Rowing encourages teamwork and collaboration and it’s a great way to improve fitness. Our Summer Camp takes place on the beautiful Ottawa River with fantastic views of surrounding areas – it’s like a cottage in the heart of downtown! Campers can challenge themselves to learn and improve their skills while having fun and making friends who share similar interests. The Full-Day camp is run from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and Half-Day camp is run 8:30 – 11:30 am, except on public holidays, by experienced instructors who are qualified in first aid and CPR.

For campers who enjoy this introduction to the sport, The Ottawa Rowing Club offers opportunities to continue rowing at both recreational and competitive levels.

*must be able to swim*

Previous experience required:
No experience required, returning summer rowing camp rowers welcomed.

Age Categories: Youth (12-17 years old)

2025 Full-Day Camp Weeks (8:30 am – 3:30 pm): Go to the week (red link) of your choice to register directly our Amilia Registration portal

2025 Half-Day Camp Weeks (8:30-11:30am): Go to the week (red link) of your choice to register directly our Amilia Registration portal

Please note: Registration is a two step process. You must sign up for an RCA account and pay the RCA & Row Ontario fee annually, which will send you to our Amilia registration portal where you can sign up for your desired program. For those with an up-to-date RCA & Row Ontario Registration, you may continue directly to step 2.

*The program fee does not include Rowing Canada Aviron association fee.

Inquiries: ORC Admin – rowing@ottawarowingclub.com

Lessons are 2 hours, held on 6 weekday evenings spaced over two weeks – Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Tuesday-Thursday- Friday at 6:00pm.

You will join a class of approx. 10 participants. Instruction begins with parts of the stroke, parts of the boat, and water safety. Lessons continue on rowing machines and dockside rowing. The majority of time is on the water with the coach along side the crew in a motor boat. You learn to balance the boat and how to move it through the water as a crew.

Previous experience required:
No experience required

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

2025 Sessions:

Pricing:

Please note: Registration is a two step process. You must sign up for an RCA account and pay the RCA & Row Ontario fee annually, which will send you to our registration portal where you can sign up for your desired program. For those with an up-to-date RCA & Row Ontario Registration, you may continue directly to step 2.

*The program fee does not include RCA and RowOntario association fee.

Inquiries: ORC Admin – rowing@ottawarowingclub.com

Gliding on the Ottawa River, passing beneath the Parliament Buildings, in front of the Museum of History, past the Rideau Canal and the Rideau Falls, meeting the Gatineau River and going around Kettle Island are all parts of the club rowing experience at the Ottawa Rowing Club. The club program lead coaches organize the group to row together in crew boats, a great way to meet new people and get in a workout too.

Club rowers row Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6:00 pm, and Sunday morning at 8:00 am. Club rowers have the opportunity to participate in recreational events offered at the Head of the Madawaska, Head of the Rideau and Head of the Trent Regattas.

Previous experience required:
Learn to Row, Adult Rowing League or past experience at the ORC or other club.

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

Sessions:
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 6:00pm – 8:00pm (in July Wednesday 6:00-8:00 pm replaces Thursdays, due to ARL race nights being on Thursday)

Sundays: 8:00am – 10:00am

Prices:

Please note: Registration is a two step process. You must sign up for an RCA account and pay the RCA & Row Ontario fee annually, which will send you to our registration portal where you can sign up for your desired program. For those with an up-to-date RCA & Row Ontario Registration, you may continue directly to step 2.

*The program fee does not include RCA and RowOntario association fee.

Inquiries: ORC Admin – rowing@ottawarowingclub.com

REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 7, 2025

Six weekly practices are held starting in May on the night of your choice (Tuesdays or Wednesdays or Thursdays at 6:00pm). Practices will be designed to get you ready for July race nights!

In July, all crews meet on Thursday evenings (6:00pm) for races – some 200 rowers! Races are 800m in length, running in front of the boathouse from Parliament Hill to the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge. An announcer calls the races, Food is available on site and the bar is open.

Previous experience required:
No experience required.

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

The ARL schedule is: 

• Orientation Night: Thursday, May 22, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. ORC
• ARL Practice nights: 6pm – 8:30pm

Inclement weather Make-Up Nights (for crews that miss practice due to inclement weather): June 24, 25, 26  

• RACE NIGHTS  (ALL crews) 6pm – 9pm, Thursday  July 3, 10, 17, 24 

Prices:

Please note: Registration is a two step process. You must sign up for an RCA account and pay the RCA & Row Ontario fee annually, which will send you to our registration portal where you can sign up for your desired program. For those with an up-to-date RCA & Row Ontario Registration, you may continue directly to step 2.

*The program fee does not include RCA and RowOntario association fee.

Inquiries: arl@ottawarowingclub.com

Competitive rowing practice times are confirmed by the coach(es), but are generally scheduled daily at 5:00 am and some evenings, Monday through Friday and on Saturday morning, April through November.

Previous experience required:
Competitive, High School, University, Junior Competitive Development, or Recreational rowing. Winter Training is recommended.

Age Categories: U23 (19-22), Senior (23+)

Sessions and Fees:

Please note: Registration is a two step process. You must sign up for an RCA account and pay the RCA & Row Ontario fee annually, which will send you to our registration portal where you can sign up for your desired program. For those with an up-to-date RCA & Row Ontario Registration, you may continue directly to step 2.

*The Program Fee does not include RCA & RowOntario Association fee, Community Involvement Fee, or Regatta Fees  

Regatta Fees: Athletes are expected to attend all regattas during a competitive season. Regatta fees (trailering – gas, coach accommodations, coach per diem) are dependent on the number of athletes attending as it is cost shared. Athletes will pay all regatta fees prior to going to each regatta.

• One Day Regatta: Regatta Fees approx $20 -$40 / Entry fees are race dependent $25 – $100 / Transportation expense
• Two Day Regatta: Regatta Fees approx. $35-$65 / Entry Fees are race dependent $25-$100/ Accommodations and transportation expense
• Henley Week: Regatta Fees approx. $25-$50 / Entry Fees are race dependent $25-$200 / Accommodations and transportation expense

Inquiries:
U23 & Sr. Women’s Coach: Zak Lewis – zak@ottawarowingclub.com
U23 & Sr. Men’s Coach: Ed Fournier – rowcoachfournier@gmail.com

Masters will be provided with a training plan for the season, adapted to the amount of days they train a week (dryland and on-the-water), their skill level and rowing experience, and competition participation for the seasonMasters can choose to compete at RowOntario Masters, Henley Masters, Head of the Madawaska, Head of the Rideau, Head of the Charles, Canadian Masters.

Previous experience required:
Recreational, Competitive, or past experience at the ORC or other club.

Age Categories: Masters (21+)

Sessions:

*High Performance Masters Ergometer Standards:

Athletes that would like to join the High Performance Master must meet the following Masters Ergometer criteria

Prices:

Please note: Registration is a two step process. You must sign up for an RCA account and pay the RCA & Row Ontario fee annually, which will send you to our registration portal where you can sign up for your desired program. For those with an up-to-date RCA & Row Ontario Registration, you may continue directly to step 2.

**The Program Fee does not include RCA & RowOntario Association fee, Community Involvement Fee, or Regatta Fees  

Regatta Fees: Athletes are expected to attend all regattas during a competitive season. Regatta fees (trailering – gas, coach accommodations, coach per diem) are dependent on the number of athletes attending as it is cost shared. Athletes will pay all regatta fees prior to going to each regatta.

• One Day Regatta: Regatta Fees approx $20 -$40 / Entry fees are race dependent $25 – $100 / Transportation expense
• Two Day Regatta: Regatta Fees approx. $35-$65 / Entry Fees are race dependent $25-$100/ Accommodations and transportation expenses
• Henley Week: Regatta Fees approx. $25-$50 / Entry Fees are race dependent $25-$200 / Accommodations and transportation expenses

Inquiries:

ORC Head Coach: Zak Lewis – zak@ottawarowingclub.com 

VP Competitive: Grayson Gray – vp.competitive@ottawarowingclub.com

Carleton and uOttawa Varsity Training Camps are scheduled for last week of August of each year. Novice Try-Out Camp is held during the first week of September. The fee to participate in the Novice Try-Out Camp is $150. This fee is non-refundable and will be applied to the Fall University program if continuing.

University rowing is for registrants of Carleton University or uOttawa. The program offers an excellent opportunity to build rowing skills, while training with university peers and to access both on-water and drylands training and conditioning. Participation in the fall university racing seasons, pending crew selections, includes PD Ross, Head of the Rideau, Head of the Trent, Ontario University Championships, Canadian University Championships.

Previous experience required:
Novice and Experienced rowers.

Age Categories: University (No Age Limit)

Dates: Dates and times coordinated by the Coaches of University of Ottawa or Carleton University.

Prices:

Please note: Registration is a two step process. You must sign up for an RCA account and pay the RCA & Row Ontario fee annually, which will send you to our registration portal where you can sign up for your desired program. For those with an up-to-date RCA & Row Ontario Registration, you may continue directly to step 2.

*The Program Fee does not include RCA & RowOntario Association fee, Community Involvement Fee, or Regatta Fees  

Regatta Fees: Athletes are expected to attend all regattas during a competitive season. Regatta fees (trailering – gas, coach accommodations, coach per diem) are dependent on the number of athletes attending as it is cost shared. Athletes will pay all regatta fees prior to going to each regatta. Depending on your University and status, the costs may vary. Discuss this with your coaches.

• One Day Regatta: Regatta Fees approx $20 -$40 / Entry fees are race dependent.
• Two Day Regatta: Regatta Fees approx. $35-$65 / Entry Fees are race dependent / Athletes make accommodations and travel plans

Inquiries:
Head Coach Carleton Ravens Rowing: Ed Fournier – rowcoachfournier@gmail.com
Head Coach U Ottawa Gee Gees Men’s Rowing: Meegan Crossley – coachmeegs@gmail.com

About us

The Everybody Rows Ottawa program (ERO) that runs out of the Ottawa Rowing Club strives to develop personal development through unique rowing programming. ERO aims to establish a safe environment to be challenged, to learn, to play and grow. A focus on enjoyment of rowing aims to create a positive environment for equity-deserving groups in the Ottawa area.

Our Mission

ERO aims to provide rowing-based programming to equity-deserving groups, free of charge. We partner with local organizations who strive to support underserved and underprivileged groups in the Ottawa area.

Our Vision

There is a considerable need for athletic programs and facilities that serve equity-deserving groups in the Ottawa area. Everybody Rows Ottawa was created in 2021 to remove financial barriers to participation in sport, and make rowing a sport that is accessible to all. We aim to use rowing as a tool for development of life skills, as well as an opportunity to explore sport in a low-stress environment.

Our Programs

Everybody Rows Ottawa will continue to develop, support, and promote a wide variety of recreational opportunities with a focus on providing a chance to grow as athletes – and more importantly as individuals – in a safe and supportive environment. We can provide instructional training in a wide variety of programs for individuals throughout the community.

Our programs will teach accountability, respect, teamwork and the benefit of hard work. Both on and off the water, we can change the world one rower at a time.

Streams

1 Day Try Rowing

• ERO invites a group to the ORC for one session where we instruct the participants on the basics of the rowing stroke on the rowing machines, and how to handle the equipment. We then go outside to try some dockside rowing (participants will be able to try rowing in a boat, from the safety and security of the dock). These sessions run for approximately two hours at a time.

Repeated Rowing Opportunities

• Groups that are looking to develop competency or to build ERO into their summer programming can set up multiple sessions. This will involve gradually less and less time on the rowing machines, and more time spent on the water. We will begin the first session following the “1 Day Try Rowing” format, and then adjust future sessions based on the comfort levels of the group.

Athletes to Transition into Club Rowing

• The Ottawa Rowing Club has set aside some funds to support anybody who is interested in continuing to row in other programs, but who is unable to pay for their annual membership. 

Supported By

ERO is supported in kind by the generosity of the Ottawa Rowing Club. The ORC provides support for the program by means of instructors, equipment access, water time, and safety equipment.

We have partnered with many community organizations serving equity-deserving groups in the Ottawa area. We hope to maintain these connections, but also expand our reach to any interested groups! Contact everybodyrows@ottawarowingclub.com for more information about ERO, or to organize a rowing session.

Program practices will include a combination of dry-land activities and on-water sessions, dependent on weather. Two different sessions will run throughout the summer, on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Groups will be capped at 10 participants each to ensure proper coach-to-athlete ratios on the water.

Previous experience required:
No Experience Required

Age Categories: 12+

Dates & Sessions:

Season: May 22nd to late August 31
Day/Time: Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00pm – 5:30 pm

Prices:

Inquiries: everybodyrows@ottawarowingclub.com

A Social Member will be registered as a volunteer, so you will receive the ORC Newsletter, be invited to the ORC Henley Party and other social gatherings. Maybe go in a coach boat to watch a training.

There are no indoor or on-water training priviledges.