Background:GMS Rowing Center has an active and highly successful Cadet (Middle School) and Junior (High School) rowing program. In 2011three rowers represented the USA at the World Junior Rowing Championships at Eton, England. We had a number of boats medaling at the Youth National Championships. Four of our students were awarded scholarships to college.

Structure: The program is organized into on-water programs covering spring, summer and fall. The spring and fall programs last approximately 10 weeks and to provide flexibility during the summer programs are arranged on a monthly basis. Winter Training (on-land) runs from mid-November through to early March providing a core base of strength and technique for rowers in the spring. It is a tremendous foundation for any aspiring student.

Content: The focus will be on teaching new rowers the basics of the rowing stroke, proper care and use of the equipment, and preparation for competition. We will introduce students to “sweep” rowing (a technique where each athlete uses one oar). They will learn to row in fours (rowing shells with seats for four rowers plus a coxswain) and eights (rowing shells with seats for eight rowers plus a coxswain). During the program they will have some exposure to “sculling” (a technique where each athlete uses two smaller oars, one in each hand).

Competition: Rowers will not travel to regattas but will be exposed to inter-program competition and scrimmages (informal regattas) with crews at the same level from other clubs.

Catchment Area: Students come from a wide number of local schools the greatest number from New Milford, Brookfield, Bridgewater and Newtown. Students from outside this area include a number from Redding, Ridgefield, Danbury in the south, and Washington in the north.

Daily Schedule: Workouts will start at 3:30 running until 5:30 daily. (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are for returning rowers and Tuesdays, and Thursdays for new rowers.

Costs: The cost for the 3-day a week program is $575 per returning rower and $625 for new members. For the 2-day a week program the cost is $380 for a returning member and $420 for a new member.   An additional discount of $50 is available if you sign up a new member. For the Summer the 3-day monthly rate is $300 per returning rower and $350 per new rower and the 2-day $200 per returning rower and $235 for a new member.

Dates:

• Spring Programwill start on Monday March 12th and end on Friday, May 25th. Registration will be held on March 12th from 3:30-5:30pm. Practice will begin on March 13th. (No rowing will take place over the holiday week of April 16th to April 20th)
• Summer Programs: (Monthly) Monday June 4th – Friday June 29th; Monday July 2nd – Friday July 27th ; Monday July 30th – Friday August 24th.
• Fall Program will start on Tuesday, September 4th and ends on Friday November 9th.
• Winter Program start on Monday, November 19th 2012 and will finish on Friday, March 8th 2013.

Registration: Please complete the Registration, Code of Conduct, Medical Authorization & US Waiver Forms found in the Cadets section of the Forms Side Bar.

Summer Camps for Beginners:

Structure:

Our 1 week camp is a more intensive program that will give our new rowers a jump start and allow them to progress at an accelerated rate allowing them to move into our novice group in the fall. We will have 2 water sessions a day (weather permitting) along with cross training and video assessments.

Dates:

• Monday July 23rd – Friday July 27th or
• Monday July 30th – Friday August 3rd or
• Monday August 6th – Friday August 10th

Time: 9am-3pm

Cost: $400.00 per week (snacks & beverages provided)

What to bring: bagged lunch with an ice pack, sneakers, socks, hat and or sunglasses, sunscreen, change of clothes and rain jacket.

Registration: Please complete the Registration, Code of Conduct, Medical Authorization & US Waiver Forms found in the Cadets section of the Forms Side Bar.