Final Update from SLO 3A!
July 27, 2026
Hello Slovenia 3A friends and family!
WOW, we cannot believe the trip has come to a close, but we are so unbelievably grateful for every moment these past two weeks with the kids. We wanted to walk you through our last couple of days of the trip spent in Slovenia and Croatia.
July 23
This morning, we woke up to the cool mountain air in the Soca Valley, excited for another day! We got ready and headed to the dining pavilion for a delicious breakfast of oatmeal, yogurt bowls with granola and fruit, and of course, hot cocoa. Our LODs Marty and Aiden led morning huddle and hyped us up for rafting! Soon after, we wet-suited up in full body neoprene and took to the boats for rafting, wet suited up in full body neoprene. Marty, Kaitlyn, Willie, Aiden, Win and Jack road on our guide Marco’s boat with Claire. Marco called us his minions and we called him Gru, shouting “Bababa ba ba banana.” Every time we paddled forward, he chanted “gru” – making us laugh hysterically as we paddled down the river. Thomas guided the rest of our crew in the other raft- Matthew, Jeremiah, Addison, Lillian, Kate, and Mark. The group did Thomas’ signature trick “the Titanic” all piling into the back of the raft making the front tip out of the water, while Thomas spun the boat around. Down the river we went, Thomas and Marco keeping us laughing the whole time. They made a raft slide, propping an upside down raft on a big rock, and we all got a running start and slid down on our bellies penguin-style. Jack leaped onto the raft and bounced off into the air. Addison and Lillian ran down the raft on their feet, sliding all over the place and laughing. We couldn’t believe how cold the river was but it was so worth the startling cold to bounce down the raft slide! We continued paddling co to our next big adventure- a giant rock downstream perfect for a cliff jump into the water! Marty proved her courage once again, climbing up the rock despite her fear of heights. All of the kids cheered each other on as they jumped off one by one. We were so impressed by their bravery and enthusiasm!! We got the chance to jump in and float the last rapid, and Willie seized the opportunity, embracing the cold water. At the raft take-out, Jack and Matthew helped their groups pick up and carry the raft back to the trailer with ease. We rode back to our campsite for a delicious lunch of chicken with vegetables and rice with cream cheese pastries. After lunch, it was time for a volleyball rematch to break the tie between the Moggers and the Bandits. Jack fought hard for the Moggers to come out on top, but Marty played her best game yet, scoring points for the Bandits on her serves, along with Willie and Lillian who’s skills at the net surprised everyone! We pulled out our hiking boots one more time for a quick hike up to a lookout to see “Slap Boca” near our campsite, one of Slovenia’s largest waterfalls. Kaitlyn charged up the hill with Kate by her side, and Aiden encouraged everyone to keep climbing despite the heat and the incline. The views of the valley below and the waterfall made it all worth it, and we soaked them in at the top. We made our way back to the car, then drove through Kobarid, Slovenia- a town most known for the 1917 battle in WWI, where the Italian retreat was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The kids have loved to learn more about the area, rich with history and stories from over one hundred years ago. We went to a swimming hole, where Kaitlyn, Kate and Jack headed to the shade to nap and chat. Matthew, Jeremiah, and Aiden practiced their arm, skipping rocks across the river. The rest of us enjoyed listening to music and soaking in the afternoon sun in between cold plunges in the crystal clear water. Back at our campsite, we changed into comfy clothes for dinner while an evening storm rolled through. We ate grilled chicken tacos with lettuce, corn, beans, tomatoes and salsa. Win said it was his favorite meal we’d had at the campsite! The group munched on Oreos for dessert and came up with a new activity: racing each other across the grass field. Win was the fastest boy, staying true to his name :), and Marty won the girl’s race, really displaying her athleticism today! We had a lot of laughs watching the impromptu races, especially as a few of us slipped in the grass at the start of the sprint. We gathered for Moonup under the stars near our tents, where Marty and Aiden posed insightful questions, allowing everyone to share and support one another. Today was
7/24
Today, the group had the chance to sleep in for our final morning in Soča Valley. George, our camp chef, prepared an incredible farewell breakfast of over easy eggs on bread with yogurt, muesli, and fresh kiwi and oranges. We loaded up our bags and said goodbye to our campsite staff with a sweet card the kids helped make. Our LOD’s, Win and Lillian, got us ready for the travel day with another awesome game of Calibria. Jack threw in a new dance move that had the whole group laughing. Our next stop was our cooking class in the beautiful Goriška Brda region. We took a scenic two hour drive out of the valley till we arrived at an awesome viewpoint of the countryside. On top of this lookout, we got to see the beauty in the rolling hills, vineyards and orchards of Goriška Brda. At the eatery we put our culinary skills to work. Addison, Kate, and Kaitlyn peeled and chopped up peaches for our peach pie. Aiden, Matthew, Mary Martha helped to peel and cut up potatoes while Lillian and William handmade pasta. Jack grated zucchini and carrots for our veggie fritters while Jeremiah cut up zucchini for the vegetable soup. Win worked on making the dough and lattice for our pie as well as dicing prosciutto for our pasta. Mary Martha and Matthew fried the veggie fritters while William handled grilling our turkey on the stove. After our hard work we enjoyed an elaborate four course meal: vegetable soup, homemade pasta with zucchini and prosciutto, turkey with potatoes, and then some fantastic peach pie dessert! It was amazing!!! After this lunch fit for a Slovenian king, we continued our drive through the countryside into Italy and finally arrived in Pula, Croatia. During the ride, Lillian queued up some certified-banger songs, and we had “chibes” the whole ride. We settled into our campsite nestled on the Adriatic coast, and the boys immediately took to the court for an intense game of 3 v. 3 basketball. Win, Jack, and Aiden walked away victorious. Afterwards, we played a few rounds of knockout as a group, before taking a dip in the sea. The warm salt water felt wonderful! For dinner at the campsite, we ate burgers, pasta, and in William and Aiden’s case Cevapčiči, traditional Slovenian sausage. It was such a great meal! Afterwards, we played another round of Celebrity- William’s team won after Jack remembered Matthew’s character, Keanu Reaves. Win and Lillian then led an awesome Moonup beside the water as we discussed our goals in life and what superpowers we would want. Claire played a few Lumineers and Chris Stapleton songs on the guitar before we wrapped up the night with a game of Werewolf led by William.
July 25
Today we woke up in a new country, our first full day in Croatia! We kicked off the morning with breakfast at our campsite: hot eggs, fresh bread, and bowls of cornflakes before our dynamic repeat LODs, Jack and Kaitlyn, got everyone excited for an action-packed day on the water!! We loaded into the vans and made the short drive to the coastline, where we paired up, climbed into our sea kayaks, and paddled toward our destination: a crazy cool sea cave hidden behind the rocky cliffs. To enter the cave, we had to swim underwater through an opening before surfacing inside the cave. The water within the cave was crystal clear and made for an awesome spot to explore, swim, and snap some awesome photos. Jack, Aiden, and Matthew each had fun taking turns at a small climbing section, while the rest of the group discovered a photo illusion that made it look like they were walking upside down on the cave’s ceiling. Before leaving, everyone took on an exhilarating rock jump!!! From there, we made a short climb to the top of the peninsula, with an incredible view of Premanutura’s coastline in every direction. After soaking it all in, we climbed back into our kayaks for the paddle home, turning the return trip into a friendly competition. Claire and Matthew absolutely smoked the competition, with Aiden and Kate finishing not far behind. After drying off, we piled back into the vans and headed to lunch. Jaka took the aux and introduced everyone to some of his favorite Dua Lipa songs, turning the drive into a full-on karaoke session. Lunch was at an incredible farm-to-table restaurant nearby. We enjoyed the warm sunshine while Win and Jack entertained themselves by whistling back and forth with the restaurant’s pet parrot. Marty and Willy stepped outside her comfort zone by ordering stuffed Pljeskavica, a minced beef local specialty filled with cheese, while Aiden and Win all devoured plates of ćevapčići. All our meals hit the spot! We lingered a bit after lunch, sneaking in a few catnaps and taking turns on the restaurant’s playground swings. Mark, William, and Aiden also played a game of flinger, a popular Slovenian yard game similar to bocce that quickly became competitive. Just when everyone thought the day couldn’t get any better, we surprised the group with a trip to an aquapark! The massive floating obstacle course was an absolute blast. We played an enormous game of tag across the inflatables, with Jeremiah strategically using the giant slide to ambush unsuspecting players. Mark and William also had an epic race, weaving through the obstacles across the entire course. Before leaving, we all relaxed together on one of the floating platforms, laughing and reflecting on what had already been one of our favorite days of the trip. After showering off, we headed to downtown Pula for the evening. We grabbed burgers at one of Jaka’s favorite local spots before wandering through the city’s historic streets as the sun began to set. Of course, we had to get gelato!!!! We also stopped to admire Pula’s crown jewel: an ancient Roman Amphitheater, built around 27 BC and known as one of the best intact arenas in the world. While taking photos, Matthew somehow managed to hoist both Lillian and Addison onto his shoulders, creating such a funny memory. As the sun dipped below the Adriatic, we made the drive back to camp with Kate enthusiastically belting out Bruno Mars the entire way. Back at camp, we ended this incredible day with a meaningful Moonup discussion centered around what this trip has taught us about ourselves. It was truly an unforgettable day in Croatia.
7/26
We woke up to our final full day of the trip, excited to soak in every last second with each other. We munched on a breakfast of coco puffs, bread with chocolate spread, and scrambled eggs. LODs William and Jeremiah led us in our last morning huddle, quoting our guide Jaka’s favorite quote, “the top of one mountain is the bottom of another,” reminding us to keep challenging ourselves and climbing mountains in our lives back at home. We loaded into the vans and jammed out to “Send me on my way” by the Rusted Root as we drove North from Premantura, Croatia towards the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana! Soon, everyone was snoozing in the car, resting up for our big town day. After a few hours of chill tunes and beautiful mountain scenery, we wound up in Ljubljana and said our goodbyes to our guides Sara and Jaka who were such an important part of our group. We dropped our bags off at our hostel and took to the streets for some town exploration and souvenir shopping. Soon, we sat down at a restaurant right in the city center for delicious Mexican food- Marty and Win ate enchiladas and Addison, Lillian and Kate took down giant chicken quesadillas. Afterwards, Willy found himself in a Slovenian ceramics shop and learned all about how the store owner makes his beautiful artwork. Aiden and Matt found a few thoughtful gifts to bring home to family. Everyone bought matching Triglav National Park tee shirts with adorable marmots on them to wear to dinner and tomorrow morning at the airport. After shopping, we found ourselves at a gelateria and enjoyed some of the best gelato of the trip- Lillian was surprised by how yummy the bright pink and yellow Pokemon flavor was. We made our way back to the hostel and settled into our rooms, listening to music and getting ready for the evening out on the town. The kids thoughtfully completed their letters to themselves that Moondance HQ will mail to them in a few months, and we got everything packed up for our early departure the next morning. Dressed in nice outfits with our marmot tee shirts over top, we walked to our dinner spot. On the way, we stopped for photos at a park with the Ljubljana castle in the background. We made it to a pizzeria where we all sat around a big table and enjoyed Neapolitan-style pizzas, Coca Colas, and great conversation. Stuffed to the brim, but not too stuffed for a sweet treat, we walked to a frozen yogurt spot and loaded up our bowls with froyo and toppings. We ate our froyo in the square as an incredible sunset began to light up the sky above us, and we hustled our way towards the cable car station and caught a ride up to the Ljubljana castle for spectacular views of the sun setting over Ljubljana and our trip as a whole. Up there, we had one final silent moment, taking in the views and reminiscing about the trip as a whole, then gathered in a big group hug. From there, we walked down the hill back towards our hostel, where Jeremiah and Willy led our final Moonup. The nug jug took nearly an hour as we recalled our favorite moments from the past two weeks, then we went around and recounted the funniest moments from the trip, which had us all dying laughing. Our LODs encouraged us to think about what we want to take home with us from this trip- Kate and Kaitlyn both hope to be more present and soak in their senior year, Jeremiah and Win hope to continue branching out and be outgoing when they get home, and Lillian wants to seize the day from the moment she wakes up like she gets to do on Moondance. We also got to speak about strengths we admire in another person in the group, as well as give a hope or a wish for someone in the group back at home. The students put so much thought into their responses, and it seemed like every student really felt their worth within the group. We wrapped up with one final guitar session, singing By and By, Yellow and Jersey Giant all together on the floor of our hostel room. As midnight rolled around, the kids all helped Claire and Mark surprise Addison with a birthday celebration. Marty covered her eyes and all the kids put on birthday glasses and led Addison into the other room where a delicious birthday cake with candles was waiting for her. We sang happy birthday all together then ate cake without plates, just grabbing fork-fulls and stuffing our faces like one big family. Our last full day was just such a blast!!!!
We could not be more grateful for these kids and their impact on our lives these past two weeks. They each shined in unique ways throughout the trip and challenged each other to step out of their comfort zones and try new things. Thank you to all of the families reading this who shared your children with us, we will miss them dearly!
Signing off one last time with so much love,
Mark and Claire
Terrific Trekking!
July 23, 2026
“Živjo” -or “hello”- family and friends of Slovenia 3A! We have made it out of the mountains and into the beautiful Soča Valley since we last updated you all, and we have so much to share!
July 18
Addison and Jeremiah got the group moving this morning as our LOD’s for our first day of trekking in the Julian Alps! We had our final breakfast in Lake Bohinj, saying a bittersweet goodbye to our hostel’s fresh sourdough and beloved cappuccino machine. Before hopping in our vans for the short drive to the trailhead and the start of our journey, Mary Martha, now known to all as Marty, led the group in a yoga flow. This stretching, combined with our special hiking sauce… TRAIL GLITTER, helped us destroy the steep ascent into Triglav National Park!!! Lillian and Addison were especially fans of the glitter, putting so much on that their faces were completely covered. As we climbed, Jeremiah helped to set the pace for the rest of the group by leading in front with our guide Sara. William made sure to keep the vibes up the whole hike, providing a plethora of fist bumps and high fives. Along the way, we discovered a small entrance to a cave just off the trail. Upon further examination, we found that the cave opened up to a spacious cavern and could fit the entire group. After we all crammed into the cave and took some awesome photos, Aiden and Matthew did some further exploring and found a small tunnel branching deeper into the cave. Throughout the hike, we had some great trail talks, playing word games, solving riddles, and singing songs. Matthew, Mark, and Jeremiah spent nearly half an hour trying to all say the same word at the count of three. Before we knew it, we arrived at our mountain hut for the next two days! We checked into our rooms, which had an incredible view of our starting point, Lake Bohinj, and the surrounding valley. For lunch, we tried the traditional Slovenian meal of goulash with polenta, which was a huge success with the group! Jeremiah and William loved the meal so much they helped everyone with their plates. For dessert, we had our first apple strudel of the trip- another big hit that would become a sweet treat staple for our group!! After lunch, Matthew, William, Jeremiah, Mark, and Claire played Monopoly Deal while the rest of the gang shared stories and made bracelets. We then set off on a shorter hike, exploring the nearby terrain and a collection of mountain huts that originally served as camps for WWII soldiers. We even checked out the remains of a general’s home back in the early 1900’s.. Throughout our walk, we cracked plenty of jokes, and Jack proved to be particularly talented at solving riddles. We returned back to our hut right as a light rain came down, giving us an awesome excuse to relax and watch the mountain storm roll in. Some played Kemps, a fun card game, while others squeezed in a well-deserved nap. The rain cleared up before dinner, and the guys took advantage of the break in the weather with an insane hacky sack session out on the helicopter pad, overlooking the mountains and lake down below, while the girls took advantage of Claire’s watercolors. Dinner featured sausage, and everybody’s favorite… french fries!!! Before bundling up for Moonup, we played a new group card game, Shaka, which was an instant hit. Addison and Jeremiah led an awesome Moonup, and we discussed what the best advice we have ever gotten is. We wrapped up the night by playing an awesome game of Werewolf Mafia, a fun spin on the group storytelling game Mafia. Impressively, Addison and Matthew both won as the jesters, convincing the rest of the group to vote them out.
July 19th
On Sunday morning, we woke up in our mountain hut to a beautiful sunrise beaming in through our windows over the Bohinj valley. We fueled up with scrambled eggs, bread with jam, and coco puffs, ready to tackle the day ahead. Our LODs, Aiden and Kate, led us in a morning huddle and kept the energy flowing throughout our entire hike. We started out through the forest, admiring the spruce trees around us, and made our way to a more rocky path lined by wildflowers. We came across WWI ruins with a herd of brown and white cows grazing, amongst them so many adorable baby cows! We kept on trekking up the side of a mountain until we reached the top and a beautiful meadow overlooking the jagged rocky peaks around us. With a 360-degree view of the mountains and high visibility, we could even see Italy and the Adriatic Sea! There, we took a quiet moment as a group, soaking in the views and the sunshine. William and Aiden drew in their notebooks while others journaled. On the way down, we saw a group of marmots playing in a meadow, two golden eagles flying above us, and wolf droppings- it was so cool to feel a part of nature! We hiked back down, enjoying trail talks and riddles, and before we knew it, we were back at the hut for lunch. The kids were so excited when our guides brought out pasta with bolognese sauce and homemade bread on the side. Feeling satisfied by our meals, we headed down to the lawn for some yoga and stretching. Marty led us in a yoga flow with Matthew, Aiden, William, and Kate. In the afternoon, we enjoyed playing Shaka, the card game, and Monopoly Deal out on the patio of our hut. Once everyone had a chance for rest, we were back on our feet once again for a quick hike to a nearby hut for a treat of homemade lemon-lime tea and cinnamon rolls! Jeremiah, Jack, Win, William, Aiden, and Matthew enjoyed the views and played hacky sack together before we gathered for an activity: the NOLS Leadership Grid! The kids each placed themselves somewhere on the axes to get a better idea of their leadership style and decision-making process. We headed back to our home base where we made mini watercolor paintings and sketched in our notebooks. Marty taught Jeremiah and William how to make friendship bracelets, while Aiden, Kate, and Kaitlyn hung out outside making bracelets too. For dinner, we ate lasagna with apple pie for dessert, and it was to die for! Aiden and Kate led us in a wonderful Moonup, where we found ourselves in a cloud all around us. We discussed what we would want to bring with us to a desert island, which had us all dying laughing as we debated the best three items. We closed out the night watching the World Cup finale inside our hut amongst European travelers and fellow soccer (or football here!) lovers. Matthew was over the moon when Spain pulled out the win. What an awesome day!
July 20
We woke up this morning to find the clouds settled over Lake Bohinj for the second morning in a row, creating a breathtaking view of the fluffy pillow-like clouds that filled the valley below. Kaitlyn and Jack got the energy flowing during our morning huddle, encouraging us to embrace nature as we trekked towards our second mountain hut of the trip. Before hitting the trail, Mark introduced everyone to a fun game called “Gotcha,” a survive-and-advance trail talk game where each contestant receives a word and tries to trick another person into saying it. The vibes were high, and we were ready to crush the section ahead! This morning’s hike took us to our final elevation gain of the trip as we climbed to a small pass between two mountain peaks. Along the ridgeline, we celebrated our hard work with some “vitamins”, AKA gummy bears and sour gummy worms! We soaked in the panoramic views, grabbed plenty of photos, and looked back along the path we came. We made our way down into a valley where we came across the Italian army barracks from World War I. The whole group climbed around the site’s ruins, and Claire and Mark explained the Leave No Trace principles while spending time in protected areas like Triglav National Park and nature in general. From there, we made our final push towards our last mountain hut nestled near Lake Krn. We dropped our packs and sat down for a hearty lunch of barley stew, sauerkraut, and sausage. The group was pleasantly surprised with how good the authentic Slovenian dishes were. Matthew and William explored the mushroom stew and announced they enjoyed it even more than the barley. After lunch, Matthew, Win, Jack, Mark, and Claire played some more Monopoly Deal with Claire bringing home the W. The rest of the group played Shaka! SO much fun!! After game time, it was time for a field trip to a nearby cheese farm, where we learned about the cheese-making process and tasted homemade cheese. Kate was fascinated by the small business and how their cheese was made. We walked from the cheese farm through a pasture of cows to Lake Krn and spread out on the grassy banks for a moment of mindfulness, silently looking out over the tranquil alpine lake for a few minutes. It was so nice to reflect on the beauty around us together as we got introspective. During our silent time, a few butterflies landed on Lillian, creating an awesome lighthearted moment of laughter. On the way back to our hut, a massive dairy cow was in the middle of our path. Jack befriended the creature and managed an up-close and personal photo with her. We headed back to the hut for an afternoon treat of Slovenian dumplings with cream cheese and blueberries. That night we had some intense games of death sack, and played more Calibra, where Jack and Kate came away victorious. For dinner we had spaghetti bolognese, which has become a group favorite for sure. Matthew helped the group finish their plates by polishing off the leftover pudding. Jack and Kaitlyn led us in an awesome Moonup, where we discussed qualities we admire within each other. Before bed, we played another fun game of Werewolf Mafia where our werewolves, Jeremiah and Lillian, won! After another incredible day in the Julian Alps, we happily crawled into bed!
July 21
Today is Kate’s birthday!!! We woke the kids up to Katy Perry’s Birthday song and jammed out to Taylor Swift as we got our trekking backpacks packed up one last time. We gathered for breakfast in the cozy dining room of our final mountain hut in Triglav National Park, enjoying scrambled eggs and fluffy homemade bread with honey and marmalade. Jack and Marty played Connect 4 at the table after they finished eating. A few of the girls brought Kate a birthday latte, and we gave her the birthday card we made her with sweet messages from all the kids, leaders, and Jaka and Sara. We decorated our faces and arms with colorful temporary tattoos and glitter for Kate’s big day, giving us extra energy for the hike back down to the valley. Hyped and ready for the hike, we circled up for a morning huddle led by Addison and Win, who reminded us that there is no time like the present. On the hike down, Kaitlyn proved to be very good at our group “gotcha” conversation game, getting two people out in a row. Willie and Lillian each found a hiking stick to help get them down the mountain. After just a few hours of downhill walking, we made it to the vans and celebrated the end of our trekking section with cheering and excitement. The girls all rode together and blared some of our favorite sing-along songs by Oasis and The Script as we drove to our next campsite in the Soca River Valley. There, we were greeted by our friendly campsite hosts, and we settled into our cozy canvas tents with the comfiest beds in the world. After unloading our somewhat-smelly items from trekking, we gathered under the pavilion for lunch- homemade pizza AND burgers, yum! We devoured our meals and recalled our favorite memories from the mountains. A peaceful thunderstorm rolled through the valley after lunch and cooled everything down as everyone organized their backpacks and clothes in their tents. William, Matthew, and Aiden found creative ways to wash their clothes. The rain was also a perfect addition to our “chibes” (chill vibes) afternoon naps, as the kids were wiped from hiking the past few days! When the sun came back out a little while later, it was time for some group volleyball. Win and William stood out, smacking the ball down and scoring points for their teams. The girls hung out under the pavilion after volleyball, drawing and chatting, while the boys competed in Knock Out. We met back up to play “fishbowl”- a fun charades spin-off game- and “celebrity” – a name guessing game that Matthew proved to be a natural at and won! Afternoon group game time was a huge hit. Soon, it was time for dinner, and we ate mac and cheese with a side salad. Our LODs Addison and Win helped the leaders surprise Kate with a birthday celebration, gathering up the group and blindfolding Kate as they walked her towards the pavilion, decorated with birthday tinsel, cards, and birthday glasses. We sang Kate Happy Birthday, and she blew out birthday candles in her dessert of choice- ice cream. The ice cream party was a huge hit, and soon everyone was devouring their own ice cream sundaes topped with Oreos and chocolate and caramel sauce. At Moonup, our LOD’s posed the question, “How do we want to be remembered when we die?” allowing us to think deeply about how we live our lives now. We also got to go around and say one thing we each love about Kate, which was so meaningful to hear. For our Moonup closing ceremony, we played a group hand signal game where Kate was the conductor, now fondly known as “conductor Kate”. We had the best time celebrating Kate today in the mountains and down in the valley, and she expressed that it was one of the best birthdays ever!!
July 22
Today, we kicked off our day with fried eggs on toast with hot cocoa, some more homemade bread, and muesli. Kate and Matthew, our LODs, got us energized and enthusiastic for our day ahead, speaking thoughtfully about courage and conquering our fears during our canyoneering adventure this morning. We played one round of Calabria, our favorite dancing game, before hopping in the vans and riding to the canyoning spot. We collected our gear for the day and learned about what we would be doing in the canyons from our fearless guides Thomas and Sarah. Kate led the group in the front the whole time, barely seeming nervous at all to jump off tall rocks. Matthew brought up the rear, encouraging everyone from the back and keeping the morale high. Marty took some huge leaps of faith despite her fear of heights, and Jack and Addison pressed on through the canyon, smoothly sliding down each rock chute, all while cheering everyone on. Thomas led us down the final waterfall, and we plunged into the water after the coolest death drop of our lives. With adrenaline coursing through our veins, we cheered each other on from the deep blue water pools below the drop until everyone made it out. On the car ride back, we couldn’t stop expressing how much fun we’d just had. Back at our campsite, the boys chopped wood for a fire later on while the girls helped set the table for lunch. We dined on a delicious vegetable soup with bread, and for dessert, we ate crepes with chocolate and banana. We were stuffed afterwards; it was so delicious! After lunch, we played an intense game of volleyball, the Moggers against the Bandits. The Moggers won the first game, but fell victim to the Bandits in the second. Stay tuned for an update from us on who wins game 3 because our final game isn’t till tomorrow! Kaitlyn, Kate, and Lillian showed us their awesome volleyball skills, while Jack stood at the net like a brick wall, blocking nearly every attempt at a point. We walked across the street to the Soca River for an afternoon swim. There, we swam in the cold emerald green waters and lay on the warm river rocks, soaking in the sun and listening to great music requested by Marty. Lillian, Addison, Matthew, Jeremiah, and Aiden made a “Slovenia” sign out of darker colored rocks, while Kate and Kaitlyn tried rock stacking for the first time. Jack and Win took a good nap in the sun. We headed back to our campsite, where Sara and Jaka met us to help us prepare a classic Slovenian barbeque dinner. The girls got to work chopping vegetables to grill and more to make a salad. All of the boys took turns grilling sausage, Cevapcici (a Slovenian delicacy, similar to sausage), and turkey with Jaka. Willie and Aiden even volunteered to cook more food once we took down our first servings. Dinner was absolutely delicious, and even better because we got to prepare it and cook it all ourselves! We ate cookies with chocolate for dessert, and hung around the campsite playing volleyball and ping pong for a while. We walked back to the river for a wonderful Moonup led by our LOD’s Kate and Matthew. We admired the most incredible sunset over the Soca River, and discussed what time period we would love to live in and why. Kate and Matthew also encouraged us to take a deeper dive into our minds and answer the question, “What is a belief you have about yourself that holds you back, and what could you do to overcome it?” Everyone shared so thoughtfully and vulnerably; it was amazing. After we all shared, Claire played guitar while the group sang along to a few songs as the sun set behind the mountains around us. Today was just another “best day ever” on Slovenia 3A, and we can’t wait for more excitement to come!
Next, we will head to the seaside in Croatia for our final activities and update you in a few days. We can’t believe we are nearing the end of the trip, but we are soaking in every minute together and having the time of our lives. Thank you all again for sharing your wonderful kids with us; they are incredible. Below you will find quick “thank yous” from all of the students!
With love,
Claire and Mark
Jack
Thanks mom and dad for signing me up for this trip I’ve had so much fun it’s truly been a trip of a lifetime and I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it you guys definitely picked the perfect place for me to go I’ve had so much fun and it’s by far been some of the best views I’ve seen in my entire life so thanks for signing me up 😃😃
Jeremiah
Thanks for signing me up for Slovenia. It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve been to so many new places and it is a lot different from things I’ve normally done. We’ve stayed in hostels and huts and seen some of the best views I’ve ever seen. There was also nobody at these places where the views are and felt like it was just us. So thanks for signing me up it’s a great time.
Aiden
Hi family, I wanted to take the time to thank everyone for supporting me so much and getting me ready for this amazing trip. I have made so many new memories and friends and it’s all because of you guys. Working long hours to make extra trips to get me simple supplies I should’ve been on top of. It means the world to me and I cannot wait to tell you guys everything about this trip. Thank you!!
Win
Thanks mom and dad for Slovenia Moondance. I am having the best time making new friends across the country. Slovenia is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, especially at the top of the mountain and while hiking for countless hours. Thank y’all!!
William
Thank you Mom, Dad and Margaret for sending me to Slovenia Moondance. I am having a genuinely awesome experience. There is so much beautiful nature over here and all the streams and lakes are majestic. I am missing y’all everyday and I hope that everything is smooth sailing at the house. We have been hiking so much and we went canyoneering today!! Such an awesome experience thank y’all for blessing me with the opportunity to be out here!! I miss yall!!!! Love you mom and dad!!
Matthew
Hey mom and dad, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip. I am having the best time of my life and am so grateful for yall giving me the chance to go on a Moondance. My group is so amazing and I’m loving every day. Thank you guys so much, love you!
Kate
Hiiii mom and dad! I’m having so much fun and so grateful you guys let me go to Slovenia!! This trip has been so perfect and I truly do not want to leaveeee!!!! I hope Houston is so fun & London !! My group is so much fun and there is never a dull moment. I can’t wait to tell yall all about it and thank you for sending me!!😁😁
Addison
Hi mom and dad! Miss y’all so much. Thank yall so much for letting me go on this trip. I’m having a blast and I never want to leave. Y’all are truly the best parents I could ever ask for and I appreciate yall so much. I’m so excited to see yall soon and mom I hope your hiking is going well and you are crushing it. Dad I hope the college tours are fun and Crosby found her dream school. Love y’all and see yall soon!!❤️❤️
Kaitlyn
Hi mom and dad! I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see you guys soon! Thank you guys so for letting me go on this trip. This has truly been the best experience of my life and I’m so grateful for it. I can’t wait to tell you everything and show you lots of pictures! See you so soon! Love yall !!! ❣️
Mary Martha
Hey Mom and Dad!!! I’m so beyond thankful for this experience-I’ve made some of my best friends here and I’ve seen beautiful things beyond explanation. I can’t wait to see yall soon and take a long nice shower at home 🙂 Love you all so much!!
Lillian
Hii mom and dad! Thank you so much for sending me on the trip I am having the best time ever here! I’m so grateful for this experience and my group is amazing! Today we went canyoneering which was awesome and we finished trekking! I can’t wait to tell everyone about it I am so blessed to be here. Say hi to Smokey and Bandit and William and the Fs for me!! Thank you!
Slaying in Slovenia!
July 17, 2026
“Dobredan” or Good Day, from Slovenia 3A! We are SO excited to get to adventure throughout Slovenia for the next two weeks with your kids. The trip is off to a fantastic start, and we wanted to fill you all in on what we’ve been up to over the past few days!
July 15
We met the group at the Venice airport and quickly made connections with each other, learning names and where everyone was from. Everyone seemed to become friends right off the bat! We met our guides, Sara and Jaka, experienced outfitters and born-and-raised Slovenians who will be with us for the rest of the trip. The group loaded into vans, and off we drove from Italy to Slovenia! In the car, we listened to some good tunes, talked about college, and played games. Lillian and Kate whipped out a deck of cards and started a game of Go Fish in their van. We drove through valleys and into the mountains, stopping for lunch in Kranska Gora on the beautiful and quaint Lake Jansa. While we waited for our food, Lillian and Kate continued Go Fish, and Kaitlyn and Addison joined the game as well. Mary Martha taught Win, Jeremiah, Matthew, and Claire how to play Gin Rummy at the other end of the table. Aiden and William branched out, ordering venison linguine, while Win attempted to finish a chicken schnitzel the size of a dinner plate. Full from our meal, we got back in the vans and finished the drive to Lake Bohinj, where we will be staying for the next few nights. Before we arrived, William had already given most of the group nicknames. The group excitedly put on their bathing suits, and we headed straight to the lake for an afternoon swim. Matthew was the first to jump off the rope swing into the water, followed by Jack, whose long legs grazed the water as he leapt off the platform. The girls practiced their best handstands after jumping off the rope swing. We changed into dry clothes and headed into town for dinner at a local pizzeria. There, we played “Wavelength” with Mary Martha, Jack, Matthew, Kate, and Win at the table as we waited for pizzas and Caesar salad to arrive. It was a crowd-pleasing dinner for sure! Back at our hostel, we circled up for our first Moonup on a spot overlooking Lake Bohinj at sunset. We hit it off with Maya Angelou’s quote to open us up: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” We discussed our goals for the trip, and everyone spoke thoughtfully and intentionally in their answers, showing enthusiasm and excitement to grow. What an awesome first day on Slo A!
July 16
Today is the first day of activities!!! We woke up to a beautiful morning on Lake Bohinj and started the day off right with a proper Slovenian breakfast spread. We ate fresh blueberries, peaches, yogurt, and sourdough bread with the options for ham and cheese, honey, chocolate spread, and marmalade! William and Mary Martha were this session’s first leaders of the day, or LODs, and got us fired up to get the day rolling with a fantastic morning huddle centered around having a good attitude. Our first activity of the trip was a day hike to the Julian Alps, a four-hour hike at a ski slope called Soriška Planina. The incline to the mountain top was a steep trek, but William led the way in front. After the initial ascent, we snaked across several ridges and got a chance to explore a historic bunker, and Mathew dropped some insane WWI knowledge on the group. Throughout the hike, we had some epic trail talk, and Jeremiah taught the group how to play a super fun riddle game called “Black Magic.” After wading our way through a herd of cows, we made it back down to the base of the mountain, where it was time for lunch. The food was incredible, and Mathew and William got adventurous, trying the wild boar and local trout. Everyone in the group had fun mixing and matching food, and our lunch quickly turned into a family-style extravaganza! Jack, Kaitlyn, Addison, Win, Aiden, and Lillian enjoyed drafting their favorite fast food restaurants. We then burned off the awesome meal with a quick game of hacky sack before jumping in the vans for a ride to Lake Bled. This picturesque lake is one of the most iconic symbols of Slovenia and has become a national landmark. We explored its crystal blue waters by way of authentic row boats, making our way to the storybook-like church that sits on the island in the middle of the lake (the only island in Slovenia!!!!!). Matthew, Win, Aiden, William, and Mary Martha each tried their hand at rowing and all killed it! While on the island, we got our first taste of Slovenian gelato, and Aiden carried Jeremiah up the chapel steps, per Slovenian tradition. After visiting the island, we hung out along the beaches of Lake Bled all afternoon, playing water games and enjoying the beautiful weather. Before getting in the water, Win befriended a dog and played fetch with them, naming it “Duggie.” While in the water, Mark and William raced to the other end of the cove and back, and Kaitlyn proved to be particularly talented in a movie game called “Star.” Next, we headed back to our hostel in Bohinj, where we enjoyed lakeside poke bowls as the sun began to slip past the mountains surrounding the serene lake. Kate branched out and tried a yummy Salmon poke bowl! We closed out an incredible day with a very meaningful first Moonup led by our LODs, discussing which people and experiences have impacted us to become the people we are today. To wrap up the night, we had a “try not to laugh” cow moooooo competition, and then played a fun variation of red light green light taught by Lillian and Addison. Back inside, the kids played one last game called “Celebrity,” then went to bed after a truly special first day on the go!
July 17
This morning, we woke up to peaceful rain showers over Lake Bohinj. We ate breakfast at our hostel, and our LODs, Lillian and Matthew, led us in a morning huddle where they shared a quote about character and the importance of being the best person you can be, even if no one is looking. Such a good quote to kick us off today!!! We hopped in the car and jammed to music on the way to an exciting surprise activity— an indoor waterpark! We swim-suited up, and the group bee-lined straight to the waterslides. Kate and Addison raced each other down the slides. Win and Willie were next, sliding down on their stomachs. We laughed hard watching each other pop out of the other end of the slide with water splashing everywhere. The girls hopped in the lazy river next, as Kaitlyn and Marty peacefully floated downstream. We tried out the rock wall next, towering over a pool. Aiden made it the farthest up the wall, impressing everyone as he climbed out of the water all the way to the top, climbing holds. Next, the group headed to the outdoor pool, where we played “tips” with the volleyball. Lillian, Mark, and Matthew won the last round. We circled up in a circular pool and played “where the west wind blows” next— it was so fun and such a good way to get to know more about each other! Worn out from our pool activities, we headed to feast on delicious food at a local restaurant in Bohinj. William ordered the country-fried steak, and Mary Martha ordered yummy ravioli with green sauce. We headed back to our hostel to get ready for stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Bohinj. Everyone hopped on their own paddleboard and set off to a beach across the lake. On the way across, we took breaks for swimming, headstands and yoga on the boards. Addison and Mary Martha showed off their strength with their headstands, while Lillian showed us her best yoga crow pose. Kaitlyn and Jack floated next to their paddleboards, enjoying the cool water and soaking in the views. Jeremiah and Win continued paddling towards the beach, where we gathered to enjoy some Sour Patch Kids as an afternoon pick-me-up. Aiden generously allowed some of the others to attach themselves to his paddleboard and paddled them around the banks. After paddleboarding, we dried off for a brief meeting with Sara and Yaka, outlining our next three days of trekking in the Julian Alps! We went over trail etiquette, how to balance a pack, and the LODs helped make a packing list to ensure everyone was squared away for tomorrow’s adventure! We then hopped in the vans for a trip to a local spot right off of Lake Bohinj. Here we ate the best burgers of all time!!! The burgers were right off the restaurant’s massive big green egg grill and served on the tastiest homemade buns, and in Mary Martha and Jeremiah’s case, covered with their special kimchi topping. They were SOO yummy. Finally, we went back to our hostel and closed out the night with another awesome moonup, where we discussed a personal quality that we are proud of.
Tomorrow, our LODs Jeremiah and Addison will lead the way as we jump into our trekking section of the trip in the gorgeous Triglav National Park!
Shoutouts
Matthew
Hey mom, dad and Alden, I’m having so much fun and I love my group. Miss yall!
Onst(Lillian)
Hey everyone!! I’m having the best time ever here, we just went to a water park and it was insane. Tell the Fs and Ws I miss them and I can’t wait to see yall ched.
Edwin
Hi mom and dad. I am having a good time and I love yall.
MM
Hey mom and dad!! I’m having so much fun so far and I’ve made so many friends!!! The food here is so good and the mountains are so cool. I’m really excited to go to Croatia. I miss yall so much and can’t wait to see yall soon! Tell all my friends hey and I miss them!
Jack
Hey mom dad and riv I miss you guys and I can’t wait to tell you all about my trip and show you all the things I’ve seen when I get back home I’m having a great time but I’m looking forward to seeing the animals when I get back the trip has been great so far the stuff I’m seeing is incredible
Kaitlyn
Hii mom and dad!!! I’m having such a fun time here. Truly this place is incredible!! I wish yall could be here to see it but I can’t wait to show you so many pictures! I hope you guys are having some fun in Atl!! Tell all my friends I miss them!
Kate
Hi family! I’m having so much fun! Don’t miss me too much, everyone is so fun, and we just went to a water park.
Addison
Hey family! I’m having a blast and I miss y’all so much fun. I hope Italy was fun and Crosby isn’t that lonely. Our group is awesome. Love y’all
Aiden
Hi family, miss you guys! I am having a great time and the views are spectacular. I think we start actually hiking tomorrow!
William
Hey family, I hope y’all are surviving without me! Tell the dogs I say hey and that I love them. Margaret, I say hi. Y’all stay safe in Chattanooga and don’t miss me too much. Everyone here is super chill and I have so many new friends. love to Margaret
Jeremiah
Hey family, we’ve been doing a lot of stuff. We went to a water park today. I didn’t need all that stuff that we packed. It’s fun and everyone is chill though.
Safe Arrival!
July 15, 2026
Hello Slovenia Families!
We heard from our leaders early this morning that the group has landed safely in Venice! Please remember that our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will post trip updates throughout their adventure! This will allow you to follow along with their experience. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
