One Final Doberdan!
July 27, 2026
Somehow, these last few days felt like they lasted forever and flew by at the exact same time. After spending so much of our trip climbing mountains, it was fun to slow things down a little and experience a completely different side of Slovenia. There were still plenty of adventures, just with a few more opportunities to sleep in, eat ice cream, and enjoy every last moment together.
One thing that never changed was this group’s willingness to try absolutely anything. Whether it was scaling a rock wall, paddling across a lake, or wandering through a new city, everyone jumped in without hesitation. Eloise took on rock climbing for the very first time and surprised herself with how quickly she picked it up, while Wright somehow made hanging from the ropes look completely effortless. From below, everyone became each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and it didn’t matter who reached the top first; every climb was celebrated.
The peaceful paddle boarding session lasted… maybe five minutes.
After that, it became every person for themselves. Paddle boards were stolen, surprise shoves became the norm, and nearly everyone ended up taking an unexpected swim. Will somehow managed to stay standing longer than anyone else and proudly claimed the title of paddle board champion, while Angus and Jackson made it their personal mission to get every remaining dry person into the lake. Ford made this such a challenge. We eventually accepted that no one was leaving without getting soaked. Afterward, we sprawled out on the dock, passed around cookies, listened to Josie’s playlist, and enjoyed one of those afternoons where nobody was in a hurry to leave. Once it was time to leave, though, the fun made its way up towards the ping pong court where Ford dominated time and time again!
Our unofficial traditions also stayed alive until the very end. Pizza somehow continued finding its way onto the dinner menu, and every single opportunity for ice cream was enthusiastically accepted. By this point, everyone had become something of an expert, with raspberry sorbet and classic vanilla officially earning the title of trip favorites. Lynden and Mary Harper could somehow spot an ice cream stop before anyone else, and the excitement never faded, even after what felt like our hundredth scoop.
Even though our big trekking days were behind us, we couldn’t leave Slovenia without squeezing in one more hike. We wandered through rolling alpine meadows filled with wildflowers, passed more cows than we could count, and found ourselves standing above another unbelievable view. Instead of talking, everyone spread out across the mountaintop and spent ten quiet minutes simply taking it all in. It was one of the few completely silent moments of the trip, and somehow one of the most memorable.
The food continued to be an adventure of its own. Truffle pasta quickly became a favorite, especially for Angus and Lynden, who would happily eat truffles with every meal if given the chance. The girls and Will made quick work of an enormous cheese platter, and later in the week Sydney accidentally convinced almost the entire group to order the pulled pork sandwich for dinner. Safe to say she made the right recommendation
Lake Bled was every bit as magical as everyone had hoped. We climbed into traditional wooden rowboats and set off toward the tiny island in the middle of the lake. Jackson gave rowing his best effort before Will stepped in and powered us across the water, while Wright and Josie were perfectly content offering encouragement from their seats. Somehow, after exploring the island, everyone still had room for more ice cream before finishing the afternoon with a swim in the crystal-clear lake. Another bucket-list moment checked off.
Our final full day brought us into Ljubljana, where there was no agenda beyond wandering. We crossed bridges, admired colorful buildings, searched for souvenirs, and laughed our way through the city’s winding streets. Alice and Stella fully embraced souvenir shopping and had everyone helping them hunt for the perfect keepsakes to bring home. Alice and Lynden even found the cutest matching pink flamingo stuffed animals. Before dinner, we climbed up to Ljubljana Castle, because apparently Moondance can’t end a trip without sneaking in one last uphill walk. The view over the city was absolutely worth it.
Then, before we knew it, it was Banquet.
It’s always a bittersweet evening. Everyone traded hiking clothes for nice outfits, shared one last dinner together, and, naturally, made one final stop for ice cream. During our last Moon Up, we looked back on two weeks filled with countless laughs, new friendships, inside jokes that make absolutely no sense to anyone else, and moments that reminded us why these trips are so special.
Thank you for trusting us with your kids these past two weeks. They challenged themselves, looked out for one another, embraced every adventure, and created a group dynamic that made every day fun to lead. Watching strangers become such close friends is something we’ll never get tired of, and we feel incredibly lucky that we got to be part of this chapter with them.
We’ll miss the mountains, we’ll miss Slovenia, but most of all, we’ll miss this group.
One final Doberdan… and until next time, Slovenia!
Trekking Through the Julian Alps!
July 24, 2026
Hello friends and families!
The Julian Alps absolutely blew us away! We are so excited to report that our group officially completed our trek, covering nearly 20 miles through some of the most breathtaking scenery any of us have ever seen. From epic climbs and crystal-clear alpine lakes to cozy mountain huts, surprise treats, and nonstop laughter, these past few days have been packed with adventure. We are so incredibly proud of this group for making this one of the highlights of our summer together.
Before heading into the mountains, we wrapped up our time in the Soča Valley with one last unforgettable adventure, white water rafting! With Marco leading our raft, we splashed through Class III rapids, swam in the freezing river, and even tackled a 20-foot cliff jump! Ford wasted no time jumping straight into the icy water, perfectly capturing our motto of the day which was happiness. After lunch, we spent the afternoon relaxing at a beautiful riverside beach where scenes Narnia were filmed. Between swimming, soaking up the sunshine, and introducing everyone to Calabria (which Ford and Jackson immediately became obsessed with), it was the perfect way to end our valley adventures. We wrapped up the evening with burgers over the grill, gooey s’mores, and lots of excitement for trekking to begin the next morning.
Our first day on the trail wasted no time introducing everyone to mountain life. We climbed over 2,000 feet through endless switchbacks, stopping often to admire incredible views, snack together, and chat as the valley stretched farther below us. Stella officially became obsessed frutabellas, a Slovenian granola bar, with Jackson quickly declaring the mixed berry flavor his favorite. Our LODs, Will and Eloise, kept spirits high as we powered our way to our first mountain hut, where we rewarded ourselves with hearty barley and bean stew, sausages, and delicious Slovenian dumplings. The cinnamon walnut dumpling quickly became the unanimous favorite.
Then came our first trekking surprise! We wandered over to a traditional mountain cheese hut, where we learned about local cheese making and sampled perfectly aged mountain cheese that was so unbelievably good that Sydney and Will secretly bought an extra block to surprise everyone with later on the trail. Ford said this cheese has made him like cheese! Not long after, we arrived at one of the most stunning alpine lakes imaginable. It honestly looked like something straight out of a movie. Everyone spread out along the shoreline, soaking in the peaceful silence, taking countless photos, and simply appreciating how lucky we were to be there.
Back at the hut, the fun kept rolling. We joined the other Slovenia group for giant games of Calabria and Death Sack, with Stella and Eloise dancing their way to Calabria victories while Ford, Angus, and Will showed off some seriously impressive hacky sack skills. As the sun set, we wandered over to a hidden alpine lake for Moon Up before heading to bed after an incredible first day.
Day two greeted us with cool mountain air, mist rolling through the valleys, and a breakfast of fresh bread, eggs, local honey, and hot tea before we set off on our longest hiking day. We trekked nearly eight miles through alpine meadows filled with wildflowers and fascinating World War I remnants. We explored abandoned buildings and even climbed through old bunkers, where Mary Harper and Josie couldn’t resist hiding around corners to scare the rest of us. Meanwhile, Jackson and Ford spent the day trying to sneak up on everyone else whenever they had the chance, keeping the laughs coming the entire hike. Vibes were high and the camera was always out! So many pictures have been captured!
When we finally reached our next hut, our tired legs were rewarded with an incredible lunch of goulash and polenta, which quickly became a group favorite. But our guides Mitja and Bugie still had one more surprise waiting. We walked over to a tiny mountain hut run by three local women famous for making what may genuinely be the best cinnamon rolls on the planet. The excitement was immediate. Alice was absolutely overjoyed when her cinnamon roll arrived, while Josie couldn’t stop grinning as Bugy handed hers over. We enjoyed cinnamon rolls, mountain tea, Uno, and even taught everyone how to play Presidents before heading back for some well-earned naps.
Of course, naps only lasted so long before everyone was back outside playing cards, hacky sack, and Death Sack. We even met a group of hikers from Britain who described Stella as “class,” and Stella and Eloise happily accepted the challenge of taking them on in Death Sack. Our group definitely held their own and earned plenty of compliments for their surprisingly impressive hacky sack abilities. That evening, we gathered on a helicopter pad overlooking Bohinj, surrounded by clouds spilling through the mountain valleys, for another unforgettable Moon Up.
By day three, everyone had fully settled into mountain life. The miles seemed to disappear as trail conversations, laughter, and incredible scenery carried us along. Our LODs, Wright and Lynden, got everyone excited for another beautiful day as we made our way through fields overflowing with alpine flowers and towering peaks. Sydney and one of our guides had a blast pointing out all the different wildflowers along the trail, and we stopped constantly for pictures, laughs, and scenic breaks.
Then came another surprise…more cheese! Needless to say, it disappeared almost instantly.
We arrived at what everyone agreed was the prettiest hut of the entire trek, nestled beside a gorgeous alpine lake, with our own cozy cabin sitting just beside the main lodge. After a huge lunch, we headed out for what many called the best excursion of the entire trip, an afternoon hike to one of Slovenia’s famous Seven Lakes. Along the way, Angus spotted marmots darting across the rocks while Jackson and lynden found two mountain goats perched high above us on the cliffs. When we finally reached the lake, everyone was speechless. The water was unbelievably clear, surrounded by jagged peaks and untouched wilderness that almost didn’t seem real. Mary Harper and Josie filled their cameras with photos while everyone else spread out to relax in the sunshine and simply enjoy one of the coolest places we’ve ever experienced together.
Back at the hut, everyone embraced mountain life. Cards came out, hacky sacks started flying, and Lynden taught the group how to play Hearts while Wright, Will, and Big Will shuffled and dealt cards until dinner. Meanwhile, Eloise and Sydney found a quiet lakeside spot to sit together and read while soaking in the peaceful scenery. Dinner was hearty meat, noodles, fresh bread, and somehow we still managed to find room for homemade apple pie afterward. We finished the evening dancing, laughing, playing more hacky sack by the helicopter pads, and sharing everyone’s favorite internet trends before another beautiful Moon Up by the lake.
Our final trekking day began with one last challenge, climbing over a steep ridgeline that had everyone huffing and puffing. It was definitely a leg burner, but the payoff was beyond worth it. Many of the students said these panoramic views were their favorite part of the entire trek. We even tackled a more technical rocky section that gave us some incredible photos and made everyone feel like true mountaineers.
Once over the pass, the rest of the day carried us downhill past alpine lakes, grazing cows, and endless mountain views. We stopped for apple strudel overlooking another beautiful lake because dessert before lunch simply felt right. As we got closer to the finish, excitement grew with every step. By the time we reached the vans, everyone was cheering, celebrating, and proudly tossing their packs inside. There is something incredibly special about watching a group accomplish something they weren’t sure they could do only a few days before.
After winding our way back out of the mountains, we arrived in Bohinj, where everyone immediately jumped into the refreshing lake beside our hostel before finally enjoying much-needed showers. Dinner featured pesto ravioli, truffle ravioli, and pizza, followed by what might have been the world’s best ice cream and soft serve. We ended another unforgettable day with Moon Up beside the lake, reflecting on everything we’d accomplished together.
This group continues to amaze us every single day. They encourage one another, laugh constantly, embrace every challenge, and bring so much joy wherever they go. It’s hard to believe our time together is already beginning to wind down. We cannot wait to make the most of every moment we have left here in Slovenia.
Alice: hi mom and dad thank you so much for sending me I’m having so much fun this trip is amazing 🏔️🏔️🏔️🦄🦄🦄🦄❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ps. Hi shlil we are going on a half marathon to debrief our trips!!!
Jackson: Hey mom and dad, thank you guys so much for letting me go on this trip. This one is probably my favorite. The group is great and it’s been lots of fun. They told me I was talking about golf in my sleep last night.
Wright- Hi Mom and Dad! I have been having more fun than you can imagine these last couple of days and none of this would be possible without you allowing me to go on this awesome trip. Slovenia is the most beautiful country and trekking these mountains has given me so much appreciation this trip. I hope you all are doing well and I can’t wait to see you all soon! Thank You!
Stella – HI FAMILY!!!! Hey mom, dad, Davis, Catherine, Luna, Will, Anna Kate, and Charlotte!!! I miss you all so much but I am having such a blast here. I love everyone in my group and am so thankful for the friends I have made in just this short period of time. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here and appreciate y’all for sending me here!! I can’t want to see y’all again and share all of my laughs and memories! See you soon! 🦋😝🤩☺️🤪😳😆🩷🎉🤦♂️
Angus – Hey mom, dad, and Maddie! I miss you guys so much. This trip has been amazing and I’ve been having such a great time. We’re wrapping up trekking today and it has been amazing. Thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip! It has really been another amazing experience. I love and miss you guys so much, and can’t wait to see you!
Ford- Hey Mom and Dad, thank you for letting me come on the trip! I’ve had so much fun here and I can see why Alan likes Slovenia so much, these are the coolest views I think I’ve seen in a while. My favorite thing so far has been seeing marmots fight in the wild and the canyoneering. Can’t wait to see y’all.
Lynden- HEYYYY mom and dad!!!!!! Thank you SOOOO much for sending me to Moondance!!😄 it is THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME! I love my group sm and love my leaders. Yesterday we saw mountain goats 🐐. Right now we are mid hike of our last day of trekking to make time go by faster I pretend I’m in America ninja warrior and hop from rock to rock. It is rly rly cold rn and I am looking forward to showering! SEE YALL IN T – 4 days!! ❤️💕💙💜💗💛💚❣️💓🧡💘💝 LYNDEN!!!!!!!!!
Will – hi mom and dad, thanks for sending me on this trip. We have spent many days in the mountains, we went canyoning, we went white water rafting and so much more. This place is so cool. Can’t wait to see you soon!
Josie: Hiiiiii mama and father and bobo. I miss everyone so much. This trip has been insane, the views have been so beautiful and mama let me tell you, the cheese here AMAZING. I miss the kitties give them some love from me. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, I’m truly very grateful experiencing this. You guys would love it here so much. Tell everyone I miss them so much and can’t wait to see one of you at the airport. Farewell, I love you!! Love Josie
Mary Harper: Hey mom and dad!!!!!!! I have had such an amazing time on this trip, I have pushed myself in so many ways and seen so many incredible and beautiful things. I am so grateful for this trip and for yall allowing me to experience this. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it!!! I miss my siblings, tell them I say hiiiiiiiii!!!!! Thank you so much again, I miss and love yall!!!! Love Mary Harper.
Eloise: Hi mom and dad! love you guys both so much, trekking was really pretty. I have a lot of pics to show you guys! thanks again for this trip🫶love you-Eloise
Great Start in Slovenia!
July 18, 2026
Doberdan, Moondance families!
Our first few days together have absolutely flown by, and somehow we’ve already packed so many adventures, inside jokes, and unforgettable moments into such a short time. Slovenia and Croatia have been the perfect backdrop for an incredible start to our trip, and this group has embraced every minute of it.
After everyone trickled into the airport on day one, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch together while waiting for the last flights to arrive before making our way into Croatia. The first order of business once we reached camp? Swimsuits on and straight into the Adriatic Sea. Lynden from the very beginning was energetic and ready for the sun. There was no better way to kick off the trip than cooling off in the crystal clear water after a long travel day.
That evening we gathered for dinner at our hostel, where Alice introduced everyone to a hilarious rhythm game that had the whole group dancing, laughing, and trying to keep the beat. Just before heading to bed, an approaching storm had us racing to move all of our tents under cover before the rain rolled in. It was the perfect first team challenge, and everyone was asleep not long after.
Our first full day was one for the books. After fueling up with eggs, cereal, Nutella, and plenty of excitement, we loaded into the vans and headed for the Croatian coast to begin our sea kayaking adventure. We paired up, launched our kayaks, and spent the morning weaving along the coastline, discovering hidden coves, snorkeling through beautiful underwater caves, and taking in some incredible views. Of course, no paddle was complete without a little friendly competition. There may have been more splashing than paddling at times, especially after Will demonstrated to Wright just how much water a paddle can throw. At one point we even attempted to create one giant “mega kayak.” While it wasn’t exactly an efficient mode of transportation, it definitely earned plenty of laughs.
Once we reached shore, we hiked over to the cliff jumping area where everyone lathered on enough sunscreen to last the entire summer before diving into the water. We explored sea caves by swimming underneath the rocks and were amazed by the beautiful formations hidden inside. Our guide even rescued a pigeon that had been knocked into the water by the waves. We wrapped up with a splash competition, where Stella claimed the biggest cannonball and Ford somehow mastered making almost no splash at all. A huge shoutout to Eloise and Mary Harper for conquering their nerves and taking the leap!
As if that wasn’t enough excitement, we spent the afternoon at an inflatable aqua park that quickly turned into one giant game of Infection. Wright, Ford, and Eloise managed to stay untagged the longest despite Jackson and Angus pulling off some sneaky surprise tags. Josie had everyone in stitches with her perfectly timed wipeouts that somehow kept getting funnier every time she fell in. One of the best moments came when Sydney and Jackson teamed up for an unforgettable play. Jackson blocked Angus and Mary Harper at the bottom of the slide while Sydney sprinted up the obstacle and tagged them both halfway down, officially knocking them out of the game in what may have been the most legendary elimination of the day.
That evening we wandered through the streets of Pula, explored its incredible Roman amphitheater, and celebrated an action-packed day with pizza, salads, and plenty of stories and new friendships around the dinner table.
The next day we crossed into Slovenia and traded paddles for aprons as we spent the afternoon learning how to prepare a traditional Slovenian meal surrounded by beautiful vineyards. Together we made vegetable soup, handmade pasta with prosciutto and tomato sauce, turkey with potatoes, veggie meatballs, and a homemade peach dessert. Stella and Alice quickly earned the title of our resident pasta experts as they rolled fresh noodles like pros, while everyone pitched in to make a peach cobbler that disappeared almost as quickly as it was served. By the end of lunch, we were happily stuffed and doing our best not to fall asleep on the drive to camp.
When we arrived at our glamping site, the volleyball court immediately stole everyone’s attention. Before long, teams were formed, shoes were kicked off, and an impromptu tournament carried us through the evening. Friendship bracelets also became a favorite campsite activity whenever there was a free moment to sit down together.
Today brought us to the stunning Soča Valley for canyoneering, and it quickly became another trip highlight. We climbed over rocks, squeezed through narrow canyon walls, slid down natural waterfalls, and jumped into refreshing emerald pools all morning long. Will once again volunteered to be the first person down every slide, GoPro in hand, making everyone else just a little braver as they followed behind.
After a full morning in the canyon, we slowed things down by the river. Lynden even caught a fish! The girls spent the afternoon making friendship bracelets while listening to jam band music, and everyone gathered to watch Alice reveal some surprisingly elite and incredibly entertaining hacky sack skills. At this point, hacky sack has officially earned the title of the sport of the trip.
We topped off the day with a frozen yogurt stop that was met with immediate excitement. Matcha, Nutella, and açaí were the clear favorites, although Stella deserves a special shoutout for sampling nearly every flavor available.
We closed out another incredible day with even more hacky sack, plenty of Uno, lots of laughs during Moon Up, and a group that feels more connected with each passing day. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the adventure has in store!
Shoutouts!
Lynden- hey mom and dad!!! LOVE AND MISS YOU!! happy birthday dad!!
Mary Harper- hey mom, dad, clay, reed, and mclaine! miss yall! cant wait to tell you about the amazing trip im having! hope yall are doing well, cant wait to hear about passion camp! tell aurelia and rowan that i miss them and love them!! okey byeee!
Josie: Hi mama and father i miss you guys its so pretty and we should come here one day. Im so grateful for this experience. Say hi to bobo when he comes back from soccer camp I hope you made it to the beach. I love you so much!! To Elisha and Charlotte: Allo i miss yo guys so much, im looking for relics charlotte and elisha im looking for slavic guys for you, I love so much. To Vicente: Hii vicente, hodge podge very much, im keeping up with the world cup btw so im not gonna be a loser. cant wait to see you when i get back. it is very pretty here, im using my slavic accent, you would like it. cant wait to tell you abt it when i get back, dont forget my streaks. Oka i lauv bye bye.
Wright- Hi Mom, Dad, and Chandler Grace! I am having so much fun on this trip! We went sea kayaking yesterday and did and a cooking class today. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip; I am having a blast! Love yall so much!
Ford: live and well cant wait to see everyone again, leaders are fye.
Eloise: hi fam- love you guys and miss you (and roxie ofc) ! slovenia is super pretty
Stella: Hi family!!! Thank you so much mom and dad for giving me this opportunity, I am having such a blast so far! I have made so many new friends and love everyone in my group. We have also done so many awesome activities so far and I can’t wait to see yall and share everything!
Alice: hey mom dad and Jennie Ruth. This trip is so much fun thank you so much for sending me. Tell Hannah I say happy bday!! ❤️❤️❤️🦋🦋🦋ps. Hiii shlill and mevyy
Will: hi mom and dad, having lots of fun so far, spent lots of time in the ocean so far and doing cooking today. My group is great!
Jackson: Hey mom and dad, miss yall already. Think I’m a little overpacked. Can’t wait to see yall in Venice when the trip is over.
Angus: Hey family, miss you guys so much! Thank you guys so much for letting me go on this trip. I’ve met a bunch of new friends and I am having a great time. My bag is a little overpacked but it’s okay. Can’t wait to tell you guys all about the trip.
Safe Arrival!
July 15, 2026
Hello Slovenia Families!
We heard from our leaders early this morning that the group has landed safely in Venice! 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
