Explore The Island
Discover the many ways to get involved with Thompson Island Outward Bound.
(Click Map Hotspots to Explore)
Explore The Island
Discover the many ways to get involved with Thompson Island Outward Bound.
Discover Social Emotional Learning
See our hands-on science curriculum
Engage in Professional Teambuilding
Book Our Venues
Learn The Island's History
Community Support
Become a Corporate Volunteer
Discover Social Emotional Learning
Our education programs combines hands-on science lessons with the best of Outward Bound’s approach to social emotional learning, leadership, compassion and service. Students are guided through challenging activities where they learn new skills, apply their learning, exercise leadership and practice teamwork to accomplish individual and group goals.
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See our hands-on science curriculum
Through a deep partnership with Boston Public Schools, students visit Thompson Island throughout their middle school years to explore the Island’s wide variety of ecosystems, from the tide pools to the forests. During these hands-on outdoor STEM lessons, kids investigate and develop their ideas as scientists, fostering a sense of their own capabilities.
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Engage in Professional Teambuilding
Gather your coworkers or graduate students for customized professional and corporate adult programs focusing on team building and leadership.
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Book Our Venues
Contact us today to learn about our unique, visually stunning and convenient venues for conferences, retreats, weddings, clambakes, corporate and social gatherings. Proceeds from our social enterprise support our free youth programming.
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Learn The Island's History
Thompson Island Outward Bound has been educating and building character for Boston youth for almost two hundred years. In 1833 the Island became home to the Boston Farm School for orphaned boys. As the generations passed, the organization evolved from agrarian to industrial to academic, with a consistent emphasis on “learning by doing.”
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Community Support
A generous and loyal network of individuals, foundations and corporate donors fund our youth education programs. Our two annual fundraisers include the 4K Trail Run and the Evening Expedition Gala.
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Become a Corporate Volunteer
Each season, more than 1,500 volunteers from Boston’s business community maintain and preserve the Island for our students. Learn more about how your organization’s employees can come together for a day of fieldwork, teamwork and fun.
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Why Thompson Island Outward Bound?
At Thompson Island Outward Bound, we are closing opportunity and achievement gaps for Boston middle school students through a powerful combination of hands-on field science and social emotional learning – on a spectacular island classroom in the Boston Harbor.
There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it—perhaps for the first time in our lives—we will be unwilling too settle for less.
-Kurt Hahn, Founder, Outward Bound
