Boys and Girls Club Adventure to the Harbor Islands

Summer has fully begun with ferry rides and island adventures! The Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester partnered with Elevate Youth last weekend for a day of tidepool exploration and hiking at Thompson Island. Thompson Island is one of Boston’s thirteen harbor islands run by the Outward Bound Education Center. 

Originally created in 1833, the education center at Thompson Island has focused on experiential learning with under-resourced youth from the Boston area since its genesis. Outward Bound took over the center in 1988 as an outdoor education company focused on environmental stewardship, self-discovery, and connection through community. On Thompson Island, Outward Bound leads middle schoolers on environmental science and STEM discovery lessons, kayaking, and boating trips. Much like Elevate Youth they promote an adventurous and challenging program based on youth choice. Elevate Youth has worked with Outward Bound on Thompson Island since our creation!

Thompson Island has over a dozen trails leading from the main center to the four corners of the island. Trails lead to both North and South tips of the island, salt marshes, and various meadows and orchards. Together, our group started exploring the salt marshes on the Eastern side of the island. We found Green crabs, shells of Lady crabs, Hermit crabs, mussels, clams, and more in the tidal flats. Boys and Girls Club participants also worked together to build a dam on a tidal stream, and drew pictures of the wildlife they saw. 

After enjoying the sun by the beach, we ate lunch in the sailboat apple orchard. Kids were excited to explore and together we ventured out to the Northern point after lunch. While on the trails we played several rounds of a hiking game called Camouflage and caught some sweet views of the Boston skyline. When asked about their favorite parts of the day most kids voted for the ferry rides to and from the island and playing Camouflage together! We can not wait to adventure on Thompson Island again. Thank you to the staff at Boys and Girls Club, Jim at Outward Bound, and our volunteers Chloe and Quang! 

Check back in soon for more updates on Elevate Youth trips, staff updates, and opportunities to volunteer with us!