The sounds of a boathouse and its community of rowers are distinct and familiar to anyone who has ever picked up an oar or helped to hoist a boat overhead at that first command of “up and over!”. With New York City infusing its own urban cacophony, combined with our mix of cultures and youthful exuberance, we submit Row New York’s programs offer up something special and unique. We are always happy to provide a tour to anyone who is interested, but for those of you who cannot make the trip, we offer another way to experience our programs… Please enjoy.
Queens Program
World’s Fair Boathouse
Flushing, Queens
“Here’s to Strong Women. May We Know Them. May We Be Them. May We Raise Them”–– Unknown.
The Queens boathouse boasts our “inaugural” Row New York program, started back in 2002, and unlike our other other locations, it is an all-girls boathouse. There is a particular closeness at this program, a special camaraderie among the high school and middle school student-athletes, perhaps due, in part, to its being an all-female program. The program is run with a precision born out of 15-plus years of experience, and coaches who understand their student-athletes’ strengths and weaknesses. These young women know each other well, and they also know what is expected of them once they enter the boathouse. So while the peals of screams and laughter might initially suggest chaos, these students-athletes move in synch with each other, on the water and off.
In addition to serving over 100 young women, our Queens location also has a robust adaptive program. We serve hundreds of people of all ages with physical and/or cognitive disabilities. On the water they are all athletes. We expect the same commitment to teamwork and discipline that we demand of our youth participants.
Brooklyn Program
Paerdegat Basin Boathouse
Canarsie, Brooklyn
In a quiet part of Brooklyn, in a hidden cove that few rowers know about, we launched our newest youth program in the spring of 2016. The Paerdegat Basin boasts a 2000-meter stretch of calm, smooth water that is perfect for rowing. For residents of East New York and Brownsville, most of whom are newcomers to rowing, we could not ask for a more agreeable body of water to learn this demanding sport.
Beyond the stern commands of a coxswain, the resulting sound of oars striking the water in synch, and the occasional “colorful language” accompanying an ill-timed stroke, one is more apt to hear the squawking of seagulls and the soulful music of our Caribbean neighbors rather than the typical NYC racket of sirens, subways, and car horns. In measured progress––due to good coaching and the relaxed neighborhood vibe of this site––we watch our students mature into strong athletes, taking their time, at every catch and every finish.
Manhattan Program
Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse
Inwood/Washington Heights, New York
Rowing in Manhattan. It’s cool, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The feeling is definitely urban––and by urban we don’t simply mean pretty skylines. We feel the hustle and energy of the city every day: the A train running above ground, the planes overhead on their way to JFK, the inevitable wake caused by the Circle Line carrying throngs of tourists who wave and take pictures. And we love it. Early morning you have the sense that the city is all yours as the sun comes up stealthily over Queens, but by 10:00 am New York is wide awake and slaps you in the face like the jolt of a double espresso.
Our kids come by train, bus, and foot from all around Manhattan, ready to work hard, and importantly, to row as a team. They laugh here, as well as share their hopes and struggles, but they are quick to get down to business with that first command of “Hands On!”. We row March through November, alongside collegiate rowers, city barges, jet skiers, and the water patrol. We are oblivious to the sounds––and smells––but the city pulses through our veins powering us forward.
Come visit and see for yourself
Are you interested in visiting our programs, meeting our staff, or just want to learn more about our programs before you give? Come to visit and see for yourself, contact our Chief Development Officer at jholzman@rownewyork.org.
