As they say, on any given Sunday, any team can beat any other team. Or, in our case, any trip can have their best day yet! I don’t know about you, but this blog writer is seriously ready for football season to start. The sad thing about football season, though, is that it means the end of the Apogee summer. What if we could have them both at once? Read on to learn all about the NFL’s newest team, the Apogee Adventurers!

Skip to a Specific Trip: CI, NEMCA, NEMCB, CRM, CS, MCCE, DEX, VMA, VMB, CRMC, CMC, AKMCA, AKMCB, NWX, PC, AXA, AXB, PMC

Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)

Our all-pro CI team has made it to Boston! Did you know that the New England Patriots were originally called the Boston Patriots? They kept the name from their creation in 1959 until 1971, when they started playing their home games in Foxborough. Too bad, or CI could’ve caught some of training camp today in the city! Even with no Mac Jones sightings, this team had a great time exploring the historic city of Boston. After their ferry ride in from Provincetown this morning, they spent the afternoon soaking up their last hours together before enjoying a celebratory dinner out on the town. Congratulations on a championship-worthy trip, CI!

New England Mountains & Coast A (NEMCA)

While there have been many championship parades in New England over the last two decades, there should really be another one for NEMCA! This team ended their fourth quarter strong, and they’ll surely be watching the highlights back for years to come. After one last breakfast together this morning, the crew packed up and parted ways. We’ll miss you like Patriots fans miss Julian Edelman, NEMCA!

New England Mountains & Coast B (NEMCB)

That’s a wrap for NEMCB! Now that they’ve finished their epic away game, it’s time for this star-studded team to return home. After a lovely final dinner last night, the group said their goodbyes this morning and rolled out. Surely their goodbyes were more enthusiastic than Bill Belichick’s press conferences… 

Colorado’s Rocky Mountains (CRM)

Move over Von Miller, there’s a new MVP of the Centennial State! And when I say MVP, I mean Most Valuable Players, as we could never pick just one member of our CRM team! This crew ended their trip undefeated today by enjoying one last breakfast together before riding off (on Broncos?) into the sunset. Well played, CRM!

Caribbean Service (CS)

You’d think they were the Dolphins with the way our CS team was catching waves this morning! This group kicked off their morning in Utuado with an awesome surfing session on the beach, where they learned with the pros and caught some gnarly waves. After a lunch of champions, they hit the beach again for a relaxing afternoon in the sun. It looks like homemade guacamole is on the menu with dinner – yum! Here’s a fun football fact for you: Victor Cruz’s mother is from Puerto Rico, and he has fully embraced his PR heritage both on the field (with his iconic salsa dance touchdown celebrations) and off since his retirement in 2018. Cruz played five seasons with the New York Giants and helped them in their Super Bowl XLVI victory (a game this blog writer would rather not talk about).

Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)

We’re happy to report that MCCE dominated in their recent victory over the College Essay team! Those essays were no match for these strong writers, who had the game well in hand since the first quarter. After sealing their victory, team MCCE departed for their hometowns, where they’ll be welcomed home like the stars they are. No overtime for this team!

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX)

It’s kickoff time for DEX! They’ve trained, they’ve practiced, they’ve suited up, and now it’s finally game time! This team came together for the first time today, meeting all their teammates and learning about all the amazing different skill sets they each bring to the game. Tomorrow, they’ll board the team bus (van) and take a road trip up to Acadia National Park for a day of exploration!

Vermont to Montreal A (VMA)

VMA has their game faces on, and they’re ready to rock n’ roll! Their leaders, Lena and Max, have some of the best pump-up chants in the game, and they’ve got this crew excited to get riding. After meeting their teammates for the first time today, these cyclists are ready to run up the score on the hills of Vermont, starting by crushing their 22-mile ride into Salisbury tomorrow.

Vermont to Montreal B (VMB)

And now, choosing to be introduced as a team, here are the stellar young cycling champions, VMB! Did you know that in the 2001 season Super Bowl, the Patriots were the first team ever to elect to be introduced as a team? It showcased their team mentality and ultimately led to them winning their first-ever Super Bowl – and our VMB group is hoping to do the same! Not to win the Super Bowl, of course (well, not now, anyway), but to adopt the team mentality that helps groups achieve their goals together. Their first test as a team will be their 15 mile ride to Bomoseen tomorrow!

Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)

Is that a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes flying through the air? Nope, that’s just CRMC! (Listen, I’m trying my best not to show my bias in this blog, but I must admit it was hard for me not to write Tom Brady there.) Our Costa Rica team was zooming through the trees on Central America’s longest zipline today, taking in some sweet views of the jaw-dropping scenery. After an impressive first half (of the day), these adventurers spent the third quarter in transit to San Gerardo and the fourth preparing for their day hike tomorrow!

California Mountains & Coast (CMC)

There have been so many reports of stellar athletes in Point Reyes, CA, that you’d think the Pro Bowl was being held there! And while it may not be the Pro Bowl, something very special is taking place in the Golden State – the first full day of CMC! This stacked team traded the turf for the water today with a day of sea kayaking off the coast. They’ll set up camp on a beach tonight before more paddling and a day hike tomorrow! Go, CMC, go!

Alaska Mountains & Coast A (AKMCA)

Ever wonder how NFL players are so good at their jobs? One word: preparation. And that was the word of the day for AKMCA today! This team spent the day at Eagle River in full-on preparation mode for their backcountry exploration of Chugach State Park that they’ll kick off on tomorrow. Word from our reporters on (in!) the field is that they also found some time to explore the river and build some pretty epic sand castles. We’re rooting for you, AKMCA!

Alaska Mountains & Coast B (AKMCB)

AKMCB squeezed so much into today so efficiently that they should be hired to schedule the NFL season! Before they can take on that task though, they’ve got an epic Alaskan journey ahead of them. They kicked off their morning with a road trip to Seward, where they got to enjoy their first full day as a team by exploring the city and getting everything in order for the two-day kayaking adventure that they’ll embark on tomorrow. Our office Alaska expert, Andi, has informed me that most Alaskans root for the Seattle Seahawks when it comes to football. Hopefully AKMCB will get to see some of the actual birds, not just the jerseys!

Northwest Explorer (NWX)

Down, set, HIKE! It’s day one of backcountry part two for our fearless NWX team, and they’re moving through the wilderness like Rob Gronkowski through defenders. They set off on their new adventure this morning, hiking three and a half miles into the backcountry of Northern Cascades National Park, where they’ll spend five days exploring the wonders of the Pacific northwest. While we won’t be able to get photos from them for a while, we’re sure they’ll be enjoying their time off the grid(iron).

Pacific Coast (PC)

Eureka, they’re in Eureka! PC crushed an impressive 54 miles today – that’s equivalent to 950 football fields! That’s an amazing feat, even for the most in-shape professional athletes. After their game on the road today, they’ll have a bye tomorrow as they take on a community service project in the beautiful city of Eureka. They’ll also get a chance to pick up mail from their biggest fans while they’re there!

Alps Explorer A (AXA)

While they might not play American football in France, our AXAers had perfect form while tackling their hike today! The team crushed 11 more miles of the Tour du Mont Blanc through the French Alps today as they trained for their longest hike of the trip (12 miles!) tomorrow. Speaking of blanc, did you know that of the 55 Super Bowls that have been played, the team wearing white has won 35 of them?

Alps Explorer B (AXB)

They’re at the 50! The 40! The 25! The 10! TOUCHDOWN (in Italy)!! Break out your best TD celebration, because AXB officially crossed into the Italian Alps today – that’s the third country they’ve toured through! This all-in team crushed a 9-mile hike today, ending at a beautiful Italian refugio fit for MVPs. Tomorrow, they’ll defeat their biggest opponent yet: a gorgeous 15.5-mile hike of the TMB. Our all-stars weren’t able to get a photo over to us tonight, but we are sure that our jaws will drop with what they send in tomorrow! 

Pyrenees Mountains and Coast (PMC)

In the wise words of many a football player, let’s goooooo! PMC kicked off their winning day with an awesome kayaking session, followed by an exploration of a cave that goes all the way into a mountain that Neanderthal bones were once found in! How cool is that? As if this weren’t already an MVP-caliber day, they also went to a secret beach cove, ate some lunch in the shade, and explored the town of Sitges. Tomorrow, they’ll take a road trip to Port de la Selva!