Programs
About our programs
Megunticook Rowing is a small but mighty organization, with spring and fall youth programs as well as a full summer program open to all and a commitment to bringing new rowers into the sport. We also have a full erg gym for winter training and organized group erg programs.
We have programs for youth and adults.
Youth Programs: Spring and Fall
Maintaining and growing our spring and fall youth programs – club and varsity – is the core mission of our group. Students gain so much from rowing: mental and physical discipline, improved communication skills, commitment to teamwork, and the excitement of competition and all experienced on the waters of beautiful Megunticook Lake. Many of our rowers have gone on to row at college programs including Bates, Dartmouth, Connecticut College, George Washington University, Nova Southeast, Simmons, Skidmore, Trinity College, University of California Berkeley, University of Maine and Wesleyan.
General Programs Year Round
The rowing program is filled with coached sessions from Learn to Row, Novice, Intermediate and Competitive levels. You will be coached by experienced, enthusiastic Level 2 certified personnel on beautiful Megunticook Lake.
Membership
With the exception of Learn to Row, everyone who uses Megunticook Rowing facilities or participates in a coached session must become a member of Megunticook Rowing. Megunticook Rowing memberships are available for the short Maine summer or for the entire year; see our Membership page for more information. Varsity and Club rowers receive a summer membership as part of their participation in the spring and fall programs – no need to sign up separately.
Once you are a member, you may sign up for the coached sessions described below. For summer, coached sessions are available in June, July and August, for Novice, Intermediate, and Competitive skill levels. Coached sessions are paid monthly and priced according to the number of sessions in the month. A “punch card” for single sessions is also available.
Financial aid
The mission of Megunticook Rowing is to strengthen minds, bodies, and communities through rowing. Our goal is to provide the opportunity of rowing to anyone who wishes to, no matter their age, skill level, background, or financial situation. As a very wise person once said, “If everyone was given the opportunity to row, there would be no bad in the world.” All information provided on the application is confidential and will only be reviewed by the Megunticook Rowing Financial Aid Committee.
apply now
Learn to row
Learn to Row program
Megunticook Rowing’s Learn to Row program takes you through a four-class learning experience designed to teach the basics of rowing on the water. You will work in a small group with four rowers and two coaches. No rowing experience is required!
In these programs we focus on a type of rowing called sculling, which is rowing with two oars, one in each hand. You will be rowing in a boat called a single rowing shell. This means that you will be the only person in a boat. Our learn-to-row shells are designed for beginner rowers and are a great way to learn the basics of rowing.
This program is open to anyone with no previous rowing experience, 12 years old and up.
Once you complete the Learn to Row program you can become a member of Megunticook Rowing and will be qualified to sign up for our full schedule of coached Novice programs offered throughout the summer.
Please note that our ability to row depends on the weather. If your coach deems the weather conditions unsafe, we will move the session to our indoor facility at the MRC (535 West Street, Rockport, Maine 04856). Refunds will not be offered for sessions when we don’t get on the water.
coached sessions
2025 Coached Sessions
This schedule is in the works. Below are the details from 2024.
Competitive
Megunticook Rowing’s Competitive Rowing program is designed for advanced rowers who have been rowing for 4+ years and who are focused on training to compete.
We will be rowing a variety of shells with the emphasis being on small sculling boats, training for the fall head racing season. The program assumes all rowers will be able to keep a competitive pace and schedule. All rowers in this session will need to get the Head Coach’s permission to join.
Participants in any of our coached sessions must be Megunticook Rowing members. For more information on membership, see our membership page. To become a member, you may register and pay through our rowing app iCrew. If you are already a member, join the Competitive team for the month(s) you want to row by visiting the Club Store. You can also purchase a 5-session pass for $100.
Competitive sessions and prices:
(price covers all coached sessions)
- 2025 schedule coming soon.
Masters Combined Skill
Megunticook Rowing’s Masters Combined Skill program is designed for masters rowers who have passed the skills test and are looking for coaching without the intensity of race training. Coaches will be available for safety and technical advice. We will be rowing a variety of shells with the emphasis being on small sculling boats. The program will group rowers according to skill. This program is open to rowers, with previous rowing experience, ages 12-100.
Participants in any of our coached sessions must be Megunticook Rowing members. For more information on membership, see our membership page. To become a member, you may register and pay through our rowing app iCrew. If you are already a member, join the Intermediate team for the month(s) you want to row by visiting the Club Store. You can also purchase a 5-session pass for $100.
Combined Skill sessions and prices:
(choose any three of the five sessions a week)
- 2025 schedule coming soon.
Youth
varsity program
The varsity rowing team is for experienced high school athletes who want to row at a competitive level, and rowers ages 12+ by coach’s invitation. Practices will be five mornings per week, plus two optional afternoon training sessions. The team will travel to regattas in the New England area almost every weekend of the on-water season, with some opportunities for competition further away as well. The program’s focus is on technique enhancement, strength training, and competition. Rowers will have the opportunity to row in different size boats, both sculling and sweep. To participate, rowers must have an account in iCrew and pay the associated fee, or apply for financial aid. If you are a new user, sign up here:
- Boys Varsity New Rower Registration
- Girls Varsity New Rower Registration
- New Parent Registration (allows parents to pay fees on behalf of their child)
If you have rowed with us in the past and already have an account in iCrew, you may sign up from the club home page in iCrew:
On the Club Home page, scroll down to find the team you want to join and pay for.
Below is the tentative spring 2025 schedule and competitive season dates.
- March 3rd – Registration Opens
- March 27th – 5:30pm at MRC – Team wide orientation meeting for parents and rowers. Bring a friend(s) that may be interested in joining!
- March 31st – Spring Season Begins with mandatory Indoor Training at the PenBay YMCA. Membership to the Y is not required.
- April 12th – 9 a.m. Docks In – all hands (rowers, parents, friends) needed to get this done! Many hands make light work! We will enjoy pizza and snacks following our work day
- April 26th – 9 a.m. Boats In – we will load in the shells, rig and clean them. All hands (rowers, parents, friends) needed to get this done! Many hands make light work! We will enjoy pizza and snacks following our work day.
- May 3 – Row the Coast – Megunticook Rowing fundraising event – Camden Village Green
Tentative Varsity Race/Event Schedule:
- April 6th, 10 a.m. – Ergatta at Waynflete, Portland, ME
- May 10 – Amber Zapatka Memorial Regatta, Lowell, MA
- May 17-18 – NE Youth Champs, Lowell, MA
- May 25 – Dirigo Sprints, Camden, ME (end of spring season)
Cost: $700 per rower for the spring season. Includes regatta fees and all training sessions, year round membership to Megunticook Rowing giving rowers access to club equipment and programs during the summer. Does not include travel and accommodations expenses associated with regattas.
Contact Will Schaetzke for more information.
Inquire about the Varsity program
Enter your contact information below and we will be in touch about registering for the season.
club program
Club program rowers will join the Varsity rowers for spring 2025. Our club rowing program is designed for rowers 12-18 who are learning to row, or rowers who prefer a more relaxed, noncompetitive schedule. Middle school-aged rowers will need a coaches’ signoff to participate and will practice with the Varsity rowers. The program’s focus is an introduction to rowing, building technique and endurance, and enjoying time on the water. There will be an attempt to provide a broad exposure to rowing in different size boats. The focus will be on sculling (one hand on each oar) with possible exposure to sweep rowing (two hands on one oar) as well.
Contact Will Schaetzke to register.
Private lessons
Private lessons for members
We want to teach you how to row on your schedule! Whether you want to learn to row one-on-one or are interested in taking your rowing skills to the next level, our private sessions might be just the ticket. These lessons will be tailored to your skill level, schedule and desires. Let us know what you want to work on!
Participants in any of our coached sessions must be Megunticook Rowing members. For more information on membership, see our membership page. To become a member, you may register and pay through our rowing app iCrew.
To inquire about scheduling a private lesson please email row@megunticookrowing.org and we will connect you with our coaching staff.