Farewell SLO 1B!
June 27, 2026
Hello!
After wrapping up our trekking adventure, we traded our hiking boots for climbing harnesses, paddle boards, and a few well-earned sleep-ins as we explored more of beautiful Slovenia.
Our first afternoon was packed with adventure as we headed out for rock climbing and paddle boarding surrounded by breathtaking mountain views. Before the activities, we enjoyed another delicious local sandwich lunch to fuel up for the afternoon. Finley absolutely crushed all three climbing courses, while Johnny earned bragging rights for being the first one to make it to the top. Rob also showed off some seriously impressive climbing skills that had everyone cheering him on. After climbing, we hit the water for paddle boarding, where things quickly turned competitive. Lee and Johnny paddled their way to victory in our race, while the rest of the group spent plenty of time splashing around, laughing, and soaking in the incredible scenery. We wrapped up another perfect day with a wonderful Moon Up, sharing stories, laughs, and plenty of smiles together.
The next morning, we laced up our boots once again for a beautiful day hike up one of Slovenia’s ski mountains. The trail led us through rolling green meadows bursting with colorful wildflowers before reaching one of the most stunning viewpoints of the trip. Naturally, the group couldn’t resist channeling their inner roars from the mountaintop, and the echoes across the valley made for a pretty unforgettable moment. After our hike, we enjoyed another delicious local lunch featuring Wiener schnitzel and plenty of Cokes before making our way to the famous Lake Bled.
Once we arrived, we climbed into traditional rowboats and made our way across the crystal-clear lake to the picturesque island and its historic church. Summit absolutely crushed it behind the oars, while Lila provided plenty of entertainment by rowing her boat in what seemed like endless circles. Mae spent the afternoon simply soaking in the stunning scenery, while Liza and Abigail treated themselves to some much-needed pistachio and vanilla ice cream. Before leaving, we cooled off with a refreshing swim in the lake. Lake made it his personal mission to push as many people into the water as possible, creating plenty of laughs and a few very surprised swimmers. We finished the evening with a little taste of home-a burger dinner! Special shoutout to the kimchi burger and the pulled pork sandwich, which quickly became two of the group’s favorite meals of the trip.
After a well-deserved sleep-in the following morning, we headed into Slovenia’s beautiful capital city of Ljubljana. We quickly learned why it’s known as the City of Dragons as we wandered through its charming streets filled with history, bridges, and beautiful architecture. Johnny made sure everyone learned something new by sharing interesting facts about the city’s history throughout the day. While exploring, we stumbled upon a lively food market in the city square where Mae found some incredibly delicious pasta, and Colin discovered what may have been the best Korean food of the trip. After an afternoon of exploring, we returned to the hostel to get dressed up for our final banquet dinner together.
To celebrate an unforgettable adventure, we enjoyed one last meal together at a fantastic pizza restaurant before finishing the evening with ice cream and one final sentimental Moon Up in the park. It was the perfect way to reflect on the incredible memories, friendships, and adventures we shared throughout the trip. There were plenty of laughs, a few tears, and many reminders of just how special this group has been. While we’re sad to see our time together come to an end, we know these memories will last a lifetime.
We are so thankful that you got to share your kids with us for the past 2 weeks. We had the most incredible time, they are such a special bunch and we hope they all had as amazing of a time as we did. We will miss them all so much!
Sydney and Will
Treks + Treats!
June 23, 2026
Dobradan! Good Day!
The trekking portion of our adventure has officially come and gone, and what an incredible few days it was! Over the past few days, we explored the beautiful Julian Alps, stayed in mountain huts, ate plenty of delicious food, and made memories we’ll be talking about for a long time.
Our first day on the trail wasted no time introducing us to mountain life. We hiked about 4 miles and gained over 2,000 feet of elevation, which definitely got our legs working! Thankfully, the climb came with some great rewards, including a delicious lunch of sausages, strudel, and mushroom soup and dumplings for desert! Later, we visited a local cheese hut and nearby lake, where we learned how traditional cheeses are made and got to sample some ourselves. A little rain rolled in during the afternoon, but it mostly just made everyone sleepy and ready for a cozy evening in the mountains. A special shoutout goes to Lee and Robert for leading the charge up the steep climb, and to Liza, whose excitement for getting a Coke before the hike was unmatched.
The next morning, we woke up to beautiful views and a full day of trekking ahead. We covered about 8 miles, and it seemed like every turn brought an even better view than the last. Along the way, we explored a maze of underground World War 1 bunkers, which Robert and Summit quickly turned into their own personal jump-scare arena. Johnny spent much of the day soaking in the scenery and chatting with our guide Mitja about history, nature, and anything else interesting they could think of. After reaching our mountain hut, we enjoyed what has become the group’s favorite meal of the trip so far: goulash. Seriously, who knew goulash could be so good? The afternoon was filled with plenty of hacky sack, and Lake has become surprisingly skilled. One of the group’s favorite challenges is trying to catch the hacky sack on the back of their necks. Finley somehow managed it on her very first try while everyone else laughed and continued practicing.
To stay ahead of incoming weather, we got an early start the following morning and headed toward one of the most picturesque huts of the trip. Nestled between two stunning alpine lakes, the hut even had its own helicopter pad for supply deliveries. Along the trail, we stopped in a beautiful valley for photos before taking five minutes of silence to simply listen to the world around us. Once we arrived, the afternoon quickly became all about relaxation. Some students played hacky sack while others enjoyed well-earned naps. The girls created a legendary “mega bed” while Will provided some relaxing tunes in the background. Later, we hiked to another lake before returning for a mountain feast of Coke, potato chips, and chocolate. Abigail and Colin absolutely crushed it as leaders of the day, keeping everyone entertained with trail games and riddles. Summit also spotted a snake along the trail, which was so exciting!
Before we knew it, it was already the final day of trekking. The day started with one last big climb over a ridgeline that opened up to some of the most spectacular views of the entire trip. Along the way, Mae conquered her fear on a slightly exposed section of trail and was welcomed at the top by a group of friends waiting with high-fives and encouragement. It was a pretty awesome moment. We continued hiking until we came across a field with more than 30 cows, all of whom seemed very interested in our group. Thankfully, they allowed us to pass peacefully while Finley made sure to document the encounter with plenty of photos.
Lunch was served overlooking another beautiful lake and featured bolognese and barley stew. Everyone ate until they were completely full before spreading out for some quality relaxation time. Lila and Mae enjoyed naps in the grass while the boys played card games inside. Colin and Lee even taught Sydney a new card game before we headed out on the final downhill stretch. Although our legs were definitely feeling the miles, the excitement of finishing kept everyone moving. Soon enough, the vans came into sight and our trekking adventure was complete.
Back in town, we relaxed at the hostel during a thunderstorm before heading out for one of the best dinners of the trip. Lake somehow managed to finish an entire pizza, the pasta was incredible, and everyone celebrated the completion of the trek with gelato and soft serve. We wrapped up the evening with Moon Up overlooking the mountains and reflecting on an unforgettable few days.
The group continues to impress us with their positivity, encouragement, and willingness to embrace every adventure. We’re having an amazing time and can’t wait to see what the next few days brings!
-Sydney + Will
finley- Thank you mom and dad this is the coolest thing ever! Thanks for sending me!!!! Love yall!
lila- Hi mom! Hi Dad! Thank you so much for sending me on moondance! Its always so much fun and im so grateful! Love yall and see you soon!
Liza- Hey mom and dad! Thank you so much for sending me on moondance for so many summers! Its so amazing, love you see you soon!
Johnny- Thank you mom and dad for sending me on moondance it’s super awesome! Love you!
Lake- Hey mom and dad! Thank you for sending me on moondance again! Im having so much fun!
Robert- Hey mom and dad! Thank you for sending me on this trip, im really grateful to be here! I dont want to leave! Love yall!
Abigail- Hi Mom and Dad! I am so grateful for this trip, I have been able to do so much cool stuff and eat so much amazing food! I am so excited to tell you all about it!! See you soon!!! 🩷
Mae- Hi mom and dad!! Thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to travel to a place like this. I’m exicited to see you guys soon and tell you all about it!! Tell Evie I hope she has the best time at camp!! 💛
Lee- Hi Mom and Dad, thank you so much for sending me to Slovenia! It has been the most incredible trip and I can’t wait to tell yall about it! Say bye to Jay for me.
Summit- Hi Mom and Dad I am having a great time and I am so thankful that you guys gave me this opportunity I’m excited to see you guys again soon love you guys.
Colin- Hi Mom and Dad, I had an awesome time in Slovenia, today is our last day and I cannot wait to tell you all the crazy things that have happened. Love you and see you soon.
Strong Start to Slovenia
June 21, 2026
Howdy Moondance families!
We are having a blast in Slovenia and are so excited to share all of the incredible things we’ve been up to. We kicked off the trip with an unforgettable sea kayaking adventure along the Croatian coast. The group paddled through the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, explored hidden coves, and showed off their bravery with some exciting cliff jumping. Everyone was eager to leap into the refreshing water, and there were plenty of smiles (and screams!) all around. Flannery Rose impressed us all by tackling some rock climbing opportunities along the shoreline. At the same time, Finley seemed to be everywhere at once, camera in hand, capturing all the best moments of the day. Between kayaking, swimming, and jumping into the sea, it was hard to pick a favorite moment. Summit also provided one of the day’s best memories when his curiosity got the better of him, leading him to eat a shrimp eye, which quickly became a story the whole group talked about for the rest of the day. We wrapped up the evening tired, salty, and excited for everything still to come.
Day 2 brought us to a hands-on cooking class in Slovenia, where the group learned how to prepare a delicious traditional meal from scratch. Together we made vegetable soup, pasta with sausage and tomato sauce, turkey and potatoes, veggie meatballs, and a delicious peach pie for dessert. Summit and Johnny had perhaps a little too much fun peeling peaches, while Abigail and Finley amazed everyone with their noodle-making skills and quickly earned the title of the pasta Queens. Across the Kitchen, Lake found his calling by searing off some of the best turkey we’ve ever had! After enjoying the fruits of our labor, the fun continued with a few classic group games. We played Birdie on a Perch, one of Lila’s favorite games, and she and Robert absolutely dominated the competition. Later, the group moved on to Don’t Touch My Rock, where Liza defended her rock at all costs and proved she was not about to let anyone take it away, but not before Colin led us in a game of poison hackey sack where Robert squeaked out a win! It was a day full of laughter and plenty of good food.
On Day 3, we headed to a stunning valley for an action-packed day of canyoneering. The adventure was full of natural water slides, jumps, climbing, and scrambling through one of the most beautiful landscapes we’ve seen so far. The water was incredibly cold, but that didn’t stop anyone from diving right in. In fact, Johnny could almost always be counted on to be the first person to jump into every pool we encountered. Meanwhile, Lake and Lee consistently found time to strike impressive poses in midair before splashing into the water below. The entire group embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and plenty of courage. After a full day of adventure, our wonderful outfitters rewarded us with some delicious Mexican food for dinner, followed by a much-needed frozen yogurt stop. It was the perfect ending to an incredible day.
We started the morning with an exciting white water rafting adventure on a beautiful river. The group eagerly piled into the rafts and navigated the rapids, laughing and splashing through every twist and turn. One of the highlights of the morning was an awesome cliff jump into the river below. Colin was so excited that he practically ran up to the rock and was one of the first to take the leap! The fun continued when our guides flipped one of the rafts upside down and transformed it into a giant waterslide. Everyone took turns sliding down, and Mae kept the group laughing with some particularly memorable jumps and creative slides into the water. After rafting, we headed to a beautiful spot along the river, where we spent the afternoon relaxing in the sunshine, swimming, and enjoying the incredible scenery. The water was definitely cold, but that didn’t stop all of the girls from jumping right in and making the most of the afternoon. It was the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation before preparing for a change of scenery for our first day of trekking tomorrow!
The trip is off to an amazing start and truly is flying by! It has been so much fun watching this group encourage one another, try new things, and make memories together. We can’t wait to see what the next few days have in store!
Shoutouts:
Liza- Hey mom and dad! I am having a absolute blast thank you for sending me on moondance! Love y’all
Finley – Hey mom and dad!!! I am having the best time ever and moondance is totally AWESOME!! I miss yall but I cant wait to see you so soon. Don’t have too much fun with out me I love yall!!
Mae- Hi fam!! Thank you so much for sending me on this amazing trip. this country is seriously unreal and is like something out of a movie. You guys would be really impressed at all the things we have done. We start trekking tomorrow!! I love you guys and miss you so much. Give the pups a hug for me. and please tell G and Dave and my friends that I say hi and I love and miss them!!
Johnny- hi mom and dad! the trip is so much fun and im having a great time. Slovenia is super pretty and Croatia was also beautiful. I love everything we are doing and the group is great. Thanks for sending me on moondance love you!
Robert- hello parentals. The trip is so much fun so far and I’ve loved being here. Tell the dogs I said hi, and tell Bennett I love him. Dont forget to tell will please. Im really grateful to be here and its an experience ill never forget. Tell the dogs i said hi, and go ding dong ditch Thomas. love yall
Lake- Hey there family, thank you for sending me on this trip, im doing pretty good and im having lots of fun. Slovenia is really cool and it is a really cool country that we should go to sometime. The world cup scores are crazy with Spain and Portugal falling off. Loving the food here. I’m meeting lots of very cool friends too
Lila- Hi guys!!!! i miss yall so much and im so happy im able to be apart of moondance. We have done suck fun activities and we start trekking tomorrow, yay! I have so many friends from all over. anyway i have to pack but love yalllllllll
Abigail – Hi guys!! Miss yall a lot and thinking of Dad and wishing him a very happy Fathers Day!! So far we have had a lot of fun and we are leaving for trekking soon! Its soooo pretty here, and the food is insaneee. Give Maple a big kiss for me, love yall!!
Summit- Hello guys I am having a great time here and have so many great things to tell you guys and am so excited to spend time at the lake with my dad and I am excited to see you mom when I get home and nana’s and grandpa’s I love you guys and am I having a great time love you guys see you soon!
Colin- Hi mom and dad, the trip has been really fun despite the hard time getting here, the people are super nice and welcoming. we have done so many things, but the views have been great, and the activities have been super fun. There are so many story’s that you would not believe. love you and see you soon.
Lee- Hi Mom and Dad, I have had such a fun time. When I get home i cant wait to show you my journal with everything weve done. Say hi to Cookie for me, and I love yall. Happy Father’s Day Dad!
Flan- hi mom and dad happy father’s day dad thanks for being so amazing!! thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip!! thanks for always putting up with me and being such amazing parents this is truly an experience of a life time. Slovenia is so amazing and Croatia was so cool. its crazy how i traveled so much and saw so many new things with people i have just met. love you guys so much
Safe Arrival
June 15, 2026
Hello Slovenia Families!
We heard from our leaders early this morning that the majority of the group has landed safely in Venice! We are still awaiting the arrival of one student whose travel was delayed. The group is excited to welcome them shortly!
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
