Day 39: Sundays at Apogee

Sunday is the day for self-care and relaxation, and our favorite self-care at Apogee is adventure! Today, like everyday, is an opportunity to try new skills and dive into exciting experiences. Though adventure is at every turn, our crews still make time to slow down and appreciate all the beautiful spaces and little moments. Read on to see how our crews incorporated moments of mindfulness into their day!

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Skip to a Specific Trip: AKMCAXCRMC, CSPR, CSVI, DEXIMC, MCCENEMCNWXPCVM

Alaska Mountains & Coast (AKMC)

Today the Alaska Mountains and Coast crew found rest in their Sunday by driving though Chugach National Forest and taking in the stunning views. After reaching the bay, the group observed some amazing wildlife. Views from the bay included seals, eagles, and even beluga whales! This Sunday, our crew also gave back to the community that they’ve been adventuring in by participating in a community service project at the Kenai Watershed Forum. After resting up tonight in camp, they’ll go to bed excited to begin their kayaking adventure tomorrow!

Alps Explorer (AX)

The Alps Explorers are taking the day of rest to heart with rest day #2! They had a nice and slow morning filled with freshly baked croissants and breakfast sandwiches before heading into town for a grocery restock. Post-shop, they enjoyed a peaceful picnic lunch and gelato in the square, then everyone got to show their unique talents by hosting a 20 minute session of their choice. Sessions included how to tie knots, martial arts, calisthenics, soccer drills, cooking, pasta making, learned new hairstyles, and concluded with some yoga. What an ideal Sunday!

 

 

Caribbean Service Puerto Rico (CSPR)

The CSPR crew is living a dream of a Sunday. They did more service with Apoyo Mutuo Agricola at a cattle and bull farm this morning! Students helped Augusto, a local farmer, with organizing his barn area, planting a Puerto Rican grass that prevents erosion, and cleaning a room that will soon be a cheese processing area! They also learned how to make Tostones, a Puerto Rican specialty of boiled, smashed, and fried green plantain, which they ate with their delicious Puerto Rican lunch! Afterwards, the group cooled off in a river spot and enjoyed an evening of games.

 

 

 

 

Caribbean Service Virgin Islands (CSVI)

CSVI made sure to enjoy some R&R this Sunday with a stunning sunrise hike to Jack and Isaac Bay, where they then enjoyed some beach time and snorkeling! It looks like their early wake-up was rewarded with some beautiful ocean views. After a busy past few days of snorkeling, kayaking, and sunrise hiking, the group is looking forward to a chill afternoon, where they will rest up before another morning of service tomorrow!

 

 

Costa Rica Mountains & Coast (CRMC)

After a sweet night of chocolate making lessons, Costa Rica Mountains and Coast enjoyed an amazing breakfast today made from local ingredients. They spent the morning building planters to grow papaya for the local rural community, then found an awesome waterfall to swim in before lunch! In the afternoon, they made tortillas and learned about medicinal plants. If that wasn’t a cool enough day already, they went on a night walk through the frog sanctuary later on. “What! A! Day!” leader Captain said. We couldn’t agree more!

Iceland Mountains & Coast (IMC)

This Sunday, Iceland Mountains and Coast took time to appreciate the natural landscape by checking out some stunning glacial formations on their tour of the Katla Ice Caves! They were amazed again and again by the beautiful scenery. The group finished off the day with a big grocery shop and a celebration of a leader birthday – an all around great day!

 

Maine Coast College Essay (MCCE)

This burgeoning group of authors gathered in Maine today to kick off their one-week writing, hiking, and kayaking adventure! They’ll spend the next week honing their writing skills and crafting beautiful essays among a ton of other fun activities. Weather has not been the group’s friend today as they wait on the arrivals of a few more group members, but they will go to sleep tonight in anticipation of their whole group coming together tomorrow!

Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX)

Today our Downeast Explorers are bringing peace to their Sunday by immersing themselves in the quiet of Northern Maine’s Baxter State Park backcountry. They walked the Appalachian Trail to their next campsite, stopping along the way to appreciate some amazing backcountry views that can only be reached by foot! They’ll enjoy the serenity of their last night in the backcountry and head back into service tomorrow, and we can’t wait to see some sweet pictures! Stay tuned!

 

New England Mountains & Coast (NEMC)

The New England Mountains and Coast crew is starting off their Sunday with some excitement! We couldn’t think of a better way to spend the first full day together than with a summit of Mt. Willard! The group took a sweet rest break to eat lunch and enjoy some awesome views. After warming up their muscles and minds today, the group is looking forward to crushing their rock climbing adventure tomorrow!

 

Northwest Explorer (NWX)

“Rest day = best day!!!!!!” says leader Cat (with that exact number of exclamation points). Our Northwest Explorers celebrated the end of their weekend with a rest day after a “DELISH” pizza dinner last night. The crew hung out, played some fun games, and got prepared for their upcoming kayaking expedition!

Pacific Coast (PC)

The Pacific Coast team is taking the meaning of Sunday to heart by slowing down with a peaceful rest day. Today the group enjoyed a little sleep-in, which was followed by a big and delicious breakfast. Then they traveled into Mendocino, walking from the town to explore Big River Beach! It was the perfect balance of adventure and chill rest day activities. Energized after their day of rest, they will begin their final stretch of biking tomorrow! We hope they’re as excited as we are! 

Vermont to Montreal (VM)

The Vermont to Montreal crew celebrated Sunday with a morning of biking across their most stunning route to date. Today they crossed over the beautiful Lake Champlain Causeway, which almost feels like you are biking on water! After crushing their mileage and enjoying their ferry ride, they got into camp with plenty of time for a maple creemee – a Vermont classic – and checked out the local mini petting zoo. Tomorrow’s ride will see them cross into Canada, and the group can’t wait for what an entirely new country has in store for them!