• THOMPSON ISLAND SUMMER EXPEDITIONS

    https://thompsonisland.org/programs/connections/expeditions

    Thompson Island offers 5 day backpacking expedition and 7 day kayaking expeditions for 6th and 7th grade BPS students. 

    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.

     

    Courses

    Activity: Dates: Course area: Course #:
    Backpacking + Climbing June 29 - July 3, 2020 Thompson Island, Boston Harbor CXE20-501
    Backpacking + Climbing July 13 - July 17, 2020 Thompson Island, Boston Harbor CXE20-502
    Backpacking + Climbing July 27 - July 31, 2020 Thompson Island, Boston Harbor CXE20-503
    Backpacking + Climbing August 10 - August 14, 2020 Thompson Island, Boston Harbor CXE20-504


    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.

     

    Courses

    Activity: Dates: Course area: Course #:
    Sea Kayaking + Climbing June 29 - July 5, 2020 Boston Harbor Islands National Park CXE20-701
    Sea Kayaking + Climbing July 20 - July 26, 2020 Boston Harbor Islands National Park CXE20-702

     

    APPLICATIONS:

    https://thompsonisland.org/openfile/lib/file/manager/2020TIOBSummerExpeditions_app_pkt.pdf

    HARD COPIES AVAILABLE IN THE MAIN OFFICE