Leaders and Staff

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.

• 

  Hayes Hitchens

  Hayes Hitchens hails from Charlotte, NC. Hayes founded Moondance as a way to share outdoor...

• 

  Hunter Hitchens

  Hunter Hitchens is not the newest addition to the Moondance family, but certainly the youngest...

• 

  Calvin Ford

  Calvin Ford grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI where athletics played a large role in his high...

• 

  Shannon Revolinski

  Shannon Revolinski returned to Moondance this summer to lead the Pacific Northwest Exposure and...

• 

  Timothy Moore

  Timothy Moore, or Theo, had his first Moondance experience in 2000 on the Rocky Mountain Way...

• 

  Sarah Fox

  Sarah Fox, of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, just finished her fifth summer with Moondance, this being...

• 

  Chris Barnes

  Chris Barnes can likely be found playing his guitar, banjo, mandolin or keyboard when he isn’t...

• 

  Michaelyn Koss

  Michaelyn Koss grew up in Atlanta where she spent her high school days at Woodward Academy and...

• 

  Tommy Gavigan

  Tommy has been a part of the Moondance family for years and has led just about every domestic...

• 

  Laura Musser

  Laura Musser was raised in Mill Valley, California and earned her sociology degree from the...

• 

  James Catts

  James Catts is a native of St. Simons Island, GA where he nurtured his love of the outdoors by...

• 

  Genna Suggs

  Genna Suggs grew up in Rocky Mount, NC where she was captain of her tennis and soccer teams, and...

• 

  Willy Sebring

  Willy Sebring hails from San Antonio, TX where he was captain of his soccer team in high school...

• Molly Damm

  Molly Damm has spent six summers with Moondance, as she spent three years as a student and 3...

• 

  Tyler Hogan

  Tyler Hogan has spent five summers with Moondance: two as a leader and three as a student. Tyler...

• 

  Kyle Jackson

  Kyle Jackson began his experience as a counselor for Mountain Camp in California, where he was...

• Libby Spears

  Libby Spears, 22, returned to Moondance for her first summer as a leader on the Big Wild trip....

• Taylor Kirkpatrick

  Taylor Kirkpatrick, 23, has been waiting for an opportunity to be a Moondance leader since his...

• Beanie Arnold

  Beanie Arnold, 23, is no stranger to the Moondance family! She began her Moondance experience as...

• Clay Kennedy

  Clay Kennedy, 25, developed a passion for the outdoors at an early age when his father introduced...

• Mae Link

  Mae Link, 23, was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, but did most of her “growing up” in her...

• Eva George

  Eva George, 24, originally from Boston, MA, rejoined the Moondance family for her second summer...

• Krista Nelson

  Krista Nelson, 25, returned to Moondance this past summer for her third summer leading trips,...