EMILY HOFFMAN

We’re thrilled to welcome long-time Apogee veteran Emily Hoffman to lead our Coast to Quebec cycling trip this summer! Coming to us from the bustling streets of New York City, Emily is well-versed in all things Apogee. Emily spent four summers with us as a student – she has been biking in Cape Cod, Montana, and Europe, and volunteered her way across the Caribbean. As a rising Junior at St. Lawrence University, Emily’s passion for the outdoors has truly blossomed. This past fall, Emily took part in SLU’s “Adirondack Semester,” a program that took her entirely off the grid for three months, foregoing technology and running water in exchange for a better understanding of how to live simply. Emily lived so simply, in fact, that her main form of transportation throughout the program was a canoe! Beyond her travels with Apogee, Emily has been to France, Italy, London, Guatemala and Mexico. Back on campus, Emily studies Environmental Sociology and lives in the “Women’s Resources Center,” a house dedicated to being a safe place for women to find a healthy, supportive community on campus. Emily is also passionate about service and working with youth. During her senior year in high school Emily traveled to Guatemala with the terrific “Safe Passage” organization and worked with local students teaching English and lacrosse. This coming summer, Emily is excited to pay those four Apogee summers forward by stepping into the shoes of the leaders she looked up to and adding another Apogee summer to her repertoire!

KADIN WOOLEVER

We’re so lucky to have Kadin Woolever – another long-time Apogee veteran and all-around rock star – join this year’s summer staff. Kadin has been a part of the Apogee family since 2008. In the intervening years, Kadin has hiked the New England mountains and cycled Cape Cod and the Pacific Coast, tackled America Coast to Coast, and even participated in the trip he’ll be leading this year – Coast to Quebec! Kadin is a rising Junior at Carleton College, where he is studying Environmental Studies and swims on the men’s varsity swim team. While Kadin’s roots are firmly planted in his hometown of Brunswick, Maine, Kadin is an extremely well-traveled young man. Before moving to Maine, he spent three years living in Germany, and in high school he studied for a semester in northern India. Additionally, Kadin has traveled with his family to countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. To top it all off (for now, of course) Kadin is looking forward to spending next fall in Patagonia, doing conservation work and research for various National Parks in the region. When Kadin isn’t traveling the world, he enjoys working with youth. Over the past three summers, Kadin has worked as a counselor at the Bowdoin Day Camp and has loved spending his summers engaging with kids of all ages – from the little guys as young as four to those as old as eighteen. This summer, Kadin is looking forward to meeting all of his students and leading them through some incredible places and experiences as they head north to Canada!

SAM MENGUAL

Bienvenidos a Apogee, Sam Mengual! That may be the extent of our own Spanish vocabulary here in the office, but lucky for us Sam is fluent in the language and will be able to use her Spanish-speaking skills on this year’s Caribbean Service Adventure. Sam, of West Hartford, Connecticut, has had a love for Spanish and Latin American culture for the years, and has honed her Spanish-speaking skills during a summer semester in Spain in high school, as well as during her time studying abroad in Ecuador during her Junior year at Hamilton College. Sam is wrapping up her Senior spring at Hamilton and will be graduating in June with a degree in Environmental Studies. On campus, Sam plays an active role on Hamilton’s Ultimate Frisbee team, leads trips for Hamilton’s outdoor-orientation program, Adirondack Adventures, and even hosts a weekly Trivia Night on campus!  Over the past two summers, Sam has been able to combine her love for working with teens and being in the outdoors as she worked both as a Biology Research Assistant at Hamilton as well as a camp counselor in her hometown. Voted “Best Smile” in her high school senior superlatives, we have no doubt Sam will be flashing her award-winning grin as she surfs and volunteers alongside her students in Puerto Rico this summer!

ZACH NEROD

Zach Nerod joins Apogee from his hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut, where he grew up with his younger brother and sister exploring the woods behind his house and eventually beyond. His love for the outdoors blossomed as he spent his summers along the coast of Sorrento, Maine – just up the road from Acadia National Park. His summer days were filled with hunting for crabs, hiking coastal peaks, and sailing around Acadia. His love for sailing soared, and the past five years Zach was the Head Sailing Instructor at the Sorrento Yacht Club. During these long, beautiful days on the water, Zach brought energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to his groups of kids, ranging from 6 – 16 years old. Zach’s passion for sailing followed him to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he is highly involved with Michigan’s Sailing Team. When he’s not on the water, Zach can be found on campus diving deep into his books. Zach is an Economics and Environmental Studies double Major, and he just returned from a semester abroad in New Zealand where he dove into Natural Resource Management – a career he hopes to pursue after he graduates. Zach loves to get his hands dirty in the ourdoors! Zach spent part of a summer volunteering along the Appalachian trail as well as time in Jackson, Wyoming, where he a month hiking to and from various geologic sites throughout Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.  Zach is thrilled to spend his summer in Puerto Rico this summer on our Caribbean Service Adventure as they make a difference and explore the beautiful rainforests and coastlines of the Caribbean!