Minnesota Boat Club   Rowing in St. Paul since 1870

MBC School of Rowing

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Rowing is one of the fastest growing recreational sports. Rowing is a low-impact exercise that works the three major muscle groups - legs, back and arms as well as the heart and circulatory system. 

The Minnesota Boat Club offers introductory classes to the sport of rowing. Most students in our School of Rowing classes have no previous rowing experience. Classes can also be a good refresher for those with rowing experience looking to get back into the sport.

The Minnesota Boat Club offers two types of classes - Learn to Row classes out of the MBC boathouse on the Mississippi River and Learn to Scull classes at Lake Phalen. See below for class schedules and descriptions.

2010 Class Schedule

Each Learn to Row class will meet for six sessions. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 - 7:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 10 - 11:30 a.m. The following session are being offered:

  • Session 1: May 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22
  • Session 2: June 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12
  • Session 3: June 29, July 1, 3, 6, 8, 10
  • Session 4: July 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31
  • Session 5: Aug. 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28

Each  Learn to Scull Class will meet for six sessions. Classes will be held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6 - 7:30 p.m. The following sessions are being offered:

  • Session A: June 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17
  • Session B: June 21, 23, 24, 28, 30, July 1
  • Session C: July 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22
  • Session D: July 26, 28, 29, Aug. 2, 4, 5
  • Session E: Aug. 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26 

About Learn To Row classes

Learn To Row classes are held on the Mississippi River at the MBC boathouse on Raspberry Island in downtown St. Paul. In the Learn To Row program, you will learn basic rowing technique, water traffic patterns and proper handling of equipment. Learn to Row classes emphasize team rowing. Students will learn sweep rowing where every rower holds one oar.

Most of the class participants are new to rowing. Former rowers would also benefit from the class as a refresher course.. 

Each Learn To Row session has six classes spanning two weeks. The majority of the class time is spent on the water to give students the maximum opportunity to develop their skills. There will be two instructors per session and up to 12 students per session. A minimum of eight students is required in order for a session to be conducted. Please note that rowing instructors will determine if weather and/or river condition will allow safe rowing in rowing shells. Read the F.A.Q for more information.

About Learn To Scull classes

Learn To Scull classes are conducted at the Lake Phalen Sculling Center at the St. Paul Park and Recreation’s Beach House on the south end of Lake Phalen in St. Paul. In the Learn To Scull session, an experienced MBC sculling instructor will teach you the basics of rowing in a one-person recreational sculling shell. The course will cover the basics of the rowing stroke, water safety, rowing terms, and equipment care and handling.

The majority of the Learn To Scull class time is spent on the water to give students the maximum opportunity to develop their sculling skills.

Each Learn To Scull session has six classes spanning two weeks. There will be one instructor per class and up to 7 students per class. A minimum of five students is required in order for a session to be conducted. Read the F.A.Q for more information.

General Information

Course Fee

The course fee for all Learn To Row and Learn To Scull sessions is $195.

Refund Policy

Our refund policy is as follows: We will refund 75% of your payment ($146) if you decide cancel your enrollment prior to your session. No refund will be given after you begin your session. If a student misses a class in a session, no make-up classes are guaranteed. Thus, we strongly encourage that students plan accordingly so that they can attend and participate in all classes for their session.

Waiting List

If a session you wanted to take is full, we will put you name on a waiting list. Send us your name, daytime phone, number, email address and session you wanted to take to learntorow@boatclub.org

Requirements

Students must be able to swim and/or treads water for about 15 minutes. Minimum age for enrollment to the Learn To Row or Learn To Scull program is 14. or contact us.