How long have you been
in business?
With over 25 years in the private camping industry, Hayes Hitchens
founded Moondance in 1995. Prior to that, he had served The Lovett School,
a K-12 private day school in Atlanta, GA, where he was the Dean of Students
and Director of Summer Programs. During his years at Lovett, Hayes led
numerous wilderness trips throughout the US for middle and upper school
students. In 1930 Hayes' grandfather founded a boy's camp in northern
Wisconsin, Camp Deerhorn. This is where he first honed his outdoor skills
at the age of 7. Hayes spent the better part of 16 summers at Deerhorn
where he realized his love for working with kids in an outdoor setting.
His cousins now run Deerhorn in its 72nd summer of continuous family ownership.
As you can see, it's in his genes!
Is Moondance a camp?
No. We consider ourselves an adventure travel program, which
simply means, we are constantly involved in adventure activities throughout
the course of the summer. Unlike traditional camps where you might be
at a residential location and activities are structured throughout the
day, we are always on the go. We may backpack for several days at a
time or go rock climbing in a remote, wilderness areas and then turn around
and go whitewater rafting on a class IV river. Another difference is
that we travel in small groups; approximately 12 people total, keeping
everyone similar in age. By traveling in these small groups, we can
change our schedule if we come upon a clear mountain lake to go fly-fishing
or want to get up early to watch a beautiful sunrise. We all share responsibility
for the everyday chores such as setting up your tent, cooking and cleaning
and we always practice Leave No Trace.
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What makes Moondance unique?
With many great companies in the adventure industry for teenagers,
we feel that the personal care we share with everyone at Moondance makes
a positive difference to our families. One of the true benefits of being
a small company is that we have the chance to personally know every
one of our students. In addition, we make every effort to get to know
each family before their child's trip begins. Our Director, Hayes Hitchens,
travels throughout the summer visiting groups so that he has the chance
to meet each student and share a part of everyone's experience.
Where does Moondance run
trips?
Moondance operates in many locations throughout the United States
and abroad. Many of our trips take place in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho,
Washington state, Oregon, Alaska, California and North Carolina. We also run trips
in Hawaii, British Columbia, Costa Rica, France/Switzerland, Australia, Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and Africa.
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How do I choose the right
trip for me?
It is hard to pinpoint exactly which trip you should take. However,
we can steer you in the right direction by offering certain criteria
you should consider when selecting your Moondance course. Where do you
want to travel? What activities would you like to do? How much time
do you have? What are your goals for the summer? Call the Moondance
office, and we will be happy to discuss the various programs to find
the right one for you.
What length trip should
I take?
Though a lot depends on how much time you have available in your
summer schedule, we have found that the longer the adventure, the greater
the rewards. A 21-day program enables you to further develop your group's
dynamics, hone your outdoor skills, learn new skills, explore more terrain,
and strengthen the bond between your new friends. The shorter programs
offer a great experience if your summer schedule is a little tighter.
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What do the programs have
in common?
All of our programs involve wilderness activities where participants
must work together to be successful - climbing, backpacking, whitewater
rafting, etc. We use the outdoors to teach and feel that the life skills
learned are intangibles - trust, communication, and self-confidence.
Without question, Moondance is a group effort and friendships become
very strong. As one student said, "making friends outdoors is much
different than at home, you are with them 24 hours a day and they quickly
become like brothers and sisters." These friendships last long
after your Moondance course. It is for those who understand the power
of a team.
What if I have no previous
backpacking or camping experience?
No problem. Many folks will join a Moondance trip without any
prior experience. For some it is their first time to sleep beneath the
stars or to hike in the mountains. If you are in good physical condition,
with a positive attitude, an adventurous spirit and willingness to be
part of a small group, you will find great success on your Moondance
adventure.
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Are there folks who do Moondance
for more than one summer?
We see on average 45% of Moondance alums return each summer for
another trip. Students find that the wilderness adventure is a powerful
experience where new friendships are formed in exciting places. Each
year, the experiences are different as new people join the family in
different places.
Can I get in touch with
any alumni near my home?
In our catalog, there is a list of alums from cities across the
United States. Call us in the office and we'll put you in touch with
someone nearby from our representative base.
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Who are your leaders?
Without question, the leaders make the difference in the success
of Moondance, so we take great care in selecting the people we feel
will make outstanding instructors, role models, and friends. The ability
to work and relate to teenagers is a critical element in the success
of any leader. They must understand that the safety and well being of
each individual is of the utmost importance, but we also want to make
sure that they have strong wilderness skills and are fun! Our leaders
are bright, energetic, conscientious adults with a healthy sense of
humor who love sharing their enthusiasm for the outdoors. They are united
in their passion to create the best student experience possible. Most
are graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) or Outward
Bound.
How old are your leaders?
All leaders are a minimum of 21 years old, with the average age
being 26. All are college graduates or on their way to earning their
college degrees.
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Do Moondance leaders have
any medical certifications?
Every Moondance leader holds a Wilderness
First Responder, an 80-hour backcountry medical certification. This
nationally recognized training teaches outdoor educators how to safely
handle wilderness emergencies when hospital care is hours, sometimes
days away. This certification includes CPR training. The most common
medical issues Moondance handles in the field are blisters and minor
cuts and scrapes.
Do they attend any Moondance
training before their trip begins?
Absolutely! It is mandatory that each staff member holds his/her
Wilderness First Responder certification. WFR is a 9 day, 80-hour course
teaching emergency medical protocols in a wilderness setting. Even though
the majority of our staff are graduates of the National Outdoor Leadership
School (NOLS) and/ or Outward Bound, Moondance requires all staff members
to complete additional staff training at the beginning of each summer.
During this intensive 9-day staff training we cover all policies, procedures
and protocol for every Moondance program. Safety practices are discussed
and reviewed. We also find this to be a great time for a variety of
outdoor educators to share teaching styles and practices that they have
found helpful. Each instructor renews his/her commitment to Moondance's
philosophy and rededicates himself/herself to serving Moondance's students.
Every Moondance leader is committed to the idea that to lead, we must
serve. In addition, when we are involved in more technical activities
such as rock climbing, mountaineering or whitewater rafting, we subcontract
with professional guides and outfitters to give us the best instruction
possible.
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Do you have a promotional
video?
We sure do! It is great to see our folks in the heart of their
experience. Whether it is climbing the Grand Teton, fly fishing the
San Miguel or hanging out with friends, it is fun to watch and feel
the energy of our programs. We have had many folks who said it really
gave them a better understanding for Moondance and our philosophy. Feel
free to call or email the office for a DVD or VHS copy.
What if I'm nervous to
send my teen on a trip?
It's normal to feel a bit apprehensive as your teen heads off
into the wild. We can assure you that safety is our number one priority.
All of our leaders hold a Wilderness First Responder certification.
We are very proud of our safety record. We have a safety and evacuation
plan for every area in which we travel. We want to teach each participant
that responsible behavior, good judgment, and a concern for group safety
are the most valuable commodities in the outdoors. We use only the finest
outfitters and guide services for technical activities such as rock
climbing, mountaineering, or whitewater rafting.
Are there trips for adults?
Yes! Though we have been offering custom trips for adults for
years, they are now a permanent feature in our program schedule. Please
see our "Adult Trips" page to find out what trips are running
this summer.
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