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

Amidst the backdrop of a city renowned for its contributions to higher education, life sciences, technology, and finance, lies a natural gem that tells a different tale of Boston.

Just a stone's throw from the bustling streets of downtown sits the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center, which currently enriches the lives of Boston middle schoolers through experiential learning and outdoor science education. 

Our Boston office has long been dedicated to Thompson Island Outward Bound’s mission, and this year received the North Star Award for their enthusiastic support of these programs.

Read the full article. 

Transcript

Welcome to Womble Perspectives, where we explore a wide range of topics, from the latest legal updates to industry trends to the business of law. Our team of lawyers, professionals and occasional outside guests will take you through the most pressing issues facing businesses today and provide practical and actionable advice to help you navigate the ever changing legal landscape.

With a focus on innovation, collaboration and client service. We are committed to delivering exceptional value to our clients and to the communities we serve. And now our latest episode.

Boston has long been a world-class city and today, it’s 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 200 and 4 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.

Today, the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center owns and operates the island for the benefit of the public. In 2023, the Center will serve approximately 1,600 students from 13 Boston middle schools, offering them experiential academics and the chance to work collaboratively with their peers. These activities include hands-on outdoor science lessons aligned with the Boston Public Schools’ curriculum.

Womble Bond Dickinson was recently honored with the Thompson Island Outward Bound North Star Award for the firm’s continuing support of these programs and the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center.

Thompson Island Outward Bound’s mission has long been important to Womble Bond Dickinson Partner Gordon Penman. Gordon has served on the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center’s Board of Trustees since 2013. When he joined Womble as a lateral in 2019, he brought this passion project with him—and it has been one the firm’s Boston office has eagerly embraced.

Team members from the Boston office regularly volunteer for beach clean-up projects around the island. Attorneys and staff have participated in several of the Thompson Island Outward Bound 4K trail runs, which are significant fundraisers for the Outward Bound Education Center. And the firm’s Independence Wharf office has hosted Thompson Island Outward Bound board meetings.

Womble Partner Caitlin MacDowell has joined Gordon in taking on a leadership role, including serving on the Toast to Thompson Island event committee.

In addition, Womble attorneys provide significant pro bono legal support for Thompson Island Outward Bound. In fact, the organization is the single largest beneficiary of the Boston office’s commitment to providing pro bono legal services to worthy organizations and causes.

Penman said, “I firmly believe it is critical to our society that we create opportunities for disadvantaged youth. As one of Boston’s oldest institutions, Thompson Island has been doing exactly that for almost 200 years. I have been very proud to contribute to the Island’s work in whatever ways I can for more than a decade now and view it as one of my most important and satisfying professional and personal accomplishments.”

This track record of sustained support led the Thompson Island Outward Bond Education Center to name Womble Bond Dickinson as the organization’s 2023 Thompson Island Outward Bound North Star Award honoree. The firm received the honor at the Evening Expedition Gala, which took place on Nov. 8 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. More than 330 guests attended the event in celebration and support of Thompson Island Outward Bound.

Womble Bond Dickinson Managing Partner Deb Vernon, Ph.D. accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

"Over the past five years, Womble has been honored to be part of Thompson Island’s story,” Vernon said. “I know I speak for all my colleagues in saying that we look forward to continuing our partnership with Thompson Island Outward Bound to protect the Island’s beauty and its impact on our lives.”

Womble Bond Dickinson also sponsored the 2023 Evening Expedition Gala. The event raised more than 590,000 dollars, every dollar of which will support Thompson Island Outward Bound's core mission: to provide free, hands-on science learning and social-emotional development to Boston students.

Beth MacNeill, Chief Development and Communications Officer for the Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center commented “We are extremely grateful and appreciative of the partnership we have created with Womble Bond Dickinson. Over the years, their dedicated team has taken every opportunity to bring the work of Thompson Island Outward Bound to the forefront and to spread their passion for our mission and the work we do with Boston’s young people. We are proud to have Womble Bond Dickinson as part of the Thompson Island Outward Bound family.”

Thank you for listening to Womble Perspectives. If you want to learn more about the topics discussed in this episode, please visit The Show Notes, where you can find links to related resources mentioned today. The Show Notes also have more information about our attorneys who provided today's insights, including ways to reach out to them.

Don't forget to subscribe via your podcast player of choice so that you never miss an episode. Thank you again for listening.