Trip Finder
California
Information for Enrolled Students

Packing List

We’ve provided packing recommendations below; however, equivalent items work just fine. We also offer many items for sale via our online store. Please note - there will be no time to do laundry on this trip so please pack accordingly. Keep in mind that California has a very diverse climate! Warm layers are very important, as evening temperatures can dip down in the low 40s.

Daypack

20-30 Liters Daypack/Backpack to carry your rain jacket, water bottle, and snacks

Qty: 1
Patagonia Refugio Pack 26L, School Backpack

Duffel Bag

70 liters - no wheels, please!

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L

Backpacker's Pillow

HIGHLY recommend; a luxury to have while camping or on travel days

Qty: 1
Therm-a-rest Compressible Pillow

Ground Pad

Insulating Ground Pad

Qty: 1
Therm-a-rest RidgeRest, Therm-a-Rest ProLite, Therm-a-rest BaseCamp

Sleeping Bag

Synthetic sleeping bag rated 15°- 25° Fahrenheit with a compression stuff sack

Qty: 1
Marmot Trestles Sleeping Bag, North Face Cats Meow Sleeping Bag, North Face Eco Trail Sleeping Bag

River Shoes

These can be open-toed, but do need to have a back strap - no flip flops!

Qty: 1
Chaco, Teva, Keen - NO FLIP FLOPS

Socks - athletic

Regular, comfortable athletic socks, can be cotton

Qty: 4
Bombas, Footjoys, Champion

Socks - lightweight

Non-cotton, lightweight hiking socks

Qty: 2
Darn tough or Smartwool

Trail/Tennis Shoes

A pair of comfortable, closed-toed, sturdy, lightweight shoes (able to get dirty)

Qty: 1
Brooks, Salomons

Bathing Suits

Boys: your quick dry shorts can double as a bathing suit

Qty: 2

Fleece Pants

Synthetic, non-cotton fleece pants or heavyweight bottoms

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla Fleece Pants, Patagonia R1 pants

Long Pants

Joggers, jeans, khakis, leggings

Qty: 1
Sky Manufacturing Moondance joggers
Buy in our gear store

Long Underwear/Base Layer Bottom

Synthetic, non-cotton medium weight long underwear bottoms

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene Lightweight/Midweight bottoms, Marmot Polartec or Baselayer Tights

Quick Dry Shorts

Synthetic, non-cotton shorts

Qty: 3
Patagonia Baggies, Lulu Lemon Speed Up Short, Nike Dryfit
Buy in our gear store

Rain Pants

100% Waterproof pants large enough to fit over regular pants

Qty: 1
Mountain Hardware, REI

Underwear

Synthetic, non-cotton are best (but a couple cotton pairs are permitted)

Qty: 8

Fleece Jacket

Synthetic, Non-cotton - This needs to be heavier than the Lightweight Top

Qty: 1
Patagonia Synchilla, Patagonia R2 Jacket, Patagonia Micro D Jacket, Marmot Rocklin Full Zip Jacket

Insulating Jacket

Synthetic or Down insulation, non-cotton. This can be a synthetic or down "puffy" jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia Nano Puff, Patagonia Down Sweater, North Face Thermoball Jacket, or an additional heavyweight fleece

Lightweight Warmer Top or Hoodie

Synthetic, non-cotton. This can be a fleece pullover, sweater or a full-zip jacket

Qty: 1
Patagonia R1 Fleece, Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan, Moondance Hoodie
Buy in our gear store

Long Underwear Top

Medium-weight long-sleeved (polypropylene or Capilene, NOT Cotton)

Qty: 2
Patagonia Capilene Midweight Crew or Zip Neck, North Face Wander Sun Hoodie, SmartWool Merino 150 Base Layer, Marmot Polartec (Baselayer Long-Sleeve Crew)

Rain Jacket with Hood

100% Waterproof Rain Jacket with Hood - NO ponchos!

Qty: 1
Marmot Precip, Patagonia Torrentshell

Sports Bras

For Girls

Qty: 4

Sun Hoody

Lightweight sunshirt with hood to protect arms and neck from sun

Qty: 1
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody, Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody

T-Shirts - cotton

For travel days

Qty: 2
Classic Shortsleeve Moondance tee
Buy in our gear store

T-Shirts - synthetic

Synthetic, quick-dry, non-cotton t-shirts

Qty: 3
Patagonia Capilene Cool Shirt, Marmot Windridge, TASC Performance Carrollton Performance Crew
Buy in our gear store

Bandana/Buff

For additional sun and wind protection. Buffs are tube-like and can be worn up to 12 different ways providing versatile sun protection. Can even be worn as a headband!

Qty: 1
Moondance Buff
Buy in our gear store

Baseball or Wide-Brimmed Hat

For sun protection

Qty: 1
Buy in our gear store

Warm Hat

Wool or fleece, non-cotton beanie

Qty: 1
Buy in our gear store

Headlamp

With Fresh Batteries + 2 Sets of Spare Batteries; This is very important!

Qty: 1
Black Diamond Spot, Black Diamond Storm, Black Diamond Astro

Bowl with Lid

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Delta Bowl with Lid, Tupperware, Nalgene

Camp Chair

Packable chair for camping

Qty: 1
Crazy Creek
Buy in our gear store

Cup with Lid

Sturdy plastic or metal; thermal plastic mug is best

Qty: 1
16oz Nalgene Wide Mouth, CamelBak Camp Horizon Travel Mug

Plastic Spork OR Spoon & Fork, + Plastic Knife

Qty: 1
Light My Fire Spork, Sea to Summit

Stuff Sack

Nylon or mesh stuff sack (sleeping bag size) for dirty clothes, etc.

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Stuff Sack, Sea to Summit Mesh Sack

Sunglasses

With 100% UV Protection

Qty: 1
Goodr, Smith, Oakley, Sunski

Sunglasses Holder

Qty: 1
Croakies or Chums

Water Bottles

32oz Water Bottles

Qty: 2
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Buy in our gear store

Dopp Kit

Contains: toothbrush, toothpaste, travel shampoo & soap, deodorant, sunscreen

Qty: 1
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 6L-M

Prescription Glasses + Contacts

If your child wears glasses and/or contacts, please bring at least one spare pair of glasses/ lenses. Contact lens wearers should bring a pair of glasses as backup in addition to contacts.

Qty: 2

Small First Aid Kit

Contains: Insect repellent, waterproof sunscreen, Band-aids, Moleskin, Chapstick w/ sun prevention, Wet Ones wipes, Dramamine (if prone to motion sickness), personal hand sanitizer.

Qty: 1

Blister Pill Pack or PillBox

The best way to send medication is with PillPacks by Amazon or a Pill Box.

Qty: As needed
Consider https://pharmacy.amazon.com/pillpack

Personal + Travel Medications

Please bring any personal medications and travel medications as advised by your Physician.

Qty: As needed

Unaccompanied Minor Fees

If you do not pay online in advance for the return flight's UM Fees, make sure your student has enough money to cover it (varies by airline)

Carabiner

Non-plastic

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Large Accessory Carabiners

Pack Towel

Absorbent & quick to dry, large or extra-large works best

Qty: 1
Sea to Summit Drylite Towel

Wallet

Personal wallet with $150 spending money and valid identification

Whistle

Small, pea-less plastic will do; most backpacks/daypacks have whistles on their sternum strap which would suffice!

Qty: 1

Baggage Fees

If you do not pay online in advance for baggage fees, make sure your student has enough money to cover checking their bag (varies by airline)

A Good Book

Paperback books are less bulky; NO kindles or e-readers

Camera

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1
Canon Powershot G9 X

ENO Hammock

A great option for downtime and to relax!

Qty: 1

External Charger

Portable charger/power bank to charge camera and GoPro

Qty: 1

GoPro

With charger, extra battery, and 32-64 GB memory card

Qty: 1

Notebook with Pen

For journaling

Packing Tips

When packing for your student, we kindly recommend involving them in the process. This ensures they are familiar with where their items are and what they’ve packed, making their experience smoother and more enjoyable. Checking the weather of your student’s trip destination(s) can help ensure they have proper gear.

 

In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost in transit, we want you to be prepared. Therefore, wear tennis or hiking shoes on the plane. Plus, pack the following items from this packing list in your daypack / school backpack carry-on:

  • A change of clothes (underwear + t-shirt + shorts or pants)
  • Your rain jacket
  • Prescription medications & toothbrush
  • ID, money

These items are already included in the packing list – they are not additional items!

Lodging

Sleeping

3- or 4-person, single-gender Marmot or Big Agnes tents at frontcountry campsites.

Eating

Please bring all personal eating utensils listed on the packing list. Moondance will provide all group cooking gear.

If you have any special dietary restrictions / considerations, please contact the Moondance office for further information.

Immunizations

Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis

Required; must be within 10 years of the trip

Routine Vaccinations

Moondance adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. They state that routine vaccines are those recommended for everyone in the United States, depending on age and vaccine history. Please consult with a physician for specific recommendations based on your health history and continuously check the CDC website for updates.

Routine vaccinations related to travel may include the following:

  • COVID-19
  • Chickenpox (Varicella)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Influenza
  • Measles, mumps, Rubella
  • Meningococcal
  • Pneumococcal
  • Polio
  • Rotavirus
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis

Flight Options

California 1, June 8-June 21, 2025

California 2, June 25-July 8, 2025

California 3, July 12-July 25, 2025

Additional Information

Book Travel with our Partner Agency

We recommend you book with our partner travel agency (Exito) for this trip. Please complete this form, and they will be in touch in 3-5 days via email with flight options.

Phone or WhatsApp: +1.970.237.4399
Email: vip@exitotravel.com

Map

Print This Tab Visit Trip Page Shop Our Gear Store Download Gear Guide