Experience the Hawaiian Islands while Supporting Conservation Efforts!

Taking a summer trip to an exotic location is a blast, and the only thing better than exploring your new surroundings is being able to assist with conservation efforts at the same time. Adventure camps that place emphasis on community service help instill a sense of accomplishment along with unforgettable experiences. This summer, Moondance Adventures is hosting a rewarding community service trip to the Hawaiian Islands for teenagers, 9th grade and up. Campers will contribute to sustainability in the form of forest conservation while experiencing many of the breathtaking sights and memorable activities Hawaii has to offer.

Kona Coast
The trip begins on the Kona Coastline where campers spend four days on a custom diving boat earning their SCUBA certifications from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). After certification, the boat takes the adventurers out in search of exotic marine life, such as dolphins and sea turtles.

Volcanoes National Park
From Kona, campers head to the other side of The Big Island to spend a day at Volcanoes National Park learning about two of the most interesting volcanoes in the world. The first is the world's largest volcano: Mauna Loa. The second volcano is the world's most active: Kilauea.

Kauai Forest Conservation
Campers fly to the island of Kauai on the sixth day to take part in the ongoing forest conservation efforts at Koke'e State Park. Kauai is filled with lush, tropical vegetation and is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Unfortunately, invasive species brought in by travelers have put a damper on the island’s natural ecology. Erosion is also a major threat to the forest.

Campers will learn what it takes to sustain a healthy ecosystem, but it is not all toil. Local volunteers bring food, play ukulele and talk about their native culture throughout the trip. Hearing the heartfelt stories of native Hawaiians allows campers to discover the true importance of the forest and the conservation efforts that keep the beauty alive. Moondance Adventures’ Hawaiian Island trip is the perfect remedy for ho-hum summer holidays.

About Moondance Adventures:
Founded by Hayes Hitchens in 1996, Moondance Adventures is a teen adventure travel program offering a wide variety of 13-23 day experiences including community service and wilderness-based leadership opportunities. Headquartered in Asheville, NC, Moondance offers 17 co-ed, non competitive teen summer adventure programs for teenagers ages 12-18. Moondance provides fun, education and character-building with each program’s curriculum. Moondance has been has been conducting unique adult and teen summer adventures in many of the finest teen adventure travel areas in the world with courses offered in Africa, Central America, Europe, North America and South America.

Adult Adventures: Discover the Mystery and Wonder of Machu Picchu

One of the greatest legacies that the Incas bestowed to mankind is the archeological wonder of Machu Picchu. The ruins of this once-great city are situated 8,000 feet above sea level on a ridge overlooking Peru’s Urubamba Valley. Archeologists believe that the Incas built “Old Peak” as an estate for Emperor Pachacuti. The Incas abandoned the site during the time of the Spanish Conquest in the early 1500s. Although located only 50 miles from the Incan capital of Cusco, Machu Picchu was not discovered or plundered by the conquistadors. It provides a rare perspective into the culture of the Inca civilization.

The ancient citadel remained unknown to the outside world until Hiram Bingham, a historian from Yale, discovered the site in 1911. This amazing urban environment is located in a beautiful setting amidst a pristine mountain forest. The site consists of three districts known as Sacred, Popular and Nobility.

There are temples, homes and storehouses in this ancient community. An adult adventure travel excursion with Moondance Adventures provides a remarkable opportunity for visitors to learn how the builders used ashlar, an innovative masonry technique. This is a process where stones are precisely cut so that they hold together without the aid of mortar or concrete. Archeologists don’t know how the laborers moved the massive stone blocks. There are hundreds of flights of stairs. Some of the structures are carved from a single granite slab.

During the adult Machu Picchu trip with Moondance, you can see the Intihuatana Stone. It is one of the last remaining Incan ritual rocks. Scientists believe that it served as an astronomical clock or calendar. Visitors participating in one of the summer programs will see the Room of the Three Windows, the Temple of the Sun and the Royal Tomb. There is evidence that an irrigation system supplied water to the homes. The natural setting encompasses a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Machu Picchu is one of the most important cultural sites in South America and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, this majestic, primeval city became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Over the years, Moondance Adventures has offered several adult programs in addition to the dozens of programs the company runs for teens during the summer months. Other Moondance adult programs have included a Wind River Range expedition in Wyoming as well as a Pacific Northwest sea kayaking tour, a mountaineering expedition to Mount Rainier in Washington State and a Kilimanjaro expedition in Tanzania, Africa.

About Moondance Adventures
Founded by Hayes Hitchens in 1996, Moondance Adventures is a teen outdoor adventure travel program offering a wide variety of 13-23 day experiences including community service and wilderness-based leadership opportunities. Headquartered in Asheville, NC, Moondance offers 17 co-ed, non competitive teen summer adventure programs for teenagers ages 12-18. Moondance provides fun, education and character-building with each program’s curriculum. Moondance has been has been conducting unique adult and teen summer camp adventures in many of the finest teen adventure travel areas in the world with courses offered in Africa, Central America, Europe, North America and South America.

Gear up for Your 2012 Moondance Trip!

Moondance Adventure summer camp/trips offer young travelers unique ways to spend their vacations. Although no prior camping experience is required, people who are interested in adventure travel need to be prepared to spend a lot of time outdoors. In order to attend any Moondance trip, participants need to make sure that they have all of the necessary gear. At the minimum, wilderness travelers will need sturdy backpacks or duffel bags (sometimes both), but the required gear usually varies with each outdoor adventure. Although students are encouraged to sleep under the starry sky, tents are provided.

This year’s domestic destinations include Alaska, California, Wyoming, Washington, North Carolina, Utah and Hawaii to name a few. Adventure camps are also scheduled to be held in Europe, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Peru and Ecuador. On international trips, students typically stay in youth hostels or with host families, so they may not have to bring sleeping bags or bedding.

On most domestic trips, travelers need to bring their own sleeping bags and cutlery sets, although Moondance provides all necessary food and group gear. Also, good hiking and walking shoes are required for every excursion. Some trips involve rafting and swimming, so participants need to make sure that they have the recommended style of pants, jackets, gloves and swimsuits. Additionally, everyone needs to bring sleeping clothes and underwear. Most outdoor gear can be either rented or purchased through Moondance, so participants can choose the gear that best fits their needs. Because travelers will be busy the entire time, cell phones and other electronic devices are not permitted on any of the outdoor excursions.

Moondance provides far more than a typical summer camp experience—these adventures build character and memories that will last a lifetime. If you have yet to sign yourself or your teenager up for a Moondance trip, check out our Adventure Program Chart for details about upcoming adventures. You can also find gear for your trip at our online store.

Discover the Appalachians at 1,000 Feet

With summer fast approaching, many people are making vacation plans, some of which include the outdoors. Adventure travel is becoming a popular way to experience the world.

Asheville, N.C. is a popular tourist destination, and there are plenty of fun things for the entire family to experience. Over the years, thousands of children have attended summer camps in Asheville, and now there are summer adventure camps that also cater to adults. Visitors enjoy hiking and biking in the mountains, and some parents even schedule their own adventures while their children participate in activities with their own age group.

Anyone seeking a thrilling outdoor adventure will enjoy the splendor of a zip line canopy tour. Set among the wilderness near Asheville, the guided canopy tour includes multiple zip lines, sky bridges, rappelling and hiking. Visitors can glide among the trees and experience a bird’s-eye view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding area. Some of the trees even have platforms where people can stand and slowly take in the incredible sights around them. The entire course is carefully constructed to blend in with the natural beauty of the area, and the guides are happy to point out the various types of flora and fauna along the way. There are many different kinds of trees, plants, animals and other creatures that live in the mountains, and the tour affords visitors the perfect way to understand the area’s biodiversity. Guides will also talk about the history of the Appalachian region.

The zip line canopy tour takes about three hours to complete. For a different type of outdoor adventure, a nighttime tour is also available.

Moondance Adventures is offering a ‘Mountains to Sea’ adventure for 12–14 year olds this June, July and August that will span various areas in South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee and will include an Appalachian canopy tour. Check out our Adventure Program Chart for details.

Backpacking Safety and Preparation Tips

Enjoying an outdoor adventure by going on a backpacking trip is fun and exciting, but a backpacker needs to be well prepared to stay safe. Adventure travel generally requires more materials and preparation than a typical trip.

Preparation

The first step in preparing for a backpacking trip is to prepare for the hike. Conditioning should be targeted to the specific trail that you will be hiking, and the chosen trail should not be above the backpacker's fitness level. Getting used to traveling by foot with the weight of a fully stocked backpack is also a key part of training. Breaking in hiking boots is also important in the success of a backpacking adventure.

Packing an adequate amount of supplies and food is a must for a successful backpacking trip. A general rule of thumb is that each person on the hike will need one to two pounds of food per day to provide enough calories for the hike. This food should be rich in nutrition and not require refrigeration. Nuts, dried fruits are all ideal.

Safety

It is particularly important for novice backpackers to stick to marked trails when embarking on an outdoor adventure. At least one person that is not going on the trip should be aware of where the backpacker is hiking in case of an emergency.

Water sources are often a safety issue due to bacteria. Water can be boiled or filtered to increase safety, but it should be noted that filtering does not take care of viruses that may be present. Outdoor shops sell water treatment solutions that can be added directly to water to kill viruses. We suggest using iodine tablets to treat water.

Always bring a first aid kit on a backpacking trip in case of an emergency.

For younger backpackers, summer adventure camps are a great idea. Moondance summer trips give the benefit of experiencing the outdoors while also providing the safety of having a knowledgeable and experienced staff nearby at all times. Moondance Adventures provides safety in numbers with at least two adult instructors and assists in building character as well as lasting friendships.

Yosemite National Park: Rock Climbing at its Finest

Rock climbing is an experience fit for anyone interested in outdoor adventure travel. Yosemite National Park has gained the distinction of being one of the best places in the world for rock climbers to visit, offering 3,000 foot rock walls and challenges for climbers of all fitness levels. The views alone make rock climbing at Yosemite National Park a cut above the rest.

Yosemite has climbs that range from day trips to multi-day climbs. More experienced climbers will enjoy the challenge of setting out on an overnight climb, while novice climbers can practice their technique on less challenging rocks. In addition to traditional climbing, Yosemite National Park has areas where bouldering is permitted.

Camping is a great way to fully enjoy the outdoors while climbing at Yosemite. Some areas do require a wilderness permit for climbers wishing to set up camp, but these permits are offered free of charge. Climbers should check with park officials regarding whether a wilderness permit is required for camping in the area in which they will be climbing.

Park officials have noticed that wear to rock surfaces has increased as more climbers visit Yosemite. Climbers are advised to follow the rules of the park so it can keep its reputation as a world class climbing destination.

Yosemite climbing is geared toward different skill levels, with some areas focusing primarily on beginners or advanced climbers. This lets beginners get hands-on advice without feeling that they are slowing down the group, while advanced climbers can enjoy their climb without having to worry about waiting for novice climbers to catch up. Adventure travel is at its best when an experienced professional is available to give guidance and help climbers improve their technique.

Want to experience the thrill of rock climbing at Yosemite National Park without the risk involved of going it alone? Moondance Adventures is offering a Yosemite Classic trip for teenagers that features Yosemite rock climbing on its itinerary as well as backpacking, whitewater rafting, mountaineering, and surfing on Half Moon Bay. Although Yosemite offers basic summer camps, the Moondance Adventures trip will feature multiple destinations and cover an entire region in California. 

Check out trip details on our Adventure Program Chart!

About Moondance Adventures
Founded by Hayes Hitchens in 1996, Moondance Adventures is a teen adventure travel program offering a wide variety of 13-23 day experiences including community service and wilderness-based leadership opportunities. Headquartered in Asheville, NC, Moondance offers 17 co-ed, non competitive teen summer adventure programs for teenagers ages 12-18. Moondance provides fun, education and character-building with each program’s curriculum. Moondance has been has been conducting unique adult and teen summer adventures in many of the finest teen adventure travel areas in the world with courses offered in Africa, Central America, Europe, North America and South America.

It's (ALMOST!) the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Yes, the holidays have come and gone, but we at Moondance Central find ourselves pretty giddy with excitement these days. Obviously, our favorite time of the year is the summer, when we are running trips and doing what we do best - facilitating great adventures with great kids all over the world. But January and February are pretty special months for us because we find our trips starting to fill up and our groups starting to come to life! We have several trips that are full or are close to being full, and it brings us all great excitement to know that a new little Moondance family is being born before our very eyes as each group starts to form.


Northern Lights 1 "Family" - Summer 2011

As you can imagine, spending 24 hours a day with the same people for 2 to 3 weeks allows you to really get to know everyone in your group. You will have the opportunity to share experiences with these folks that you'll never be able to experience with your closest of friends or even your own family. That's one of the things that we think makes Moondance so special; we have the ability to bring so many amazing students from all over the country together to form such an unbelievably tight bond in less than a month. Our leaders have the power (and the privilege) of being a part of these families and changing lives in what is a considerably short amount of time. Like Hayes said in the short video Rich Addicks (photographer, videographer and Moondance parent!)put together for us about our leaders called "Why We Do What We Do", "How can you change someone's life in three weeks? It happens."


Two of our greatest and most veteran leaders, Willy Sebring and Michaelyn Koss

If you're a Moondance alum or leader, you know what we are talking about when we say Moondance is really like a family. And if you are interested in joining us for 2012, I hope you'll apply for what will not only be the best adventure of your life but the best group of friends/"family" you've ever come to know. Since trips are starting to fill up, we would definitely encourage you to apply as soon as you can. As we always say, "you won't know if you don't go!"