Moondance Founder Hayes Hitchens Leaves Behind a Legacy of Adventure in Nashville

The outdoor world is a little quieter today as friends, family, and thousands of former students mourn the loss of Hayes Hitchens. The Nashville native, who spent his entire life proving that a mountain trail could teach a teenager more than a classroom ever could, passed away recently. Hayes wasn’t just a businessman; he was a guy who truly believed that getting kids away from their screens and into the woods could change the world. He lived by a simple motto, “Live in the Moment,” and he spent decades making sure others did the same.

Back in 1996, Hayes took a leap of faith and started Moondance Adventures right in his hometown of Nashville. It started small, fueled by his own obsession with the wilderness, but it quickly turned into something massive. He wanted to give teens a chance to see the world’s most beautiful places while learning what they were actually made of. Whether it was a trek through the Rockies or a service project in a far-off village, Hayes made sure every trip was about more than just sightseeing—it was about connection.

The team at Moondance shared the news with heavy hearts, describing their leader as a man of incredible integrity and generosity. They made it clear that while the founder is gone, his vision isn’t going anywhere. The trips scheduled for this summer and beyond will carry on just as he planned. His staff remembers him as a mentor who didn’t just sit in a fancy office; he was the kind of CEO who would actually show up on the trail, pack on his back, ready to climb right alongside the kids.

Before he became a household name in adventure travel, Hayes was a staple at Camp Deerhorn in Wisconsin. That place was in his blood, founded by his grandfather back in 1930. Hayes went through the whole cycle there—camper, counselor, and eventually a legendary storyteller around the campfire. The folks at Deerhorn called him a “force of nature,” and it’s easy to see why. He had this way of commanding a room, or a campsite, with a presence that felt both giant and incredibly kind at the same time.

His journey also took him through the halls of The Lovett School in Atlanta, where he spent twelve years as the Dean of Students. He wasn’t just a disciplinarian; he was someone who genuinely cared about where kids were headed in life. Between his time there and his work with big names like Outward Bound, Hayes spent over forty years figuring out how to help young people grow up. He was obsessed with the idea that a shared challenge—like a tough hike in the rain—could build a person’s character faster than anything else.

Even as Moondance grew into a global organization, Hayes never lost his personal touch. He was famous for flying out to meet groups in the middle of their expeditions. He didn’t just wave from the trailhead, either. He summited Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Rainier right next to the students. He wanted to see the look on their faces when they reached the top because he knew that feeling of accomplishment would stay with them forever. He was a champion for every kid, working with groups like Julie’s Dream to make sure even those from tough backgrounds got a chance to see the stars from a mountain peak.

At home in Nashville, Hayes was a devoted family man. He leaves behind his wife, Michael, and their daughter, Hunter, who clearly inherited the family’s adventurous spirit—she just finished her seventh Moondance trip last year. As the community waits for news on his memorial service, the tributes are already flooding in from all corners of the globe. Hayes Hitchens might have reached his final summit, but the trails he blazed for thousands of young people will be traveled for generations to come.