Who Are Moondancers?

There's no doubt that the best part about a Moondance Adventure is not the places you're going or the activities you're doing. It's actually the people you're with who end up making your experience the "Trip of a Lifetime." We often joke that we could send these kids dumpster diving and still have a blast! This fact must be attributed to the equation of adding amazing role models as leaders with positive, self-motivated and goal-oriented teens, producing life-changing opportunities for all folks involved!

One aspect of Moondance in which we pride ourselves is the caliber of teens who choose to join our programs. We ensure this tradition by asking each new applicant to submit contact information for two teachers who can speak on his or her behalf. I just wanted to share a few excerpts from some of the recommendations I've received this year (names have been changed to protect privacy!):

- "Lauren never ceases to amaze me with her excellence...I truly appreciate her willingness to motivate members of her group to work together to come up with solutions to problems."

- "Wilson's strengths include his energy, creativity, love of people, humor and outgoing personality...I believe that Wilson would not only be an asset to the Moondance program but would also benefit from the experience."

- "There is no one I would recommend more highly than Timothy. When I taught him last year, he was one of the most mature 7th graders I've ever known. He is reasoned and thoughtful, always giving 100%."

- "Jenny would be such an asset to your program. She is a hard worker, diligent student and level headed. But what I love about Jenny is that she is kind to everyone. Her smile is infectious."

Some of our trips feature some pretty challenging activities, and many times parents ask, "How can my child climb Kilimanjaro with no prior experience?" I love this question! We have students from all over with all sorts of talents joining our programs. Some students are all-star athletes and have gone on to participate in college sports. Some students don't play any sports back home and may shine elsewhere in their community. But what we find that it's not the physical fitness level of our students that allows them to succeed. It's the camaraderie and the motivation being shared among one another that allows our participants to find the strength within, to take that next step and to stand atop the mountain with new friends saying, "We did it!"

We are looking forward to having so many bright, new individuals joining our programs this summer. As we experience record enrollment for 2013, we are welcoming more new faces than ever before, as well as welcoming back our valuable and friendly alumni. See you this summer!

Staff Profile: Olivia Coble

Switching gears, we thought today's post would highlight a staff member who has participated in Moondance as a student as well as a leader. Olivia Coble hails from Nasvhille, TN and attended her first Moondance trip (Pacific Northwest) as student in 2006. Olivia's infectious energy and positive attitude earned her legendary Moondancer status as a teen, and we couldn't wait until she could share the Moondance experience on "the other side" as a leader. This past summer, Olivia was an intern on our California Discovery trip and will be leading again in 2013.

Olivia is currently in Uganda helping to restore peace in the northern part of the country and working to improve the future of its youth. This should come as no surprise to those of us who know Olivia, who is always there to give a smile and a helping hand. Here's a little more on Olivia!

Age: 21

Education (high school and college): Harpeth Hall High School in Nashville, Colorado College

Summers with Moondance (led and attended as a student): As a kid: Pacific Northwest in 2006, California Lost Coast (now called Yosemite Classic) in 2007, and Northern Lights in 2008. Led California Discovery this past summer

Favorite book: James and the Giant Peach or Pride and Prejudice

Favorite movie: The Lord of the Rings trilogy - especially the second one, love to watch them when I'm sick

Favorite band/musician: Nickel Creek

Favorite song? Maybe "Fake Empire" by The National or "The Lighthouse's Tale" by Nickel Creek or "Hard Sun: by Eddie Vedder

Dream Moondance Trip: of those available currently, probably Thailand or Kilimanjaro...BUT I'd love to get one planned to Uganda eventually!

Favorite place you've ever traveled: Probably Uganda, since I'm here right now and it's the longest I've ever gotten to be in one country. But I love Switzerland, and I love the western half of the US!

Motto for living life: Do what makes your soul shine, and live in the moment as much as you can.

Thanks for sharing your answers with us, Olivia! We look forward to profiling more great leaders on the blog!

Student Profile: Meg Kennedy

Much like our Leader Profile blog from a few weeks ago, we wanted to share some information about the type of students we have on board our trips. Just a reminder that all of our new applicants must provide contact information for two teacher references who can vouch for their motivated and positive spirit in the classroom or on the field. These teacher recommendations ensure we only get the highest caliber students on board our programs.

On such young lady is Meg Kennedy who has participated in three total Moondance trips, most recently our Kilimanjaro adventure in the summer of 2012. We thought we'd check in with Meg to see how Moondance has impacted her and the lessons she's learned from our adventures.

That's Meg with a young student of the Red Sweater Project during our Kilimanjaro community service section

NAME: Meg Kennedy

HOMETOWN: Kenilworth, IL

CURRENT GRADE: 12

PREVIOUS MOONDANCE TRIPS/YEAR: Hawaiian Islands 2010, Chamonix Alps 2011, Kilimanjaro 2012

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON A MOONDANCE TRIP?: The most memorable moment on a Moondance trip for me was definitely reaching the top of Kilimanjaro and having our entire group circle up and sing "Hallelujah" together. We all worked so hard to reach the top and I will never forget the moment we got there!

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN MOONDANCE? One of my older sisters best friends, Joanie Davis, had done a few Moondance trips and always came back with the most amazing stories to tell. So, in the spring of 2010 I decided I wanted to go on a trip myself!

BEFORE YOUR FIRST TRIP WITH US, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? Before my first trip began I was nervous and didn't know what to expect. I was hoping to meet new people that would continue to be my friends after the trip and of course this came true! Also, I was excited about the chance to live in the outdoors for three weeks and enjoy all the adventures, especially SCUBA diving [in Hawaii].

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE DESTINATIONS YOU'VE VISITED WITH MOONDANCE? It is hard to describe in words all the destinations I have visited with Moondance, because they have all been so amazing and words can't do them justice. Hawaii was beautiful due to all the rainbows, mountains, and beaches surrounding us everyday. Also, relaxing yet eventful as we were participating in many new activities such as scuba diving, surfing, and snorkeling with manta rays. Europe was a mix of educational and astonishing. We were in four foreign countries learning about their culture and hearing languages different from our own, and the views we saw everyday on our hikes were incredible and continued to amaze me with every hike. Africa was unique in every way. The scenery was so different then anything I have seen. The idea of being able to see for miles and miles and the only thing blocking your view was wild animals and smiling faces of the members of african tribes, was heart warming and peaceful. Also, every single person we met and got to know were all so happy and content with their lives and that seemed to be the nature of living. All together it was very memorable and eye opening.

IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE MOONDANCE IN ONE WORD, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Life-changing

HOW WILL YOU APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED ON MOONDANCE IN THE FUTURE? The skills I have acquired on Moondance will carry on through the rest of my life. I am going off to college next year and the self confidence and independence I have learned through all my Moondance trips and from the people I have met on them will enable me to take full advantage of college and not be scared of trying something new. On all my trips my groups and I have worked hard to accomplish a goal and the idea of hard work paying off will help me overcome any challenge.

Thanks to Meg for sharing her answers with us! We look forward to sharing more great Moondancers stories with you!

Nature=One of Our Greatest Teachers

Homework…tests…quizzes…sports games…band practice…club meetings. How do you guys do it these days!?

If you want to learn how to better prioritize your life and effective ways to handle your everyday routine, we think we know just the summer adventure program to help you accomplish just that (hint: it’s us!) With this summer being our 18^th, we’ve found that experiencing all that nature and world travel has to offer can change your outlook on life for the better.

Being Leader of the Day (or even just part of a sweet Moondance crew) can teach you how to keep up with many different responsibilities by providing an opportunity to practice and master a variety of outdoor and social skills. The skills that you’re taught and that you practice during your outdoor adventure travel can be done by anyone with some patience, perseverance and instruction, so everyone can gain valuable life skills by learning about nature and the areas where we travel. Nature can help you gain confidence, become a stronger leader and best of all, create lasting friendships. AND there’s no experience necessary to get all these great things out of a Moondance trip (though if you have experience, what better way to keep learning and growing than on one of our trips?)

Motivation to Persevere

Hey, we know it’s not easy being a teen these days – snarky group texts! Mean Facebook messages! Dealing with the difficulties that come with growing up presents a challenge in itself: to give up or to persevere. But you’ve got a choice! Perseverance can be taught through experiencing nature in a beautiful setting with a group of new friends.

Not only will participating in a Moondance trip give you the experience of taking control and leading others in activities including backpacking, rock climbing and whitewater rafting, but simply observing the power of nature in the outdoors can give you a reason to reach a little farther and jump a little higher. To “Live in the Moment.”

If you're ready to experience the AWESOME power of nature, we’re here to make it happen. You can call the office and get more information about any and every trip you so desire. Even on our community service trips, you not only use nature to your benefit but also give back to nature as well, though all of the programs are planned with environmental concerns in mind.

Now who’s ready for some MOONDANCE?

Outlining Adventure Trip Types

 

Moondance offers four main types of memorable summer trips: Community Service Adventures, Leadership Adventures, Multisport Adventures and Discovery Adventures. The adventure camps are comprised of 10-12 bright, motivated students who are looking for teamwork and leadership opportunities. Both domestic and overseas adventure travel offerings are led by at least two dynamic leaders, one male and one female.

Some students may be hesitant about completely disengaging from the electronic world for these outdoor adventures, but doing so allows campers the opportunity to completely get lost in the natural and beautiful surroundings. During the students’ summer adventures, time is based simply on when the sun rises and when it sets.

Those who take part in Community Service Adventures give back to various areas of the world by doing things such as teaching English or repairing a community center. Travelers who take part in overseas adventure travel meet people from different parts of the world and interact with a variety of wildlife. During the Kilimanjaro trip, students volunteer at a Tanzanian secondary school and undertake a challenging trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.

Leadership Adventures allow students to develop their leadership skills as they will lead peers on action-packed adventures in challenging, beautiful terrain. Those on these trips, students learn how to live comfortably in the wilderness. The Northern Lights trip offers travelers the opportunity to experience the backcountry wilderness of Alaska from Prince William Sound to the Talkeetna Mountain Range.

A variety of activities such as climbing, backpacking and sea kayaking are enjoyed by those taking part in Multisport Adventures. Travelers learn how to live comfortably, responsibly and simply in the wilderness. One popular trip is to the Pacific Northwest. Students start and finish in Seattle. In between, they travel to places such as Washington's amazing San Juan Islands and North Cascades mountains as well as the beautiful Deschutes River in central Oregon.

Discovery Adventures consist of introductory level adventures designed for younger students. Participants are introduced to a variety of activities such as riding a rushing river or experiencing high-flying ziplines. The Mountains to Sea trip engages the students with the rolling mountains and lush forests of the Appalachians as well as South Carolina’s stunning beaches.

At the conclusion of every day on these trips, the popular Moonup is conducted by Leaders of the Day who are selected by members of the group. These small-group discussions lead to bonding as laughter is shared, memories are made and trust is given and received. Moonups provide some of the most treasured memories that students take away from these unforgettable summer adventures.

Moondance Leader Profiles: Scott Joseph

Welcome to the first edition of Moondance Leader Profiles! We thought we'd use the blog to help highlight the awesome folks who provide the Moondance experience, so we'll be checking in with our summer staff periodically to give you a better glimpse of the folks behind The Dance!

First up, Scott Joseph from Bloomfield Hills, MI. Scott heard about Moondance from a former Moondance leader and applied after completing his NOLS Patagonia course in May of 2012. He's a Jack of All Trades - whether it's trekking to Everest Base Camp or running the Detroit Half Marathon - Scott puts his heart and soul into every endeavor, and we were so happy to have had him on board as our Costa Rica Venture 1 & 2 male leader for 2012.

We thought we'd check in with Scott and ask him a few questions. Enjoy!

Age: 26
Education (HS and college): Wylie E Groves High School / Davenport University
Summers with Moondance: 1 - Costa Rica Venture 2012
Favorite book: On The Road, by Jack Kerouac
Favorite movie: "City of God"
Favorite song: "Lovely Day" - Bill Withers
Dream Moondance Trip: Kilimanjaro
Favorite place you've ever traveled: Luang Prabang, Laos
Motto for living life: “I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know - unless it be to share our laughter.

We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.

For wanderers, dreamers, and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. It is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves.”

- James Kavanaugh

Photo Contest!

The winning photo by Thomas Taylor, taken on his Moondance Leadership course June 20 - July 9, 2012
We want to thank everyone who submitted a photo for our contest announced via Constant Contact and our Facebook Page! We received so many great snapshots of all your wonderful adventures from this summer, and it's always fun to see a Moondance trip from a "student's eye view." After flipping through literally tens of thousands of photos from the leaders, it's refreshing to see some new material from our students! We thought we'd share a few more of our favorites from the contest.

Annie Boydston shares a glimpse of her climb on Mt. Shasta with her Yosemite Classic Second Session crew

Chamonix Alps Second Session student Dorsey Addicks submitted this great photo depicting the perfect way to "Live in the Moment" while in Paris!

Dylan Chan shares his "Tree with a View" from his backpacking section on the First Session of Pacific Northwest in Washington State
Thanks to everyone who shared their great photos, and feel free to upload more good ones on our Facebook page!