A selection of haikus:

Time to say goodbye

A lot of trips are ending

Happy Memories

 

In redwood forests

Some trips are still on the move

Also in Europe

 

Don’t forget Northwest

And Puerto Rico plus the

Costa Rica trips

 

Bike: pedal pedal

Hike: One foot leads another

Service trips: Help out!

 

Skip to a Specific Trip: CI, CS,  DEXA, DEXB, VMA, VMB, CRMC, CMCA, CMCB, NWXA, NWXB, PCA, PCB, PMC, AXA, AXB, ECC, ACC1, ACC2

Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)

These youngsters left their Apogee family today and headed back to their home families. They enjoyed an epic ride with Taylor and Amelia, who will miss them all dearly. They hope to see you all again next summer continuing on more great adventures!

Caribbean Service (CS)

It’s the final full day in Puerto Rico for team CS. You know what they say: time flies when you’re having fun and making a difference! The team made their way back to the main island on their final ferry trip through the blue Caribbean waters to San Juan, where they spent their final day exploring the old city. Old San Juan is a colorful, cobblestoned, historical city, and here at Apogee HQ we imagine it’s the idyllic way to end CS’s Puerto Rico experience.

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)

Katahdin is KatahDONE for our DEX explorers! Yesterday the trekked a whopping 5,267 feet up Maine’s highest mountain, which is also the northern terminus of the Appalachian trail. WOWZA! See pictures below for incredible Katahdin views. Our leaders reported that highlights of Katahdin included lunch at the summit and running into a lot of inspirational hikers finishing the AT. Today, the DEXA team hit the road back to Freeport for their final evening. A yummy dinner out on the town will be the perfect end to an incredible trip!

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXB)

DEXB said goodbye to their island life and hit the road back to Freeport. With a few days of krazy kayaking, captivating community service, and bomb-tastic bonding in their back pocket, the crew wrapped up their trip. A final dinner in Portland made for a nice treat (and geographically appropriate ending) to their trip. We hear the salad at Flatbread is a major show-stopper and can’t be beat. Get it with goat cheese on the side for a nice, creamy treat!

Vermont to Montréal A (VMA)

Today our VMA bikers crushed a whopping 25 miles – oh wait, just kidding! They spent their final day exploring Montreal! All their hard biking work paid off, and the squad enjoyed a lovely day adventuring around the Canadian city on foot. The end – or as the Canadians say in French, “la fin” – of a wonderful trip!

Vermont to Montréal B (VMB)

On their final day, with all their riding behind them, our VMB group spent the day lounging around one of the oldest and most marvelous cities on the eastern seaboard. The old city, the new city, the lookout… So much to do, so little time. We hope they squeezed in a moment to indulge in some poutine – a Montrealais classic! It’s really the topper to a wonderful trip.

Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)

Snorkel, snorkel! What a beautiful day for our CRMC kids. They spent the day (you guessed it!) snorkeling around Canos Island. An awesome boat ride, a beautiful island, and some epic marine life (see dolphin spotting photo below)! It doesn’t get much better than that. Indeed, our CRMC crew is living the pura vida!  

California Mountains & Coast (CMCA)

And that’s a wrap! After two weeks of exploring mountains and coasts in the golden state, our CMCA pals have headed home with fond memories, new friends, and tired legs. 

California Mountains & Coast (CMCB)

Alas, two weeks of kayaking, hiking, surfing, and adventuring have come to an end for CMCB. (*Apo office sheds collective tear*). How will the rest of the summer ever compare to these epic two weeks for CMCB?! Feel free to check the blog periodically to help ease your Apogee withdrawals.  

Northwest Explorer (NWXA)

These backcountry adventurers are more than halfway through their backcountry stint. We will just have to be patient for a little longer to get a glimpse of the beautiful landscape they have been soaking in each day.

Northwest Explorer (NWXB)

The day has come for these travelers to finally get to go explore the great wilderness of Olympic National Park. It should be both a challenge and a wonderful treat for the group! Together, they’ll encounter stunning sights, hike over 3 passes, and reach about 6,500 feet. It is going to be a veritable whirlwind of adventure on this upcoming backcountry expedition.

Pacific Coast (PCA)

Cruising down highway 101 they go! It was a 55-mile ride through California’s redwood forest for PCA. These fearless bikers tackled the “Avenue of the Giants” – a world-famous scenic drive that boasts incredible lines of giant California redwoods. Views on views on views!  

Pacific Coast (PCB)

After a wonderfully fulfilling day of service with Food For People, the PCBers are back at it again with a 55-mile ride along California’s glorious redwoods. These tree-enthusiasts have developed quite the relationship with these fantastic forestial growths. As a (self-proclaimed) wolf pack, they must feel right at home. And they made a fun pit-stop at the fire station along their way!

Pyrenees Mountains & Coast (PMC)

These European explorers had quite the train ride through French and Spanish countrysides today on their way to Barcelona, home to the architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi. With a full day tomorrow to explore the wondrous homeland of Catalonian culture, our PMCers are excited to experience all that they can!

 

Alps Explorer (AXA)

It’s “au revoir” to France and “ciao” to Italy for our Alps Explorers! Today, the group hiked a little over nine miles from France, crossing the border into Italy. The trekkers hiked along the Col De La Seigne, which offered some stunning views of both France and Italy. (Typical). Tonight, this crew takes a break from setting up tents and instead spends the night in a rifugio mountain hut along the trail.

Alps Explorer (AXB)

Rest day, best day! Today team AXB had their one and only rest day in Courmayeur as they hike the TMB. Well deserved after miles and miles of Alpine trekking. From the looks of it, the explorers (especially leader Sam) are really enjoying the yummy Italian food.

Europe Coast to Coast (ECC)

The Apogee Tour de France, much like the real-world Tour de France, has been underway for days now, and these happy campers have finally made it to the city of lights. That’s right – today they visited Paris, France for a wonderful day of city exploration! Might be a rest day off the bike, but surely no rest in the city of love. This group trekked around by foot checking out some of the city’s most famous attractions!

America Coast to Coast (ACC1)

These brave souls finished their third 93-mile day of the week (their second in two days)! They eagerly look forward to refreshing their bodies and minds before hitting the road again tomorrow. They’ve really hit their stride, and tomorrow they will take the big leap across the Mississippi river into Arkansas – state 5 of 9!

America Coast to Coast (ACC2)

With only 68 miles of riding today (their last full day in Alabama!) ACC2 is already looking back on all the fun times they had the past few days. These kiddos are itching to hit the road tomorrow and start a trio of days adding up to almost 270 miles, which will carry them across the The Big Muddy… Old Blue? …Ol’ Man River?! …THE GATHERING OF RIVERS?!?! …The MISSISSIPPI RIVER!!! Wahoooooo!