CRI welcomes Boston Public School students for an iconic field trip

On Friday morning, October 21, 2022, 100 Boston Public School students arrived at CRI's Head of the Charles® Regatta (HOCR) tent by the Eliot Street Bridge for a tour of the grounds, an erg relay competition, catered lunch, and a short presentation. Speakers included State Representative Michael Moran, Chief Operating Manager Richard Lynch from Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts, and Executive Director Ted Benford from Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI).

The Head of the Charles®, led by Executive Director Fred Schoch and the regatta’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, established this effort in partnership with CRI, with direct support from partner Blue Cross Blue Shield. This memorable, engaging field trip is an opportunity to create pathways for the diverse communities of Boston’s youth to see rowing as an attainable, attractive, and exciting sport.

“We never, when I grew up in this neighborhood, had a chance to go on the river,” said State Representative Michael Moran to BPS students during the speaking engagement. “CRI comes along and tries to flip the script, so that you guys, who would never have access to the river, gain access. That’s why we’re here, and that’s why this program—Let’s Row—is so important.”

“I really hope this collaboration continues,” said Holly Jordan, parent and Beethoven Ohrenberger School Council Co-President. “The experiences that these children had specifically today are going to stay with them. They’re already asking me: When can we go out and row?”

“My favorite part was the rowing machine races,” said one student.

“It was really fun to race against other people,” said another student.

“We cannot express how much our partnership with the Head of the Charles® means to us. The regatta is not only quintessentially Boston, but it’s also one of the most iconic and highly-anticipated races in the rowing world,” said Ted Benford, Executive Director of CRI. “We want to thank Fred and all the leadership at the HOCR as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield for being thoughtful and generous partners.”

CRI has been a member of the HOCR Charity Program for more than a decade, which has provided direct support for CRI's Let’s Row Middle School Program. After participating in this program, any Boston Public School student is welcome to row at any Community Rowing youth program, gaining access to direct transportation between Ruggles Station and CRI’s boathouse, one-on-one tutoring, healthy snacks, and financial aid.

Blue Cross Blue Shield, a HOCR partner, has also supported CRI’s mission to grow through rowing. Most recently, CRI was a recipient of a Blue Cross Blue Shield grant that directly funded its Let’s Row Fellowship Program, an innovative three week paid fellowship for current physical education teachers and teaching professionals to experience rowing on the Charles River, gain USRowing Level I coach certification, and learn more about the opportunities at CRI for their students. Additionally, their support created the opportunity for CRI to welcome more than 300 youth for on-water rowing field trips through the Boston Centers for Youth and Families SuperTeens summer program.

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Community Rowing Inc. (CRI) was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the belief that the sport of rowing provides unique opportunities to promote personal and community growth through teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. We invite individuals of all backgrounds, abilities and experience to grow through rowing.