Summer 2025
All camps are for middle and high school students, grades 6-12.
High School athletes are encouraged to sign up for the 10am camps (labeled High School), we will accommodate all athletes regardless of age in each session.
Campers will be exposed to as many rowing experiences as possible: rowing, coxing, racing, and land training (which includes running, erging, stretching, and core work). Athletes are welcome to attend multiple weeks of camp and the camps do not have to be consecutive weeks. Although rowing does not involve being IN the water; ALL campers MUST know how to swim for safety purposes.
Camper requirements:
- All campers must be proficient swimmers and California Law requires that campers under the age of 13 wear an approved PFD while rowing.
- Registration for each week of camp is open until the Friday before the camp session begins.
- Session rescheduling must be made by the Friday before your first day of camp. Please check our cancellation policy for more details
- Norcal Crew believes that no athlete should be deprived of the opportunity to row due to financial concerns. Norcal will review requests when received. Please e-mail: Admin@norcalcrew.org
What to expect at camp:
- Day 1: Athletes will be on land most of the day. Athletes will learn how to safely handle equipment and learn how to row on both the rowing machines and in boats on the dock. Some groups will get out on the water and row.
- Day 2,3,4: Day will begin on the rowing machines to help teach the movements of rowing and then the athletes will be applying their skills for most of the day on the water. The goal is to lean to move the boat as a team.
- Day 5: Day will begin with the rowing machines and then boats will go on the water for some friendly competition and to show parents what they have learned. Parents are welcome to watch from the fishing pier at Redwood Landing off of Seaport Blvd.
Please note:
- Rowing is a highly physical sport. Participants will need to lift and carry boats and oars and other equipment.
- Rowing is dependent on the weather and if the wind is too high, or if the coaches feel that it is not safe for rowing at any time, practice might have to be held on land or in coastal rowing boats.
Session Descriptions
The sessions build upon each other and are for rowers and aspiring coxswains.
Step One: Learn to Row
- No experience is necessary for this introductory week. This camp is co-ed. Campers will learn to safely handle the equipment, the basics of the rowing stroke, how to train on the rowing machines (ergometers/ergs), and will get exposure to as many components of rowing on the water as possible. We will spend some time on land and water each day introducing campers to all facets of rowing.
Step Two: Continuing Skills Camp
- Campers must have completed one week of Learn to Row or equivalent from another program before the beginning of this camp. We will be on the water for most of the camp working on more advanced techniques and understanding how to move the boats. The goal of this camp is to increase rowing skills and teach athletes the fun of rowing as a sport. We emphasize teamwork, introduce more rowing fitness concepts and provide an environment for each camper to improve their rowing skills. This camp can be attended multiple times.
Racing Team – Sign up to row all year!
- Norcal’s competitive teams practice five or six days a week from August through May and compete at local, state, regional, and national competitions. We have men’s and women’s teams in all junior age categories: U15, U16, U17, and U19. Find out more about our competitive program.
What to Bring to Camp:
- Athletic clothing
- Reusable water bottle (full of water)
- Running shoes & socks
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Snack
- Windbreaker/fleece, in case of wind or foul weather
