Connections Summer Expeditions

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.

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Thompson Island Outward Bound Connections Summer Expeditions

Thompson Island Outward Bound offers the Connections Program during the Summer with overnight expeditions on Thompson Island and in Boston Harbor for students enrolled in the Boston Public School district. To apply, click on the link below. For more information please email kmoreau@thompsonisland.org or call 617.830.5131.

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Overview

Students are asked to actively participate in all aspects of the Expedition, from cooking, setting up shelters, making group decisions to reflecting on experiences. Participants spend five days on 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.

Kayaking Expeditions include sea kayaking throughout Boston Harbor and camping on Thompson Island and its surrounding islands. You don’t need any kayaking or outdoor experience to enjoy this program. We will teach you everything needed to perform as part of a successful crew, from paddling and seamanship to communication and leadership.

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

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Connections Summer Expeditions

Backpacking/Climbing or Kayaking/Climbing Programs

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Outward Bound also provides 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.