Work With Apogee

Question 1

I’m not an outdoorsy type, but this looks great. Should I even bother applying?

Absolutely! While we love our outing club friends, we find that some of our very best leaders come from all backgrounds. As long as you demonstrate great decision-making and leadership skills and you love working with kids, we’d love to talk to you.

Question 2

How challenging are Apogee trips to lead?

We believe in the concept of “achievable challenge.” While Apogee programs provide a measure of both physical and mental challenge, our trip itineraries are carefully designed to be within the reach of motivated staff members and students who are able to fulfill the “essential eligibility criteria” (please see below for more about essential eligibility criteria). Nonetheless, prior experience and fitness for a particular role may figure in to staff assignments.

Question 3

What is the application process like? Does everyone who applies get an interview?

The application process includes the following components:

Complete our written application and submit a resume;
After reviewing written materials, we will invite a select number applicants to participate in first and, in some cases, second round interviews (either in-person or virtual).

Please see the “Application Materials” section above for more information.

Question 4

I’ve been selected for an interview – what should I expect?

We have a multi-round interview process that becomes increasingly selective with each round. In first-round interviews, you can expect to be asked questions about your leadership style, past leadership experiences, and experience working with kids. If you advance to later rounds of the interview process, you can expect questions about risk management and team building. We will also ask you to talk us through how you would respond to a few different scenarios that could come up on an Apogee trip. We will provide most of the second round interview questions in advance, though there are a few we will not provide ahead of time in order to help determine your ability to think quickly and critically.

Question 5

I’m not certified in First Aid, much less Wilderness First Aid… can I still apply? How do I get certified if I’m hired?

You can absolutely still apply! If you are offered a position with Apogee, we will tell you what certifications we need you to obtain. We offer an in-house Wilderness First Aid (WFA) training immediately prior to our Leader Training, and if that doesn’t work for you, you can complete a WFA course in two days, or a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course in 5-10 days, ahead of time – and we can help point you in the right direction to find courses near you. Additionally, if we ask you to obtain a certification you don’t already have, we offer full or partial reimbursements (depending on the type of course) for the course tuition.

Question 6

Can I apply to lead a specific trip?

You are more than welcome to request a specific trip in your application, but there is no guarantee that you will be hired to lead that trip.

Question 7

So where am I going to be working, anyway?

That depends on what position(s) you are hired for! In most cases, we offer a specific trip assignment (which sometimes includes multiple trips in different locations) with every offer so that you know where you would be leading before you accept your offer. Regardless of the position that you hold, you will spend two weeks in Brunswick, Maine at the beginning of the summer for Leader Training and a few days back in Brunswick at the end of the summer for your gear de-issue and final debrief (and final celebration!). For our New England-based trips, you will spend your time in between trip sessions in Brunswick, Maine, and for most non-New England-based trips, you will spend your time in between trip sessions in a hub city near where your trip runs (e.g. our Northwest Mountains & Coast leaders spend their off days near Seattle). In all cases, Apogee provides lodging and food between trip sessions.

Question 8

When does the summer end?

Your exact end date may vary based on your position, but most staff can expect their Apogee summers to wrap up between Wednesday, August 6th and Tuesday, August 12th, 2025.

Question 9

Where is Leader Training?

In and around fabulous Brunswick, Maine!

Question 10

When does Leader Training start?

It is very likely that our 2025 Leader Training will begin on the morning of Wednesday, June 11 (with our in-house Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course taking place on June 9-10).

Question 11

What does Leader Training entail?

Leader Training is an intense, focused combination of hard-skill and soft-skill training. You will learn about Apogee’s protocols, discuss strategies to approach common problems on trip, foster your co-leader relationship(s), practice cooking tasty, nutritious meals, and many of our leaders will also complete a Wilderness Swim Safety course. Depending on your role, you will receive great mechanical training from biking professionals or practice the fundamentals of safe hiking and backcountry living. After the week-long in-town portion of your training is complete, you will hit the road or the trails with your peers for a multi-day training trip in the field. While it is fast-paced, most leaders would agree that Leader Training is a highlight of the summer!

Question 12

Does Apogee provide food and housing during staff training, between trips, and after trips?

Yes. And the food is good, too!

Question 13

Is transportation provided to Brunswick, Maine?

No – however, we do offer a travel stipend to help cover your travel expenses, and we are more than happy to pick you up in Portland or Brunswick.

Question 14

What equipment do I need and what does Apogee provide?

You will bring your personal gear with you (clothing, sleeping bag, etc.), and we will send you a detailed list of what you will need before the summer. Staff members will also have access to Pro Deal discounts with some great gear companies ahead of time. Apogee provides tents for all trip leaders, bikes and panniers (bike saddlebags) for bike trip leaders, and all group gear (e.g. cookware and stoves, med kits, etc.). Additionally, through our partnership with Maine Gear Share and from our own inventory, we can offer other personal gear (backpacks, sleeping bags, etc.) to use as needed. In short, we are happy to work with you if you don’t have access to any equipment specific to your trip.

Question 15

What are Apogee’s essential eligibility criteria for staff members?

Essential eligibility criteria for Apogee staff members may vary by trip or position, but will include at a minimum:

The staff member must be ambulatory and able to propel themselves over varied terrain, and ride a bicycle (as applicable), without assistance. As appropriate for the specific trip and physical frame of the staff member, the staff member must be able to carry weight, appropriate to the staff member’s frame and the program, either in a backpack or in panniers attached to a bicycle.
The staff member must be able to see clearly, whether with or without glasses or contacts.
The staff member must be able to self-toilet and provide for their own self-care.
The staff member must be verbal and able to clearly communicate their own needs.
The staff member must be able to follow verbal directions and clearly communicate directions and information to students with oral dialogue.
The staff member must be able to follow a structured schedule.
The staff member must be able to self-manage frustrations or emotional outbursts. Additionally, the staff member must be able to self-calm following an event that causes frustration, sadness, or anger.
The staff member must be able to demonstrate consistent resiliency and strong mental and emotional fortitude in order to persevere through challenging conditions over a sustained period of time (e.g. often limited sleep opportunities and limited ability to communicate with others).
The staff member must be able to sleep in a small tent (if applicable) without sleep aids (such as lights, music, screens, etc.).
The staff member must be able to abstain from tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol while in the field and any illegal drugs for the duration of their employment.

Question 16

What kind of compensation can I expect from an Apogee summer?

Summer salaries for first-year trip leaders and support staff range between $2,500-3,000 (this range generally depends on your time in the field), and salaries for Summer Assistant Directors and our other Specialist roles range between $4,000-$6,000 (based on the specific role, start date, and other factors). Staff members will receive a salary increase for each subsequent year with us. In addition to your salary, Apogee will also cover your food, housing, and intra-summer travel expenses. While staff members are responsible for getting to and from Maine at the beginning and end of the summer, we offer a travel stipend to help cover your travel expenses.

Please refer to the Additional Financial Support section for more information about that opportunity, too.

Work With Apogee

Summer Positions

Our 2025 Staff Application is now available! See details here.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

2024-2025 Application Deadlines:

VIRTUAL INFO SESSION SCHEDULE

ON-CAMPUS RECRUITING

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT

LEADER TESTIMONIALS

Kaelyn DeCorte – Wake Forest University ’26

Will Pittman – Washington and Lee University ’24

Maeve Dick – Oberlin College ’21

Cat Bergland – Middlebury College ’26

Will Titus – Williams College ’23

Karlee Taylor – Macalester College ’23

Jocie Funderburk – Warren Wilson College ’24

Kaitlyn Bieber – Hamilton College ’22

LEADER FAQ

Staff Application Process

Leading with Apogee