Peak News: New Year, New Updates!

As we step into the new year, new events and fresh updates are unfolding within the Apogee community!

Roadshow and Webinar Season!

January always means Roadshow season here at Apogee! We are on the road for in-person presentations across the country this week and next – please join us! We also have live webinars scheduled periodically – so, if you can’t see us in person, we hope you will join us online!

Both roadshow and webinar presentations are terrific ways to learn about our summertime adventure camps for students between the ages of 11 and 18. The presentations run about 40 minutes and are filled with great pictures and information, as well as the opportunity to ask any questions you might have.


Apogee Alum Feature

Isa Caliandro

Isa Caliandro has experienced Apogee in just about every way – as a student, a trip leader, and as a full-time Assistant Director. It all began in 2009 when she attended a hiking trip in Vermont, followed by our Northwest Explorer trip the next summer. Through these initial experiences, she discovered her love for the outdoors, a passion for tight-knit communities, and a desire to make a meaningful impact. All these qualities she credits being central to who she is as a person and has set her on a path of adventure and outdoor education.

Isa, on the far right, on our old Vermont Hiker trip way back in 2009
Returning to Apogee in 2015 as a trip leader, Isa guided our New England Mountains & Coast and Maine Coast Junior trips. She led our Golden State AdventureAlps Explorer, and erstwhile Scottish Highlands hiking trips in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively, before officially joining us as a full-time Assistant Director in the winter of 2018. Working full time for Apogee gave her the niche skill set that comes with youth program administration and supported her professional growth.

Isa’s years at Apogee and her skills gained along the way inspired her in her present work, running programming in the Portland, Maine, community with the Rippleffect organization. As the Community and Partner Programs Manager, she guides, supports, and manages Rippleeffect’s programs in local schools, for partnered non-profits, and adult programs.

Isa as a leader on Alps Explorer in 2017

Reflecting on her time as an Assistant Director at Apogee, Isa says, “my experience uniquely prepared me for the work I have done and continue to do at Rippleffect. I am often inspired by it and so grateful for it. Apogee is an incredible community, and my years there showed me, most importantly, how to cultivate a community that delivers meaningful experiences to youth. I could not have asked for a better experience to launch me into a career of guiding youth and outdoor education program management. I am unbelievably grateful to have been deeply rooted in the two incredible communities that are Apogee and Rippleffect. I look forward to the continued overlap of staff, adventures, ethics, and inspiration.”

We, too, are immensely grateful to have Isa in the Apogee community!

Isa, as Assistant Director, during our 2018 leader training