Learn to Row Day

where:

Manhattan

who:

East River C.R.E.W.

impact area(s):

Access

amount needed:

$1,150

raised so far:

$10

summary

We prepare leaders for Learn to Row Day to involve the public in rowing traditional wooden (volunteer built!) Whitehall boats and a kids’ pirate parade.

the problem

New Yorkers are often disconnected from their waterfronts and have no safe access onto the water where they can learn more about their own ecosystem and the role they play in its well-being. Most NYC school children cannot name three wild birds they might see in the water, or imagine that the East River is home to seahorses among many other fascinating creatures. Knowing that the estuary all around us serves as a fish nursery is a key to motivating others to reduce street litter and look for solutions to CSO that happens under heavy rain conditions. Furthermore, the East River is also the location for pilot clean energy projects studying how tides can generate electricity. We cannot be good stewards of what we do not know.

the solution

Our Learn to Row day involves the public in learning to row traditional wooden (volunteer built) Whitehall boats on our estuary waterways. These require no carbon offsets as they have a zero carbon footprint. They also provide a form of healthy exercise for those need additional recreational activity. East River C.R.E.W. meets on the intersection of the Harlem and East Rivers where our davit is located at the end of 96th street on the esplanade by the East River. Our boathouse container is just behind Stanley Isaacs Park. We start the day with a kids' pirate parade from 112th street to the playground at 86th street and invite the public to join us throughout the day. Each group that chooses to join our parade must adopt a different estuary animal to show on its banner and educate the public about. At the E. 96th Street, our trained coxswains are standing by teach people (in groups of four) to row in short excursions out. We encourage people to come back to our April-September free community rowing. Our project connects people to the water in a safe way (10 year zero incident record) and provides a fun context in which to learn about the estuarine environment in most people's backyards.

the steps

Annual coxswain training course, May 16th & 17th National Learn to Row Day takes place on June 6th, 2009 Our pirate parade will involve pushing a boat on wheels down the esplanade and back to our 96th street water access point.