Friday is, indeed, the door to the weekend… but on Apogee trips, every single DAY is the weekend! It is very common to lose track of which day of the week it is on Apogee trips — quite frequently, this blogger thinks it is a Saturday when it’s actually a Tuesday. The excitement in the activities every day on Apogee trips makes for some awesome experiences and we hope that all of our students can bring this “every day is a weekend” energy and positivity into life beyond Apogee!
Skip to a Specific Trip: MCJ, CI, CS, DEXA, DEXB, VMA, VMB, CRMC, CMCA, CMCB, AKMC, SH, PMC, ECC1, ECC2 ACC
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
“Goodbyes are not forever, they are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again”
After a fabulously fun filled week, our MCJers exchanged parting words to each other with the hope that some day they will meet up again to hike, bike, kayak, do service and explore together.
Cape Cod & the Islands (CI)
Today our bikers on Cape Code went SUPing on a beautiful day on the Cape (super fun acronym for Stand Up Paddle boarding)! It was mostly a day off of the bikes for them, as they didn’t have to ride with weight today. This afternoon they relaxed, played some games, and geared up for their last day of riding tomorrow!
Caribbean Service (CS)
Island life is the best life. Not only do our CS’ers get to enjoy the laid-back life on Puerto Rico, but they get to explore the amazing smaller island of Vieques, off the eastern coast of PR. Today, the crew spent time helping clean-up a beach that experienced high volumes of debris post-Maria. They also had a full-fledged “olympics” day, with Ultimate Frisbee, foosball, and other competitions to gain points for their teams!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXA)
DEXA spent this lovely Friday exploring all the Acadia National Park has to offer. They hiked FOUR PEAKS today, all which gave them spectacular views and engaging conversation. What a time to be alive!
Top of Mount Sargent!
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEXB)
The second day of back country backpacking for these folks! While they hike through the beauty of the Appalachian Trail, we await their return and the beautiful blog pictures we shall receive when they arrive back in civilization!
Vermont to Montréal A (VMA)
Our fearless adventurers of VMA spent the day doing a different type of adventuring– giving back to the community! They worked with the Intervale Center, a non profit that focuses on improving the local food economy through farming, sustainable land use, and increasing community engagement. What an incredibly fulfilling day they had!
Vermont to Montréal B (VMB)
Upon waking this morning I thought of how this just feels like the perfect day to kayak on the eighth largest naturally occurring body of fresh water in the continental United States, and that is precisely what VMB did today! They did some biking to the beaches of Lake Champlain from where they set off on a kayaking adventure. How glorious!
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
A fabulous day was spent in Costa Rica doing a day hike and marveling the beauty that this incredible country has to offer. Today they explored Cloudbridge Nature Preserve and hiked to see some amazing waterfalls in the area — sounds magical!
California Mountains & Coast (CMCA)
The first day of the backcountry, YAHOO! This group of explorers ventured into the beauty of the Yosemite wilderness for 4 days and 3 nights. As they won’t have service until they emerge from the woods, we will have to wait to see the pictures and hear the stories of their journey. So exciting!
California Mountains & Coast (CMCB)
Another backcountry journey beginning for these CMCers! Yosemite gets to experience not one but TWO groups of Apogee backpackers. Being without service for the next 4 days and 3 nights may mean we won’t be able to see any daily pictures, but being that far into the wilderness is an amazing experience.
Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)
Out of the backcountry they come! Our explorers in Alaska made their way out of the Chugach Wilderness and returned to civilization. As they drove down the Turnagin Arm and through the Chugach National Forest they kept their eyes out for seals and beluga whales riding the tide into the bay. Oh boy, are we jealous of these folks!
Look at these pictures from their backcountry section, we are in awe!
Scottish Highlands (SH)
We hear that today and tomorrow’s hill walks are incredibly beautiful — think Braveheart– huge open Highland vistas, ancient cobbled military roads, high peaks, heathered moors, and maybe some people in kilts (if they’re lucky). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Lang may yer lum reek! (Long may your chimney smoke/May you live long and keep well).
Leader Gennaro was too taken by the views that he forgot to look at the camera! It’s okay Gennaro, we all get swept away by beauty sometimes.
Pyrenees Mountains & Coast (PMC)
With their adventure on the Carros de Foc behind them, these hikers had a fun filled transit, laundry, grocery shop and preparation day today. They even crossed the border into France today! The land of baguettes, croissants and all types of French cheese will definitely treat them very well for the next few days.
OH MY GOLLY GEE! My heart actually BURST when I saw this picture. These smiles are so JOYOUS and PURE. Do you think they’re so happy because they just ate some European cheese?
Europe Coast to Coast 1 (ECC1)
Whoop whoop — Alps day! Today these bikers traversed 66 km in Austria from Gaschurn to Landeck. Going through the heart of the Alps they experienced an epic and beautiful day of climbing some serious hills. One half of our director duo extraordinaire, Kevin Cashman, says that all ECC students deserve a lot of respect for cycling this path. They definitely felt the pride after this challenging but rewarding day of peddling!
Hands up if you love European cheese!!
How much cheese do you think is in those panniers?
I would love to eat some brie next to this incredible view.
Nice snacks… but where’s the cheese??
Europe Coast to Coast 2 (ECC2)
95 km from Bregenz to Gaschurn, Austria? WOW I am impressed. They cycled into the true Alps, one of the most beautiful places in THE WORLD. I hope they’re eating all of the European cheese that they possibly can, they deserve it!
A little pop over into Liechtenstein to bag another country!
Smiling because they probably just had cheese during lunch. 
A natural water park! European campgrounds go ABOVE AND BEYOND in the sake of fun.
Friendship! And the Alps! And European cheese (probably)!
America Coast to Coast (ACC)
Just another average day for ACC, nothing too fancy you know same ol’ same ol’! Just an EIGHTY EIGHT MILE BIKE RIDE!!! This crew is so impressive. Early this morning leader Lorin sent in this picture with the caption “If the Throckmorton 6-man football team can win the state championship in 2013 then we can bike 89 miles”. Local sport miracles are an incredible source of motivation!
