapped some photos from the window, and got changed into swimsuits! Rachael and Janie surprised the girls with a quick visit to the infamous natural salt pools in town! All the girls loved taking in the stunning views of the mountains and the teal blue water crashing over the black lava rocks. Addie, Riley, Anna Reid, Lottie, Emerson, Harper, Carson, Rachael, and Janie all jumped right in and tested their strength against the waves crashing over the side of the pool. Addie, Harper, and Riley even have the battle scars to prove it! Once it was time to head out, we walked back into town to our hostel, where Rachael and Janie announced the dinner plans for the evening – a pizza making workshop! The girls quickly showered and changed before heading back downstairs to our kitchen where Filipe had the whole set up – from pizza oven to dough to toppings and so much more. Emerson, Addie, and Harper snuck out back and helped blow up some balloons for Bailey’s birthday celebration, but had to heroically chase them down after the wind got the best of them. The other girls partnered off and got to make their own creations – we covered every possible combination, whether it was pesto or marinara, meat lovers or cheese, the girls showed off their creative side! Carson and Anna Reid even made a pepperoni pizza in the shape of 17 to surprise Bailey! After everyone had full tummies, the girls headed outside to snap some photos of the sunset while Rachael and Janie helped finish setting up the birthday surprise. Once it was ready, Bailey walked back into the kitchen to two chocolate cakes, 17 candles, balloons, ice cream, and another birthday song! Everyone loved making her feel special on her special day, and despite having stomachs full with pizza, we all found space for a piece of chocolate cake and ice cream. Once we were fully stuffed, Drew and Riley, LODs for the day, led us in a wonderful Moonup where we each shared about someone we could have dinner with, dead or alive. To wrap up the day, with one last surprise, we had a spontaneous dance party for Bailey, our dancing queen young and sweet only 17! The girls presented her with a card signed by everyone and some of her favorite chocolate candy. Vibes were high all around, and we’re so grateful that Bailey chose to spend her birthday with us in Madeira! Off to bed the girls went, ready and excited for trekking day 1 tomorrow!!
Into the mountains we go! We’re having so much fun, and we cannot wait to see what trekking has in store for us! We know the girls are ready for the challenge, and we couldn’t be more excited to conquer these trails with these girls!!
Check back again soon – We’ll see you on the other side!
xoxo Rachael and Janie <3
Our Coastal Adventure!
June 28, 2026
Olá Moondance MAD 2C Families! We have been having an absolute blast and a half on our trip thus far with your girls – take a peek below to see what we’ve been up to!
DAY 1 – Airplanes!
Travel day! As Rachael and Janie eagerly awaited everyone in Lisbon, all 11 girls were connecting in Miami and enjoying getting to know each other! Everyone did a fantastic job of navigating the airports alone and traveling internationally independently – this is no small feat, and the girls did a tremendous job! So proud of them!
DAY 2 – Landed in Lisbon!
Helloooooo Portugal!!! Day 2—let’s get it!!!
Today was the big day… everyone finally arrived! Rachael and Janie have been counting down to this for so long, and it was so exciting to finally have the full group together! Girls started rolling into the airport early this morning, and of course the first stop was Starbucks —one last fix before 17 days without it. Once everyone landed, fueled up, and had time to catch up, we headed to Madeira—aka the “Hawaii of Europe,” and it absolutely lives up to it. After landing and grabbing our bags, we made our way to our hotel in the heart of Funchal. The drive alone was unreal—constant “oohs” and “ahhs” as we took in the ocean, cliffs, and lush green mountains. It genuinely felt like driving through a postcard. We got to the hotel, unpacked quickly, and headed out for lunch, walking along the water and soaking in the city on the way. After lunch, we explored and did a little shopping. Harper found the cutest flip-flops from Havianas, and Kiersi picked up an adorable yellow and brown dress from Zara. Then it was BEACH TIME! Anna Reid was the first in the water, and everyone followed soon after. The ocean felt incredible after a long travel day, and we spent the afternoon swimming, relaxing, and soaking up the sun. For dinner, we had pizza 🍕, and a few of the girls (Kiersi, Riley, Emerson, and Harper) discovered a new favorite—local sparkling lemonade. We ended the night back at the hotel with showers and Moonup – a Moondance tradition at the end of every night where we get to debrief the day and learn more about one another. Some of the girls were already making friendship bracelets before it even officially started, and Harper came very prepared with a full bracelet kit. We wrapped up the day with lots of laughs, good conversation, and everyone starting to settle in together. Then it was an early night after a full and amazing day in Portugal!
DAY 3 – Porto Santo Time 🙂
Good morningggg Madeira! Although we’re keeping our introduction to Madeira brief because today we are up bright and early to catch the ferry to the nearby island of Porto Santo! After loading everything and everyone up, we made it onto the ferry, and pretty much everyone went immediately back to bed. After the 2-hour boat ride, we arrived and disembarked. As a group, we walked a little under two miles into the city center, which was a wonderful opportunity to shake out the sleepiness and familiarize ourselves with the island. With beautiful white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue water to our left and old volcanoes to our right, the view was hard to beat! After arriving at the hotel, we checked into our rooms and changed into our swimsuits to get ready for a beach afternoon and sea kayaking! Once we were ready to rock and roll, we headed to Ponta da Calheta on the south side of the island. Here, the girls took in the stunning views of Ilhéu de Baixo ou da Cal, a small rock outcropping. After the photos, the girls were ready to cool off in the water, and our local guide Goncalo surprised everyone by dropping off snorkel masks! Addie was the first girl to jump in, and everyone followed shortly after. The girls enjoyed exploring the clear blue water and lava rocks around the beach and even spotted a few small fish! Before we knew it, it was time to pack up at the beach and head to sea kayaking. Our guide, Antonio, got everyone suited up in lifejackets and partner pairs, and then we launched from the beach! The girls made light work of paddling around the southern point of Porto Santo, and then we explored all the lava caves along the coastline. Despite bigger sea conditions, the girls did an amazing job! Kiersi was lucky enough to paddle alongside our local guide, Amaya, while Bailey and Riley sped ahead. Anna Reid put her canoeing skills to good use and enjoyed working together with Carson! We eventually made our way to a very secluded rocky beach tucked along the coastline, and the girls rehydrated with the fresh spring water running down from the mountains. We spent some time at a beautiful rocky enclave, where the girls had a blast jumping into the water. Anna Reid was the first to take the leap, and with our group cheering her on and ensuring everyone was safe, the rest of the group jumped in too! It was a highlight of the day to see them support each other as they conquered their nerves! Once everyone was officially cooled off and ready to get back to paddling, we launched from the rocky beach and headed back around the point. With the wind and waves at our back, Lottie and Emerson took in the breathtaking views and Addie and Drew soaked in the sun. After safely landing at the beach and helping Antonio bring the kayaks back up, we headed back to the hotel. Bailey, Lucy, Anna Reid, Emerson, and Janie enjoyed a dip in the pool and chillaxing on the loungers before dinner! Everyone worked up a big appetite after such a fun day, so we walked into town for dinner at a local beach restaurant with gorgeous views of the water and sand. Addie loved trying the Portuguese special picado, which involves steak tips over fries. Everyone else chowed down on some cheeseburgers, steak sandwiches, or vegetable pasta! Brisa, a local Maderian soda, has quickly become a fan favorite amongst the group. At sunset, we took the scenic route back to the hotel and walked along the beach, enjoying each other’s company alongside the crashing waves. The girls spent some time walking up and down the pier and taking in the sights and scenes of the quaint little island town. Upon return to the hotel, our first LODs (Leaders of the Day) Anna Reid and Bailey, led a fantastic Moonup, where we discussed our favorite celebrities and shared a personal story about something that has shaped us into the people we are today. Every girl shared a very insightful story, especially considering our group is still so new – so Rachael and Janie are extremely proud, and can’t wait to see learn even more about everyone over these next 2 weeks!
DAY 4 – Coastal Adventure!
Today’s adventure on deck: the coastal adventure! We started the morning off early, ready to attack the day. After properly fueling up with the yummy hotel breakfast (and everyone’s new favorite fruit: kiwi), we all headed out in our hiking boots and bathing suits for the day’s activity! We hiked close to five miles total along the Vereda do Pico do Facho, stopping at viewpoints along the way to take in the volcanic landscape of the island. The girls asked some great questions about the island’s physical geography and topography that our local guide, Ruth, was happy to answer! Multiple girls commented that the tunes we put together on our Moondance MAD 2C playlist were absolutely bumpin’ along the trail. Eventually, we made it to our final destination, Porto das Salemas: this amazing secluded rocky beach on the north side of the island with natural tide pools. After scarfing down lunch and trying some new flavors of Brisa, the girls took a few minutes to relax and fill in their journals before hopping in the water to cool off after such a long hike! Almost immediately, our guide Goncalo spotted the resident octopus that has been living in one of the tide pools for years now – it’s become a tradition for every Moondance group to say hi to our friend each summer! The girls enjoyed taking turns saying hello to our new octopus friend, and Bailey even got some sweet videos on her GoPro. We spent the rest of the afternoon jumping in and playing in the deep natural pools filled with the refreshing ocean water and using the snorkel masks to spot the fish. After an awesome beach day, we headed back to town to explore! Our first stop was the local grocery store, where Lucy, Anna Reid, and Harper all tried a very interesting concoction… cottage cheese, pickle, and Taki’s. Believe it or not, but they loved it. Afterwards, we stopped at a boutique on the way home where Lottie bought a cute white sundress with blue beaded details. After we finished exploring town, we headed back to the hotel. Anna Reid, Emerson, Riley, Harper, Lottie, Kiersi, and Janie all played card games by the pool – thanks to Kiersi’s waterproof deck of cards. Harper and Riley also competed in a riveting handstand contest – Harper’s previous diving skills just pushed her over the edge to victory. After that, we showered and headed to dinner at a local pizza spot down the street. As per usual, lots of girls got their sparkling lemonade or Brasa sparkling juice to drink. After making our way back to the hotel post dinner, we got Moonup started on the pool deck loungers once again, this time with some sweet treats to pass around. LOD’s Addie and Carson started us off with a very debatable Would You Rather, before we discussed some of our favorite childhood memories. Everyone also shared with the group a role model they have looked up to throughout their lives, which was so lovely to hear. Rachael and Janie encouraged the girls to share those same thoughts with those individuals in person once they return home as well! Then off to bed for another jam-packed day tomorrow!
Thank you so much for following along on our journey so far – we’ve already had so much fun getting to know the girls and see them bond with one another! We’re so excited that there’s still plenty of trip left for us, so check back again soon to hear more! In the meantime, see below for some shoutouts from the girls!
Tchau tchau!!
<3 Rachael and Janie
SHOUTOUTS!!!
LUCY: Hey y’all! I’ve had such a great time so far! First day we hung out at the beach and did some shopping around town, then took a ferry the next day to another island, and we sea kayaked, then we jumped off a rock, super fun, and today we went on a hike around the island to this beach, and I saw an octopus, but the views are insane, and everyone is so nice. Love and miss y’all! Mom, if you see this, tell Leighton I miss them, but I’m doing good definitely getting my steps in
BAILEY: Hey guys love y’all I’m having a great time!!! Give Peanut a kiss for me
HARPER: Hi everyone!!! I miss you guys so so much, and I’m so excited to see y’all when I come back! Tell River, Nash, and Emma I say hi! Carter: I miss you so so much, and I can’t wait to talk to you when I get back. I hope you are having so much fun with baseball! Alyssa: Love you so much girl, and I’m so hype for our debriefs when I’m back! I need all the tea when we hang out. Anyways, we’ve had such a great time, and I can’t wait to tell everyone about it!! I love you all so much and miss you to death! Btw, my new favorite snack is pickles, so I wouldn’t mind if y’all brought me some when I land! (specifically the grillos brand) Love you all!! – Harper
ADDIE:HIII LAUR AND JON!!! I’m having the absolute best time of my life, it’s all beaches and laughs so far. We started our first hike today, and it was amazing and there’s so much more to come, so pray for my legs. All the girls are the most fun ever, and we blend so well together. Thank you for letting me come another year to experience new friendships and places. (PS I already found pickles). Much love and longing, your fav daughter, Addie
RILEY: Hi, Mom and Dad!! This trip has been one of the best experiences ever! We are eating amazing dinners, and the views are crazy! There are 10 other girls besides me, and we all get along so well! Everyone is super sweet, and the friendships that I’m building are genuine. We are on a smaller island than Madeira rn called Santo Porto, and it reminds me of Hawaii but with European culture! The sea kayaking was so fun, and soon we trek and canyoneer! I had pastel de nata in the grocery store too! I love and miss y’all so much!! Love u and say hi to Lado and Millie for me, Riley
EMERSON: Hi Mom, Dad, Crawford, and Blake!!! I’m having so much fun in Madeira. It’s so pretty! I miss you guys so much!!! Love you guys!!!! Give Watson and Wilber a bunch of treats for me! – Emerson
KIERSI: Hi yall! I’m having the best time here, and the views are already amazing. Tell Ayvin I say hi. And hi Isa, Juliet, Molly, Reece, Olivia, Addie, and other friends(I’m sorry if I forgot others). Miss y’all so much!
LOTTIE: Heyyyy!! I’m having so much fun, but I miss y’all so so much!! Everything here reminds me of y’all, and I truly can’t wait for Pawleys! I think my favorite thing so far has definitely been our free time on the beach. We have gone to 2 beaches so far, one is a rock beach, and one was rocks and sand, but both were equally mind-blowing! I’m really excited for our surfing towards the end of the trip and even our trekking (surprisingly enough)! I can’t wait to come home and give y’all the full debrief! Love y’all so so much and say hi to LeRoy for me!
DREW: Hi everyone, I’m having so much fun, and it’s such a great opportunity. It’s so different from home, and everything is so interesting. Mom and Dad hope ur having fun in Jackson Hole, love everyone!ANNA REID: Hi!!! I miss you guys so much! I am having the best time!! We have been doing so many cool activities, and it has been an amazing experience. I love you guys sooo much and can’t wait to see yallsay hi to the dogs for me.CARSON: Hi!! I love and miss you so so much! I am having the best time ever, and I love everyone so much! Everything here has been so cool and so amazing and such awesome experiences. I can’t wait to tell y’all everything and see you!! I love you so much
ANNA REID: Hi!!! I miss you guys so much! I am having the best time!! We have been doing so many cool activities, and it has been an amazing experience. I love you guys sooo much and can’t wait to see yallsay hi to the dogs for me.CARSON: Hi!! I love and miss you so so much! I am having the best time ever, and I love everyone so much! Everything here has been so cool and so amazing and such awesome experiences. I can’t wait to tell y’all everything and see you!! I love you so much
CARSON: Hi!! I love and miss you so so much! I am having the best time ever, and I love everyone so much! Everything here has been so cool and so amazing and such awesome experiences. I can’t wait to tell y’all everything and see you!! I love you so much
Safe Arrival!
June 24, 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
