The Outward Bound Professional Methodology—How We Do It

Our customized approach is specially designed to meet your goals. This alone sets us apart from many other off-the-shelf training programs and combined with our unique experiential delivery, it’s something people will remember for the rest of their lives.

For each of our programs we generally follow a four-phase approach to help our clients succeed:

1. Assessment—We perform a thorough assessment with interviews, questionnaires and meetings to determine program scope, goals and deliverables.
2. Design—We work closely with our clients to meet predetermined individual, team and organizational objectives. Because each team is different, we are flexible in our approach.
3. Delivery—Our custom programs utilize a combination of experiential problem-solving initiatives, learning modules, ropes courses, wilderness expeditions and assessment instruments. Participants find our programs to be great fun.
4. Follow Up—Working with clients after the program ensures that the key learned ideas and behavioral changes are incorporated into work culture.

Choose a Format that Works for You

Our programs often include a combination of indoor and outdoor activities and can be delivered at conference centers, urban parks, rural base-camps or in back-country wilderness settings. Outward Bound Professional has developed three types of programs to serve as guidelines for your customized program:

Our Design Options Include:

Problem Solving
These activities build collaborative and problem-solving skills by requiring a high degree of interaction among participants. Since initiatives are portable and require a minimum of physical activity, they can be facilitated either on Thompson Island or at the site of your choice.

Complex or Multi Group Initiatives
A problem-solving task in which all groups must work together to achieve a common goal making the most of limited resources. The themes developed in the morning are reinforced and further expanded. Examples: Orienteering on our course with map and compass, a rotation of connected Initiatives, Raft building on our beach.

Low Ropes
The low ropes course on Thompson Island is designed for moderate physical challenge while encouraging team members to bring out the best in each other in order to succeed. The low ropes course involves a range of activities and apparatus constructed near the ground throughout the island's wooded glens.

High Ropes
Climbing on the high ropes course often helps individuals and teams accomplish more than they previously believed was possible. Coaching and teamwork are crucial to a climber's success and participants realize the interdependent nature of achievement. The activities are as much mental as physical and we can design options to suit any ability level. Thompson Island has a wide range of indoor and outdoor high ropes elements to challenge both individuals and groups of climbers.

Water-Based Activities
Our location in the picturesque Boston Harbor Islands National Park provides a wonderful setting for sea borne adventure. Whether your team is learning to sail in a traditional sprit rigged “pulling boat” or navigating a channel crossing as a fleet of sea kayaks, Thompson Island Outward Bound's staff have the qualifications to keep you safe and glean real world lessons from the experience.

Mini-Expedition
We can take your team on an unforgettable journey. The act of going on an expedition with Outward Bound involves natural challenges, an amazing cast study in group dynamics, and a great deal of fun. Thompson Island has a number of campsites or we can take your group further to a field in the White Mountains or Boston Harbor Islands National Park.

Please contact one of our account managers today to define the program that is right for you. By phone: 617-328-3900 ext. 103 or ext. 114, or e-mail obprofessional@thompsonisland.org.