Who We Are !

 We are from Boston Green Academy, a new BPS charter school. We are a diverse AP class who came together with the help of our teacher. She was kind enough to ask the president of Thompson Island Outward Bound (TIOB) if the AP and Honors Environmental Science could study on the island. Ms. McNally insisted that the trip be all expense paid, she offered to write new curriculum and exchange for her students to go. The president of TIOB went to Vertex and got a $10,000 Grant to pay for our three days and two nights to make this possible. We are also very thankful for having the opportunity to experience something so great without having to worry about the cost.

One of our sophomore's Joyce states "I didn't want to take a part of the trip at first, because I was nervous. Ms. McNally told me how fun and relaxing it would be, so I thought about going but still had some doubts. Now that I'm here, I'm glad I made that decision and this is to me once in a lifetime experience."

One of our junior's Edith states "I felt like I was not going to be capable of doing the activities, but when I arrived I end-up doing well and enjoying my time with my peers. I'm thankful because its my first experience on a island and I feel like I'm becoming a stronger person. Its a memory I'll never forget." 

One of our senior's Timmy states "I felt like it was going to be boring and there wasn't any reason for me to come. But later on when I did the activities things started to change, having the staff telling us their background and the history behind the island things started getting interesting. Now coming here its all worth it. "

Day 1

Boat ride here!

In order for us to get here we had to take the ferry, which most of us were used to since we've had multiple field trips to islands this year. The boat rides are always fun, especially this one in particular because we were all anticipating the overnight stay here at Thompson Island. Although the boat ride ride was so short it gave us all the opportunity to express how we were feelings about the trip. Some of us were happy and excited; and others not so much. 

   

Activities!

   The first activity we did was the whale watching game. In this game we had to stand on a boat shaped sort of board that was mounted on fulcrum, and the object of the game was to make the board balance out. In order for it to work out we had to work together to see which strategies would work to make it balance. At first, this game was not easy at all but as the time went by we were able to figure out the different ways to accomplish what we needed to. One lesson someone should take away from this would be that in order for something to work within a group, all the members have to work together and be able to come to agreements. This game is a good way to build a number of different skills.

The second activity we did was the zipper game. The goal was of this game was to be able to run through the group without being touched. While running through, you were supposed to drop your arms, kind of like a zipper unzips.  The main lesson we were suppose to take away from this game was trusting peers. In order to get through the ‘zipper’ you had to trust that your peers would release their arms, enabling you to pass through.  If you didn’t trust them enough to get through then the game wouldn’t be successful.

The third and final game we played was a jump rope game. The object of this game was to figure out the pattern or rule of how we were supposed to pass through the rope. But the tricky part of this was that the only people who knew the pattern were the people swinging the ropes and they weren't able to tell us! The lesson of this particular game was that in life you have to figure out different patterns or ways to make impossible, possible.

Day 2

THE LEARNING PART 

On the second day of our trip we worked on our projects all day. Doing lots of research and conducting interviews.

Interview with an OB Instructor

Sabina (Outward Bound Instructor)

1.     How long have you been working here?

-       3 years

2.     Have you noticed any differences in climate or weather?

-       Different species each season, bad storms, erosion from waves, high tides, forest fires (which is a great opp. for new stuff to grow), big trees (which cause less sun to shine down). CHANGES ARE NECESSARY.

3.     If so how has it affected you?

-       Weather, they work outside, tide of water, “one part of island isn’t being used because of erosion”

4.     Can you compare climate from here and the city?

-       Not big difference because we’re only a mile from the city. More wind, less heat= no gravel, because it’s an island with the high tide and trash comes in and can mess up land. Water run off

Info

Biodiversity

New Animal Every YEAR!

-       There was plenty of information that we were surprised by like the biodiversity of birds that comes to the island. There are a number of different types of birds that stop here during migration. The birds here on the island are different from those of the ones back in the city. Also the diversity of plants as the weather changing and the season on top of the climate.

Salt Water Marsh

So long to build!

-       Who would of thought? It takes years to create a marsh and minute to destroy.

A major factor of Hurricane Katrina

-  It's believed that if there were more marsh where Hurricane Katrina took place, the extra water would have had a place to go, therefore there wouldn’t be that much damage as there was.

The islands are in most danger from climate change because of sea level rise.  Once sea level rises the island will practically be under water soon.