Learning to Row
Novice Day Program
Each spring, the Des Moines Rowing Club holds a free "Novice Day" for anyone
living in the area interested in learning to row. Just let us know ahead of time
that you’d like to give it a try so we can schedule you for a boat time.
As a participant, you’ll be assigned a time on Novice Day (approximately 1 hour)
to gather information, talk to club members, and even try a little spin in the
boat! There is no cost to participate in Novice Day and no commitment to join
the club. When you arrive, you’ll be asked to register by completing a
membership form and signing a waiver. You will be asked to verify that you know
how to swim competently for 200 yards. That form will not be processed until you
decide after your rowing experience that you want to participate in the program.
If you decide that rowing is not for you, that’s not a problem. We’re happy that
you took the time to check it out and try something new.
If you do decide that you’d like to participate in the summer-long program,
you’ll need to return to the registration desk to select a rowing time (pre-set
slots will be available—usually 5:30 or 6:30 pm on weekdays or at a pre-arranged
weekend time) and pay your fee. The cost is $85, plus you’ll also be required to
perform 5 hours of volunteer time for the club. (DMRC is an entirely volunteer
organization, operated by and for the club members. There will be lots of
opportunities to fulfill this requirement as the year progresses (see Volunteer
Opportunities). The $85 fee for the Novice Program is due on Novice Day.
We will contact you within a week of Learn-to-Row Day with a confirmed rowing
schedule. We hope to begin classes the week of June 15, 2009.
Gray’s Lake is the venue for novice training. Boats will usually row one time a
week for the first 4 to 5 weeks at the lake, then move to the river as skill and
comfort levels improve. (Note: If you cannot row at your scheduled time, it is
your responsibility to find a substitute from our sub list ahead of time and let
your captain know.)
After the official training program ends, some novice crews will choose to
continue training for the Head of the Des Moines Regatta (Saturday, September
26, 2009), but others may decide to re-organize into noncompetitive boats,
and/or stop rowing for the season. It is entirely up to you. Your fee payment
will cover you for as long into the fall as you wish to continue rowing.
Please join us for Novice Day 2009 on June 6th at Gray's Lake.
Contact us for more information or to sign up for a
training time. See you there!
Join the Club
Already know how to row? Joining is easy. Just print our
Membership Form
, fill it
out and send it, along with a check for your membership fee, to the Des Moines
Rowing Club, PO Box 872, Des Moines, IA 50304 or drop it off at the
boathouse
.
Along with your completed form and check, you will need to verify that you can
swim competently for 200 yards.
| Membership Fees |
| Regular Membership (Adults) |
$175, plus 10 hours volunteer time |
| Novice (first year / adult) |
$85, plus 5 hours volunteer time |
| Full-time Student |
$50, plus 5 hours volunteer time |
| Cox-Only Member |
$30; no volunteer time required |
| Non-Rowing Member: |
$0; no volunteer time required |