Summer Rowing Camps

Summer Rowing Camps introduces campers to rowing through activities such as learning to row, touring the boat house, and learning to safely handle equipment. Campers learn the basic rowing stroke on rowing machines and other land-based equipment, practice getting in and out of the boat using the dock box, and take part in rowing drills, periods of sustained rowing, sweep rowing, and sculling.

• Ages: 12–16 years old
• Schedule: One-week sessions, Monday–Friday, with separate middle school morning camps and high school midday camps

Marin Rowing was established in 1968, and its stated mission is “To Promote the Sport of Amateur Rowing and to Educate and Train Individuals, Particularly the Youth, in the Art and Sport of Rowing.” The Summer Rowing Camps are open to Fall 2026 grades 7–11, with middle school learn-to-row camps for rising 7th and 8th graders and high school learn-to-row camps for campers entering 9th grade and up. All experience levels are welcome, from first-timers with no prior experience to returning rowers, and beginners are taught from the ground up, including how to carry the boat, basic sweep rowing strokes, and safe warm-up habits. Experienced rowers with prior Marin Rowing Association experience are identified on the first day and placed in an accelerated group to focus on technical refinement, and participants are grouped by skill level so they can build on prior experience and focus on new technical improvements each week.

The program offers one-week sessions running Monday through Friday, with middle school camps (for Fall 2026 rising 7th and 8th graders) scheduled from 9:00am to 11:30am, and high school camps (for campers entering 9th grade and up) scheduled from 12:00pm to 2:30pm. For 2026, Session 1 runs June 22–26, Session 2 runs June 29–July 3, Session 3 runs July 6–10, Session 4 runs July 13–17, Session 5 runs July 20–24, Session 6 runs July 27–31, and Session 7 runs August 3–7. Registration for each session is open until the Friday before the camp session begins, and cancellations or rescheduling must be made by the Friday before the first day of the registered camp week for a full refund. Athletes are encouraged to join multiple sessions to further their progress, and the camps are not high-performance camps for experienced competitive rowers, and camp is not a requirement to try out for the competitive team; athletes must be 13 to try out for the competitive team.

All campers must know how to swim. In accordance with California law, all campers under 13 are provided and required to wear an approved life jacket, and the launch carries enough life jackets for everyone in the boat for emergencies. Marin Rowing Association will provide life jackets to participants who want them, and athletes who are not comfortable in and around the water may choose to wear a life jacket. If water conditions are deemed unsafe, coaches use the indoor land-based facility to teach rowing. Rowing is described as a highly physical sport, and athletes should be prepared to lift and carry heavy equipment, including oars and boats, to and from the water, and it is an outdoor watersport that is weather permitting at times. Age limits exist because Marin Rowing Association does not have equipment small enough to accommodate the average child under age 12, and the age categories for camp reflect the age groups offered for the Competitive Junior Rowing Program.

Campers are asked to bring a plastic water bottle labeled with their name, a hat or visor, sunglasses, sunscreen, and any medications such as epi-pens or inhalers they may need while at camp. They are asked to wear fitted athletic apparel, clothing that they do not mind getting wet or dirty, socks, and closed-toed exercise shoes, since loose-fitting clothes or long shirts can get caught in the boat or rowing machine seat and may tear or get stained. Items that might get left behind, such as hats, water bottles, or jackets, should be labeled.

Marin Rowing Association states that it provides equal opportunity to youth and adults interested in learning to row without discrimination on the basis of socio-economic status, race, color, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or other class or characteristic, and that it is committed to an inclusive, equitable, and accessible rowing community where everyone can thrive and contribute. Marin Rowing Association states that it desires that no one is deprived of the opportunity to row due to financial concerns and has secured scholarship funds to help cover the costs of camp participation and club membership, and scholarships and financial support are available with applications requested from Morgan at [email protected] for financial assistance. The leadership for administration is listed as MRA Administration: Morgan Fenner.

Last updated March 12, 2026.