Programs

Summer Youth Day Camp

The Summer Youth Day Camp program is a great way for youth ages 12-17 to learn about rowing and decide whether to take up the sport more seriously. For those who have already tried and enjoyed rowing, camp is a way to improve their skills! Rowers get out on the Ottawa River daily, and learn water safety, boat rigging and maintenance. The program also features other age-appropriate indoor and outdoor activities.

This program runs in week-long sessions during July and August from 8:30am – 3:30pm, except on public holidays. The program is directed by experienced intructors who are qualified in first aid and CPR.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Start Dates:
July 5, 12, 19, 26  August 9, 16, 23 (has just been added due to high demand)

You can put your name on the waitlist in case a spot opens up or we can open up more spots in July

Previous experience required:
No experience required, returning summer youth day camp rowers welcomed

Age Categories: Youth (12-17 years)

Adult Learn to Row (Sweep & Scull)

Lessons are 2 hours, held on 5 weekday evenings spaced over two weeks – usually Tuesday-Thursdayy-Friday-Tuesday-Thursday 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.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering

Start Dates:
July 5, 19,  August 2, 16   ( FULL )

You can put your name on the waitlist in case a spot opens up or we can open up more spots in July. 

Previous experience required:
No experience required

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

Adult Rowing League

Due to Covid Restrictions, preventing the use of large crew boats, the Adult Rowing League program will not be offered this summer. We look forward to having the Adult Rowing League up and running next year. 

We will offer our Adult Learn to Row program in limited capacity.  

The Adult Rowing League (ARL) crews meet once a week on weekday evenings in May, June and July.

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! They will include dry land and on the water lessons to teach you rowing basics including safety, terminology and proper form.

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. 

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Previous experience required:
For the beginner rower or those returning back to ARL or the sport of rowing.

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

Recreational

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 recreational rowing experience at the Ottawa Rowing Club. The recreational 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. 

Recreational rowers row Monday and Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm, and Saturday morning at 8:30 am. Recreational 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.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

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

Age Categories: Adult (18+)

U23 and Senior Competitive

Competitive rowers train a minimum of 6 days a week and are those who train to compete in 2000m and head races. Competitive rowers commit to a training program, workout sessions and regattas.  Crews and regatta entries will be determined by the coach(es) based on on-the-water performance, and erg test scores. 

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.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

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

Age Categories: U23 (19-22), Sr (23+)

Junior Competitive

Junior competitive rowers train to compete in 2000m and head races and commit to the training program, workout sessions and regattas. Crews and regatta entries will be determined by the coach(es) based on on-the-water performance, and erg test scores.

Competitive rowing practice times are confirmed by the coach(es), but are generally scheduled daily at 5:00am Monday through Friday and on Saturday morning. Junior rowers can row for their Highschool in the spring April to June 15 and then continue through the summer and fall inthe ORC junior program. 

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Junior Development or High School rowing. Winter training is recommended.

Age Categories: U19 (14-18yrs)

Junior Competitive Development

The U19, U17 and U15 summer and fall rowing programs are for all experienced junior rowers who have participated in Junior Learn to Row or Youth Crew Summer Program or Spring High School Rowing.  The program continues to teach boys and girls the fundamentals of rowing, including coxing technique and boat safety, as well as basic concepts of physical well-being including hydration, diet, flexibility, and core strength for rowing, further preparing developing junior rowers to advance to the Junior Competitive Program.

The program is taught in a fun and supportive environment with a goal of continuing to develop a solid foundation of skills. Participants are introduced to basic measures of fitness and strength on the rowing machine and encouraged to work as a crew toward collective goals on the water.

The program takes place 3x a week in the spring after school 4-6pm,  summer months from 8:30am-10:30am, and in the fall after school from 4-6pm.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Previous experience required:
High School Novice, Youth Camp

Age Categories: U15, U17, and U19 (12-18yrs)

Masters Competitive

If fitting in 6-12 workouts a week around family and work isn’t a possibility but you still want to improve your rowing skill, train in a group atmoshpere doing organized on water workouts in crew boats and compete in regattas, the masters program may be a perfect fit! The Masters rowing program allows for flexibility with training and competition. 

Masters can choose to compete at RowOntario Masters, Henley Masters, Head of the Madawaska, Head of the Rideau, Head of the Charles, Canadian Masters. 

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

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

Age Categories: Masters (21+ years)

High School Competitive Program

Highschool Rowing provides the opportunity for students to learn to row and compete with their classmates. The ORC is a proud supporter of the Ashbury, Canterbury, Glebe, and Lisgar rowing teams.  We also proudly support students from other Ottawa area school who wish to row high school in the spring.

The high school (U19/U17/U15) season starts April and ends June 19

There are local Highschool regattas for all athletes to compete at and CSSRA for the more experienced rowers, which is held at the end of May. 

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Novice and experienced rowers.

Age Categories: Highschool (13 – 17 yrs)

University – Novice and Varsity 

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 $100. 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.

Practice schedules and times are determined by the university coaches.

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering. Athletes coming from another club must contact must contact the ORC Registrar prior to registering so that you are exempt of paying the RCA/RO membership fee if coming from another club in Ontario. If you are coming from out of province you will only be exempt for the RCA portion but must pay the RO membership fee. 

Regattas: All travel expenses, accommodations, regatta fees and boat trailering fees are in addition to program fees

Previous experience required:
Novice and experienced rowers.

Age Categories: University (no age limit)

Para Rowing

DURING COVID: Due the the uncertainties of COVID, the only program offered at this time is the spring/Summer Recreational program. Upgrades to full members will be done in the fall at that time. 

Para rowing is not new to the rowing community, previously named ‘adaptive rowing’, it has been offered at many clubs around the world for over twenty years. Modifications are made to rowing equipment, coaching techniques and program structure are made to meet the needs of the para rowers on and off water training. 

There are three sport classes offered within para rowing:

• Legs, Trunk, and Arms (LTA)
• Trunk, and Arms (TA)
• Arms, and Shoulders (AS)

The program fee does not include Rowing Canada and RowOntario association fee of $52.87, which must be paid when registering.

Previous experience required:
No experience necessary

Age Categories: Junior and Adult (14+)