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About APEX

Mission

Our mission is to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the central Appalachian Ecoregion through adventure, community, and sustainable living skills.

Vision

Appalachian Expeditions (APEX) is founded on the belief that connection to nature is an essential part of every individual. Human beings have been shaped by the natural world; we have co-evolved with the plants and animals and mushrooms around us and are directly a part of our ecosystem. We believe sustainability starts when people connect with the natural world. Through our adventure-based expeditions, we help re-establish that connection.

Values

Adventure

Adventure is inherently exciting and often involves leadership, risk management, and consequential decision making. Each adventure on which we embark helps us develop an innate sense of confidence and self-awareness that can be applied to all facets of life.

Outdoor adventures are complex and dynamic situations that allow us to examine ourselves and our place in the natural world. Our programs encourage the development of these crucial skills while helping participants discover what adventures best align with their personalities and individual goals.

Community

Developing a sense of community forms the foundation for sustainable living. Whether you’re part of a local community or a global network, we can accomplish more when we band together to achieve a common goal.

We help participants develop community engagement skills through our curriculum that focuses on communication, conflict resolution, and leadership.

Sustainable Living Skills

Sustainability can mean different things to different people. At APEX, sustainability means:

  • Reducing our impact on the natural environment and its resources so they may be preserved for future generations.
  • Educating people about sustainability concepts and how they can be incorporated into daily life.
  • Promoting strong environmental ethics.

We reduce our impact on the planet by adventuring close to home. We offset our footprint by planting trees, composting food, and diminishing waste via refusing and reducing our use of new materials. We reuse, repair, repurpose, and recycle as many products and resources as possible.

Nature Connection

Time spent in nature provides mental and emotional restoration, is physically rejuvenating, inspires creativity, and has numerous other well documented benefits. Our programs help participants explore our evolutionary connection to the natural world, helping them better understand their place in nature. We believe that intentionally creating space to be in nature is one of the most valuable things we can do for those attending our programs.

Our Story

APEX-team-2024-2
The idea for Appalachian Expeditions (APEX) began when Alex was hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2009. “I spent six months putting one foot in front of the other and I had a lot of time to think,” he says. “I realized that spending time outside was key to my happiness, and it could afford others the same sense of solace.”

APEX began taking shape at Prescott College in 2014, where Alex met co-founder and wife, Libbey Holewski. Together, they developed a program that emphasizes the resilient strengths and spectacular beauty of the Central Appalachian region.

In 2017, APEX incorporated as a non-profit outdoor education program. The following year, they led their first program: a canoe trip on the Cheat River. Each subsequent year APEX has grown in the number of programs offered, the number of participants, and the ways in which participants experience the world around them. Word of mouth has been the primary driver of this growth, with many participants returning year after year and bringing new friends into our community of outdoor adventurers. In 2025, APEX delivered over $30,000 in scholarships, offered programming to nearly 500 participants, and ran 24 programs.

With new adventures in store for the summer, APEX will continue to expand and adapt its role in Central Appalachia’s outdoor education community.

Meet the Team

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At APEX, we model our programs after ecological principles in the natural world, where communities are comprised of a diverse array of organisms. We strive to include diverse participants and staff through our programs, and aim for equity among all members of our community. APEX practices inclusion across all identity groups, including but not limited to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or veteran status.
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