One Last Ola!
July 28, 2026
Ola one last time Moondance MAD 3C Family and Friends! Almost unimaginable that this is our last Trip Update coming your way – we have had an amazing time frolicking around our little island paradise! Follow along below to hear everything we’ve been up to these last couple of days!!
DAY 13 – Splish Splash!
Thursday, Jul 23, 2026
Goooood morning Machico! Rise and shine and time to get to canyoneering!!! The girls were able to sleep in today after our late ferry arrival last night – what a treat. After a delicious breakfast and getting dressed in our swimsuits, we loaded up in our van and hit the road and up into the mountains! It wasn’t long before the view started to look familiar, and Anne Gibson called it first – we were back at our last campsite in the Chao da Lagoa inside the Funchal Ecological Park! We jumped out and met our guides for the day, Edgar and Hugo. They helped us get suited up in all the right gear, from neoprene socks to canyoning shoes, wetsuits, harnesses, helmets, and a smile! Once we looked like a group of professionals, we listened to our first briefing from Edgar and got even more excited to get started. We marched down the trail and into the river – here we go! The group did an absolutely epic job with their first canyoneering. We were in a Level 1 canyon, and enjoyed jumping in the crispy cold fresh water, rappelling down the waterfalls, and climbing over the rocks! It was genuinely such a fun day with the sun shining and the clouds parting so we could see the mountains all around us. Anna and Miller held it down at the front of the line, and we loved posing for pictures along the way. Eventually, we started to recognize the trail from our last day of trekking as well! Such a full circle moment. After sliding down the last few rocks, we wrapped up our adventure for the day and emerged from the forest to our lunch spot. We dried off, ordered coffee from the café, and chowed down on lunch. Everleigh even ordered a scrumptious looking French toast that came with ice cream on top! Yum! Miller, Allie, and Evie indulged in some French fries, naturally. With full stomachs and bright smiles, we loaded up in the van and headed back to Machico, where we chilled out on the sandy beach nearby for the rest of the afternoon. The house music was vibey, naps were taken, books were read, and journals were caught up on. Evie, Janie, Kendall, Tessa, Ava, and Everleigh swam out to the swim platform in the harbor and had a blast jumping off! On the way back to the hotel, Rachael and Janie decided it was time for a sweet treat, aka GELATO! Delicious as always. Back at the hotel we showered off and got ready for dinner downstairs, where we chowed down on our choice of orange salmon, chicken, or veggie pasta. Amazing, and compliment to our favorite chef Fatima! After a quick digestion stroll around town, we headed up to the hotel rooftop for a Moonup under the starry sky led by LODs Eliza and Miller. They asked us some deep questions that the group was able to bond over – what a special bunch of girls we have. Then it was off to bed to get some zzz’s before another big day tomorrow!
DAY 14 – Shoppin and Surfin
Friday, Jul 24, 2026
Rise and shine girls! Time to shop till we drop 😉 Since our surfing lesson was in the afternoon today, Rachael and Janie let the girls sleep in as late as they possibly could before breakfast! After getting dressed and fueling up, we loaded up into the taxis and made our way to Funchal for the morning! First stop was the Madeira Plaza, the greatest shopping mall we’ve seen all summer. The girls enjoyed some KFC, checking out the bathing suits, and hanging out. After a while, we walked over to the Zara, where everyone got some cute stuff. Allie and Kendall got matching orange gingham skirts, Tessa got an adorable polka dot dress, and AG got an super cute white shirt! And now, Ava, AG, and Rachael get to match with their Zara tanks!! Everleigh and Rachael went ham in the European pharmacy as the rest of the group checked out – be sure to ask for a haul! On our way back to the pick up spot, we strolled along the promenade and passed the CR7 museum – our new favorite icon. Then it was time to head back across the island to Porto da Cruz for our afternoon surf lesson at Alagoa Beach! Our epic guides Kyah, Gigas, and Diogo led us through some stretches and then out into the water. The waves were much bigger than we had previously, but we were ready for it! The girls did an amazing job of staying safe and listening to our guides’ instructions. Allie was a natural on the board, AG stood up a bunch, Laine crushed it in the waves, and Anna kept right on ripping. Once we climbed over the rocks out of the water and rinsed off the boards, we loaded up on sweatshirts and t-shirts so we can rep our favorite surf school back in the States! After goodbyes to our guides, we taxied over to our next activity – the cooking class! On the menu today was a traditional Madeiran meal called espetada, or steak skewers. To accompany it, we prepared a massive fresh salad, some corn bites, and another fan favorite, the bolo do caco aka garlic bread! Ava loved playing with the dog Kiara, while Evie did a fantastic job of slicing up the steak for the skewers. Miller sliced the bread while Anna toasted it over the charcoal grill! When the passionfruit Brisa hit the table, we knew it didn’t stand a chance – it was gone almost instantly. We all devoured our home cooked meal, and it tasted even better knowing we had prepared it as a group! After wrapping up arguably the best meal of the trip, we taxied back to Machico. Full stomachs called for another digestion walk around town, and we made our way to the rocky beach for a Moonup by the waves led by LODs Everleigh and Allie. Evie made sure to bring her blanket along for the walk! Tonight we shared what color our mermaid tail would be – some fitting answers for sure. On our way back to bed, the live music piqued our interest, so naturally we had to check it out. We stumbled upon a great band playing outside a restaurant, and boy did we jam along! Spontaneously dancing in the street and singing along as a big group definitely attracted many on-lookers, but we didn’t care! It was such a fun memory to share with our girls. What a fun filled day we had – it was off to bed for some much needed rest after such a jam-packed adventure!
DAY 15 – Canyoning: Level Expert
Saturday, Jul 25, 2026
What a beautiful day to go canyoneering again! And a treat this AM – time to pick up our laundry! After getting dressed in some fresh clean clothes, we scarfed down the special breakfast surprise from the GOAT Fatima – fresh crepes! We packed up our duffels and headed out the door to Nun’s Valley for our adventure of the day. Once again, we were super lucky with fantastic weather, so we got suited up again and hit the trail! This time we tackled a Level 2 canyon – meaning bigger waterfalls, huge splashes, jumping in the pools, and lots of slides! Evie made sure to jump every chance she got. Our guides for the day Edgar and Miguel were sure to capture all our good angles – it was impossible to wipe the smiles off our faces! We made many fun memories in the chilly mountain water, with the breathtaking view of the mountains and valleys all around us. We could finally take in the peaks around us without a cloud in the sky! Everyone was in awe. After wrapping up, we had lunch on the side of the road and hit up the nearby café for Coke Zeros, ice cream and Apple Brisas. The taxi whisked us to our new hotel in the town of Santana, where we settled in our rooms before heading back out for even more gelato! This one really hit the spot, and we even all got a topping! While hanging out in the square, Everleigh acquired some delicious white peaches for Janie, Tessa, Everleigh, Kendall, Miller, Anna, Allie, Eliza, and Ava since AG, Evie, Laine, and Rachael were exploring the souvenir shops nearby. After showering and freshening up at the hotel, we headed up to dinner. Pasta and spaghetti tonight! For Moonup tonight we gathered in one of our hotel rooms, and LODs Laine and Kendall prompted us to share a challenge that we overcame this trip. It was wonderful to hear how everyone has expanded their comfort zones and tried something new since being here! The girls then snuggled up for bed before one last hike tomorrow – can’t wait!
DAY 16 – Ending on a hi(kin)gh note
Sunday, Jul 26, 2026
It is so hard to believe that today is our last full day together as a group – where has the time gone? After sleeping in, the girls woke up for a delicious hotel breakfast, where Miller of course had her classic bread and Nutella – can’t wait to bring that habit home with her. Then it was time to strap on our hiking boots one. Final. time. Today on the agenda was the Vereda Do Larano hike – a light 8 miles, but across mainly flat ground with views for days! We taxied to the trailhead where our trekking guide for the day Joao gave us a great rundown on the map of where we were, where we were about to hike, and where we trekked across the island! Still so insane to think we walked all the way from the North Coast to the South. Iconic. We got started on our day hike with some upbeat tunes and amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean. So bittersweet that it’s our last day together, but the girls were ready to make every second count! We stopped a little way in for a snack break and were surprised with Oreos from our guides! So kind. We kept on trucking through the jungle-esque parts of the forest to our right, and a cliff straight down to the water on our left. Good thing we conquered our fear of heights! When we stopped for lunch, we soaked up the incredible 360 views. Seeing the jagged mountainous coastlines with the little towns tucked in the valleys was breathtaking. Ask to see some pics! AG, Evie, and Janie of course took the obligatory handstand and cartwheel photos, and the Moondance flag made an appearance as well. With full camera rolls, we eventually started our way back into the town of Machico along the levadas carrying water to the population! It was a pleasant hike, easy to converse and not too strenuous, perfect for our last day. The great music was a plus as well! Eventually we made it to the large downhill section, where we walked past some goats in the field. Miller appropriately named them all Bacchus. We proudly marched back into the town of Machico and said our final goodbye before transporting back to our hotel! Rachael and Janie treated the girls to some well-deserved ice cream, Coke Zeros, and apple Brisa’s, of course. Although Ava mixed things up and got a delicious looking smoothie! We then showered off and cleaned up real nice for our banquet dinner in town. Everyone looked gorgeous in their new nice outfits! The girls took some photos outside the hotel before we strolled into town. Everyone enjoyed the nice meal – Evie and Eliza even tried the pork tenderloin, and gave rave reviews. We all enjoyed each other’s company and laughs on our final night! As we were leaving, we had the greatest surprise – a visit from Ruth and Amaya, the best trekking guides on Earth!!!! It was so special getting to say one more final goodbye to the two girls who made our trip extra special – tears were shed all around. After grabbing some layers back at the hotel, we headed once again towards the live music we could hear coming from the square. To our surprise, we stumbled right into the middle of a festival! The town of Santana was decorated beautifully with fairy lights, flowers, and streamers. Felt like the whole town was celebrating our last night in Maderia! We grabbed some spots by the stage, and as the new act was coming on, Ava, Tessa, and Everleigh were right on the barricade, anxiously awaiting. The band came out all guns ablazin with the epic song “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!”, and before you knew it every single one of us was up on our feet at the front of the crowd singing along! It was such a special moment. We danced and vibed to the Portuguese music a little longer, certainly the center of attention, but it didn’t bother us one bit! Eventually, we made our way back to the hotel for our final Moonup of the trip, led by LODs Evie and Miller. Miller absolutely delivered on the last Nug Jug story of the trip, and then we all shared our funniest moments of the trip! It was nearly impossible to stop the giggles. This group of girls is beyond special, and we feel so grateful that we got to spend these last 17 days all together! It wasn’t long until Rachael and Janie were knocking on doors to gather the girls in the taxis for the airport, and off to Lisbon!
DAY 17 – Tchau 🙁
Monday, Jul 27, 2026
Surreal that the last day of our trip has arrived. It feels like yesterday we made a group chat and greeted everyone in the Lisbon airport! Now there are 12 pieces of our hearts scattered all across the US (and London!), and we’ll never forget the laughs, jumps, cartwheels, jokes, and funny stories from this summer. From a record consumption of Coke Zero and Apple Brisa to bringing Women’s Secret bikinis back to the East Coast, we have a multitude of memories to cherish. Witnessing everyone push themselves outside their comfort zone, try new things, and be brave in the face of adversity is what keeps Rachael and I coming back to this job. We are so incredibly grateful that this group of girls chose Moondance, and we hope they continue to live out the principles it preaches moving forward. We’re leaving Madeira behind with sore legs, thousands of photos, full hearts, new lifelong friends, plenty of laughs, and a newfound sense of adventure. We’re confident this group of girls is off to conquer the world with their individual strengths, and we cannot wait to follow along on all their accomplishments. Thank you so much for trusting us with your daughters – we’ll miss them more than they can ever imagine, and we’ll be counting down the days until the reunion! It’s never a goodbye, just a see you later!!!
With much love and a multitude of hugs,
Rachael & Janie
Fun in the Sun!
July 23, 2026
July 19 – Surf’s Up!
Good morning, Machico! Today’s agenda: surfing, beach time, and the World Cup final watch party! We kicked off the morning with a huge breakfast buffet at the hotel, and let’s just say the girls made sure there was no shortage of Nutella on their plates. (Janie and I are convinced everyone is officially hooked after trekking!) After fueling up, we loaded into the vans and headed to Maiata Beach for one of the most anticipated activities of the trip—surfing! Once we arrived, everyone squeezed into their wetsuits before adding the final touch: war paint! Janie brought colorful zinc sunscreen, so the girls had a blast decorating their faces with bright blue, green, and pink designs. Evie rocked a giant blue heart on her forehead, which was definitely a crowd favorite. Before hitting the water, our surf instructor, Kyah, made sure we were nice and warmed up. We stretched just about every muscle imaginable with big arm circles, little arm circles, and every other stretch under the sun. After a quick safety briefing from our outfitters, it was finally time to catch some waves! The girls absolutely crushed it. Everleigh was catching waves all on her own, and AG looked like she’d been surfing for years! Miller started out surfing regular-footed before realizing she was actually goofy-footed, and once she switched, everything clicked. It was so much fun watching everyone’s confidence grow throughout the morning. After two awesome hours in the water, we dried off and enjoyed lunch. Of course, no beach day is complete without ice cream! Allie discovered her new favorite treat—a chocolate-covered macadamia nut ice cream bar—and was already talking about getting another one. Once everyone had refueled, we headed back to the hotel to reapply sunscreen, grab our beach gear, and then made our way to the beach right across from the hotel. The girls wasted no time jumping into the ocean, swimming, laughing, and making the most of the afternoon. Others stayed on the sand, soaking up the sunshine and getting a few chapters in on their books. It was the perfect relaxing beach afternoon. Before dinner, everyone headed back for a quick shower, and then it was time for one of the biggest events of the day—the World Cup final watch party! The match was Spain vs. Argentina, and the atmosphere was incredible. The girls grabbed seats right up front near the giant screen and were completely locked into the game. Every great play from Spain was met with cheers, and when Spain finally scored, the entire group jumped to their feet celebrating! Ava also made an unexpected new friend—a sweet three-year-old boy who kept coming over to play with her throughout the evening. Watching the match outside by the beach while the sun set over the ocean made for such a fun and memorable experience. After the game, we headed up to the rooftop for Moon Up, led by our LODs Kendall and Laine. Their reflection question for the night was, “What’s one piece of advice you wish you could give your younger self?” It sparked such thoughtful conversations, and it was really special hearing everyone’s different perspectives. The girls did a wonderful job opening up and encouraging one another. We wrapped up Moon Up under a sky full of stars before heading to bed to get some well-earned rest. Tomorrow, we’re off to Porto Santo for our next adventure!
July 20 – Olá Porto Santo!
We kicked off the day bright and early as we made our way to the ferry from Funchal to Porto Santo! Calling it a ferry almost doesn’t do it justice—it felt more like a cruise ship with its movie theater, game room, and huge size. After our busy past few days, everyone took full advantage of the comfy ride and managed to squeeze in a much-needed nap before arriving on the island. Once we docked, we walked along the waterfront to our hotel, and the views immediately had everyone excited. Crystal-clear turquoise water, sailboats everywhere you looked, and sunshine… it honestly felt like something straight out of a postcard. After checking in, it was finally time for something Janie and I had been hyping up all trip: Gonçalo’s famous “Gonçalo Special!” One of our amazing outfitters put together the ultimate lunch with fresh homemade bread, all the sandwich fixings, grapes, apples, chips, and cookies. It definitely lived up to the hype, and everyone agreed it was one of the best lunches we’ve had yet! With full stomachs, we grabbed our towels and headed straight to the beach. The girls were absolutely blown away when they saw it. Between the crystal-clear water, dramatic rock formations, and gorgeous coastline, it was hard to stop taking pictures! Everyone spent some time swimming, reading, relaxing, and soaking in our first afternoon on Porto Santo. Next up: kayaking! We seriously could not have asked for better conditions. The skies were bright blue, the ocean was calm, and the water wasn’t even that cold—a huge win! Everyone paired up and hit the water. Miller and Evie were an absolute dream team and crushed it paddling around the coastline. AG lucked out by getting paired with our awesome kayaking outfitter, Antonio, and fully embraced her role as “passenger princess”! We explored a few awesome caves along the coastline. We eventually kayaked over to a rocky beach where there was a natural spring flowing straight from the rocks. Of course, we all had to fill up our water bottles and try it—it was so fresh and refreshing! Then it was time for one of everyone’s favorite moments of the day: cliff jumping! Evie wasted no time and was the very first one to jump… and loved it so much that she went back for a second round. Ava joined her with two jumps as well, and Miller faced her fears and made the leap too! There were lots of smiles, cheering, and celebrating before we climbed back into our kayaks for the paddle home. Eliza and Anna even challenged Janie and me to a race back to the beach—and let’s just say they definitely kept us on our toes! After returning our kayaks, paddles, and life jackets, we headed back to the hotel to shower before dinner. Tonight we ate at a local restaurant right on the beach. The girls could choose between a steak sandwich, cheeseburger, or the local Madeira favorite, Picado, which is made with seasoned beef cubes, sauce, and fries. Allie was the only one adventurous enough to order the Picado, and she gave it two thumbs up! Eliza was also a big fan of her steak sandwich! And, of course, no Moondance dinner is complete without ice cream! We grabbed our ice cream bars and enjoyed them from the beach chairs while watching the waves roll in. As if the day couldn’t get any better, we decided to walk home along the beach. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect as the sun began to set, painting the sky with beautiful shades of pink and blue. When we reached the pier, we stopped to take in the view… until Evie, Eliza, and Laine had a spontaneous idea to jump off the pier! Even after they had already showered! They all came back up laughing, smiling, and saying how refreshing the water felt. We wrapped up another incredible day with Moon Up by the pool, led by today’s LODs, Tessa and Evie. Their silly question was, “If you could go professional in anything, what would it be?” AG said professional skydiver, Evie chose professional cliff jumper (which honestly feels very on-brand after today!), Laine said she’d love to perform on Broadway, Eliza picked professional baker, and Miller said she’d become a professional hairstylist! Their reflection question was, “What’s a piece of advice you’ve learned?” It sparked such thoughtful conversations, and one of my favorite responses came from Laine, who shared, “Not everything has to be perfect to start or stop something.” It was such a simple but powerful reminder for all of us. After another unforgettable day filled with sunshine, adventures, and lots of laughs, we said goodnight and headed off to catch some well-deserved sleep. We can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!
July 21 – A Rockin’ Good Time!
Hello Porto Santo! Another day in paradise! After waking up, fueling up with a good breakfast, and getting ready for the day, we headed out for another adventure. After a short drive, we arrived at the trailhead, and once again, the weather was absolutely perfect. We had a nice breeze the entire hike, which made our five-mile trek even more enjoyable. Today we were hiking to the beautiful Salemas Beach, a hidden gem tucked away on the north side of the island. With dramatic rock formations, crystal-clear water, and incredible coastal views, it looked like something straight out of a movie. Along the way, there was no shortage of singing, laughter, and nonstop banter, all thanks to the Moondance 3C Spotify playlist keeping the energy high. When we stopped at one of the viewpoints, today’s LODs, Ava and Allie, surprised everyone with not one, but two bags of sour candy! Let’s just say those bags didn’t last very long. As we snacked, we took in the panoramic views of the coastline. The ocean was every shade of blue imaginable, from bright turquoise to baby blue to deep navy. It truly didn’t look real. We continued down the trail and finally arrived at the beach, where our outfitter Gonçalo was waiting with his famous “Gonçalo Special!” Today’s surprise? Chips and guacamole! The girls were absolutely thrilled. After an amazing lunch, we quickly swapped our hiking boots for water shoes… unless you were Rachael, who had already kicked off her boots and jumped in the water before lunch even started. Thanks to the low tide, the beach was full of natural salt pools that were perfect for jumping in and out of. It honestly became a little addictive. The girls also had a blast swimming in the waves and playing “Over, Under.” Before we knew it, we had spent hours in the water, and it was time to head back. After a quick drive to the hotel to drop off our hiking gear, we headed into town to explore. Our first stop was the local grocery store, Pingo Doce, where everyone stocked up on fun Portuguese snacks. Kendall found a new kind of Cheetos and a Kinder Egg. Evie picked out some caramel-filled candies, while Eliza was excited to try Portugal’s version of Sour Skittles, which don’t actually have the sour coating on the outside! AG made sure to get her daily dose of caffeine with a Pepsi Zero, and Everleigh found a frozen sour fruit treat that she loved and generously shared with the group. Once everyone’s snack bags were full, we wandered around the charming town of Porto Santo. We stopped by a cute local swimsuit shop where Ava found an adorable red bathing suit, and Tessa picked out the cutest striped beach bag. Our next stop? The pier. With weather this perfect, there was no way we were passing up another chance to swim. We all jumped into the crystal-clear water, and Evie, Laine, and Ava were absolute machines. They must have jumped off the pier eight times, laughing the whole way as they climbed back up the stairs just to do it all over again. It made it even more fun that so many local kids were there doing the same thing. We were all amazed watching little five- and six-year-olds fearlessly jumping right in! Everleigh had the best time swimming around and even showed off her backstroke. After drying off, we walked back to the hotel for quick showers before heading to dinner. Tonight we ate at a cute local pizza restaurant just a five-minute walk from the hotel. The pizza definitely lived up to the hype, and after such an active day, everyone was hungry. It was a clean plate club all around… especially for AG, who somehow managed to eat a pizza and a half! Of course, no night in Porto Santo would be complete without dessert. Conveniently, one of the island’s famous ice cream shops, Lambeca’s, was right across from the restaurant. Most of the girls went for the chocolate and banana swirl, while Allie chose strawberry since she’s not much of a chocolate fan. Tessa, Everleigh, and Ava couldn’t stop thinking about last night’s crepes, so they went back for round two. Ava ordered another Nutella crepe, while Tessa and Everleigh shared a Kinder and Nutella crepe. Safe to say… another clean plate club. We wrapped up the evening with Moon Up by the pool, led by today’s LODs, Ava and Allie. Their silly question was, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” Miller said she’d want stretchy arms and legs so she could turn off the lights without getting out of bed. Laine couldn’t decide between flying and teleporting. Evie chose flying, Allie wanted the ability to control time so she could pause, rewind, or skip it whenever she wanted, and Ava said she’d love to read people’s minds. There were plenty of laughs as everyone shared their answers. After another incredible day in Porto Santo, we said goodnight and headed off to catch some well-deserved sleep before tomorrow’s adventure!
July 22 – ✌️Out Porto Santo!
Good morning, Porto Santo! Our last day in paradise had officially arrived. After waking up, getting ready, and enjoying another delicious breakfast at the hotel, we loaded into the vans and headed to today’s adventure: the Porto Santo hike! Once we arrived at the trailhead, our amazing outfitter, Ruth, gave us a quick history lesson about the area before we set off. The first part of the hike took us through soft sand and an incredible natural landmark called Fenda da Dona Beja—a narrow sandstone and fossilized dune canyon. Towering sand walls surrounded us, covered in names and messages left by visitors over the years. The girls were in awe as they wandered through the winding canyon, stopping every few minutes to take it all in (and snap plenty of pictures!). After exploring the canyon, we hit the main trail and ended up conquering an impressive 5.8 miles! We were spoiled once again with perfect hiking weather. A cool breeze followed us the entire way, making the miles fly by. At one of our scenic viewpoints, today’s LODs, AG and Anna, surprised everyone with gummy candy, which disappeared in record time. While everyone was enjoying their snacks, AG and Evie decided it was the perfect place to show off their handstands! The views throughout the hike were absolutely incredible. We could see the port where our ferry—better known to the girls as the “cruise ship”—was waiting for us, along with the pier, the town of Porto Santo, and panoramic views stretching in every direction. The playlist was just as impressive as the scenery. The girls sang and danced for nearly the entire hike, and we used our speaker so much that it went from 100% battery to completely dead by the time we finished! Along the trail, we also passed countless cacti, making the landscape feel even more unique. We wrapped up the hike with everyone’s favorite lunch: the famous Gonçalo Special. The girls were genuinely sad knowing it would be their last one of the trip! We enjoyed a picnic together in the shade, soaking up our final afternoon in Porto Santo before finishing the last 10-minute walk back to the hotel. As soon as we walked through the doors, nearly everyone collapsed onto the couches after another successful hiking day. A few girls took well-deserved power naps, while others curled up with their books to relax. Evie even gave Janie and me matching Dutch braids, and let’s just say we were looking very stylish afterward! Later in the afternoon, Janie, Everleigh, Tessa, and Evie headed out for one last mini shopping spree. Tessa found a cute white-and-red beach dress, while Everleigh picked out some adorable necklaces and bracelets from a local boutique nearby. Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye to Porto Santo and board the ferry back to Machico. We enjoyed dinner onboard, and of course, no ferry ride would be complete without one last ice cream stop. It was the perfect way to wrap up our unforgettable time on the island before heading back to Madeira. Once we arrived back at the port, we grabbed our bags and hopped into taxis for the ride back to one of our favorite hotels in Machico. As soon as we got back, we headed straight up to the rooftop for Moon Up. Tonight’s Moon Up was led by our LODs, AG and Anna. Their silly question of the day was, “If you could live in any movie or TV show, which one would you choose?” Allie immediately answered My Little Pony, which gave everyone a good laugh. Ava said she’d want to be in the TV show One Tree Hill, and Anna chose the movie Grease. Everyone had fun sharing their answers, and there were plenty of laughs all around. After another great Moon Up, we headed to bed to rest up for another awesome day ahead!
THANK YOU’S
Anne Gibson McBryde- Hey guys!! Thank you so so much for giving me this opportunity! I have had the best time ever and have really learned a lot about myself. I miss you guys so much and I can’t wait to be with you guys soon! The hiking was so hard but all the views were so cool I can’t wait to show you all the photos you won’t believe it. I’m feeling so much better and I was able to enjoy all the fun hikes in Porto Santo! We are on the way back to Madeira right now and we have 4 more days of fun activities like canyoneering and surfing and another day hike! Everyone is so nice and I love them all! I cant wait to share all my stories. Tell everyone I love them so much hope it hasn’t been too boring without me love y’all sooo much you guys are the best! See yall on Monday✌️💗😎 ps. Can I have sweet potato fries when I get home🥹
Miller danner- heyyyyy!! Thanks so muchhh for this opportunity!! I’ve had so much fun and have really, really, really been challenged. The trekking was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but, very rewarding. No blisters btw mom. Tell Emmy and Bach I miss them A LOT!! Other than hiking we’ve surfed and tanned. When I get home I’m gonna need a longgggg nap! I also ate chicken with a spoon. I’ve been spending lots of money on coke zeros btw!! Tell the whole fam I love and miss them. Keep my car nice and safe 😉 Can’t wait to see the beach house yayyy!! Okay bye love y’all 💗💗💗😊😊😊
Ava Warner – hello, thank you for letting me go on this trip! We’ve had a lot of fun – we spent 6 days trekking and camping, now we are on an island called Porto Santo and are coming back to Madeira tonight. We did some surfing and rock climbing which was cool! Today we did another hike and tomorrow we are doing canyoneering. The views are incredible! Miss you all lots and can’t wait to see you on Monday. Lots of love, Ava xxx💗
Everleigh McCormack: Hi mom and dad! Thank you so much for sending me on Madeira and I’m having so much fun!! We did 5 days of trekking, which was actually very hard and reminded me of trip. We camped, walked, saw the most amazing views, and TESSA ARRIVED!! Look up stairway to heaven Madeira, and that’s where we went. After that we’ve spent the past 4 days swimming, surfing and we took a ferry to this really cool island. The landscape is so cool, and the water is so blue and clear. Don’t worry I have been wearing sunscreen. We are now back on the ferry to the main island and we’re gonna do something called canyoneering. Adele if you’re reading this HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY 💗💗💗 I hope you had the best day ever!! Love you so much and wish I could be with you today!! I wrote this on July 22. And Mom and Dad tell Adele to check the Moondance website just in case!! OK love you both so so much and can’t wait to see you.
Tessa Shanahan – Hi mom and dad I am so grateful you sent me on this trip! I am eating dinner on a ferry right now, we are leaving Porto santo and coming back to Madeira island. We spent two days on the island Porto santo and we did many activities. On the island we did kayaking, hiking, swimming, shopping and many other things. For dinners I had pizza and a crepe as a dessert and steak sandwich and ice cream for dessert the other night. Right now I have no blisters and only two scratches, I am not sunburned as of right now and I am wearing lots of sunscreen. My favorite activity we did on the trip so far was when we tobogganed down most of Madeira! For the next couple of days we are going to surf again, hike again and canyoneering. ✌️✌️😁😁😍😍 I MISS BOTH OF YOU SO MUCH 😩💗💯😎!!!!! I am excited for you to pick me up mom (for the second time 😳😂). Tell Jordan and Connor I say hi, also tell the doggies I say hi 👋🥰! How was drop off for Jordan and what did you guys do for the World Cup?
With all my love, Tessa 🥰
Anna Kozlowski: Heyyy yall! I’m having the most fun ever on moondance and I’m so grateful that I get to experience this—thank you so much seriously ❤️ I have learned a lot about myself and pushed myself definitely to the limits. Trekking has been super interesting and difficult but had so many memories and beautiful views. We’ve gone through so many experiences all together and I’ve loved meeting so many new people and seeing new places. I can’t wait to see yall and I hope you tell everyone how much I miss and love them! See yall soon ✌️🥹
P.S mom I haven’t used my camera once but ur gonna loveee the photos
Laine Petagna- Hiiii guys! I miss y’all so much and I am so so glad y’all let me come on this trip. I am having SO much fun and I have met so many amazing people!! We finished hiking on Saturday and it was so hard but also so fun. We have been on another island called Porto Santo for 3 days and now we are on the way back to Madeira. We are going canyoning and surfing and then hiking again before we come home. We’ve gone surfing once and we’re going again- I’m still not any better at surfing but I’m having fun 😆! I can’t wait to see yall and EVERYONE else on Monday! Love yall soooo much ❤️❤️❤️ Laine
Allie Johnson – Helloooo! Mom and Dad, thank you soooosooso much for sending me on this, it’s probably been the craziest and coolest experience of my life. Trekking was unlike anything I’ve ever done, definitely tested me but we made it to the very top of Madeira!Everyone I’m with is super nice and cool! It’s important you all know that the surfing instructor told me I had a secret talent for surfing and that he thinks I’ve done it before. @Grace. The views have been UNREAL and I can’t wait to show you all them and for this trip to be my personality for a few months! I love you guys so much and Obrigada again! (Thank you in Portuguese) (I’ve been practicing)
Con amor, (with love, practice for Spain translating)
-Allie!! 💖🦄🌈🌄
Kendall Dumrauf- Hi mom and dad, I miss you so much! I’m so thankful that you gave me this opportunity that I will never forget. I’ve made so many friends and experienced things I never thought I would do. So thank you so so much. I feel like this trip has shown we that you can do hard things in life. But anyways we finished our trekking portion of the trip which was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever experienced. But for the remaining 4 days of the trip we have surfing, canyoning, a cooking class, and one final hike on the last day of the trip. I can’t wait to show you guys all the amazing views I’ve seen this trip it has been so unreal! Anyways I love you guys so much and I can’t wait to see you all very soon!! Thank you for always supporting me!!
Kendall🌈🥹❤️✌️
Eliza Spivey- Hey mom and dad!! I am so incredibly grateful to yall for sending me on this trip, it is truly so beautiful here and I can’t wait to show yall all my pictures and tell yall about all the amazing friends I’ve made here. I’ve been thinking this whole trip how much yall are gonna want to come back here after I show and tell you all about the things we’ve been doing and I hope we do!! The trekking was truly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but it was so incredibly rewarding with the beautiful views we’ve seen throughout this whole trip. I also caught my first ever waves surfing!!!! It was so much fun and I felt pretty cool. Anyways I can’t wait to tell yall everything in person and see yall in Lisbon. I hope Smith is having a great time taking pictures there and that yall are doing all the fun things. Miss yall and Anne and Smith and of course Eli so much. See yall soon!!!!
💗💗💗 Eliza
Evie Harrison- Hey mommy and daddy! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip I am having the time of my life! I can’t wait to tell yall all about it and show all the amazing pictures because it is so beautiful here! All of the girls and my leaders are the best and we are having so much fun together. This trip has definitely lived up to my adrenaline junkie standards! I have jumped off so many rocks, been surfing, and I surprisingly survived our 5 day trekking trip without my inhaler (it was A LOT of uphill). Tomorrow we are canyoneering for two days, going surfing once more, and taking a cooking class! I am all good here and I hope yall aren’t missing me too much! I can’t wait to tell yall about everything, it has truly been the best 2 weeks ever! I hope Jonas is doing good! Tell everyone I miss them and love them! Love y’all so much and I can’t wait to see yall!! P.S I REALLY want tazikis when I get home 😁😘💖❣️
Trekking Across Madeira!!
July 20, 2026
DAY 4 – FDOT – First Day of Trekking!!!
Trek day 1
Good morning, Porto Moniz! The girls were so excited to sleep in today, and it was much needed before kicking off our trekking portion of the trip. Janie got everyone up with some fun music, and before long, the girls were dressed, packed up, and ready for the day. We headed downstairs for breakfast, where everyone got to build their own yogurt bowls. There were two kinds of granola, bananas, strawberries, kiwis, apples, grapes, and every topping you could want—peanut butter, Nutella, Biscoff spread, and a variety of jellies. It was so fun watching everyone create their perfect breakfast! After fueling up, the girls packed lunches for the day with their choice of sandwich, fruit, chips, bars, and cookies. Anna and Avery went the extra mile by toasting their sandwich bread before making lunch, and let’s just say the rest of us were wishing we had thought of that too! Once we left the hostel, we took a short drive to Seixal Beach. Nestled between lush green mountains, this stunning black sand beach looks like something straight out of a postcard. With dramatic cliffs, crashing waves, and even a waterfall flowing down the mountainside, it was the perfect place to kick off another beautiful day in Madeira! Before we hit the beach, we took a pit stop to a local coffee shop! Let’s just say… we think we robbed the shop of all of their iced vanilla lattes! They also had so many yummy pastries. Since our hike today wasn’t too long mileage wise, we chilled at Seixal Beach for a while, where the girls caught up on summer reading, journaling, and chatting with one another. Some even felt adventurous enough to jump off the pier, and others discovered another area to swim tucked beind the cafe! Everleigh, Ava, Evie, Miller, AG, Laine, Allie, Rachael, and Janie all enjoyed jumping off the platform and into the water at our new spot! Before we knew it, we ate lunch on the beach, strapped on our hiking shoes, listened to Ruth’s briefing of our trek, and we were off! Starting off at the beach and looking back at the black sand and ocean as we climbed up into town was incredibly rewarding. We stopped along the way to refill our water bottles in the levadas with the natural mountain water – so fresh and cold. Then we climbed down a ways into the riverbed for our waterfall expedition! After hiking about another mile over and around the rocks, we made it to the picturesque sight of the waterfall and the swimming hole set against the lush greenery of the forest! After such a humid climb, the girls could not wait to cool off in the water. Ava, Everleigh, and Evie even swam all the way to the waterfall and stood underneath the falling water! Once everyone was cooled off and comfortable, we laced those boots back up again and set off back down the riverbed, onto the main road, and to our campsite for the evening! After Rachael and Janie’s tent demonstration, the girls set up their own and showered off in their swimsuits in the open air shower. This is camping! The campsite owner’s wife is kind enough to bake fresh chocolate cakes for their guests every day, and boy did we indulge. Such a special treat to have after a long day of hiking! For dinner we whipped up some chicken burgers, vodka pasta, and a salad – the girls even thoughtfully toasted the buns! After a quick dinner cleanup, LODs Everleigh and Laine led us through our Moonup for the evening, where we so enjoyed hearing about everyone’s role models from back at home. The girls hit the hay shortly after to get enough sleep for our HUGE day tomorrow!
DAY 5 – Up, Up, UP!
Rise and shine it’s ELEVATION DAY! We needed a big breakfast to fuel up, so eggs, bacon, toast, and cereal it was. After everyone packed up our lunches for the trail, we shuttled down to the trailhead, where Rachael’s hype playlist set the tone for everyone. LODs Anne Gibson and Ava led us in a stretch circle to get everyone warmed up, and before we knew it, we were off! The first half of the trail, with the major stairs, remained in the shade, which was a glorious treat. The LODs even passed around some gummy candies as a treat! About halfway through, we all sat down to have lunch in the clouds together – so fascinating to think we had climbed so high we were now up in the sky! The leaders could not have been more grateful that all the girls had such amazing positive attitudes and persevered through the hardest day of trekking. Not only did the girls display incredible teamwork, they supported one another on the trail when their friends needed it most – a true testament to the bond these girls have already forged! Once we arrived to our campsite for the evening we were surprised with local visitors – the cows! They roamed freely all around us, and one even tried to catch a bite of our delicious dinner! After the tents were all set up and everyone got changed, we started on dinner – pasta and meat sauce! Miller and Ava expertly cooked the pasta to perfection, while Allie and Kendall cooked the meat! Eliza, Anna, and Evie all chopped the salad ingredients, and boy did we enjoy our meal. Of course we had to treat ourselves to something sweet at the end of such a long day, so Nutella sandwiches it was! Pretty sure the girls went through 2 full jars of Nutella in one evening. After another great show of teamwork helping clean the dishes, we sprinted to the best viewpoint for the sunset, with Allie and Ava leading the way. The absolutely breathtaking views of the windmills and the mountains covered in the pinks and blues above the clouds was quite the sight to behold. Everyone oooed and aaaahhhed as long as could, before we got started with Moonup under the stars! It was so fun to stargaze and take in all the universe around us. Knowing that we had hiked all the way up to the view is what ultimately made it 100x more satisfying as well. After sufficiently stargazing, the girls headed back to camp before passing out to get plenty of rest for our continued trek the following day!
DAY 6 – Into the Clouds
What a beautiful day to hike to the highest point in Madeira! We woke up at camp with the cows all around us as the girls got ready for the day and packed up camp! Evie and Miller kindly braided hair for everyone, and we indulged in some delicious yogurt bowls for breakfast, adding toppings like granola, Nutella, peanut butter, bananas, kiwis, and more. Once everything was ready to go, we loaded up in the taxis for Pico do Arieiro, where we saw the giant soccer ball monument for Ronaldo! (It’s actually just a radar for the Air Force, but looks suspiciously like a soccer ball…) Before setting out on the trail, the girls hit up the little cafe and stocked up on energy drinks, Pringles, and more snacks. LODs Evie and Anna helped pick out some sour candy to surprise the girls with later on! After we were ready to rock and roll, we stretched all together and then headed up to the start of the trail and got to trekking! The whole start of the hike was shrouded in clouds. Not long after, we made it to the infamous Stairway to Heaven and snapped some super neat pics up in the clouds We continued on through the haziness and along the trail to Ruvio – we walked through tunnels, along the cliffsides, and took in the stunning views! Allie entertained us with stories from home, and Everleigh and was able to crack a riddle that Janie offered up – the first student to do it successfully all summer! Eliza also puzzled us with some riddles from camp, which kept us thinking. The girls made some new friends along the trail and at lunch, where we took in the views and learned about the damage from the wildfire 3 years ago now. We are so grateful that the island was able to recover, and we are now able to hike this portion of the trail since it has reopened! We eventually “summitted Madeira” as the girls coined, aka making it to Pico Ruivo, 1862 meters into the clouds! We took in the movie scene enjoying all the hard work it took for us to get here! Breathing in that fresh mountain air felt so relieving, knowing we walked all the way up here from the beach! At the top, Janie made the surprise announcement that we actually weren’t camping tonight and instead would be staying in a super special mountain inn – with showers! Girls were elated to hear the good news, and they walked the fastest they have yet the remainder of the way down the mountain. As soon as we got to the bottom, the girls neatly organized themselves into the shower line and got cozy in our bunk rooms. Wasn’t long before dinner, where everyone enjoyed the huge piece of lasagna, the traditional bolo do caco, and the salad. Tasted even better because we didn’t cook it at camp! After dinner, every girl got to pick out their sweet treat for the evening, ranging from Ben and Jerry’s ice cream to passionfruit mousse. It sure did hit the spot! As the sun set, the girls gathered in the megabed room for Moonup led by Anna and Evie. We are so proud of these girls for how far they have come already and can’t wait to see them knock out the next part of the trekking – downhill!
DAY 7 – These Boots Were Made for Walking …
The beautiful sunrise over the mountains this morning made crawling out of our super comfy beds just a little bit easier – plus there was a surprise waiting for us at breakfast – TESSA! Everleigh accompanied Janie to the airport to pick up Tessa, and she jumped right into our itinerary – Day 4 of trekking! After wrapping up our delicious breakfast spread of yogurt, granola, eggs, bacon, pastries, fresh fruit, coffee, and more, we waved goodbye to our favorite host Diogo, and loaded up in the taxis to get to our trailhead. The girls crushed it on the hike today! After everyone reunited back at the campsite, we had time to decompress from the day. We snacked, read our books, made friendship bracelets, set up our tents, laid in the sun, and enjoyed each others company. Tessa, Everleigh, Miller, and Janie even played some Spikeball! Our last dinner cooking at camp all together called for Mediterranean Bowls, thanks to Evie’s suggestion on the hike! Every single girl had a hand in helping prepare the meal – Kendall and Allie rocked the chicken, Anna, AG, and Eliza crumbled the feta cheese to perfection, and all the veggies were pristinely sliced thanks to the rest of the gang’s focus! After scarfing down our bowls, there was one last surprise – a brigadeiro cake to celebrate Tessa! Although Everleigh didn’t even pick it out, she knew which kind of cake it was immediately upon spying it – so impressive! We were licking the chocolate sprinkles off our fingers it was so yummy. All the girls also helped with dishes; you know what they say, many hands make light work! We had just the right tunes to keep us motivated, from “Breakin Dishes” to “Work This Out” to “Hard Knock Life”. The tunes quickly turned into a dance party, with Evie leading the way. We covered all the classic camp dance songs, from “Hoedown Throwdown” to “Cruisin for a Bruisin”! Oh what fun. As the stars came out, LODs Allie and Eliza got us started with Moonup out in the open field under the crescent moon. Although we were a little cold, soaking up the vastness of the universe all together felt so special. The LODs asked 2 super thoughtful questions, including in the world would you like to camp with if you had the opportunity! Riveting. The girls then retired to our tents for the very last time this trip – certainly bittersweet!
DAY 8 – Beach to Beach!
Goooood morning and happy LDOT (last day of trekking!) We woke up at camp, everyone packed up, made some more creative yogurt bowls for breakfast and packed up our lunches one last time for the trail! We started off with some country music to get us going, thanks to Anna’s suggestion of Jason Aldean radio. Our walk today began with some downhill through the valleys and pretty yellow wildflowers, and spirits were high as we walked at record pace. We came upon donkeys along the trail, before making our way to another ecological garden in the national park, where we met our peacock friends! Everleigh shared stories about the albino peacocks in her old neighborhood before we spotted one ourselves! Eliza conquered her fear of birds. After the males shed some of their feathers, Janie, Miller, Anne Gibson, and Evie all stuck feathers in our backpacks to let everyone know where we’ve been. As we continued our stroll back into civilization, we walked along the levadas carrying water into the town. We stopped for lunch at Pico Alto – where it looked like we were standing in the middle of the cloud! LODs Tessa and Miller passed out some sour candy for everyone to share, which was a much-needed treat. We switched up the vibe to Fleetwood Mac radio and kept on trucking down the hill! Very minimal falls throughout the day – something to be extremely proud of. Eventually, we made it to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte, a beautiful historic church in the middle of Funchal, where we even witnessed a wedding! Watching the bride come around the corner and make her way down the aisle brought many of us to tears! After taking in the sights and scenes, Janie surprised the girls one last time – we wouldn’t be walking the rest of the way into Funchal, but instead tobogganing! Traveling by toboggan is the most traditional way to travel around Madeira, sliding down the slick streets in a wooden cart driven by two Carreiros! The seven-minute, 2-kilometer ride brought lots of giggles and laughter. Evie and Eliza zoomed down right after Allie and Janie, followed by Anna and Anne Gibson, and Kendall and Ava! Laine and Miller brought up the rear. Tessa and Everleigh even purchased their souvenir photo to commemorate the experience! After we spent some time at the cafe at the bottom of the route, we loaded up in our taxi and headed down the coast to Machico to our hotel for the next two days! After quickly unloading our duffels, we headed straight for the pier in town, where Allie, Tessa, Everleigh, Eliza, Evie, Laine, Ava, and Janie jumped into the ocean so we can officially say we trekked from beach to beach! Taking in the views of the town with the mountains behind us and the water all around us felt so special and incredible, knowing our bodies carried us all that way! We made our way back to the hotel for some much-deserved showers and downtime before we all enjoyed dinner together. We especially enjoyed the French fries and the ice cream! After dinner, we strolled around the town of Machico at sunset, exploring the grocery store and the main square! We even caught a glimpse of the England v France game in the World Cup watch area – Ava the resident Brit was excited to see! We’re looking forward to returning tomorrow for the Final!! On our way back, we made sure to stop on the playground and workout set – Tessa and Everleigh made some new friends to play soccer with, while Anna, Evie, Ava, Laine, and Eliza enjoyed the swings! Back on the rooftop of the hotel LODs, Miller and Tessa led us through an incredible Moonup, where we discussed what everyone would be as an inanimate object, with some hilariously accurate answers. The girls retired soon after to the comfortable hotel beds for some much-needed rest after 5 long days of walking in the woods!
Thanks so much for following along on our trekking adventures! We are so incredibly grateful this group of girls had amazing attitudes the whole time, and we are so beyond proud of them for accomplishing such an amazing feat. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip holds – come back again soon for another update!
Until next time! Tchau tcahu!
Rachael & Janie
Magnificent Views in Madeira!
July 14, 2026
Hello Moondance MAD 3C Families! We are having a blast so far here in Madeira! The beautiful island welcomed us with open arms – keep on reading below to see what we’ve been up to!
DAY 1 – Travel Day!
LET THE MOONDANCE MAGIC BEGIN!!! After meeting in the group chat that morning, the girls were all excited to meet in person in the Miami airport! Traveling internationally by yourself for the first time is no small feat, and each and every girl did a fabulous job of navigating the airport and travel logistics. Even with delays and travel hiccups, we commend everyone on doing such a fantastic job of staying cool, calm, and collected in the middle of a hectic day – honestly, the hardest part of the trip is finally over!
DAY 2 – Welcome to Madeira!
After a long-haul flight and little sleep, the girls finally touched down in Lisbon and met Rachael and Janie in the Starbucks line-the only appropriate first stop after an international flight! We spent our layover chatting, getting to know one another, and soaking in the excitement that the trip had officially begun. Of course, we also had to browse the duty-free shops, and the airport bikini store was definitely a group favorite. Laine even picked out the cutest orange-and-red bikini! Before we knew it, we were boarding our quick two-hour flight to Madeira. As soon as we landed, everyone was all smiles. It was absolutely beautiful! After grabbing our luggage, we made our way to our hotel in the heart of Funchal. During the drive, everyone was glued to the windows, taking in the lush green mountains, sparkling ocean, and incredible scenery. It’s hard not to fall in love with Madeira at first sight. Once we got settled into our rooms, we headed out to explore the city. Our first stop was exchanging U.S. dollars for euros before grabbing a late lunch. Some girls went for pasta while others chose açaí bowls, and they looked delicious! It was so fun watching them being made, with fresh fruit and granola carefully layered throughout each bowl. After wandering around Funchal a little longer, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner. We ate at a local pizza and pasta restaurant just around the corner, and everyone was very happy with their choices. Anna’s spicy pepperoni pizza with fresh basil was definitely a crowd favorite, Allie ordered a chicken Caesar salad that looked so fresh, and Avery’s spaghetti bolognese had us all wishing we had ordered the same thing! With full stomachs, we took a stroll along the waterfront and enjoyed our first evening in Madeira. Not long after, we got the exciting news that Everleigh was on her way from the airport with another leader, so we hurried back to the hotel to welcome her. Everyone was so excited when she finally arrived! We ended the night hanging out in Evie and Eliza’s room with music playing in the background, chatting, laughing, and getting to know each other even better. It was the perfect way to wrap up our first day before getting some much-needed sleep and gearing up for all the adventures ahead!
DAY 3 – Rockin Out 🤘
First full day on our little slice of island paradise! Rachael and Janie let the girls sleep in as late as we possibly could – no jet lag around here! But then we quickly got dressed and jumped into action before grabbing breakfast on our way out of the hotel. Today, we loaded up in taxis to head out to the easternmost point of the island, for our rock-climbing activity! YAY! We met our climbing guides, Ruth and Steve, at the top of the point and made our way down to the rock face. The jaw-dropping views of the volcanic mountains against the blue water and the sunny sky took our breath away. After a quick stretch session, the first group of girls suited up in the harnesses, rock climbing shoes, and helmets – we looked like professionals! Anna and Anne Gibson were up first, and boy did they crush it! Evie and Eliza, camp friends reunited, also took turns on the rock wall. Avery and Miller raced to the top, and Ava and Allie looked like little mini Alex Honnolds up there. Although most everyone had climbed before, it was all inside or on a rock wall with handles, and this was nothing of the sort. The natural rock face proved to be challenging, but with the help of the guides’ directions and our new friends cheering us on, every single girl made it to the top of the first two courses! It was so incredible to watch them all embrace the challenging activity and succeed on the first day of our trip – Rachael and Janie were so impressed! After everyone had cleared all 4 of the rock faces from easiest to hardest (and Anne Gibson made it to the top of the 5th!) we all changed into our Chacos and followed Steve down the rocks to the water! After sweating in the sun all morning we were READY for a dip in the water! Janie and Allie jumped together first, followed by Miller and Avery with GoPro in hand, and then Everleigh and Kendall! The fresh water from the Atlantic Ocean felt incredible, and we got to take in the 360-degree views of the bay. Such a fun way to cap off our first activity! Once we climbed out of the water and back to our belongings, we hiked back up to the pickup point! Ava and Laine indulged in a Solero from the ice cream truck – delicious. When the taxi arrived, we were whisked from one corner of the island to the other, all the way to Porto Moniz in the northwest! We arrived at our special hostel for the evening, dropped off our bags, before strolling right into town for a special surprise – an afternoon at the natural salt pools! The girls were so excited to spend some time hanging out at the picturesque spot, with the lush green mountains behind us and the blue waves of the Atlantic crashing into the walls of the pools! Everyone also enjoyed jumping off the diving board into the water – Miller captured the moment on her GoPro! Evie, Eliza, Laine, Kendall, Allie, Everleigh, and Ava then jumped into the large pool and headed straight for the ledge, where they sat patiently waiting for a large wave to knock them off, and boy did they enjoy it! Eventually, Anne Gibson, Anna, Miller, and Avery joined the crew, and we all splashed around for a little while longer before drying off and stopping at the supermarket on the way back to the hostel! After showering and cleaning up, we started the short walk back into town for dinner at a local spot, where we enjoyed burgers, chicken sandwiches, and even chicken Caesar salads! After such a long and exciting day, Rachael and Janie decided the girls needed a sweet treat to cap it all off, so we headed back to the supermarket for some ice cream 🙂 Once back at the hostel, the girls chilled outside, got started on some friendship bracelets thanks to Allie’s string, and took in the gorgeous pinks and blues of the sunset! As the stars started to appear, Rachael and Janie led the group in our first Moonup of the trip, an incredible part of the Moondance culture where we get to debrief the day, share about ourselves, and really start to bond as a group. We learned what type of pasta everyone would be – not your favorite, but which one you would be (important distinction). Next, we announced Leaders of the Day (or LODs) for tomorrow – Laine and Everleigh! Both of their attitudes on the first day were top-notch, and we’re excited to see them set the tone for everyone else tomorrow! The girls hit the hay shortly thereafter – huge day coming up next!!
Thanks so much for following along with our trip so far – we are SO excited to get started with trekking tomorrow! See below for some more Shoutouts from the girls. Heading into the mountains means loads of fun and many stories to share coming soon – check back again later to hear all about it!
See you on the other side!!! Tchau tchau!
Love, Rachael & Janie
SHOUTOUTS
Laine: Hi mom, dad, and Kate! I am having so much fun on the trip! We went rock climbing yesterday and now we are about to start trekking. Also, I’m sure y’all saw but I saw Maggie and Kevin at the salt pools yesterday!! I miss y’all and can’t wait to see yall when I get home! Tell Henry I said hi ❤️ Laine
Allie: Hii everyone! I am having a lot of fun and can’t wait to tell you guys about everything I’m doing. I’m not jet lagged at all which is a relief because we start 6 day trek today… I’m actually really excited for this part. The stars are so pretty here and the views are insane! I also like everyone and am excited to show you my friends, pictures, and everything else! Ps my bag was safely delivered😁 I love you and tell JoJo I said hi and I miss him! 💕🦄🌄
Anna: Hi yall! I miss you guys sooo much and cannot wait to tell yall everything about Moondance and I seriously can’t believe how amazing this place is. We did rock climbing yesterday on the actual side of a cliff and I tried all the paths I could and really enjoyed it actually. Please tell Hank I miss him a lot with all of you, and I can’t wait to see yall sooonnnn ❣️
Anne Gibson: Heyyyy Mom and Dad!! I miss you guys so much but I am actually having the best time ever! Thank you guys so much for giving me this opportunity! Yesterday we rock climbed and it was sooo fun but lowkey very hard and we start our 5 day trekking trip today👌 I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it! Tell Weeze and Frances that I love and miss them! And give Henry and Cooper my love! Love you guys see you soonnnnn💕💕💕✌️🐀
Kendall: Hi Mom, Dad, Jo, Kyle, and Addison!! I miss you guys so so much I can’t wait to tell you guys about everything I did when I get back! I was super nervous before I came but I’m literally having such a blast! Yesterday we rock climbed a huge wall ( it was actually one of the most challenging things ever) and today we’re going to be trekking and going to a black sand beach! Tell Vern I say I hi I miss him and give everyone a hug for me back home! I can’t wait to see you guys love you so much!🥹🌈💌✌️💕-FAIRS👌👌👌
Miller: hiiiii mom and dad I’m having so much fun!!!! I got the go pro working and taking lots of pics. Rn we are about to start our 5day trekking trip and yesterday we rocked climbed and swam. I’m currently drinking an iced latte and about to go to a black sand beach and take pics!! Okay bye tell bacchus I miss him ❤️❤️❤️
Avery: OMG HI!!!! Hi mom, dad, siblings, rhyan, and Jamesie!!!!! I miss you guys SO MUCH!!!! I am having the BEST time in Madeira!! So far we have visited towns, rock climbed, and swam in the super BLUE OCEAN!! Mom, you would love it. I have taken so many pictures so far! Can’t wait to show you! Today we start out 5 day trekking! Dad, I need my hiking partner back! I was super nervous before I came but I am having a blast, and our leaders are the sweetest!! Give everyone a hug for me back home, Cheeky misses you so much. I love you all!!!!! ❤️💗💕❣️
Ava: Hi mum and dad, I’m having a great time! Yesterday we went rock climbing and went swimming in the ocean, then we went to rock pools and had a great time. Today we are going swimming on a black sand beach before we start trekking for 5 days. My leaders are really nice and all the girls are really nice! I miss you all lots and can’t wait to see you in 2 weeks. Lots of love Ava xxx
Everleigh: Hi mom and dad and whoever else!! I’m having so much fun and Madeira is literally so pretty. Yesterday we went rock climbing which was hard but so fun and went to these natural pools which were so cool and fun. The water here is so pretty and definitely warmer than the last time we were in Portugal! Everyone is so nice and is making the trip so fun!!! Today we start our 5 day hiking trip which is hopefully easier than trip!! Miss you both so much and love you even more 💖💖💖
Evie: Hi mommy and daddy! I am having so much fun! I am writing this as we are on the black sand beach about to go swim. Yesterday we went rock climbing and to the salt pools and I jumped off the high dive. I’m loving all the girls especially Eliza and we are having a blast. I also love my leaders! I had a Ronaldo towel because the pack towel dad gave me wasn’t big enough lol but i love my new towel. Tell coco I said hi! I love y’all so much and miss yall!
Eliza: hi mom and dad!! Love and miss y’all!! I miss Eli most but of course Anne and smith too. We’re having so much fun the views here are insane I feel like I’m in Moana. We’re doing all my favorite things: rock climbing especially but also swimming and taking pictures and hiking and going on walks. I can’t wait for yall to see pictures and show yall my pictures. Love yall!!
Safe Arrival!
July 12, 2026
Hello Madeira Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the majority of the group has landed safely! Janie is waiting in Dubrovnik for two students who will be joining late due to travel delays.
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
