A Summer Unlike Any Other

Thompson Island Outward Bound aspires to unleash the potential in every student. We encourage young people to push themselves beyond their perceived limits, tackle new challenges and achieve their goals. Instructors emphasize skill-building, leadership, teamwork and fun. Students return home from their summer expeditions with new insights, developed confidence, determination, a sense of responsibility and compassion for others.

The term ‘Outward Bound’ comes from the days of tall ships and refers to the moment a ship heads for the open seas, leaving the safety of the harbor behind. Our Outward Bound student expeditions mirror this philosophy in its experiential learning paradigm as we encourage students to take similar journeys within themselves.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Summer Expeditions

Thompson Island Outward Bound delivers Summer Expedition youth programs in the Thompson Island/Boston Harbor course area for students enrolled in the Boston Public Schools district and other established school group partners. For more information and to apply, email [email protected] or call 617.830.5131.

For all other individuals, Outward Bound continues to provide a wide variety of programs for all ages throughout the country and internationally, through other Outward Bound schools and centers. Please visit outwardbound.org or call 866.467.7651 for more information.

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5-day Backpacking Expeditions

Overview

Instructors promote active participation in all aspects of a Backpacking Expedition such as cooking, setting up shelters, making group decisions and reflecting on experiences. Participants spend five days in our 204-acre island preserve, where they investigate the geology and ecology of forests, salt marshes, and beaches, while learning camp craft, wilderness skills, and environmental stewardship.

Backpacking Expeditions teach students about challenge and accomplishment. They learn that by choosing their path, instead of letting it choose them, they can go further than they ever imagined. By taking part in Thompson Island Outward Bound’s summer expeditions, students discover their true abilities and potential- and gain a genuine sense of achievement.

Course Focus

This student expedition focuses on building positive relationships as students learn to live and work with their peers in a wilderness setting. Through the use of group initiatives, daily job chart, community-based travel and living, and climbing opportunities, students will begin to identify and develop the skill sets needed to communicate, resolve conflicts and work together productively.

Students will also be afforded opportunities to practice building appropriate and positive student-adult relationships through the instructors’ use of tone setting, maintenance of group and individual safety, regular individual check-ins, and continued support of the students as they transition through the phases of expedition and group development.

Available to

Rising 7th and 8th graders enrolled in the Boston Public Schools district

Courses

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7-day Kayaking Expeditions

Overview

Instructors promote active participation in all aspects of this Kayaking Expedition including cooking, setting up shelters, making group decisions and reflecting on experiences. As student’s skills progress, they will face new challenges such as crossing open water or reading ocean currents.

The everyday challenges and adventures of Kayaking Expeditions teach students to go beyond the limits of their preconceived capabilities. Students learn they are stronger than they thought and leave their summer expedition being able to access that strength in their everyday life.

Course Focus

This seven-day student expedition will compel young people to show resilience and further develop their relationship-building and critical thinking skill sets as they kayak throughout the Boston Harbor Islands. Each crew is made up of ten students who travel in two-person kayaks; they learn paddling techniques, capsize and rescue procedures, weather forecasting and navigation skills. Marine habitats and shorelines are explored by day, and nights are spent camping under the stars. Students will also be given the opportunity to climb our high ropes challenge course.

Available to

Rising 7th and 8th graders enrolled in the Boston Public School district

Courses

APPLICATION PACKET    REQUEST INFO