In the summer of 2021, North Channel Community Rowing introduced 40 Evanston middle schoolers to the sport of rowing on the North Channel of the Chicago River.
Learning to row in four-person sculling boats (“quads”), students from Chute, Haven, Nichols, Bessie Rhodes, King Arts and Chicago Friends School worked together toward the difficult goal of “rowing as one.” In the process, they gained teamwork, leadership and accountability skills. More than 75 percent of those students continued in the fall, rowing two days per week, and then moved indoors for winter training on rowing machines at the Dammrich Rowing Center boathouse.
In 2022, the Northshore-based nonprofit will again provide its summer camps, and it has initiated a $50,000 fundraising campaign to purchase new boats, oars and safety equipment.
“Our goal is to provide more access to rowing through thoughtful programming that enriches the lives of the kids in the Evanston communities we serve,” said Sandy Culver, executive director of NCCR.
NCCR camps and programs are free, and these include swim lessons at the Evanston YMCA, transportation, T-shirts, water bottles and snacks. Tutoring and homework help also is in the works, to be combined with indoor training days.
“Programs like North Channel Community Rowing are vital in improving diversity and advancing equity and inclusion in rowing,” said USRowing CEO Amanda Kraus.
NCCR rented its equipment from other rowing programs at the DRC, and employs camp counselors from Evanston Township High School, New Trier High School and Northwestern University.
Please help them to reach their goal and introduce more kids to the exciting sport of rowing. Find more information about supporting NCCR here.
North Channel Community Rowing is committed to supporting diversity and access to the sport of rowing through youth programs targeting underrepresented middle school students in Evanston. NCCR aims to cultivate a passion in kids to reach their highest potential through exposure to a sport that instills lifelong values, camaraderie and discipline. Follow NCCR on Facebook or Instagram.
