High School Programs
Young people in high school (grades 9 through 12) are able to join our programs at any grade or level of experience. Whether you are entering 9th grade and would like to explore a new sport, you are in the spring of your senior year and want to see if you might like to look for rowing opportunities after graduation, or you already have some rowing experience and are looking for a club that’s a better fit, high school rowers of all stripes can find a home at Norwalk River Rowing.
NRRA believes in the holistic development of our athletes, prioritizing and committing to the longterm health and goals of each participant. Our youth Learn to Row programs are focused on safety, fun, and learning the basics in a relaxed, non-competitive environment. Once they’ve got the hang of the basics, high school athletes can move into the Intermediate program to continue developing their skills in a recreational atmosphere, or if they are interested, can begin exploring the competitive side of the sport with the Competitive Development program or jump right into the full Competitive Team.
At Norwalk River Rowing we view any competition we undertake as one way to measure the success of our efforts to improve, rather than competition being the end goal of our training. Competitive success is a happy byproduct of practicing excellence daily and becoming individuals who are capable of focused endurance, mental resilience in the face of challenge and setbacks, and teamwork in the service of a common goal.
We welcome and encourage any youth interested in learning about rowing to come try it with us, regardless of fitness, size, perceived “athletic ability”, or financial means. Our mission is to share the unique sport of rowing and to encourage and enable you in pursuit of your goals, whether they include learning a new skill, building strength, finding calm, making friends, or winning a race. Whatever your aim, it all starts with the first stroke!
*A note on registration* – we will be piloting CrewLAB for registration and communication organization-wide beginning in the Fall of 2026. If you do not yet have a CrewLAB account, simply click the link below for the program you would like to join, and you will be directed to the CrewLAB website and prompted to create an account. CrewLAB has both a website and an app for mobile.
We are offering the following discounts to program participants. To take advantage of these, please input the coupon code listed below during the payment section of the registration process:
Early Bird Discount: Use coupon code EARLYBIRD to receive 5% off the full program price when you register before August 10, 2026
Family Discount: Use coupon code FAMILY to receive 10% off the full program price for EACH participant when you register two (2) or more family members of any age for any program.
Early Bird + Family Discount: Use coupon code EARLYFAMILY to receive 15% off the full program price for EACH participant when you register two (2) or more family members of any age for any program by August 10, 2026.
Friend Discount: Friends of current NRRA participants can receive 10% off the full program price for their first season with us. Before you go to register, ask your friend for the discount code! If they don’t know it, have them reach out to their coach or program director.
Fall 2026 Schedule
Learn to Row (No prior experience)
No experience necessary! If you have never rowed before (or maybe only been in a boat once or twice), this program is for you. Come learn the basics of how to move your body, how to handle, use, and care for the equipment, and the words and terms used in the sport. Explore, discover, and see if rowing might be the sport for you!
Weekday Session (Fall 2026)
Mondays and Wednesdays
6:00pm – 7:30pm
August 31 – October 28
$799
(No practice Labor Day 9/7 or Columbus Day 10/12)
Weekend Session (Fall 2026)
Saturdays and Sundays
10:30am – 12:00pm
September 12 – November 1
$799
Youth Intermediate (Experienced recreational)
Participants who have completed one season of Learn to Row (or equivalent experience at the discretion of the Director of Rowing) may choose to continue rowing in a relaxed, non-competitive program that works on building strength, skills, confidence, and friendships. The focus of this program will be to build upon the foundation set in Learn to Row and exploring further into the world of rowing. Athletes can use this program as a launching pad into the competitive side of the sport, or may continue in this recreational program for as long as they wish.
Youth Intermediate (Fall 2026)
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
6:00pm – 7:30pm
August 31 – October 28
$1499
Youth Competitive Development (Experienced semi-competitive)
Participants who have completed one season of Learn to Row (or equivalent experience at the discretion of the Director of Rowing) AND are in the 7th grade or above may choose to begin exploring the competitive side of the sport. The focus of this program is on building successful athletic habits (both on and off the water), cultivating a healthy mindset toward training, competition, and performance, and having fun learning to go fast! Program participants will work toward developing their technique, expanding their knowledge of rowing equipment, improving their physical strength and endurance, and laying the foundation for a long, safe, and healthy relationship with the sport and themselves. Athletes who are deemed ready may be invited to participate in one or more rowing race (regatta) during the season.
Youth Competitive Development (Fall 2026)
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
4:00pm – 6:00pm
August 24 – November 13
$1799
(No practice Labor Day 9/7 or Columbus Day 10/12)
Youth Competitive Team (Experienced competitive)
Participants who have completed one season of Learn to Row (or equivalent experience at the discretion of the Director of Rowing) AND are in the 8th grade or above may choose to dive into the competitive side of the sport. Program participants will work toward developing their technique, expanding their knowledge of rowing equipment, improving their physical strength and endurance, and laying the foundation for a long and healthy relationship with competition, physical activity and themselves.
Because this program is geared toward increasing the physical, technical, and strategic capacity to compete, athletes joining this program should be intent on racing. Those looking for a non-competitive rowing experience should look into joining the Youth Intermediate program.
Youth Competitive Team (Fall 2026)
Mondays through Fridays
4:00pm – 6:00pm
August 24 – November 13
$2499
(No practice Labor Day 9/7 or Columbus Day 10/12)
For more information, contact Director of Rowing Scott Branscomb scottb@norwalkriverrowing.org
For those seeking financial assistance to participate in a program, you can find the request form here.
Please consider adding a donation to the Matthew Zucker Memorial Fund which provides outreach programs and financial aid for athletes who need the support. Give another athlete the chance to row.