The most important element for the success of Moondance Adventures is our skilled, dedicated, and caring staff. Our leaders are vital to the integrity and safety of our program. Their responsibilities are quite diverse; they are instructors, leaders, facilitators, friends, fellow participants, and role models to our students.
More than the challenging programs and breathtaking scenery, Moondance leaders form the nucleus of what makes this experience such a positive part of the program. Our leaders provide excellent role models, and great care is taken in the selection of our staff.
All leaders are a minimum of 21 years old, with the average age being 26. They are well educated and have completed, or are on their way to completing, their undergraduate degree with many pursuing advanced degrees. They enjoy working with teenagers and have extensive training in wilderness programs and experiential education. Most are graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) or Outward Bound.
Many have full-time careers in secondary education or are full time outdoor educators. Each leader has a minimum of 80 hours of medical training as a Wilderness First Responder. Their primary job is to keep the students safe and comfortable. To ensure that Moondance can maintain its “safety first” philosophy, the student-to-staff ratio never exceeds 6:1.
During our comprehensive 11-day staff training, each leader renews his/her commitment to Moondance’s philosophy and rededicates himself/herself to serving Moondance students. Every Moondance leader is committed to the idea that to lead, we must serve.
