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Learn To Row

Summer Learn-to-Row is for rising 6th to 12th-grade students.  Prior experience is NOT required.  Your athletes will learn to row in the same types of boats you see in the Olympics! They'll learn how to carry, launch, row, and RACE an 8-person boat with the assistance of our coaches and experienced rowers.

Each program session runs Monday to Friday, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. The fee for each week/session is $285. Payment is due at the time of registration. 

All attendees must be competent swimmers.  Although motorized coach boats remain close to the rowers, athletes do not wear flotation devices while in the shells. They must be able to swim two laps of a 50-yard pool, tread water continuously for 5 minutes, and exit from the deep-end of a pool unassisted.

We welcome athletes to sign up for more than one week to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the wonderful world of rowing and learn what crew life is all about!

2025 Session DATES:
  • Session 1: June 23 - 27 (limited spots remaining; register now!)
  • Session 2: July 7 - 11 (limited spots remaining; register now!)
  • Session 3: July 21 - 25 (no spots remaining; waitlist only)
  • Session 4: August 4 - 8 (spots available)
LOCATION

Lake Wheeler Park
6404 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh, NC 27603

​CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS

Session changes and cancellations must be requested at least 7 days before the program starts.

Session change fee: $25
Cancellation fee: $50 - if canceled more than 7 days before program start

Registration closes the Wednesday before each session. You must be completely registered by this time. Partial registrations will be removed, and the slot will be filled by a waiting participant.

Questions?

If you have questions about learn-to-row, please contact Coach Kees by emailing kkoopman@trianglerowing.org

For general questions about the team, feel free to reach out to info@trianglerowing.org


Frequently Asked Questions

What's the daily schedule like?

Monday is generally spent entirely on land. We begin by taking athletes through an overview of our equipment, the rowing machine, and the sequence of the stroke.  We conclude with side-of-the-dock rowing, when campers will have the opportunity to feel the weight of the water, manage an oar, and work through some finer technical points without the instability of rowing on open water.

Tuesday-Thursday are spent fully on the water, weather permitting. Earlier in the week, campers can expect to do more drills, move slower, and receive more direct instruction. Later in the week, we move faster and sweat a bit more in preparation for Friday racing. We aim to launch by 10:00, come in for a short water and stretch break around 11:00, then return to the water before our final docking at noon.

Friday is race day! Athletes will go for a short paddle and prep row in the morning, followed by an extended break. We host an in-person team info meeting for parents during this row. Once the meeting concludes, we send athletes back out to line up for 3 or 4 sprint races within view of shore.

Note: while we are generally successful at executing this agenda in its entirety, rowers are at the mercy of the weather, so alterations/cancellations do happen on particularly windy or rainy days.

 

What should i wear and what should i bring?

We recommend bringing the following items each day:

  1. Running shoes and 2 pairs of socks (ideally, these are shoes that you don't mind getting a little bit wet)
  2. Sunscreen and bug spray
  3. Full water bottle (32oz)
  4. A snack for during/after camp
  5. Dress in close-fitting shorts or spandex and a close-fitting t-shirt - no baggy basketball shorts
  6. A hat and sunglasses

 

when is the swim test?

We do not administer a swim test ourselves, however all participants must attest at registration that they can (1) swim two laps of a 50-yard swimming pool (100 yards) without touching the bottom, (2) tread water continuously for 5 minutes, and (3) lift themselves out of the deep end of a pool unassisted and without the use of a ladder or steps. Basic swimming ability is a critical safety requirement of participation in rowing. While it is rare, participants can fall out of our rowing shells.

 

if my athlete enjoys rowing, what's next?

After the conclusion of camp, all families will receive a code to attend fall Sneak Peek Week free of charge. SPW takes place during one of the first weeks of our fall competitive season, and is your opportunity to explore the team even further and make sure we're a good fit (commute, community, commitment, etc.). If your athlete is still loving rowing as much as we do at that point, we welcome you to register for the team and keep coming back!