twenty twenty two
What is your journey?
Cover: Snake River, Wyoming YELLOWSTONE Whitewater guide and former Moondance Leader Elizabeth Oakes, navigates Lunch Counter on the Snake River
Jackson Hole, Wyoming YELLOWSTONE Photo by: Suzanne Hollis
“Moondance has been the single greatest adventure of my life. It has helped me expand my comfort zone and grow as a person. I love the people on my trip and I feel that I have developed close bonds with each and every person.” ›› Stephen Neill, 16, Charlotte, NC
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Denali National Park, Alaska MYSTERY TRIP Photo by: Gabe Steinman
A letter from Hayes We all have a story to tell. What will be yours? Now more than ever, young people want to connect with each other. Moondance offers experiences that are a little out of the box, but at the heart is our desire to create a community - no technology, real conversations. The teen years are fast and furious. As we are competing for kids’ time, we want Moondance to be an experience that far exceeds what they imagined an adventure to be. We strive to create experiences for teens that have deep and meaningful moments - community, laughter, challenge, confidence. We hope Moondance can be part of your journey. Perhaps we might be one of those stories you tell years from now about a cool experience you had as a teen, shared with amazing friends, exploring different adventures all while immersed in a magical setting. We invite you to learn more about Moondance through our community of families who have traveled with us over the past 26 years. They can offer a true testament to what a Moondance experience can be. Of course, we hope you will be spellbound as you flip through this catalog. In addition, our web site is a terrific destination to dive deeper. You may very well get lost with all the places to go. Our 2022 catalog is dedicated to all the guys and gals who celebrated an extraordinary summer in this land of ours. Thank you to all the families who believed in the power of young people getting together after such a challenging year. Cheers to all the stories told.
HAYES HITCHENS President + Founder
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“He kept saying it was the very best thing he has ever done!!” ›› Heather Asbury, mother of Parks, Nashville, TN
Turtle Town MAUI Photo by: Jack Baltimore 6
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming BIG WILD Photo by: Emme Maner MOONDANCEADVENTURES.COM
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Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska NORTHERN LIGHTS Photo by: Lily Stewart
“The professionalism of the leaders, the bonding among the group members, and the experiences themselves separates Moondance from other summer programs. All of these factors have contributed to my son’s emotional maturity. Moondance is an investment, but the return is priceless.” ›› Kim Daniels, mother of John, Mobile, AL
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Your Moondance Journey
Life is a series of chapters. A book you pick up on arrival and craft with every moment of the day. Its plot moves with the choices you make, and the company you keep. Sometimes it meanders, sometimes it lulls, other times it soars. There are certain chapters that stay with you and color the others. Moments that form ripples, crossroads, openings. An adventure takes you to places far beyond the realm of its duration and destination. A truly special adventure makes its way into the story of the rest of your days. A Moondance summer is one of those choices. A portal into possibility. A place to get out of your routine and return to connection. To commune with mountain gods and goddesses. To stare into the face of the universe under a starlit sky and rise and rotate with the sun. It’s a place to laugh and romp and cook with friends. To cruise the landscape of deep laughter and conversation. To find your people and meet yourself. Life is surprising. It reveals itself in real-time, without warning. Life keeps changing, and we must ride the tides. These days, the potency of moments cannot be taken for granted. We know now, more than ever, what is at stake. The past two years shook us, but we also watched our philosophies in practice. We have always believed that all the ingredients of a trip are what makes it great, not the location. As our destinations shifted to stay closer to home, we watched our groups form bonds that were enhanced by the need for shared experience. Real connections claimed their place over the doldrums of devices. Friendships were forged in the forests, mountains, and the spaces between. Incredible chapters were penned. A Moondance summer is a place to point your feet. A shared container for seismic shift. A good time. A great chapter. Life is a sequence of grooves. Move the needle. Sing into the space where your friends are gathering; somewhere wild and waiting for you.
Mount Baker, Washington THE OLYMPICS Photo by: Frankie Mayfield MOONDANCEADVENTURES.COM
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“It was a transformative, once in a lifetime experience for Anastasia. She absolutely loved her group and her leaders. Her trip was about the people in her Moondance family first. ” ›› Phaedra Kazanas, mother of Anastasia, Locust Valley, NY
Bryce Canyon, Utah CANYONLANDS Photo by: Baker Avinger 10
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“Moondance is the time for me to be the truest version of myself while not worrying about being judged. Moondance is a time to grow, learn, and gain experiences no other experience can provide.”
Desolation Peak PACIFIC NORTHWEST Photo by: Claire Harkins
›› Carly Frist, 16, Nashville, TN
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“I learned more about myself on this trip than I have in years. I did things I never thought I could do. If it wasn’t for Moondance, I wouldn’t be who or where I am today. I am so grateful for such an amazing community.” ›› Helen Sands, 16, Atlanta, GA
Matanuska Glacier NORTHERN LIGHTS Photo by: Sierra Ross 12
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming YELLOWSTONE Photo by: Suzanne Hollis
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Leavenworth, Washington BRITISH COLUMBIA Photo by: Skyler Humphrey-Davis
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Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska NORTHERN LIGHTS Photo by: Sierra Ross
“Don’t worry about the millions of switchbacks you have left or how many you’ve done. Focus on the one you’re on now.” ›› Belin Tate, 17, Richmond, VA
Hozomeen Lake, Washington PACIFIC NORTHWEST Photo by: Anna Brugh
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“My favorite moment of this trip was the moment that I stepped up to Desolation Peak and realized all that I had just accomplished. I never thought that I would be standing on top of a mountain at the crack of dawn, looking out at the most awe-inspiring view that I have ever seen.” ›› Cooper Pitts, 15, Charlotte, NC
Desolation Peak PACIFIC NORTHWEST Photo by: Sydney Kittrell 16
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming BIG WILD Photo by: Emme Maner
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“Moondance makes me so happy and I look forward to it all year long. I love making new friendships and getting a chance to do once in a lifetime things.” ›› Rose Beall, 16, Walland, TN
Monkey’s Face PACIFIC NORTHWEST Photo by: Anna Brugh 18
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Yosemite National Park YOSEMITE Photo by: Max Russ
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming BIG WILD Photo by: Emme Maner
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Mount Baker, Washington THE OLYMPICS Photo by: Frankie Mayfield
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Bryce Canyon National Park CANYONLANDS Photo by: May May Lanier
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Yosemite National Park YOSEMITE Photo by: Max Russ
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Pacific Ocean, Kona, Hawaii HAWAIIAN ISLANDS Photo by: Emma Hanmer
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“The differentiator is how the groups are brought together from different areas of the country and friends are not together in a group. It provides such meaningful lessons on taking a leap of faith and trusting the process while finding your way in a new group. There are so many opportunities to experience Moondance. I wish we would have discovered this a few years ago!” ›› Angela Hibgea, mother of Hannah, Mooresville, NC
Olympic National Park THE OLYMPICS Photo by: Frankie Mayfield MOONDANCEADVENTURES.COM
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Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii MAUI Photo by: Frances Bowles
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you won’t know, if you don’t go
www.moondanceadventures.com
SPECIAL USE PERMITS » Moondance operates under special use permits granted by the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service, USDA. We would like to acknowledge the following areas for welcoming Moondance Adventures: Pisgah, Hawaii Trail Systems, Talkeetna, Gunnison, San Juan, and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. In addition, Moondance operates under commercial use and concessionaire’s licenses in the Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Zion, Olympic, North Cascades, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Point Reyes, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks.
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PO Box 23350 Nashville, TN 37202 800.832.5229 info@moondanceadventures.com www.moondanceadventures.com @moondanceadventures
Great Sand Dunes National Park COLORADO TRAIL Photo by: Gracie Mitchell