Hot off the printing press from Brunswick, Maine, it’s Day 5 in the Apogee Universe! It’s my honor and privilege to report to you the latest and greatest from groups in the field. Today was a particularly exciting day for many of our groups as their trips were just beginning. Seeing all these smiling faces in pictures sent in from our amazing leaders is a true testament to all the amazing things each group was up to today. Whether it’s hiking in Maine or sea kayaking in the Mediterranean, each group has been up to amazing activities today! Join me as we get a peek into the daily adventures of each of our groups.

Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, NEMC, CRM, CS, MCCE, DEX, VMA, VMB, CRMC, CMCA, CMCB, AKMCA, AKMCB, NWX, PC, AXA, AXB, PMC

Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)

MCJ woke up early this morning and drove to Hull’s Cove in Acadia National Park to spend the first half of the day biking on the carriage trails. The group rode for 12 miles and enjoyed lunch on the shore of Eagle Lake. The students faced some tough hills, but conquered them with ease! After biking, the group had a short drive to Bar Harbor where they devoured some ice cream in a beautiful park. At the end of the day, MCJ headed back to camp and hit the pool. It has been a rewarding day and spirits are high!

Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)

Today, our CI friends had an action-packed day exploring Nantucket. The group took not one, but two ferries to get around the islands. Once they arrived on Nantucket, the group traversed the island via a ten-mile bike ride. This evening, as they settled back into camp, they could look forward to a scrumptious dinner!

 

New England Mountains & Coast (NEMC) 

Looks like our NEMC squad had an exciting day! We heard from the field that the group hiked two mountains before noon today — Mount Webster and Mount Jackson. Mount Jackson was the first mountain over 4,000 feet that most of the group had ever hiked! This crew had a blast and the spirits were high throughout both hikes. They celebrated their big accomplishment with a well-deserved rest before enjoying some more hiking tomorrow.

Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM) 

Today, our CRM crew enjoyed a morning hike just down the road from the campground. The group spotted moose, elk, and woodpeckers!  After their hike, CRM had a nice picnic lunch at a park in Grand Lake and then explored the town and the lake waterfront. We’ve gotten reports that during the van ride back to the campground, they sang their hearts out to Bruno Mars. In case anyone is wondering… the van’s name is Bruno now.

 

 

Caribbean Service (CS)

Today our CS crew assembled at the airport to get ready for their epic adventure full of exploration and community service. They spent the day getting to know each other and planning for the next twelve days in Puerto Rico!

Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)

Wednesday morning brought another productive writing session for MCCE with all their drafts returned to each other with edits. After lunch, they went to Bates College to practice college admissions interviews. On the way home, they stopped to pick strawberries and are making a delicious strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight!

 

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX)

Today, our DEX crew continued their exploration of Acadia National Park with hikes up to Gilmore Peak, Parkman Mountain, and Bald Peak. Each hike provided stunning views of the ocean and the surrounding islands. Way to go guys, we can’t wait to see what they are up to tomorrow!

Vermont to Montreal A (VMA)

The VMA students had a spectacular start to their trip and are preparing for an action-packed trek toward Montreal! The group shared a picnic lunch, did some introduction and name games, and loaded their gear in the van to head over to their first campsite. Once at camp, the group practiced setting up their tents, learned about what the next 12 days had in store, and had a filling dinner before they begin their ride in the morning.

Vermont to Montreal B (VMB)

An exciting day for our VMB crew as the long-awaited trip has finally begun! The group is rested and ready to pedal their way across Vermont! This afternoon, our VMB friends played some fun icebreaker games and got to know each other before jumping on their bikes and beginning to ride tomorrow.

Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)

All is well with the CRMC crew as they all arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica, today to start their adventure. After getting picked up at the airport, the crew drove to their accommodations, stopping at the grocery store along the way. Since it was a long transit day for this group, there is no picture for the blog at this time, but you can be sure that they are already making the most of their time in this beautiful country!

California Mountains & Coast A (CMCA)

It was an early morning for the CMCA squad where they started off their day with a nice warm breakfast. After packing up their gear, the group headed to Point Reyes National Seashore for a jam-packed day full of sea kayaking. Tonight, the group will be camping on the beach and plan on going on a nighttime paddle to see bioluminescent flora and fauna.

California Mountains & Coast B (CMCB)

CMCB remedied a chilly morning with a wonderful pancake breakfast. The group then went on a nice coastal walk with many animal sightings – cows, crabs, deer, bunnies, many birds, a few hawks, and one (far away) skunk. After an adventurous walk and becoming acquainted with the local wildlife, CMCB returned to camp to eat some lunch. This afternoon, they went down to explore the beaches near their campsite! 

 

Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)

Our Alaska Mountains and Coast A crew are off to a great start! After arriving in Alaska yesterday, the group has been busy exploring the Alaskan wilderness. Along the way, they had some cool wildlife encounters. Look at those moose!!

 

 

Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)

AKMCB is making the most of their time in Alaska and have hit the ground running. Today, they traveled to Seward and made a pit stop at Beluga Point to take in the beautiful views! Tonight, they will get lots of rest to prepare for a full day of kayaking tomorrow.

Northwest Explorer (NWX)

We have received word that our Northwest Explorers have arrived in Seattle and are getting ready for their adventure in the Pacific Northwest. At the airport, the group engaged in some bonding activities as they awaited the rest of their group to arrive. 

Pacific Coast (PC)

The PC team has all assembled in Eugene, Oregon, for the start of their adventures down the pacific coast to San Francisco! The group worked on packing their panniers, writing down some goals and favorite songs, and playing some fun bonding games on the way to camp! 

Alps Explorer A (AXA)

Now that the group is settled in Zermatt, AXA hit the trails for a beautiful view of the Matterhorn. The group enjoyed beautiful weather, excellent food, and quality time on some swings while getting ready for the next few weeks in the Alps.

Alps Explorer B (AXB)

AXB had an eventful first day in the Alps exploring and hiking around their campsite. The group found some exhilarating views along the way. AXB will continue to explore the area tomorrow and become more familiar with the landscapes around them. It’s truly breathtaking!

Pyrenees Mountains and Coast (PMC)

Today, our PMC folks headed to the water, where they spent their morning kayaking in the Mediterranean Sea. While on their kayaking tour, the group went swimming at a few beaches along the way. After eating lunch on the beach, the crew was off to explore the historic district in Sitges. What an amazing start to their adventure!