It is a bittersweet day at Apogee Adventures. Today, the blog is celebrating both the trips that are ending and the few that are lucky enough to still be in-session. While it is sad to see many trips ending, we are smiling here in the office as we reflect on two magical months of memories, friendships, and adventures. These months are the ones we look forward to every year, and it’s easier to close the season knowing there are always more to come. Take a look at how our last few trips are finishing out the summer in style!
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Skip to a Specific Trip: AKMC, AX CRMC, CSPR, CSVI, DEX, IMC, MCCE, MCJ, NEMC, NWX, PC, VM
Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)
Over in Alaska, our crew is taking in their last day together in Anchorage! Their explorations took them downtown and into many local shops where they found unique souvenirs to commemorate their experience. To finish off the day, the group enjoyed a final meal together in the city. Stories, jokes, and accomplishments were shared over dinner as they celebrated the amazing places they got to experience together and the friendships they formed along the way. Our first Alaska explorers head home this evening with stories and smiles aplenty. Goodbye, Alaska!
Alps Explorer (AX)
In the Alps, our explorers enjoyed a slow morning and a breakfast spread that ended with chocolate croissants. After taking the morning leisurely, they headed over to the botanical gardens for some community service. After cleaning up trash, they celebrated their hard work by taking a water taxi across lake Geneva to explore the Old Town! Our explorers feasted their eyes on beautiful old buildings and churches. The day finished with a pizza party on the pier near the waterfront and gelato to celebrate the end of a successful trip!
Caribbean Service Puerto Rico (CSPR)
CSPR has officially completed their 12 days of community service! What an adventure they’ve had the past couple weeks! While the group is sad to part, they leave knowing that their hard work has benefited the place they came to love so much over these last two weeks. CSPR left behind a positive impact, but took the meaningful experiences, memories, and newfound friendships home with them.
Caribbean Service Virgin Islands (CSVI)
Today was filled with heartfelt goodbyes for CSVI as the group parted ways. Even though they are leaving the Virgin Islands, the memories of community service, hiking, and snorkeling in tropical waters will undoubtedly fly home with them. They also leave with the knowledge that they spent the past weeks creating positive change in the world. What an accomplishment!
Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)
With such an amazing trip coming to a close today, it was bittersweet for the Costa Rica Mountains and Coast crew to part ways. It is hard to believe that in just over a week these explorers have trekked through rainforests, near volcanoes, and along pristine coastlines. They parted with promises to stay touch and with memories to last a lifetime.
Iceland Mountains & Coast (IMC)
Today the Iceland Mountains and Coast group ends their adventure where they started: at the airport. It’s hard to believe it was only 12 days ago that these adventures and friendships began. In that period of time, IMC has tried their hand at sea kayaking, seen beautiful waterfalls, explored ice caves, and much more! With such an incredible experience, it is difficult to say goodbye but well worth the memories.
Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)
Here in Maine, our future authors are still hard at work! They made excellent progress on their essays today. However, while hard work is important, so is play. After their morning essay writing success, they enjoyed a foggy hike by the ocean. They even found a few snails that came out of their shells! After returning to their accommodations, they watched the Olympics, competed in trivia, and had an Oreo challenge! All in all, an excellent day. Stay tuned for one more day of fun on the Maine Coast with our favorite writers!
Maine Coast Junior (MCJ)
Over on the coast of Maine, our MCJ group is so lucky to have adventures left to experience together! While other groups are saying goodbye, MCJ started the day by saying hello to an amazing sunrise. They drove up to Cadillac mountain where they were the first people in the country to see the sunrise! This was followed by a lovely hike and then some well deserved time to rest at camp, including a hot chocolate treat! They ended the day with a delicious dinner.
Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX)
In Downeast Maine, our explorers are in full swing! Today marks the start of their kayaking adventure in the beautiful Isle au Haut Bay! After paddling and enjoying the scenery, they aided the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) with a beach clean up. Unfazed by the rain, they even decided to go swimming in the ocean! After a rewarding day, our crew set up camp, ate a homemade dinner, and headed into their tents for another night under the stars.
New England Mountains & Coast (NEMC)
In the Mountains and Coast of New England, our crew is taking time to give back to the local community by working with an awesome organization called Growing to Give. Farming and gardening is the theme of today, and the only thing NEMC is saying goodbye to are weeds! After a rewarding session of helping out on the farm and learning about the impact of their work, they headed back to camp for some games and dinner.
Northwest Explorer (NWX)
The Northwest has been explored! Today the NWX crew is parting ways after 20 days together! In less than a month, this amazing group has sharpened their backpacking skills and seen stunning backcountry vistas that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The combination of hiking, rafting, sea kayaking, and stunning natural scenery leaves this group with so many stories to tell! As flights depart, we know that the memories and friendships will stay.
Pacific Coast (PC)
On the Pacific Coast, our crew celebrated their last day together in San Francisco! It was a beautiful day of wandering next to the ocean, exploring Chinatown, and riding the trolley. They celebrated the end of their epic journey along the Pacific coast with a delicious dinner, which they were eagerly awaiting in the photo below. After dessert, they returned to their accommodations for one last circle of Apogees and Perigees. Goodbye, PC!
Vermont to Montreal (VM)
It’s official! They made it! What an incredible achievement! Not everyone can say they biked from Vermont to Montreal this summer, but these kids sure can. The trip from Vermont to Montreal officially ends today as our group parts ways. Congratulations to VM, and safe travels home!