Day 43, oh what a day this was! Community service, backcountry hikes, and rafting were just some of the many adventures that dotted the Apogee world today. Oh, and did I mention, ACC1 TOOK THE BEACH IN SAN DIEGO! Kudos to you all on an epic voyage! 

You’ll notice that these adventures were made all the better by good friends, supportive communities, and a whole lotta love. It’s the little things that add up to make us all feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. So if reading these stories of teamwork and adventure spurs a bit of inspiration for you, would you do us a favor? Pass it forward. Give someone a fist bump, high-five or hug, we all could use one of those. Acknowledge how awesome you are and how awesome all the people around you are in what they do, day in and day out. Be the reason for somebody else’s Apogee.

So without further ado, let’s get after it.  

Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, NEMCA, NEMCB, CRM, CS, MCCE, MCP, DEXA, DEXB, VLCA, VLCB, GSA ,CRMC, CMC, AKMCA, AKMCB, AKMCC, NWXA, NWXB, NWXC, PC, ACC1, ACC2

Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)

Congratulations to our MCJers as they began trip today and had the wonderful opportunity to meet cool people! The coast of Maine is even more fun when surrounded by cool and loving people such as the ones you see here. They set out today on a week-long adventure filled with hiking, biking, kayaking, and community service! You all are awesome!

Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)

Our dashing Cape Cod crew gave back to the community today while learning about food safety, greenhouse maintenance, and micro greens. After their hard work, they took to the beach to relax and celebrate their hard work. Community service and the beach, now that’s a mighty combo, I wonder if it comes with a medium drink? 

New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)

Taking on a challenge is a lot like whitewater rafting, if you don’t get wet from the splashing water, you’re probably not doing it right. Our NEMCers hung up their hiking boots for the day and broke out their paddles for some rafting! 

New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)

What I love about hiking is one minute you’re surrounded in nature by all sorts of beautiful colors and the next, you’re high atop a mountain and you can’t tell whether that’s a cloud or a mountain in the distance. NEMC laced up their boots, filled up their water bottles, and buddied up as they hiked. “Wow, those views are amazing.” Is what somebody probably would have remarked, we look forward to seeing their pictures soon. 

Caribbean Service (CS)

NBC news coverage of the Olympics missed some of the most hotly contested matchups of the games in Costa Rica, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. I chewed off all my fingernails from all the nail biting performances our adventures put on at Apogee Olympics. They rang in their victories not with fireworks, but with an evening paddle on a bioluminescent bay. Simply, amazing!

Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)

Too Too Ra Loo, another trip start! My excitement for the MCCE trip equals the excitement I feel on the first day of school when I put on my backpack full of new colored pencils, notebooks, and crayons. Our MCCE group packed a similar bag, but theirs contained notebooks, laptops, and pens as they set out today to reflect and write in the beautiful outdoors.

Maine Coast Photo (MCP)

The smell of potential awakened our photographers as they spent the first part of their day learning about shutter speed and aperture (I had to look those up so don’t be embarrassed if you do too) with our resident photo instructor expert. In act 2 of the day, they packed their bags and cameras and set out on a hike to put these new skills to work in the gorgeous…

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)

After two days of listening to the sounds of nature and gazing up at star-speckled skies from their tents in the backcountry, our DEXers hiked out today and began their trek up to Baxter State Park where they will summit Mount Katahdin tomorrow! 

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXB)

In my mind, you gotta have three things for the backcountry, a bushel of friendship, a zest for adventure, and a pocketful of sunshine, all things you can find in an Apogee gear bag. Our DEXers packed their bags and prepped for the upcoming adventures that await them in the backcountry. Amongst all those transitions, their blog pictures must’ve gotten lost in the mail! We can only imagine and rested smiles that we would’ve seen as the group prepares for their backcountry portion!

Vermont & Lake Champlain A (VLCA)

Our VLCA crew traded their helmets, bikes, and panniers for lifejackets, paddles, and kayaks and traded a leg muscle workout for an arm muscle workout today as they explored Lake Champlain. We asked if they saw Champ (Lake Champlain’s resident monster)… they could neither confirm nor deny Champ’s presence. 

Vermont & Lake Champlain B (VLCB)

Look at this line of bright and smiling faces. Now if that doesn’t put a smile on your heart, I don’t know what will. That’s the same face I make when I’m devouring a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Our Vermonsters rolled through the farmlands of Vermont, drinking in the gorgeous scenery and fun camaraderie. 

 

Golden State Adventure (GSA)

“I like the idea of someone becoming rich because of what they gave to the world”. – Ted Lasso

The adventurers of Golden State had a day of community service with a local land trust on the coast. They spent their time removing invasive plants and then spent the remainder of their day channeling their energies to prepare for their adventure into Channel Islands National Park. 

Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)

What climbs mountains, sleeps in rainforests, and wears goggles on Saturdays? It’s CRMC! Today this crew took to the seas and spent the day snorkeling. Oh the wonders they saw, or we can hope that they saw! The group was unfortunately unable to get pictures out today, but hey mental pictures can last a lifetime.

California Mountains & Coast (CMC)

If you’d have told me this morning while drinking water out of my Nalgene that I’d see a stunning photo of the California coast with an adventuresome crew, I’d have absolutely believed you. CMC took to the coast of Cali and lucked out with a lovely hike as the fog peeled back to reveal the beautiful coastline.

Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)

I had to reach for my inhaler after seeing the breathtaking pictures of Chugach National Forest where our Alaska explorers went kayaking this morning. After beaching their kayaks our Apogeers hopped the ferry back to the mainland where future adventures await! With all that transitioning, AKMCA was unable to pass along pictures of their avid adventuring today. See you next time, AKMCA!

Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)

Our 2nd group of Alaska explorers continued their travels through the backcountry. When it comes to photos we have to exercise our patience until they get out of the backcountry but in the meantime I have my watercolors right here and can paint you a lovely mental image of our explorers hiking their way through winding trails with impressive vistas while the sounds of wildlife and friendly laughter fill their ears. 

Alaska Mountains & Coast C (AKMCC)

Our 3rd group of Alaska explorers is also in the Chugach National Forest. They hiked through the beautiful backcountry and will be eager to share stories (and photos) from their time once they hike out tomorrow! 

Northwest Explorer (NWXA)

The chills from yesterday’s image of this crew fist-bumping still linger (see yesterday’s post). NWX continued their backcountry exploration but will be hiking out brimming with stories and sights tomorrow. In lieu of photos, picture this: luscious greenery everywhere you look, a creek, no a river, a criver? runs through it. A group of fearless explorers stand shoulder by shoulder drinking in the views. What’s that you hear? Ah, the groups’ hearts beat as one.

Northwest Explorer (NWXB)

NWXB spent the day at the Olympic(s), National Park that is. The day included an epic hike up to an alpine lake where our explorers soaked in nature’s beauty and celebrated by drinking from the keg of glory (Nalgene bottles) and consuming the finest bagels in all the land. We look forward to experiencing their epicness visually through blog pictures tomorrow!

Pacific Coast (PC)

When I first heard of Bodega Bay I imagined a sea full of convenience stores complete with Nutter Butters, alas Bodega Bay is a sea full of majestic water without Nutter Butters. Our PCers spun their wheels into Bodega Bay and have their sights set on SF and the Golden Gate Bridge in just a few days!

America Coast to Coast 1 (ACC1)

If you care about each other, and have love in your heart, there isn’t anything you can’t do together, and that’s exactly what our ACCers did today! WAHOOO!!! 2,700 miles from Charleston, SC to San Diego, CA Congratulations on a journey of a lifetime! We are doing the happy dance here in the office for you and could not be any prouder! 

America Coast to Coast 2 (ACC2)

Don’t worry folks at home, our ACC2ers have been applying sunscreen everyday as liberally as they apply hummus on their sandwiches, but they had to flex some tan lines as they cruised their way through a sandbox so big your 5-year-old self would jump for joy over.