Spring is in the air, and with it comes a fresh wave of stories and updates from the Apogee Universe!
Also, if your Apogee Alum has done something cool or exciting recently (and we know you have!), please send a blurb and photo to jackie@apogeeadventures.com. We love hearing from you!
Alumni Student Feature
Our Amazing Alumni Leaders!
At Apogee, the journey doesn’t end when your trip does! For many, it’s just the beginning. Each year we welcome back a large number of alumni Apogee students for their next adventure with us. Here at Apogee HQ we love watching alumni students grow as they work their way from Maine Coast Junior all the way up to Alps Explorer! But today we want to feature those alumni students who take one step further and work through our rigorous application process to return as Apogee trip leaders! These impressive Apogee alumni are ready to guide the next generation of students through the same trips that shaped them.
This summer, that commitment is stronger than ever — 25% of our 2025 summer staff are former Apogee students, a testament to the lasting impact of their experiences, the leadership skills they have built, and their desire to pay it forward.
For Apogee alumni turned leaders, the transition from student to leader is both exciting and meaningful. Just ask Sophie Blumberg (DEX ’16, CMC ’17, CRMC ’18, PMC ’19) and Henry Hamilton (CQ ’17, PC ’18, ECC ’19), who both led our Iceland Mountains and Coast trip last summer!
Sophie first joined us in 2016 on our Maine’s Downeast Explorer trip, and after that experience she was hooked, going on to complete four total trips with us as a student! When she aged out of being a student, she realized just how much she missed her Apogee summers and knew she wanted to apply to be a leader as soon as she was eligible. As she puts it, “I didn’t consider becoming an Apogee leader until the first summer I was too old to be a student. That was when I realized how much I missed having an Apogee summer. Apogee was always something I looked forward to all year.” Now in her third summer as a leader, Sophie will be guiding one of our Alps Explorer trips this year!
Henry first joined us in 2017 on our since-retired Coast to Quebec bike trip! In 2018 he returned to complete our Pacific Coast bike trip, and then again in 2019 for our Europe Coast to Coast bike trip. As he recalls, “I knew that I wanted to work for Apogee after my first trip! I was hooked. I had the best experience and wanted to be a leader to give my students memorable experiences like I had.” This summer Henry is returning for his fourth year leading for us, this time supporting our Pacific Coast bicycle trip, which was one of the trips he went on as a student!
Staff Feature
Maeve Dick
We are excited to spotlight one of our own incredible trip leaders, Maeve Dick, a four-time Apogee leader having led Costa Rica Mountains and Coast, Northwest Explorer (now Northwest Mountains and Coast), and two summers of Alps Explorer!
Now based in Cleveland, Ohio, Maeve dances professionally with Inlet Dance Theatre and teaches at several dance studios in the area. While her days are now a bit different than her summers in the Alps, the lessons she learned as an Apogee leader remain at the heart of her work. From leading unforgettable trips to mastering the art of packing the most efficient bear canister, Maeve’s time with Apogee reinforced her love for working with students and helping them experience new challenges.
Her advice for anyone considering joining an Apogee trip? Take the leap and do it. In her own words, “Apogee is a great community for students and leaders alike and creates summers full of fun, friendship, growth, adventure, and learning.”
While Maeve won’t be joining us this summer, we are so grateful to have her as a part of the Apogee family and can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next!
Office Happenings
Alps Explorer – Additional Sessions Added!
In case you missed the initial announcement: due to popular demand, we recently have added two additional sessions of our Alps Explorer backpacking trip! These new sessions will run alongside the original dates: June 28 to July 14 and July 18 to August 3. This allows us to offer separate groups – one for mostly 15 and 16-year-olds and another for mostly 17 and 18-year-olds.
With loads of adventure packed into 17 days, our Alps Explorer trip is a great choice for your high schooler who is looking to explore all that Europe has to offer. Students will hike on trails with stunning views of the Matterhorn before setting off on the Tour du Mont Blanc – an epic backpacking circuit that will take them through France, Italy, and Switzerland!
We have already received a lot of interest in these new sessions, so please don’t wait – reach out to us with any questions and enroll today to secure your spot on the adventure of a lifetime!
Blog Feature
Growing To Give
We are thrilled to highlight our partnership with Growing to Give, a Maine-based nonprofit using sustainable farming to fight food insecurity, on our blog. With a mission to provide fresh, organic produce to local food pantries, Growing to Give thrives on community involvement, including the helping hands of many Apogee students throughout the summer! Read on to discover how our partnership with Growing to Give is making a tangible impact and fostering a spirit of service in our students.