Since 1833, Thompson Island has functioned as a nonprofit seeking to expand educational opportunities for Boston’s underserved youth. Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center’s primary purpose is to provide adventurous and challenging experiential learning programs that inspire character development, compassion, community service, environmental responsibility, and academic achievement.
To achieve our goal of best serving Boston youth, we have developed a multi-year program to serve 5th through 8th grade BPS students with a sequential, research-based curriculum that combines hands-on field science with social-emotional development. Our flagship program, Connections, builds STEM competence and social-emotional skills through a multi-year progression of field-based lessons taught by Thompson Island Outward Bound facilitators, BPS teachers, and National Park Service (NPS) Rangers.
Funds raised through the B.A.A. Boston Marathon Official Charity Program directly support science based learning programs Thompson Island Outward Bound offers for free to Boston Public middle schoolers.