Learn to Row — City Island Rowing

The Gate

The walk that starts here

One of the greatest rewards in youth rowing happens at our gate. We watch a girl walk through it for the first time — often nervous, a little awkward, shoulders curled inward, trying to be invisible, not quite sure what to make of a growing, changing body.

And at the end of her senior year, we watch her walk out that same gate standing tall — head high, shoulders pinned back, with a swagger that has been earned — surrounded by friends she will know for the rest of her life, and carrying a completely different understanding of everything she is capable of.

That walk starts here.

How We Teach

Sculling first —
because it's better for her

Most clubs — about nine in ten — start beginners in sweep boats: one big oar, lean and twist. We don't. Every City Island Rowing athlete starts in a sculling boat: two oars, one in each hand, perfectly symmetrical. No lean, no twist — which makes it much, much safer for young, growing backs. It's also the sport's best teacher: a good sculler becomes a great sweep rower. The reverse is not true.

Instruction is led by current NCAA college athletes and assisted by our own varsity rowers — an atmosphere that is incredibly welcoming, friendly, and relatable. The young women teaching your daughter to row learned to row right here.

Learn to Row is for girls ages 12–16. The sweet spot: the summer before 8th or 9th grade. Sessions run 9:00 – 10:30 am, Monday to Friday.

Two young rowers in a double scull on calm summer water

From Learn to Row to State Champions in 8 months — it has happened.

The Structure

Two weeks, one invitation

Learn to Row is one committed week — and, for most girls, a second week by invitation.

Why a full week? Because rowing takes about three days to click. Day one is oars everywhere. Day two is almost. Day three is the first stroke that feels like flying — and a girl who stops before day three never finds out. One week is long enough to fall in love, and short enough to be a graceful goodbye if this turns out not to be her sport — or simply not her summer yet. No season-long commitment, no hard feelings, on either side.

At the end of the week, we invite athletes into Advanced Learn to Row the following week — and about nine in ten girls get that invitation. The two weeks run back-to-back on purpose: momentum matters, and week two is where wobbly becomes confident. From there, she can keep right on rowing with the U16 summer program.

Our Honest Advice

Choose an early session

A girl who learns in June keeps rowing all summer — warm water, long evenings, new friends — and walks into fall season with a huge head start on every girl who waited.

And summer is easily THE best time of year to learn to row: the water is warm, the winds are generally calm, and the boathouse is full of girls doing exactly what she's doing.

After Learn to Row, the path is simple: the U16 squad — where rowers are made, racing this fall.

A group of City Island Rowing girls in pink on the regatta field, medals around their necks

Summer 2027 · Registration Is Open

Yes, next summer — and yes, already

The best summers get planned early. Pick a week, register today, and it's done — she's rowing next June.

Learn to Row · Summer 2027 Sessions
Session	Dates	Time
Session One	June 21 – 25	9:00 – 10:30 am
Session Two	June 28 – July 2	9:00 – 10:30 am
Session Three	July 12 – 16	9:00 – 10:30 am
Session Four	July 26 – 30	9:00 – 10:30 am
Session Five	August 16 – 20	9:00 – 10:30 am

Advanced Learn to Row runs the week after your session, by invitation. Early sessions fill first.

“Absolutely amazing team! Truly impossible to find a better environment. I wouldn’t want to row anywhere else.”

— A CIR athlete

The walk that starts here

Sculling first —because it's better for her

Two weeks, one invitation

Choose an early session

Yes, next summer — and yes, already

Bring a friend

Sculling first —
because it's better for her