Rowing is coming to Cambridge Upper Schools this Fall

Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI) is pleased to announce a joint partnership with Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) and Cambridge Boat Club (CBC) to provide all five CPS Upper Schools the opportunity for indoor rowing P.E. classes, on-water field trips, and invitation to the country’s largest indoor youth rowing competition at no-cost.

“This three way community partnership is very exciting,” said Ted Benford, Executive Director of CRI. “It creates access for Cambridge’s youth to get their hands on an oar and make new friends, get out on the river at either of two local rowing organizations, and gives them the opportunity to gain the many mental and physical benefits that scholastic rowing provides.”

“Cambridge Boat Club is delighted to be joining with CRI and CPS to add rowing to the P.E. curriculum at all the Cambridge Upper schools,” CBC President Tom Pounds said. “For almost 25 years, our club has been the home of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) high school crew, and the Let’s Row Program builds on this foundation by offering early exposure to our sport for the broadest possible group of younger people in our community. It will be exciting to watch five teams of Cambridge Upper Schoolers erging at the Let’s Row Championships next spring.”

CRI’s Let’s Row Program partners with over 35 Boston Public Schools—and now, all five Cambridge Public Upper Schools—to introduce students to rowing, a historically privileged sport. The program was founded under Community Rowing’s mission to invite individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, and experience to grow through rowing. Due to the nature of the sport and the time spent outdoors, rowing has unique benefits for physical, mental, and social growth.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new program aimed at transforming the lives of our students in the Cambridge community. This innovative Community Rowing program is designed to provide our youth with a unique opportunity for personal growth, teamwork and physical fitness. Not only will this program be fun, Rowing is an activity our students can utilize for a lifetime!” stated Blair Williams, Interim K-12 Curriculum Coordinator.

Let’s Row breaks barriers to the sport by creating pathways that can lead to long term growth for everyone. By bringing certified coaching and indoor rowing machines directly to middle schools, Let’s Row engages public school youth through curriculum-based programming that meets physical education standards and incorporates games, peer support, and competition in each lesson plan. The Let’s Row Program also welcomes schools to participate in field trips to either the Cambridge Boat Club or CRI’s Harry Parker Boathouse that safely get kids out on the Charles River in a free learn to row program.

Participating Cambridge and Boston Public Schools are also invited to the annual Let’s Row Championships, held at the TRACK at new balance in early April. There, each school races as a team in a friendly, LOUD, and fun culminating event of indoor relays.

Through Let’s Row, youth participants learn more about the services available at Community Rowing—from financial aid to free transportation to nutritious snacks. With the expansion of this program into Cambridge, Community Rowing looks forward to inspiring more introductions and equity to its sport.

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Community Rowing Inc. 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.