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Why "unfortunately"? Should I attempt to stop it somehow? Is it something I need to research more or can someone describe what to do and expect?

Sounds like nesting behaviour unfortunately.

I tried to shake things up for Vannah recently with some more challenging foraging toys. She was not having it! She never got a bald spot, but the feathers in her cage were enough to give me a scare. I took the new toy out and she settled down. She'd never reacted to a toy that way, but I'd never hidden her almond from her before...

Maybe since you have a few weeks and a college near by you could look for a baby sitter on campus that would be willing to learn about caring for a CAG. Maybe look for a teacher on summer break. They should be patient and nurturing. Kinder or first grade. They are used to noise and messes. My Vannah just went on vacation at her former companion's home. My others went to my parents. I'm lucky that way I guess.

Now she is spending almost all her time in the box, almost completely destroyed, but will pause and look back at me when I approach, then back to destruction, but with a brief raising and wiggle of her hind end. I'm guessing this is just more of the "hormonal" behavior?

Boxes are notorious for promoting nesting/hormonal behavior, so it makes perfect sense.

Would they need to live at your house for the duration? Could your friend just pop in a few times a day instead? (distances allowing of course) When I had a lodger in my house and went on holiday my lodger would look after Alfie for me- however he would just change out the food and water, put the radio on and interact with Alfie through the cage bars. He wouldn't let him out of the cage because he wouldn't have been able to convince him to go back in and was too wary of being bitten to do so. However it meant Alfie stayed in familiar surroundings in his own cage and still had some social interaction with someone he knew during the week. Then once I got back he was allowed out of his cage again. I no longer have a lodger so Alfie would either have to go and stay with my parents house or I'd need friends/family to come and visit him if I was going away with my parents. Either way, he would stay in his cage and they would just do food/water/radio and interactions through the cage bars. Nobody I know would be willing to let him out. He is familiar with my parents house (grew up there and also visits with me regularly) so I'm personally happier with him being in familiar surroundings but not being allowed out of his cage than I would be with moving him to a new/strange location with new people and potentially being let out whilst there.