Middle School

Greater Dayton Rowing is re-starting a Youth Program in Spring 2024 with a racing camp for 7th and 8th graders.  This camp is limited to 12 athletes.

  • The goals of this camp include:
    • Introducing 7th and 8th graders to competitive rowing
    • Creating a safe, fun, and rewarding experience for rowers and coaches

Apply at: https://forms.gle/gdwK7QmowgVuRRnaA

Apply by March 24th.

The camp will prepare rowers to compete in the Midwest Junior Rowing Championships on May 18th and 19th at Lake Harsha in Bethel, Ohio.

We will have a scrimmage against Great Miami Rowing Center in Hamilton, OH.

The camp will run from April 8th to May 19th.  Practice will be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Greater Dayton Rowing Boathouse at 102 East Helena Street, Dayton, OH 45404.

Athletes are expected to attend the race, scrimmage, and all practices.  Crew line-ups are determined in advance, so if an athlete cannot be there, please notify Coach Ben.

The cost for the camp is $225 for the season.  (Financial aid is available.)  The fee includes all coaching, equipment, entry fees, and a camp t-shirt.  Athletes will also need a basic membership to USRowing ($25).  (Coach Ben will provide instructions on this.)

Greater Dayton Rowing’s youth program will be focused on sculling (each rower uses 2 oars) to promote symmetric muscle development in growing athletes.  Athletes will also have an opportunity to serve as a coxswain (the person who steers and coaches the boat).  We will row and race in boats with 2 rowers (doubles) and boats with 4 rowers and a coxswain (coxed quads).

We will foster a positive, welcoming, and fun environment, and parents are welcome to observe practices.  If parents are interested there will be an opportunity for them to join the club and learn to row.  GDRA has rules allowing for parent/child rowing, if parents want to join the club and row with their kids.

Ben Boehm is the head coach.  Ben is a USRowing trained coach.  He has 27 years of competitive rowing experience and 8 years of competitive coaching experience.  Ben started rowing in college as part of the MIT Lightweight Crew.  Ben recently retired from the Air Force as a Colonel and is a certified EMT.  Find out about all our coaches.

Download and share our informational flyer.

You can contact Coach Ben Boehm, rowcoachben@gmail.com, with questions.