Highlights
- Sea kayak Maine’s rocky coast
- Explore world-famous Acadia National Park
- Backpack on the Appalachian Trail and climb Maine’s highest peak, Mt. Katahdin
- Help clean up a coastal habitat
- Explore and celebrate in historic Portland, Maine
Trip Details
- Start: Brunswick, ME, USA
- End: Brunswick, ME, USA
- Age Range: 13 - 15
- Cost: $3,999
Dates
Jun 28 - Jul 10 (Available)
Jul 29 - Aug 10 (Available)
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Trip Itinerary
By land and by sea, this action-packed hiking, backpacking, and kayaking adventure offers the best of Maine. On this goal-oriented adventure trip for teens, you’ll sea kayak along Maine’s rocky coast, help clean up coastal habitats, hike world-famous Acadia National Park, and attempt a summit of Mount Katahdin, Maine’s tallest peak. Vacationers travel great distances to do just one of these amazing activities – you’ll do them all. What’s more? You’ll return home with incredible new friendships, stories to share, and memories to last a lifetime.
Hiking Acadia National Park
Following introductions in Brunswick, Maine, we’ll head for Acadia National Park, where “the mountains meet the sea.” Here, we’ll lace up our boots and hit the trails, quickly discovering why Acadia is one of the most visited National Parks in the country. We’ll embark on some spectacular and iconic hikes and enjoy views of panoramic ocean vistas and endless forests. One of the highlights of our time in Acadia will come during our sunrise hike, where we’ll be among the first people in the country to watch the sunrise on the eastern seaboard, soaking in the deep oranges, crimsons, and violets. After warming up on Acadia’s friendly trails, we’ll be ready for the more rugged landscapes in northern Maine.
Backpacking the Appalachian Trail & Climbing Mount Katahdin
Our multi-day backpacking excursion in the north Maine woods will find us hiking us along a section of the famed Appalachian Trail, through silent forests and past ponds where moose gather. Upon arrival in Baxter State Park, we’ll embark up the rocky terrain of Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and the highest peak in Maine, providing stunning views of Maine’s expansive wilderness. Our biggest challenge conquered, we’ll head back to the sparkling waters of the coast.
Sea Kayaking Jericho Bay
Settling in Stonington, we’ll meet our kayaking guides before launching off in sea kayaks to paddle for two days among the picturesque islands and rocky inlets that make Maine’s coastline so spectacular and unique. That night, we’ll camp on an uninhabited island that’s preserved by the Maine Island Trail Association, eat together under windswept pines, gaze at the stars, and wake up to the sound of seagulls, lapping waves, and working lobster boats. Feeling sea-sprayed and accomplished, we’ll paddle back to the mainland and head to historic Portland to explore the Old Port and enjoy a celebratory dinner out on the water.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our General FAQ page for many more frequently asked questions and answers!
How physically challenging is Maine's Downeast Explorer?
Given a rating of Challenge Level 5 (out of a maximum of 10), we consider Maine’s Downeast Explorer (DEX) to be an intermediate hiking trip that any moderately fit, motivated student can successfully complete with some preparation. Compared to similar hiking trips, we believe that DEX is similar in challenge level Alaska Mountains and Coast, but easier than Dolomite Mountains & Croatian Coast. Please note that all of Apogee’s Challenge Levels are not scientific and are subjectively calculated by the Apogee staff.
Where will my child be sleeping at night?
Our Maine’s Downeast Explorer groups will be camping every night over the course of the trip; they will spend eight nights in established, front country campsites, and three nights in the “backcountry” (one night island camping and two nights on the Appalachian Trail). Leaders will separate students by gender into tent groups, and will rotate those groups several times over the course of the trip. Students will generally share a tent with two or three other students.
What does a typical day on Maine's Downeast Explorer look like?
The wonderful thing about our programs is that every day is different and exciting, so no two days will be exactly the same. That said, the general layout of a day on Maine’s Downeast Explorer starts with a morning activity (usually from about 8:30 AM until lunchtime), then an afternoon activity (after lunch until about 4 PM). The morning and afternoon activity may be the same (e.g., hiking on the Appalachian Trail in the morning, eating lunch on the summit, then hiking to camp the afternoon), or, on some days, they will be different (e.g., kayaking in the morning and community service in the afternoon). After the afternoon activity, the group returns to their campsite, prepares dinner, and plays some evening games before the evening “Apogees and Perigees” circle that wraps up each Apogee day. For more detailed information on the day-to-day schedule of this trip, please contact us.
What is the maximum number of students I can expect on my child’s Apogee trip?
There are never more than twelve students on an individual session of this trip. Additionally, we limit enrollment by gender to two-thirds/one-third. Groups are always led by two or three of our excellent trip leaders.
How will I communicate with my child while they are on this trip?
We are a technology-free program, meaning that your child won’t have access to their phone or other electronics over the course of their trip. We have one email stop on our Maine’s Downeast Explorer program; parents, relatives, and friends are welcome to use this to send messages to our office, which will be forwarded along to the group on a designated “email day.” If you have an urgent message to get to your child, please call our office and we’ll work to get you connected with your child.
My child will be flying to this trip start. How will they connect with their leaders?
Please note that Apogee staff members do not travel with students; our trip leaders will already be in Maine on arrival day and will stay in Maine after the trip ends. We will ask you to share your child’s detailed flight itinerary with us prior to the trip so that Apogee staff can be fully prepared to be at the airport to greet them on arrival. Once students are with their leaders, they will call home to let their parents know they have arrived and are with their group. Please see our blog post for specifics regarding students traveling using an airline’s Unaccompanied Minor escort service. Further, we encourage you to coordinate travel with other attendees; we’re happy to put you in touch with other enrolled families from your region. We will provide enrolled families with a Travel Information document covering details specific to traveling to and from Portland, including airport information and arrival and departure time windows. Please contact Apogee with any specific questions or concerns regarding drop-offs and/or pick-ups.
How does group move from place to place on the trip? Do they have a van?
Yes – the group will move around in their 15-passenger van, with a trailer used to store and transport their duffel bags and camping gear.
What is the difference between front-country and backcountry camping? What will the backcountry camping portion of Maine’s Downeast Explorer be like?
Generally speaking, the front-country is any area that is easily accessible by vehicles and day users. The backcountry, on the other hand, involves recreating and camping in more remote locations without running water or other facilities. Camping in the backcountry requires more preparation because of the need to carry in all food and equipment, and to treat drinking water prior to consumption. Our Maine’s Downeast Explorer trip has two backcountry portions: a one-night sea-kayaking expedition, where the group will camp on a remote island, and a two-night backpacking section on the Appalachian Trail.
How much weight will my child carry on the hiking portions of this trip?
During their exploration of Acadia and Camden Hills State Park, the hikes will all be day-hikes, meaning students won’t be carrying overnight camping supplies. During these sections, students will be carrying between five and ten pounds during their hikes, composed mostly of an extra layer of clothes, rain gear, water, and snacks. For the backcountry hiking portion on the Appalachian Trail, your child should expect to carry somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds in their pack.
What does the community service portion of this trip entail?
The specifics of our community service projects and the number of hours we volunteer varies slightly from year-to-year. In the past, we have worked with the Maine Island Trail Association on a variety of tasks, including trash pick-up and beach beautification on various islands during our sea-kayaking portion. Students can expect 3-5 hours of community service work over the course of our trip.
Aside from the trip cost, what are the additional expenses for this trip?
Apogee’s tuition costs are meant to be all-inclusive and include all meals, accommodation, and activity fees. The most significant additional expenses on our Maine’s Downeast Explorer trip will include travel to and from Maine, hiking boots, sleeping bag and pad, and personal gear. We suggest that you review the packing list (downloadable on this webpage) to determine what personal gear you already own and what you might need to acquire for this program. Please also check out our Gear Recommendations blog post for links to our personal recommendations.
