Programs
About our programs
Megunticook Rowing offers 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 offer winter training at the Pen Bay YMCA and weight training for rowers at CJ Strength. See below for more information.
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 who understand how to make you faster and help you reach your rowing goals.
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.
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Programs
- all ages
- See details
- $200
- summer
Learn to Row
Megunticook Rowing’s Learn to Row (LTR) program takes you through a four-class learning experience designed to teach the basics of rowing on the water. This program is open to anyone 11 years old and up, and no rowing experience is required!
LTR includes:
- One on-land practice to learn rowing movement, handling and moving boats and equipment, and safety
- Three on-the-water sessions where you will learn to move a training shell on the lake — including casting off, turning, backing, docking, and most importantly rowing in a straight line!
Once you complete the Learn to Row program you can become a member of Megunticook Rowing for the discounted rate of $75 for your first summer on the water. Go here to sign up!
2026 Summer LTR Sessions:
All sessions are 8–10 a.m.
- Course 1: June 6, June 7, June 13, June 14 – four sessions across two weekends
- Course 2: June 8, June 9, June 10, June 11
- Course 3: June 22, June 23, June 24, June 25
- Course 4: July 6, July 7, July 8, July 9
- Course 5: July 20, July 21, July 22, July 23
- Course 6: August 11, August 12, August 13, August 14
- Course 7: August 18, August 19, August 20, August 21
- Course 8: August 22, August 23, August 29, August 30 – four sessions across two weekends
Please note that our ability to row depends on the weather. If your coach deems the weather conditions unsafe, we will reschedule the session to another equivalent day or time.
We look forward to seeing you! We hope you learn to love rowing as much as we do!
Any questions, please contact row@megunticookrowing.org.
at a glance
- Schedule
See details
- cost
$200
- Location
Barrett's Cove
- who
all ages
- all ages
- saturdays 7 a.m.
- free to members
- summer
Open Rowing
Saturday mornings are open to all members! We may row 8s, 4s, quads… or even the amazing new Lynx, our catamaran training boat. Be there at 7 for an unpredictable, fun two hours of coached rowing on Lake Megunticook.
How to sign up:
- If you are not already a Megunticook Rowing member, guest member, or reciprocal member, join up using one of the registration profiles you will find here. You must be a member to join sessions or use the docks.
- Visit the Open Row team in iCrew, here, and click the “Join Team” tile to join
- Visit the Your Attendance Plans page in iCrew, here, and check off the sessions you would like to attend
- Show up and row!
All sessions launch from the Boat Forest, down the path from the eastern end of Barrett’s Cove on Lake Megunticook.
at a glance
- Schedule
saturdays 7 a.m.
- cost
free to members
- Location
Barrett's Cove
- who
all ages
- Coaches
- all ages
- weekday mornings, T-Th afternoons
- $20-$35 per session
- summer, fall
Coached Rowing
Coached Rowing this summer at Megunticook Rowing is weekday mornings 5:30-7 and 8-10, and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 4-6. We welcome all levels of rowers at any session provided they have completed a basic Learn To Row course like ours. Novice rowers will be paired with a coach who can develop the basic skills they need to get into a racing shell, while experienced and competitive rowers will work in fluid coached groups depending on boats and weather.
How to sign up:
- If you are not already a Megunticook Rowing member, guest member, or reciprocal member, join up using one of the registration profiles you will find here. You must be a member to join sessions or use the docks.
- Visit the Coached Rowers team in iCrew, here, and click the “Join Team” tile to join
- Visit the Your Attendance Plans page in iCrew, here, and check off the sessions you would like to attend
- Visit the Club Store in iCrew, here, and buy a punch card to cover the cost of the session you want to attend
- Show up and row!
All sessions launch from the Boat Forest, down the path from the eastern end of Barrett’s Cove on Lake Megunticook. If weather is not rowable, early morning sessions may be moved to the Pen Bay YMCA – other sessions will be canceled for weather.
at a glance
- Schedule
weekday mornings, T-Th afternoons
- cost
$20-$35 per session
- Location
Lake Megunticook
- who
all ages
- adults
- sundays 8 a.m.
- $35-$45 per session
- summer
Weight Training
Improve your speed and endurance with Weight Training for Rowers at CJ Strength, with coach Dara Zuckernick Sunday mornings at 8 a.m.
How to sign up:
- If you are not already a Megunticook Rowing member, guest member, or reciprocal member, join up using one of the registration profiles you will find here. You must be a member to join sessions or use the docks.
- Visit the Coached Rowers team in iCrew, here, and click the “Join Team” tile to join
- Visit the Your Attendance Plans page in iCrew, here, and check off the weight training sessions you would like to attend
- Visit the Club Store in iCrew, here, and buy a Weight Training punch card to cover the cost of the session you want to attend. Note these are separate from the regular rowing punch cards.
- Show up and lift!
All sessions are held at CJ Strength, 321 Commercial St, Rockport.