It's an early start for these students from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. From the bus to a boat, the school's 8th graders are taking a classroom detour.
They're heading for Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center, an island located in Boston Harbor, for a two day course.
For nearly 200 years, Boston's island classroom has been educating students by introducing science, biology, and math, combined with developing teamwork and leadership skills.
Students are challenged in ways they never thought possible. They learn to trust their peers, and share their fears, learning how to accomplish difficult tasks with their group.
Using the wilderness as a classroom, Thompson Island Outward Bound guides students through a journey of self discovery. Some of the challenges seem impossible, like the alpine tower. Reaching the top gives these students confidence they never thought they had.