Every day a difference.
Join us on Thompson Island and explore an unforgettable land of beauty—a place where opportunity and adventure await, and where challenge inspires change. Just a short boat ride into the Boston Harbor Islands National Park area, here you will discover unimagined opportunities and make new memories. So take a journey to a place where Thompson Island Outward Bound programs educate, and events become extraordinary. And experience how everything we do makes a difference for Boston youth.
A journey of self-discovery through challenge and adventure.
For nearly 200 years, Boston’s Island Classroom has been igniting a love of learning in students of all ages through experiential education. Today our nationally recognized Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center programs inspire academic success, leadership and teamwork, guided by our mission to change lives through challenge and discovery.
Explore our programs:
- Connections for Boston Public School partners
- Summer Expeditions for individual youth from Greater Boston
- Discovery for school and youth organizations
- Green Ambassadors for youth jobs
- Professional Development for corporations, organizations, and graduate schools
A world-class destination in the heart of the harbor.
Board our private ferry and you’ll be transported to a natural paradise nestled in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park area. Located just one mile from downtown Boston, Thompson Island offers the exclusivity of a private resort with the accessibility of an urban conference center.
From destination weddings to corporate clambakes, family reunions to business retreats, you’ll host an event unlike any other among rolling hills, sunset beaches, historic accommodations, and seaside vistas. And your guests will delight knowing that all proceeds support Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center’s youth programming and its mission to improve the lives of Boston’s urban youth.
A chance to build a better future.
For 180 years Thompson Island has been a refuge for Boston’s most vulnerable young people, providing inspiration and education and a chance to change their lives. Today our Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center programs continue this legacy of philanthropic leadership, empowering students to seek new goals, excel in school, learn to lead, and develop the compassion they need to make a difference in the world.
Your support directly serves our mission to bring Boston’s urban youth to Thompson Island and close the achievement gap for those who are most at risk and most in need. Donate, volunteer, join our 4K Run, attend the Annual Gala, or support our Capital Campaign and make the investment that will sustain our future.
2016 AEE Organizational Member of the Year Award
It’s a great pleasure to announce that Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center has been named the 2016 recipient of the Association for Experiential Education’s (AEE) Organizational Member of the Year Award!
AEE is an international organization that exists to connect a global community of educators and practitioners and expand their capacity to enrich lives through Experiential Education. This award is presented to an organization that maintains innovative and outstanding programming at consistently high standards and demonstrates consistent commitment to and support for the work of AEE.
In the past, Thompson Island has participated in the Annual AEE Northeast Regional Conference, as well as the ‘AEE Digital Age Symposium’ that was co-hosted with Boston University in the spring of 2015. In addition to these direct contributions this award recognizes the efforts and commitment of ALL Thompson Island employees and supporters. We are honored by the recognition and inspired by the support of this community.
Dan Abar, Program and Safety Director, accepted the award on behalf of Thompson Island at the 2016 AEE International Conference in Minneapolis on Friday, October 28.
For more information about the award, click here.
