Fall 2026
What: The Novice Program prepares youth athletes in grades 9-12 with little or no experience to compete at regattas in New York and mid-atlantic region.
Goals:
Expectations:
Full attendance at all practices and regattas
Who: High schoolers (grades 9-12) who are new to rowing, or who started rowing less than a year ago (summer 2024 or later)
* 8th grade athletes may join the Novice Program following a consultation call with the General Manager.
Practice times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:15-6:15pm
**** Please note: the first practice of the season will occur on THURSDAY, Sept 10, 4:15-6:15pm ****
Season dates: Wednesday, September 9 – Sunday, October 11
Regatta: Head of the Genesee, Sunday October 11, Rochester
Fees
Scholarships are available. The mission of Cascadilla Boat Club is to make rowing available to the Ithaca Community. Please contact [email protected] for more info
CBC Dates TBD
Please go to our Registration Page for information about required paperwork and how to register through iCrew
Refund Policy
Time Commitments
Rowers on the novice squad are encouraged to make a strong commitment to attend all practices and races. The effort pays off, with rowers continually challenging themselves to improve their overall fitness and set personal records in erg times. It also pays off in the confidence rowers develop as they gain technical mastery of the sport. And, finally, the commitment to rowing pays off in the camaraderie that grows as the rowers learn to coordinate their strokes into a single, fast, and powerful rhythm.
Novice rowers are encouraged to make the commitment to participate in CBC fundraising activities throughout the year. In the fall, rowers volunteer their time raking leaves and performing other chores for the Rent-a-Rower fundraiser. These funds support equipment purchases and scholarships to defray registration fees.
A note on practices...
All spring, summer, and fall practices meet at the Cascadilla Boathouse in Stewart Park. Weather permitting, practices are held on the Cayuga inlet, the Fall Creek Inlet, and Cayuga Lake. Typically, boats go out in most weather except when there is a strong north wind or thunder. I f the weather does not allow rowing, practices are held on-land and include aerobic workouts, strength training, erging, and stretching.
Goals:
- To create a team culture that values grit, resilience, energy, excellence, and team-first actions.
- To train for/to have the skills and fitness necessary for the team to have their best race on race day.
Expectations:
Full attendance at all practices and regattas
Who: High schoolers (grades 9-12) who are new to rowing, or who started rowing less than a year ago (summer 2024 or later)
* 8th grade athletes may join the Novice Program following a consultation call with the General Manager.
Practice times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4:15-6:15pm
**** Please note: the first practice of the season will occur on THURSDAY, Sept 10, 4:15-6:15pm ****
Season dates: Wednesday, September 9 – Sunday, October 11
Regatta: Head of the Genesee, Sunday October 11, Rochester
Fees
- Fall season fee $300
- Regatta Fee: Head of the Genesee regatta will have an additional Regatta Fee which covers food at the regatta, bus to/from the regatta site, coaching during the event, and entry fees. This fee has not yet been calculated, but was $150 in 2025.
Scholarships are available. The mission of Cascadilla Boat Club is to make rowing available to the Ithaca Community. Please contact [email protected] for more info
CBC Dates TBD
- Parent Information Meeting, early in the season
- Fall banquet & Rent-a-Rower fundraiser
Please go to our Registration Page for information about required paperwork and how to register through iCrew
Refund Policy
- Practice cancellations due to weather are non-refundable and typically are not rescheduled due to time constraints
- No refund for individual missed sessions
- Class/team fees cannot be pro-rated due to work/travel/personal schedule conflicts that prevent a rower from attending all sessions
- Once a program has begun, there will be no refunds
- Exception: If someone has a medical issue come up that prevents them from attending all/part of a class/season, a full or pro-rated refund may be granted, based on their attendance, if any
Time Commitments
Rowers on the novice squad are encouraged to make a strong commitment to attend all practices and races. The effort pays off, with rowers continually challenging themselves to improve their overall fitness and set personal records in erg times. It also pays off in the confidence rowers develop as they gain technical mastery of the sport. And, finally, the commitment to rowing pays off in the camaraderie that grows as the rowers learn to coordinate their strokes into a single, fast, and powerful rhythm.
Novice rowers are encouraged to make the commitment to participate in CBC fundraising activities throughout the year. In the fall, rowers volunteer their time raking leaves and performing other chores for the Rent-a-Rower fundraiser. These funds support equipment purchases and scholarships to defray registration fees.
A note on practices...
All spring, summer, and fall practices meet at the Cascadilla Boathouse in Stewart Park. Weather permitting, practices are held on the Cayuga inlet, the Fall Creek Inlet, and Cayuga Lake. Typically, boats go out in most weather except when there is a strong north wind or thunder. I f the weather does not allow rowing, practices are held on-land and include aerobic workouts, strength training, erging, and stretching.
