CBRC is a great place to learn to row!
Our camps are designed for youth in grades 7-12.
Our camp sessions:
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Monday - Thursday
at the CBRC Boathouse at Harry Todd Park
in Tillicum (Lakewood), Washington.
- Session One: June 17, 2024 to June 27, 2024
- Session Two: July 8, 2024 to July 18, 2024
- Session Three: July 29, 2024 - August 8, 2024
The cost for each session is $250.00.
Youth Rowing Scholarships:
Anyone who wants to row should be able to do so, regardless of background or economic circumstance.
CBRC's mission is to build community, confidence, and excellence through rowing, and we are committed to making rowing more accessible to area youth. Please see our Youth Rowing Scholarship page for more information.
Youth of color and those facing socio-economic barriers are encouraged to apply for scholarship support through the George Pocock Rowing Foundation (GPRF). The GPRF processes all scholarship applications via
an on-line scholarship application form: Apply for Financial Aid
Our youth learn to row sessions teach the basics of sculling and sweep rowing.
A scull is a thinner, lighter oar. Sculling requires to use of two oars or sculls by the rower and is done in single shells with one rower (Singles), double shells with two rowers (Doubles) or four rower shells called Quads. Doubles and Quads are referred to as team boats.
A sweep oar is a thicker, longer and heavier oar. Sweep rowing requires the use of one oar per rower with one rower on the port (right) side of the shell and another on the starboard (left) side of the shell. Sweep rowing is done in shells called Pairs (with two rowers), Fours with four rowers and Eights with eight rowers. Fours and Eights also include a coxswain to give the rowing commands and steer the shell. Fours and eights are also referred to as team boats.
Singles teach balance and patience; team boats teach balance, patience and teamwork.
Safe and fun rowing is the primary focus of Youth Learn to Row.
The classes teach all of the following and more:
- The rowing motion, usually taught on a rowing machine (erg) in our boathouse.
- The commands to lift and carry a shell from the boathouse either to canvas slings for adjustment, or safely to the dock to set it in the water. And, of course, remove the shell from the water and carry it safely back to the racks in the Boathouse.
- The proper method to attach the sculls or sweep oars to the oarlocks.
- Row short and long distances on the water, building confidence and fitness
- The proper method for entering and dismounting a shell.
Participants able to swim any stroke for ten minutes and then immediately tread water for 10 minutes will be able to learn in the boat without a PFD (personal flotation device). Otherwise, the athlete will learn while wearing a PFD supplied by CBRC. This is to ensure a rower's safety should their shell capsize.
Please download and complete the CBRC Declaration of Swimming Ability and give it to the instructor on the first day of your session.
In the summer, we want to make sure anyone who wants to learn is able to. If the athlete has not been taught to swim and is interested in rowing with the team, the Juniors coach can help them and their parents find local swim lessons and resources before the fall rowing season starts. We watch the USRowing safety video with each LTR group, and an athlete with a PFD will be safe and the first to come out of the water.
We encourage youth to learn both sweep rowing and sculling to get a good foundation for joining our Juniors program in the Fall. Young people who are returning rowers or who have successfully completed several of our introductory classes, or have previous rowing experience from other rowing clubs, are welcome to join. This summer's LTR rowers can register for multiple Learn to Row sessions.
The Juniors Club trains year-round. Information about the summer program and program costs can be read on our Juniors Summer Season page.
Select a session from the registration section below to start your summer rowing adventure.