Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center a Beacon for Hands-On Learning

Boston has long been a world-class city. Today, it is a mecca for higher education and a global leader in the life sciences, technology, and finance sectors, among other industries.

But just a mile off Columbia Point, Thompson Island sits hundreds of years back in time. The 204-acre island is a largely undeveloped nature preserve that includes a diverse array of native vegetation and wildlife. All within view of one of America’s busiest downtowns. 

Boston’s youth have benefited from the island for nearly 200 years. In the 1800s, the island was home to a school for boys who were orphaned or whose parents could not care for them. In the twentieth century, the school became a college preparatory residential school, taking advantage of the island’s natural, insulated setting to promote community.