ROWING IS GROWING!
PNRA founded Rowing Is Growing in 2008 with a grant from US Rowing and the US Olympic Committee. Through Rowing Is Growing programs and activities, PNRA invites youth from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Mercer County to participate in rowing with peers and coaches who will challenge their life expectations and goals.
Since 2008, hundreds of students have been touched by our community outreach programs as well as events held with Olympic rowers who train at the Caspersen Rowing Center and rowers from Princeton University. We have also worked with more than 50 student-athletes from the Trenton community who joined the Mercer Junior Rowing Program (MJRC).
Getting students to join Mercer Junior Rowing Program is an important goal of Rowing Is Growing. We want to integrate economically-disadvantaged high school students into the on-the-water rowing program at the Caspersen Rowing Center. We also want to support their academic growth and offer critical thinking and problem solving STEM activities.
To accomplish these goals, there are three main hurdles: the students’ lack of knowledge of the rowing opportunities; the lack of comfort around water and basic swimming skills; and lack of transportation to the Caspersen Rowing Center.
To address the first of these challenges, we have worked with schools in the greater Trenton area to introduce rowing as a part of the physical education classes in the schools and after school activities. As part of PNRA’s Capital City Rowing League (CCRL), Concept 2 rowing ergometers have been placed in schools in Trenton. This project began with the intermediate and charter schools and is expanding into the middle schools.
As part of the CCRL, schools commit to providing a person to coach and field a team of 12-16 students to represent the school. PNRA provides the tools and support to develop the coach and the team. The teams then participate in competition culminating in a city-wide championship. Our goal is to enhance the fitness of the students and get kids interested in our on the water rowing program and to expand their perspectives and life experience.
PNRA has also worked with Princeton University to create a STEM to Stern program. This
program brings students to the boathouse to learn about rowing but also to engage in STEM projects.
To address the swimming and comfort around water, PNRA is working with the Hamilton YMCA and Princeton University to establish programs to teach water skills to students.
The final and largest challenge for ROWING IS GROWING is the transportation of the Trenton students to Mercer Lake. Their families are unable to get them to practice. Public transportation is unavailable. Princeton University has been generous in their support providing transportation for the STEM to Stern program. However, our need for support is strongest in this area
We are seeking corporate and foundation support for Rowing Is Growing! Please consider partnering with us to offer these young people the unique chance to row and the benefits of becoming part of a fun, challenging community which will broaden their horizons!
For more information about this opportunity, please contact Kris Grudt, Executive Director (kgrudt@rowPNRA.org).
Special thanks to our partners and donors:
Mercer Street Friends
Geraldine R Dodge Foundation
Smith Family Foundation
Princeton University and Princeton University Rowing Alumni