FETCH WITH RUFF RUFFMAN

October 14, 2008 Episode of FETCH--Buggin with Ruff--filmed on Thompson Island. Check for TV schedule: http://pbskids.org/tvschedules/airdates.html?title_id=FCTH&station=WGBH

Jones Lang LaSalle Heads Assessment Study for Thompson Island 

Jones Lang LaSalle's Loran Macumber, Danielle McLaughlin, and Rob Dickey with

Thompson Island President/CEO Arthur Pearson (third from left).

Boston, MA, May 21, 2008 - Jones Lang LaSalle, the world's leading financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate, has joined with Thompson Island Outward Bound to complete an Assessment Study as part of the educational organization's capital improvements program.

Three members of Jones Lang LaSalle led a project team of consultants donating services on this comprehensive report for the 13-building 204-acre island property in Boston Harbor.
Beginning with numerous tours of the site, the team worked closely with Thompson Island to deliver a comprehensive report that included a detailed assessment of current conditions, prioritized activities, and an action plan.

Thompson Island President/CEO Arthur N. Pearson said: "Thompson Island is a unique resource for the Greater Boston community. It has served as a site for educational programming for over 175 years. This project puts us in a strong position to be stewards of this remarkable island campus."

The Jones Lang LaSalle leaders were Managing Director Philip DeSimone, Director of Operations Loran Macumber, and Project Manager Danielle McLaughlin. The project architects and subcontractors are Stephen J. Wessling Architects, Inc., LAKE HVAC, Rivers Electrical Corporation, and Environmental Health & Engineering.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle's DeSimone: "We are happy to have assembled this array of real estate experts, and donate services to a great organization. Thank you to my colleagues at Jones Lang LaSalle, and to the entire team for giving your time and talent." Mr. DeSimone also serves on the Thompson Island Board of Advisors.

The existing Thompson Island campus consists of: four Georgian-style brick dormitories, a dining hall, offices, two staff houses, a classroom building, library with conference room, an Expedition Center including offices and auditorium space, and a maintenance building.

About Thompson Island Outward Bound
Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is a 501 (c ) (3) not-for-profit educational organization that serves metropolitan youth with outdoor programs that help youth discover their possibilities and learn environmental stewardship.  Thompson Island Outward Bound empowers youth to develop their character and leadership skills by putting them in challenging situations that foster self-confidence, compassion, and the ability to work with others. To learn more about Thompson Island Outward Bound please visit: www. thompsonisland.org.

About Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying or investing in real estate. With 2007 global revenue of $2.7 billion, Jones Lang LaSalle has approximately 170 offices worldwide and operates in more than 700 cities in 60 countries. The firm is an industry leader in property and corporate facility management services, with a global portfolio of approximately 1.2 billion. For more information:www.joneslanglasalle.com/boston

Boston Elementary Schools to participate in environmental program on Thompson Island

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON, MA, May 8, 2008.  Fifth graders from the Josiah Quincy Elementary School and the Condon Elementary School will participate in an environmental program on Thompson Island. Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center and the National Park Service have partnered to provide the environment program for area schools. The program for Josiah Quincy and Condon Elementary Schools is sponsored by the National Park Service and the Island Alliance.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center offers an environmental education program to area schools. Thompson Island’s 204-acres provide a unique outdoor classroom for environmental education. Located in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, the island features a drumlin and a moraine, beautiful meadows, forests, and salt marshes just a twenty-five minute ferry ride from downtown Boston. Students explore the environment and learn how to work together as a team. Students learn environmental stewardship by participating in “citizen science” where they help researchers collect real data for scientific monitoring.  Activities in the environmental program include: salt marsh ecology, salt marsh restoration science, micro-wilderness study of invertebrates, Native American use of the land (Native American’s visited Thompson Island 8-10,000 years ago), and Outward Bound teambuilding activities geared to encourage collaboration and cooperation among students. Programs vary from 2 day to 5 day programs, with overnight dorm accommodations and a full service cafeteria on Thompson Island.

The Josiah Quincy School will visit Thompson Island May 12-13 and The Condon Elementary School’s program is May 15-16.  Both programs will include Salt Marsh ecology and Native American use of the land. 

The Wellesley Public School’s 5th graders participated in the Environmental Program on Thompson Island April 29 to May 9th and will be back again May 20 to 30.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is a 501 (c ) (3) not-for-profit educational organization that serves metropolitan youth with outdoor programs that help youth discover their possibilities and learn environmental stewardship.  Thompson Island Outward Bound empowers youth to develop their character and leadership skills by putting them in challenging situations that foster self-confidence, compassion, and the ability to work with others. To learn more about Thompson Island Outward Bound please visit: www. thompsonisland.org.

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Spring Outlook Newsletter - Special 20th Anniversary Edition

Joan Ross Photography Exhibit “Empowering Youth to be Tomorrow’s Leaders"

BOSTON, MA, January 25, 2008, "Empowering Youth to be Tomorrow's Leaders" is photography show sponsored by Katherine Macdonald, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center and Joan Ross Photography.

The photography of Joan Ross of Thompson Island Outward Bound youth in action will be exhibited at the following libraries over the coming  months.  These adolescents attended the Outward Bound Choices and Mission Safe programs for local youth in the Boston Public School in May, 2007.   

1. Boston Public Library – South Boston Branch Feb 1 – 29
2. Boston Public Library – Codman Square Branch Feb 1-29
3. Boston Public Library – Mattapan Branch March 1 – 31
4. Boston Public Library – Brighton Branch, April 1 – 30
5. Boston Public Library – Jamaica Plain Branch, May 1 – 31
6. Wellesley Library, July 1- 31

Thompson Island Outward Bound serves youth from Metropolitan Boston with programs that are designed to use adventure and challenge to help students transform themselves into better individuals, team members and leaders. By spending a week in the program, students build up their self-confidence, learn about teamwork, create a supportive group among themselves and generate ideas as to how to improve their home community.

These photographs show some of the different challenging exercises students experienced on the island through which they learned to:
       + trust their fellow students to hold them securely by rope while climbing the alpine tower, the dangle, the
          leap of faith and/or the climbing wall
       + handle some emergency situations and how to carry people securely in a stretcher and
       + examine the salt marsh ecology for living creatures.
 
Joan Ross completed a photographic project with Thompson Island Outward Bound in May 2007.  A local photographer, Joan specializes in corporate and personal event photography and portraits.
 
If you are interested in learning more please contact: Joan@JoanRoss.com.
 
Joan Ross Photography                Katherine Macdonald
joan@joanross.com                      kmacdonald@ThompsonIsland.org
www.JoanRoss.com                     www.ThompsonIsland.org
617.257.3071
                           

Jacalyn Shelton Wallace named Vice President of Youth Programs

BOSTON, MA, January 23 2008.  Arthur N. Pearson, President of Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center, announced that Jacalyn Shelton Wallace was named Vice President of Youth Programs. Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is located on Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area and provides adventure and challenge-based programming for approximately 5,000 students per year.

Jacalyn brings over two decades of professional experience and volunteer commitment to her passion for serving young people.  She holds a BA in Education and a Masters in Counseling from Michigan State University and taught in the Detroit Public Schools in the 70’s.  Most recently she served as Director of Programs for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts where she revamped their Parent and Youth Services, Employment Resource Center and Technology programs. In her 20+ year career in the telecommunications industry, Jacalyn managed human resource operations for a multi-state corporation and acquired substantial experience in corporate planning, operations management, community relations as well as recruiting, staffing, training and diversity initiatives.  As a volunteer, she has created programs to provide networking and mentoring to professionals of color and to raise scholarship funds for disadvantaged youth.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is a 501 (c ) (3) not-for-profit educational organization that serves metropolitan youth with outdoor programs that help youth discover their possibilities.  Thompson Island Outward Bound empowers youth to develop their character and leadership skills by putting them in challenging situations that foster self-confidence, compassion, and the ability to work with others. To learn more about Thompson Island Outward Bound please visit: www. thompsonisland.org.

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Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center Receives Recognition Award for Salt Marsh Restoration

BOSTON, MA, December 5, 2007. Thompson Island Outward Bound was recognized at the Annual Recognition Event of the Massachusetts Corporate Wetlands Partnership for completing a salt marsh restoration project on Thompson Island. Receiving the recognition award on behalf of Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center was Katherine K. Macdonald, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

On July 23, 2007, after three years of preparation, construction equipment resonated at the mouth of the four-acre salt marsh on the eastern shore of Thompson Island, opening a channel that had been long obstructed from natural tidal flow. Kathy Macdonald spearheaded the Federal and State project to dredge the salt marsh turned brackish pond. The work resulted in returned tidal flow in the channel allowing for the natural tides of the salt marsh to return and restore the natural habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife.

The project began in 2004 after receiving a Five Star Grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA. With the constant help of scientist Tim Smith of the Massachusetts Office of Coast Zone Management, Wetlands Restoration Program, Eric Hutchins from NOAA, and Susan Redlich of the Corporate Wetland Restoration Partnership, the salt marsh restoration became reality. Nearly 100 guests were on hand to celebrate the August 2, 2007 dedication of the salt marsh’s opening, including students from various organizations dedicated to the harbor environment. Among those present were students from Green Corp who had worked in the marsh, pulling boards and debris from its shores.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is a non-profit educational institution located on Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park area. Celebrating its twentieth anniversary in 2008, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center serves students from metropolitan Boston with outdoor adventure-based and environmental programs that encourage teamwork, leadership, environmental stewardship and community service. Over 5,000 students participate in Thompson Island Outward Bound’s programs per year.

2008 Thompson Island Outward Bound Calendar

Thompson Island has published its first calendar with wonderful pictures of our expeditions! Order now while supplies last! Price: $12.00 includes postage. (Mailed only in United States.). Credit cards accepted: Master Card, VISA, American Express. To order, email: Amy Towler your complete name, mailing address and daytime telephone number. She will call you to place your order. Thank you! Happy New Year!

Fall Outlook Newsletter 2007

CAMP HARBOR VIEW

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center will host some of the inner-city children from Camp Harbor View this August, on field trips to Thompson Island. Camp Harbor View is an exciting new partnership between the City of Boston, Camp Harbor View Foundation, Inc. and Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. The program's mission is to provide a safe, dynamic and challenging summer camp experience for Boston youth between the ages of 11-14

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,129465.shtml

SPRING 2007 OUTLOOK NEWSLETTER

(Click on image to download, 1MB)

DECEMBER 2006: GREEN CORP feature: Branching Out-Tree Care Industry Article

Please click here to read the article!

OCTOBER 31, 2006: FALL OUTLOOK NEWSLETTER

Please click here to view the FALL OUTLOOK!

SEPTEMBER 06, 2006: OVER 260 RUNNERS IN THE EQUITY OFFICE- THOMPSON ISLAND TRAIL RUN RAISED $20,000 FOR THOMPSON ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND.

BOSTON—Equity Office hosted its 7th annual Thompson Island 4K Trail Run on Thursday, August 31, 2006. The event, organized by Ryan Enright for Equity Office, in conjunction with legendary marathon-winner, Bill Rodgers, took runners around Thompson Island, one of the 34 islands in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area.

Equity Office’s trail run raised $20,000, benefiting Thompson Island Outward Bound’s programs for Boston area youth. Using the wilderness as a classroom, Outward Bound provides a variety of educational programs on Thompson Island, including the Choices program for the Boston Public Schools, School and Community Youth Groups, and Summer Outward Bound Expeditions in Massachusetts Bay and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Corporate teams and individual runners tackled the challenging 4K (2.5 mile) trail run, weaving through the island's salt marshes, beaches and nature trails. Runners enjoyed spectacular views of Boston’s skyline as they raced around the island's scenic landscape. Scott Lundquist was the 2006 male winner, finishing the race in 13:28, with a running pace of 5:25 and Molly Taber, the female winner, completed the race in 14:54 with a running page of 6:00. (For further race results, please visit: www.coolrunning.com)

Equity Office owns, manages and leases nearly 13 million square feet of office space in Greater Boston, including downtown properties such as 28 State Street, 100 Summer Street, One Post Office Square and Rowes Wharf.

Thompson Island Outward Bound is a not-for-profit organization that uses adventure and challenge to help metropolitan Boston area youth discover their possibilities. Outward Bound’s experiential learning programs inspire character development, compassion, community service, environmental responsibility and academic achievement.

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EQUITY OFFICE 4K TRAIL RUN ON THOMPSON ISLAND - AUGUST 31, 2006

THOMPSON ISLAND—The seventh annual Thompson Island 4K Trail Run, hosted by Equity Office, will be held Thursday, August 31, 2006. Honorary chairman Bill Rodgers, four time winner of both the Boston and New York Marathons, will once again lead the runners in the 2.5 mile race. This year over 300 runners will race along the winding trails on Thompson Island as they compete in individual and corporate teams. Proceeds from the race will benefit Thompson Island Outward Bound programs. The Trail Run will conclude with a post-race cookout and celebration.

REGISTER TODAY!
Early registration: $30 if registered by August 11, 2006. Regular registration: $35, deadline by August 25, 2005.

Click here to register online. You may also download a registration form [162 KB]

RACE SCHEDULE:

All proceeds from the race benefit local school age children through its support of Thompson Island Outward Bound® scholarships. Last year the race helped contribute over $15,000 for Thompson Island Outward Bound scholarship programs.

For more information please visit www.eop4k.com

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TRUE NORTH — SPRING-SUMMER 2006

BOSTON—Please read our Spring-Summer edition of the Outward Bound True North newsletter.

[2 MB]

APRIL 2006: BIRD SIGHTINGS ON THOMPSON ISLAND

BOSTON- With Springtime in full swing bird watchers have been planning trips to Thompson Island. Below is a list of birds that have recently been spotted on island.

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Challenge Grant from Michael Gordon Foundation boosts Thompson Island Outward Bound’s Intercept Program for Youth-At Risk

BOSTON, MA April 24, 2006. The Michael Gordon Foundation offered a $50,000 challenge grant for Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center to expand their youth-at-risk program, Intercept. A $50,000 match grant received from the Ludke Foundation helped fund a new Intercept group model for agencies that serve groups of youth-at-risk in the city of Boston.

Thompson Island Outward Bound is one of only three Outward Bound schools to offer an “at-risk” youth program, called Intercept. This 22-day expedition in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is designed to help adolescents who are having trouble at home or at school find a way to get back on track. Intercept offers these young people an opportunity for physical challenges such as backpacking, rock climbing and canoeing. By participating in these activities, students gain self-confidence, and learn more about good decision-making and goal setting.

“The Intercept program has had a powerful and positive impact on its participant’s lives. The matching grant from the Ludke Foundation will help us reach out to more teenagers at risk and help turn their lives around,” noted longtime Intercept supporter, Jim Gordon. Jim Gordon established the Michael Gordon Foundation in memory of his brother, Michael. Since 1996, the foundation has supported the Intercept program, which has served over 355 youth-at-risk. Many of these young people who participated in the course have benefited from scholarships provided by the Michael Gordon Foundation. To date, 24 students are enrolled in the 2006 summer Intercept White Mountains expeditions. Of these students, half will receive some form of scholarship as a result of the generous support of the Michael Gordon Foundation.

The grant from the Ludke Foundation enabled Thompson Island to develop a group Intercept program for urban youth-at-risk over the April vacation. Thompson Island Outward Bound partnered with MissionSAFE, a youth development program in Roxbury and Charlestown that works with adolescent youth from neighborhoods whose poverty and legacies of hopelessness and violence put these young people at great risk. “MissionSAFE focuses on bringing out the leadership and unique potential in the youth we work with,” noted Executive Director, Nikki Flionis. “We are extremely happy to be partnering with Thompson Island Outward Bound in an on-going effort to offer our youth opportunities to improve their self esteem and confidence. Thompson Island offers Boston’s youth a wilderness experience where students are challenged to reach within and push themselves to achieve more than they ever thought possible.” MissionSAFE’s Intercept program served 27 students from Roxbury, Dorchester, Charlestown, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Jamaica Plain. Over April vacation students camped on Thompson Island and had the opportunity to challenge themselves in the wilderness away from the pressures of home and the city streets and work on personal, group, and leadership skills.

The Michael Gordon Foundation’s mission is to help youth achieve their full potential by supporting charitable organizations whose efforts educate and develop children from lower income homes.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is a not-for-profit educational organization whose primary purpose is to provide adventurous and challenging experiential learning programs that inspire character development, compassion, community service, environmental responsibility and academic achievement. Thompson Island Outward Bound serves youth from all economic and social communities of greater metropolitan Boston. Through adventure and challenge, Thompson Island Outward Bound helps young people discover their possibilities. Our experiential learning programs emphasize personal growth and help students develop self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, leadership, and environmental and community stewardship.

Thompson Island Outward Bound serves approximately 5,500 young people through Outward Bound summer expeditions; school and community youth group programs, and the Choices program for the Boston public middle schools. Thompson Island is located in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area and been the site of an educational organization for over 175 years. Profits from our enterprise businesses, Thompson Island Conference Center and Outward Bound Professional, help support Thompson Island’s mission programs. For more information, please visit: www.thomspsonisland.org.

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APRIL 27, 2006: EVENING EXPEDITION: BLACK TIE AND TENNIS SHOES

BOSTON—On April 27, 2006 Thompson Island Outward Bound held its 4th Annual Evening Expedition at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal. The evening was a great success as Thompson Island Outward Bound raised approximately $600,000 in live and silent auctions, along with the generous donations of guests and corporate sponsors.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino was honored with the North Star Award for his commitment to improving the lives of young people in Boston.

Boston Public School student alumni of Thompson Island Outward Bound's Choices program, a long time partnership with Boston Public Schools, spoke powerfully about the impact of Thompson Island Outward Bound. Through participating in physical challenge and outdoor education, students gained self confidence, forged friendships and learned leadership skills to confront racism, bullying, drugs and violence in their communities and to succeed in school and in life.

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APRIL 24, 2006: THOMPSON ISLAND CHOICES PROGRAM IN BOSTON HERALD

BOSTON- On April 24, 2006, an article written by Michele McPhee was published in the Boston Herald highlighting Mayor Thomas M. Menino's recent visit with students from Thompson Island Outward Bound's Choices program. The students shared their Outward Bound experiences with Mayor Menino at the Mildred Avenue Middle School. Please click here to read this article.

Arthur N. Pearson, President of Thompson Island Outward Bound, sent this Letter to the Editor in response to the article mentioned above.

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APRIL 20, 2006: NEW BOAT READY TO JOIN THE FLEET

BOSTON- A new boat, called the Invictus, has become the latest edition to Thompson Island Outward Bound's fleet. This 27 passenger vessel will be used in addition to the M.V. Outward Bound to transport passengers and cargo between Boston and Thompson Island. An article about the Invictus was recently published in the News Tribune. Please click here to read "Vessel's designers fill a niche" by David Colbert.

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BOSTON—Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center was a 2006 Boston Athletic Association Boston Marathon Charity. Fifteen invitational runners ran the Boston Marathon and raised over $42,000 on behalf of Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center. Two Thompson Island staff members, Jim Scully, Chief Operating Officer, and Logan Westmoreland, Director of the Willauer School, were among these 15 runners. Thompson Island’s marathon team included: Caitlin Cusack of Sudbury, Christopher Deschenes of Lynnfield, Ryan Enright of Hingham, Erin Finn-Welch of New York, New York, Tom Goss of Springfield, Missouri, Karlene Lihota of Brighton, Mark Morwood of Bedford, Jeremy Rose of Chicago, Illinois, Michael Salguero of Brighton, Jim Scully of Needham, Tara Taylor of Enfield, New Hampshire, Logan Westmoreland of Boston, Lynn Wilcox of Milton, Michael Wilcox of Milton and Andrew Wilkins of Brighton,

Logan Westmoreland (left) and
Karlene Lihota (right)

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APRIL 2006: SPRING EDITION OF OUTLOOK NEWSLETTER

BOSTON, MA- Please click here to read the Spring edition of our Outlook Newsletter

[621 KB]

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MARCH 2006: 4th ANNUAL EVENING EXPEDITION

BOSTON-On April 27, 2006 Thompson Island Outward Bound will hold its 4th Annual Evening Expedition:Black Tie and Tennis Shoes. Please click here for more information about this event.

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TRUE NORTH — FALL-WINTER 2005

BOSTON—Please read our Fall-Winter edition of the Outward Bound True North newsletter.

[887KB PDF]

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JANUARY 11, 2006: BLANK FOUNDATION AWARDS $500,000 TO OUTWARD BOUND

ATLANTA, GA—The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation today announced it has awarded $500,000 in grants that will be shared among all four domestic U.S. operations of Outward Bound, to help young people build character and gain self-esteem through outdoor adventure. Foundation Chairman Arthur Blank is a long-time supporter of the organization and serves as board chairman of Outward Bound USA.

Grants will be distributed as follows:

• Outward Bound USA — $330,000
• North Carolina Outward Bound School — $60,000
• New York City Outward Bound Center — $50,000
• Thompson Island (Boston, MA) Outward Bound Education Center — $60,000

“My goal in making these grants is to help Outward Bound continue to impact the lives of young people and to disburse the funds in a way that most efficiently and directly reaches kids throughout the country,” Blank said. “I see it as a long-term investment that can potentially lift-up and strengthen these young people and have a positive effect on others they will touch throughout their lives.”

Outward Bound, the nation's leading, nonprofit experiential education organization, emphasizes personal growth through experience and challenge, and facilitates self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, and environmental and community stewardship. Outward Bound in 2005 celebrated 45 years of experiential education in the United States, touching the lives of over 70,000 individuals a year.

Since 1992, Blank personally or through his family foundation has contributed $6 million to Outward Bound organizations, including an endowment paid annually to the North Carolina Outward Bound School.

Founded in 1995, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is focused on enhancing education, preserving green space, sustaining the arts and sparking collaboration among its nonprofit partners, primarily in Atlanta. Arthur M. Blank is owner & CEO of the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Force. He co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001. Through his generosity, the foundation, along with Blank and his wife’s personal giving, has granted more than $200 million to various charitable organizations.

For additional information, please contact Brian Farley, 404-367-2070.

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OCTOBER 2005: STEM TO STERN BY CAL PIFER

GALVESTON, TX- We are featured in the October 2005 ELISSA Log, the official newsletter of the Texas Support Museum volunteers. Please click here to read "Stem to Stern" written by Cal Pifer (reprinted with permission from the ELISSA Log)

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2005: ARTHUR N. PEARSON NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THOMPSON ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND EDUCATION CENTER

BOSTON, MA—Andrew Bendheim, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Thompson Island Outward Bound announced today that Arthur N. Pearson of Belmont has been named the new President and CEO of Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center. Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is located on Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area and serves youth from all socioeconomic reaches of the greater metropolitan Boston.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center provides adventure and challenge-based programming for approximately 5,000 students per year. Programs include:

• Outward Bound Summer Expeditions for boys and girls, ages 12-17
• Choices Programs (in-school and on-island) for students from the Boston Public Schools
• Custom Youth Group courses for schools, colleges and youth groups
• The Willauer School, a private co-educational Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound middle school

In addition, Thompson Island Conference Center provides corporate outings, events, meetings, and Outward Bound Professional courses for adults.

Mr. Pearson has been passionately involved with Outward Bound as an instructor, program director or trustee for 30 years. His commitment to experiential education developed in the 1970’s and 1980’s during a decade and a half of work as an instructor, course director and program director for Outward Bound.

In addition to fieldwork at the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School and the Dartmouth Outward Bound Center, Pearson has been a deck officer on the sail training schooner Westward and a Member of the Corporation of the Sea Education Association. He worked with the Scientific Exploration Society in London developing opportunities for young people to work on scientific expeditions in the Indonesian rain forest. He was instrumental in developing Outward Bound’s Florida Sea Program and served as its director before becoming director of the Baltimore Outward Bound urban center during its founding years.

In recent years Mr. Pearson has been active as a volunteer and chaired the national Outward Bound Wilderness Sales and Marketing Committee from 2001 to 2003. Most recently he served as Chairman of the Board of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School.

For the past 14 years Mr. Pearson has worked in the energy industry. He was instrumental in building a start-up company into a $300 million energy marketing enterprise and most recently has been vice president of a firm that provides data processing and revenue management services to energy retailers across the country. Pearson lives in Belmont with his wife and four sons.

Thompson Island Outward Bound is a 501 (c ) (3) not-for-profit educational organization that uses adventure and challenge to help youth discover their possibilities. Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center empowers youth to develop their character and leadership skills by putting them in challenging situations that foster self-confidence, compassion, and the ability to work with others.

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SEPTEMBER 8, 2005: THOMPSON ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND EDUCATION CENTER ACCEPTS ONLINE GIVING

BOSTON, MA—Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center now has online giving. Using PayPal as their online provider, Thompson Island Outward Bound now accepts donation from their home page: www.thompsonisland.org by "clicking on the Donate Online" button. Donations made be made by using MasterCard, VISA, Discover, and American Express.

In 2003, online donors in the United States contributed $2 billion to various charities and non-profit organizations. Recent studies have shown that online gifts average two to three times the amount of those from alternate fundraising methods!

With the average American spending 11 hours each week of personal time on the Web, we hope our online giving program will be a successful addition to our development and marketing efforts.

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JULY 25, 2005: THE GREEN CORPS ON CAPE COD

Green Corp and Trial Blazers students gather at Cape Cod National Seashore Park headquarters.

SOUTH WELLFLEET, MA—The Green Corps and Trail Blazers students met with Cape Cod National Seashore Park personnel to kick off a three-day work program at the Park. Green Corps is a summer work program in partnership with the National Park Service and Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center. Trail Blazers is a National Park program of the Boston African-American National Historic Site, which is funded by the Public Lands Corp and Youth Conservation Corps. Students camped at Nickerson State Park and participated in community service work projects within the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Superintendent of the Cape Cod National Seashore, George Price, receives a memento of Thompson Island from Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center.

On hand to greet the group, was Cape Cod National Seashore Park Superintendent, George Price. Mr. Price was the former Superintendent of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, of which Thompson Island is one of 34 islands. Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center used the opportunity to thank Mr. Price for all his support and efforts on behalf of the Thompson Island and the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area and presented Mr. Price with a photograph of Thompson Island.

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JULY 22, 2005: ENVIRONMENTAL EXPEDITIONS IN GLOUCESTER

Pulling boats, the Marshall Dodge, Sallie Drew and Frankly Bonnie pulled up and tied to the dock at the Gloucester Marine Heritage Center in Gloucester, MA.

GLOUCESTER, MA—Thompson Island Outward Bound’s Environmental Expeditions summer course docked at the Gloucester Marine Heritage Center in Gloucester on Cape Ann as part of their 14 days course. At 8 a.m. three of Thompson Island Outward Bound’s pulling boats, the Marshall Dodge, Sallie Drew and Frankly Bonnie pulled up and tied to the dock, as 36 students, instructors, and watch officers disembarked for a morning at the center. Ann Ogilvie, education director for the center, welcomed the students and conducted the main tour of the boat yard, marine railroad, and exhibits.

Environmental Expedition students explore the hands-on Sea Pocket Lab at the Gloucester Marine Heritage Center, where they handle marine life from tide pools and other exhibits.

The Gloucester Marine Heritage Center is a nonprofit organization and the only historic working waterfront in the Northeast where visitors can see wooden boats being restored on the 19th century marine railroad. The Environmental Expeditions students enjoyed the dory exhibits, boathouse, Sea Pocket Lab (live marine exhibit) and dive exhibit which is owned and narrated by Paul Harling, an enthusiastic diver who was the first person to dive on the Andreadoria. Currently, the boat yard is restoring and building the tea party ships that will eventually be exhibited in Boston at the Tea Party Museum in the Four-Point Channel.

Environmental Expeditions is a coeducational 14-day Outward Bound sailing course for students ages 14 – 17. The course has a marine biology focus and the New England Aquarium designed its curriculum and conducts the ongoing marine biology instructor training. The sailing course area includes Boston Harbor to Cape Ann, and the Gloucester Marine Heritage Center is an integral part of the learning expedition.

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JUNE 17, 2005: THE WILLAUER SCHOOL CLASS OF 2005 GRADUATES

THOMPSON ISLAND—The eleventh graduation of the Willauer School was an extremely successful event with 190 in attendance. Each of the 17 eighth graders wrote and delivered a speech about their successes and sometimes failures during their time at the school. For the first time at a Willauer graduation there was a guest speaker, invited by the students themselves. Channel 7 Investigative Reporter Hank Phillipi-Ryan spoke about her experiences in school, growing up and the lessons that she learned along the way. Ms. Phillipi-Ryan created a learning expedition as part of the preparation of her speech—she had assigned students investigative reporting assignments that she incorporated in her speech.

Click to view the Willauer School graduation photo gallery!

This seventeenth of June, 2005 marked the graduation of the eighth grade at the Willauer School, the first graduating class in history from Thompson Island to include young women. Departing the dock for the last time this year, the Outward Bound boat was filled with proud parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters. It was this group of committed parents that had believed their children were truly extraordinary, and made it possible for them to attend a truly extraordinary school.

“Although we have been traveling together, my boat and I are ready to be launched,” said Jalix Delacruz, one of the young women graduating from the Thompson Island Outward Bound Willauer School. Jalix referred to the full size West Greenland skin on frame Kayaks that she and her classmates had built during their school year, powerfully relating her boat to the journey she was beginning to high school and beyond. The other graduates, a group of truly extraordinary young people, spoke about topics as varied and deep as teamwork, self-confidence, leadership, and appreciation of the natural world and success and failure.

The Willauer School is operated by Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center. It is an independent co-educational middle school located in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area and the site of the first vocational school in the United States. The school’s educational philosophy combines academic rigor with “learning by doing”, challenging students to engage themselves in their community.

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Thompson Island Outward Bound’s 2005 Marathon Team

APRIL 18, 2005: MARATHON TEAM RAISES $48,000 FOR CHARITY

BOSTON—Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center was a 2005 Boston Athletic Association Boston Marathon Charity. Fifteen invitational runners ran the Boston Marathon and raised over $48,000 on behalf of Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center. Thompson Island’s marathon team included: Hilary Bowie of Clinton, James Bradley of Melrose, Joshua Busby of Somerville, Jonathon Cash of Somerville, Gina Clark of Boston, Ying Dong of Boston, Eric Eilbacher of Cambridge, Ryan Enright of Hingham, co-captain, Matthew Fonte of Charlestown, Nicholas Gilbert of Wellesley, Christina Helsinger of Miarnisburg, Ohio, Lyn Paget of Jamaica Plain, Sarah Puglia, CO-captain, of Somerville, Jessica Slusser of Boston, and James Topper of Boston.

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APRIL 14, 2005: LAUNCHINGS

THOMPSON ISLAND, BOSTON—Students at the Willauer School launched hand-built kayaks from Thompson Island on April 14, 2005. The launching represents a culmination of a five-month learning expedition where students built kayaks as part of the school curriculum.

This year, the 8th grade students built six 17’ x 22”, West Greenland skin-on-frame kayaks as part of an interdisciplinary “learning expedition.” With help from teachers Mitsu Iwasaki, Logan Westmoreland, Darcy Hoyt and Thaddeus Foote, students learned and applied math skills and studied physical science concepts through answering the question “Why does my boat float?” The eighth graders reinforced writing and documentation skills while recording the entire building process on their weblog (please visit us at kayak.pingotter.com) and even wrote a sea shanty. Students built in teams, learning teamwork, group problem solving and assuming leadership roles. At the recent Thompson Island Outward Bound Gala on April 7th, four of the student-built kayaks were auctioned to fund future projects.

The Willauer School is an independent coeducational Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound middle school located on Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. The school continues the 172-year educational tradition of Thompson Island. The school’s curriculum is based on “learning by doing”. Learning expeditions include practical applications of science, math, humanities, and writing. The school’s guiding philosophy is that academic rigor, combined with social and emotional growth, is essential to a successful middle school experience. Students are challenged not only to meet high academic standards but also to become engaged in their learning. This process is facilitated by a high teacher-student ratio of approximately one teacher to eight students.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides adventurous and challenging experiential learning programs for early adolescents from metropolitan Boston. Using the remarkable resource of Thompson Island as a classroom, the organization delivers programming based on the philosophy of Kurt Hahn, Outward Bound’s founder. The Willauer School is currently accepting applications from boys and girls for the fall of 2005. Call 617-328-3900 x147 for more information.

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APRIL 7, 2005: AN EVENING EXPEDITION

Gala 2005 at the Wang Theatre

BOSTON—Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center’s An Evening Expedition 2005 was a great success, with over 450 guests and corporate donors raising $291,000 and enjoying an evening on stage at the Wang Theatre. Both a live auction and a silent auction helped with the success of the fundraiser.

Guido R. Perera, Jr. was honored with the North Star Award for his years of dedication to Boston’s youth and his long association with Thompson Island.

Willauer and Choices students entertained the audience as they dined on stage. Students performed three skits in the balcony of the theatre, depicting the long educational tradition of Thompson Island, Learning by Doing at the Willauer School, and a Choices expedition on the Alpine Tower.

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MARCH 2005: SPRING EDITION OF THE OUTLOOK NEWSLETTER

BOSTON—Please read our Spring edition of the Outlook Newsletter.

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Thompson Island supports our troops and the Red Sox!

Staff at Thompson Island Outward Bound gathered for photo and special message for our troops in Iraq on Tuesday, October 26, 2004. Captain Susan Kane, co-director of Thompson Island Outward Bound's Choices program for the Boston Public Schools, is stationed in Iraq and is an ardent Red Sox fan.

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OCTOBER 6, 2004: HUNDREDS OF BOSTON OFFICE WORKERS RALLY TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE THOMPSON ISLAND OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL

BOSTON—Equity Office hosted its fifth annual Thompson Island 4K Trail Run in September. The event, organized in conjunction with legendary marathon-winner, Bill Rodgers, took runners around Thompson Island, one of the 34 islands that comprise the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area.

Maryann Suydam, senior vice president, Equity Office Properties accepts Founders’ Award for Equity Office Properties.

The evening event raised $17,500, benefiting Thompson Island Outward Bound Choices program, which brings students from Boston public middle schools to the island for a 5-day character-building expedition. Using the wilderness as a classroom, Outward Bound provides a variety of educational programs on Thompson Island, including the only Outward Bound middle school in the world, The Willauer School. There has been an educational institution on Thompson Island for over 171 years.

Corporate teams and individual runners tackled the challenging 4k (2.5 mile) trail run, weaving through the islands salt marshes, beaches and nature trails. Thompson Island is situated just one mile from Downtown Boston and the skyline provided an inspiring backdrop to the race.

Equity Office was also honored with the Founders’ Award given “to honor those whose dedication and extraordinary efforts have significantly furthered the aims of the Thompson Island Founders—to enrich the lives and improve the education of youth in need.” The award was given out at the 171st Annual Thompson Island Founders’ Day.

Equity Office owns, manages and leases nearly 13 million square feet of office space in Greater Boston, including downtown properties such as 28 State Street, 100 Summer Street, One Post Office Square and Rowes Wharf.

Thompson Island Outward Bound is a not-for-profit organization that uses adventure and challenge to help metropolitan Boston area youth discover their possibilities. Outward Bound’s experiential learning programs inspire character development, compassion, community service, environmental responsibility and academic achievement. To learn more about Thompson Island Outward Bound please visit: www.thompsonisland.org.

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AUGUST 5, 2004: EQUITY OFFICE 4K TRAIL RUN—ON THOMPSON ISLAND—SEPTEMBER 9, 2004

THOMPSON ISLAND—Once again, the Equity Office 4K Trail Run will take place on Thompson Island, with honorary chair Bill Rodgers, four-time winner of the Boston Marathon and four-time winner of the New York Marathon leading the challengers. Winding through the scenic trails of Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area, this 4K (2.5 miles) run concludes with food and drink at the Post Race Celebration.

REGISTER TODAY!
Early registration: $25 if registered by August 12, 2004. Regular registration: $35, deadline by August 26, 2004. Click here to download race registration form [258K PDF].

RACE SCHEDULE:

All proceeds from the race benefit local school age children through its support of Thompson Island Outward Bound® scholarships. Last year the race raised nearly $20,000 for Thompson Island Outward Bound scholarship programs.

GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR BOSTON’S YOUTH
For those runners interested in raising additional funds, click here to download PLEDGE FORM [330K PDF]. (This is an optional program.)

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JULY 20, 2004: WILLAUER SCHOOL STUDENT TO GAVEL IN THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

BOSTON—Kristin Turner, who will be an eighth grade student at the Willauer School in the fall, will gavel in the Democratic Convention on Tuesday evening July 27th. Kristen’s essay, “I’m Not Too Young,” won the Democratic National Convention’s “Gavel in the Future” contest from a field of five Boston finalist. She joins co-winner, Steven Ruperto of Pennsylvania, in this prestigious honor.

Kristin wrote in verse about how age is not related to the ability to express one’s opinion. In her essay, Kristin points out how a young person can participate in the political process: “I'm not too young to learn how the political system works and the system's tools. To learn when to telephone elected officials or write editors or gather neighbors' signatures on petitions or to hold up signs at demonstrations.” Read Kristen’s complete essay.

The Willauer School is an independent coeducational middle school on Thompson Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area and the only middle school operated by Outward Bound® in the world. The school’s unique curriculum is guided by the Outward Bound and Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound values of adventure and challenge, compassion and service, social and environmental responsibility, character development and learning by doing. The Willauer’s educational philosophy states that academic rigor, combined with social and emotional growth, is essential to a successful middle school experience. Kristin embodies the school’s goal of guiding middle school students into competent, self-aware, and self-motivated young adults.

The Willauer School became coeducational in the fall of 2003, and Kristin was a “pioneer,” joining the inaugural class of girls. Previously, there has been a boys school on Thompson Island for over 170 years. The Willauer School is a nonprofit education organization that serves students from Boston metropolitan area regardless of race, gender, nationality or ethnicity. Students represent a broad spectrum of socioeconomic circumstances and scholarships are available.

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JULY 7, 2004: THOMPSON ISLAND HOSTS CHERNOBYL SURVIVORS

110 Afflicted Children Visit Thompson Island and Participate in Outward Bound Activities

BOSTON—110 child survivors of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster visited Thompson Island in Boston Harbor on Tuesday July 6, 2004. The day’s events included theater, music, rope climbing, and a cookout. Students from the Willauer School helped host the children. The children are visiting the United States to receive much needed medical attention.

All 110 children were adversely affected when the reactor in the Chernobyl power plant exploded in 1986 and released radiation for ten days. Over 100,000 people lived in areas contaminated by the disaster. The accident is known to have caused thyroid cancer in a number of children affected.

The Thompson Island Outward Bound program has been working to provide experiential learning opportunities for the school children from the metropolitan Boston area since 1988. Thompson Island is the site of the first vocational school in the country as well as the only Outward Bound middle school in the world, The Willauer School.

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JULY 1, 2004: WILLAUER SCHOOL STUDENT ENTERS DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION ESSAY CONTEST

BOSTON—Kristin Turner of Boston and the Willauer School entered an essay, “I’m Not Too Young,” in the Democratic National Convention Essay Contest: Gavel In the Future. Please read her award winning essay below.

I'm Not Too Young

I'm not old enough to vote yet but I am old enough to form opinions about what see and what I would like the world to be like when I do turn 18.

I am old enough to care about right and wrong.

I'm not too young to learn to develop good citizenship skills.

I am old enough to care about right and wrong.

I'm too young to cast a vote but not too young to learn about the process.

I'm not too young to learn how to gather information, to weigh evidence, to evaluate sources. To learn to put together and present information so that others will be willing to read it and understand what I am saying.

I'm not to young to share my passion for a cause.

I'm not too young to learn how the political system works and the system's tools. To learn when to telephone elected officials or write editors or gather neighbors' signatures on petitions or to hold up signs at demonstrations.

I'm not too young to work on developing my skills not only to see a problem but to try and propose a way to make it better.

I'm not too young to take advantage of the educational opportunities I have been given to learn to state my concerns more clearly.

I'm not young to learn to listen to others with respect so that they will give me their respect.

I'm not too young to learn how to give others a chance to express themselves and to learn to listen with an open mind.

I'm not too young to be part of the political process.

I am old enough to know my heart and to follow it.

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