It’s the holiday season, and all the warm, cozy gatherings of these colder months have us reflecting on what an incredible journey Apogee has been on over the past 25 seasons. So many wonderful people now make up the fabric of our community. We feel beyond grateful for 25 years of stories, adventures, and friendships! This month, we’re taking time to look back and share stories from the very beginning. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season, and thank you for being part of our Apogee community.
Also, if your Apogee Alum has done something cool or exciting recently (and we know you have!), please send in a blurb and photo to lucia@apogeeadventures.com. We love hearing from you!
Looking Back at 25 Years of Adventure
Photo of the first ever Apogee Group (Chris is third from the left with his hand on the bike)
It all started with a word. In the fall of 2001, when Kevin founded Apogee, he spent a lot of time thinking about what its name should be. As he reflects, “I wanted a word that reflected our mission—giving kids a meaningful, fun experience in the outdoors that would build confidence and stay with them long after the trip ended. I wanted them to feel like their best selves and to see their trip with us as a true high point in their young lives.” He played around with a few ideas, but it was actually Gitta, Kevin’s wife, who came up with the name. She came home one day and suggested Apogee. Kevin recalls, “It’s not a word you hear very often, but it immediately resonated with me—I loved the sound of it and the meaning behind it. I knew right away that it was the perfect name.”
Apogee, defined as the highest or farthest point, helped Kevin establish the foundation for what the organization would grow into over the next 25 years. In 2002, Apogee embarked on its first-ever summer of adventure, running two bicycle touring trips from Burlington to Boston. Kevin originally set a goal of 50 students for that first season. However, as he remembers, “Despite my best efforts, we ended up with a total of just 15 kids—one group of seven and another of eight. I was a naive new business founder who believed, in the words of the movie Field of Dreams, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ It didn’t quite work out that way in 2002… but I persisted.” Those early groups showed Kevin that the mission at the heart of Apogee was real and that with hard work, it could grow. By the end of that first summer, he was even more committed. “I realized there was nothing else I wanted to do with my career but Apogee,” he says.
Chris Jensen, who was a student on that inaugural Apogee trip, still remembers both the challenge and the sense of accomplishment that came from the experience. When he first heard about Apogee, he felt intimidated by the difficulty of the trip but excited about the achievement it promised. One moment stands out: the group’s first big hill in Vermont. Standing at the base, he thought there was no way he’d reach the top. But as he climbed, he realized, “If I didn’t give up, eventually I would make it up the hill.” To this day, Chris says the experience helped to shaped his outlook on the world. It strengthened his self-confidence and mental resilience, and it sparked his love for the outdoors. As he explains, Apogee “made me enthusiastic about outdoor activities like bike rides, hiking, and camping. I still go camping to this day and want to bring my children into all these hobbies.”
From that first summer, it was clear Kevin was on to something special. Apogee’s mission — to get kids outside and accomplish something special — has remained the guiding force for 25 years.
Photos from Laura’s America Coast to Coast Adventure
Laura Armstrong joined Apogee a few years after Chris, first participating in Cape Cod and the Islands (led by the one and only Kevin Cashman). She returned the next summer for our now-retired Montana Service Adventure trip. Before she was old enough to lead trips for Apogee, she spent summer days helping out in the office at Apogee HQ. Eventually, she led for three summers, leading Coast to Quebec, Europe Coast to Coast, and our erstwhile America Coast to Coast trip.
Laura shared many memories from her time with Apogee. As a student, she remembers the pride she felt during her Montana trip: “I remember biking up the Going-to-the-Sun Highway and being so proud of getting to the top… I felt comfortable and accepted being a silly version of myself, which, as a pre-teen, was pretty rare.”
Her years as a leader were equally meaningful. Reflecting on finishing the America Coast to Coast trip, she says, “Biking into San Diego and diving into the waves and into each other’s arms still gives me the shivers. We became like family to each other that summer.”
Laura’s experience, first as a student, then as a leader, highlights the lasting impact of the Apogee community. She carries many lessons with her, including two favorites: “A positive attitude is infectious and, a lesson from Kevin: Never underestimate how powerful it is to learn people’s names.” We are so lucky to have longtime community members like Laura. She and many others who helped build our early foundation continue to inspire the Apogee of today and tomorrow.
Northwest Mountains and Coast trip in 2017
In 2020, Apogee, like the rest of the world, came to an abrupt halt. Even in this dark season, Kevin remembers moments of light, apogees, that kept him going.
“I received an email from a young woman named Frances, who had joined us in 2006 for New England Mountains & Coast trips at age 13. She was now 26 and wanted me to know how much Apogee had impacted her life—especially because she had met her best friend, Nicole, on that NEMC trip! She wrote: ‘We did not know each other before this trip, but remained in touch afterwards—writing snail mail, then emails, then eventually texting and calling (when we were old enough to get phones!) and planning trips to visit each other in our respective hometowns. We credit Apogee for our friendship and are so grateful for outdoor programs like yours that continue teaching young people about the importance of adventure, connection, and resilience—particularly now more than ever.’”
It was a reminder that even in hard times, the Apogee mission continues to spark connection, confidence, and joy.
Photos from our adventures during the 2021 season
Kaelyn DeCorte is one of our current leaders. She joined Apogee in 2024 after hearing about the program from a friend at school who had led for Apogee the previous summer. From the moment she arrived at our trip leader training, she realized that this was a community she wanted to return to year after year.
When reflecting on her favorite memories, her co-leaders always come to mind: the challenges they overcame together and the joy of supporting one another. One day stands out in particular. While leading our Iceland Mountains and Coast trip this past summer, Kaelyn experienced an unforgettable summit, a rousing dance game (now a leader favorite), and breathtaking views. She remembers it as “full of laughs and accomplishment,” adding that it left her “feeling so proud of the group, the bonds they had formed, and how much they had come out of their shells.”
One of the biggest lessons Kaelyn has taken from her time at Apogee is a mantra she and her co-leaders used often in Iceland: “The rain always passes.” It began as a reference to the weather but soon took on deeper meaning. Now, she uses it whenever life feels overwhelming.
But the impact didn’t stop there. “I’ve become a better problem solver; I’ve learned to persevere no matter what is thrown my way and I’ve become adaptable in ways I never could have imagined,” she says. “While these are things I’m so grateful for, I am most impacted by the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve formed. My three co-leaders, Benna, Seamus, and Seth, are some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met, and I’m so lucky to have found friends for life through working with them.” It just doesn’t get much better than that.
Photos from our adventures during the 2021 season
From 2001 to today, we’ve loved watching the Apogee community grow, from a single itinerary in 2002 to 17 itineraries in 2026. After 25 years of building this company, one of the greatest lessons Kevin carries with him is “you can’t do anything worthwhile alone. Apogee started as a one-person dream, but it only became what it is today because of the incredible leaders, families, students, and full-time staff who poured themselves into it. Leading Apogee has shown me, again and again, the power of trusting your team and lifting them up, listening well, and remembering that the best ideas almost always come from the people around you.”
It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of community in every chapter of Apogee Adventures. With this growth have come lifelong friendships, cherished memories, and a sense of adventure that will carry us into the future.
As Kevin puts it, one of the greatest joys of our work here at Apogee HQ is “being able to witness firsthand the positive impact our trips have on our kids — and on our trip leaders.”
We cannot wait to see what the next 25 years at Apogee hold. One thing is certain: it will be full of new adventures!
Office Happenings:
Backpacking Video!
Lights, camera, action! Assistant Directors Olivia Bush and Lucia Daranyi have put together an instructional video on how to pack backpacks for the backcountry sections of our trips. In the video, they walk viewers through the different compartments of a pack, explain what items are typically stored in each, and share helpful tips for packing efficiently. Whether you’re new to backcountry travel or just need a refresher, this video is a great resource to get you trip-ready.
Spread Holiday Cheer (and please spread the word while you’re at it!)
A few months ago, we asked some recent alumni families to fill out a survey about what factors are considered when making summer plans for their child (thank you to the many of you who participated!). With the results in and analyzed, one thing became very clear: many of you chose Apogee because of a recommendation from a trusted friend for family member. Referrals from our alumni families are by far our most effective way to reach new folks and help them reach their Apogee. So if you find yourself at a holiday party this December, we humbly ask that if the conversation turns to summer programs you throw our hat in the ring! We greatly appreciate your support of our program, and we wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season!
More adventure is just around the corner – see you in 2026!
