WELCOME TO WOODSON ROWING!
We hope you had a wonderful summer and are enjoying your day off from classes. While rowing is a spring sport, things are already moving at full speed behind the scenes to bring new and returning athletes together and to grow our team. There is lots of information here so buckle up for the ride!
Curious or have time on your hands? You can always find the newsletter archives on our website.
1. SPREAD THE WORD
2. SPORTS PHYSICALS, REGISTRATION AND OTHER FORMS
3. ATHLETE INFORMATION SESSIONS
4. SWIM TEST (FOR NEW RECRUITS ONLY)
5. GREEN DAYS BEGIN TUE, 9/16
6. RENTAL ERG RETURN SAT, OCT 18
7. OCTOBER 25 IS OUR FIRST TAG DAY!
8. MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE 32nd ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW
9. CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
A. SEEKING A BOARD SECRETARY
B. WOODSON BOATHOUSE WORKDAY, SAT 9/6
C. VASRA CLEAN-UP DAYS
D. FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS, FRI 11/7
10. PARENT & ATHLETE INFORMATION SESSION TBD
11. WOODSON ATHLETIC BOOSTER GOLF TOURNAMENT, MON 9/22
12. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
13. STAY IN-THE-KNOW
ACTION ITEMS
1. ATHLETES: Plan to attend the following info sessions at 3:00p in Coach Tylander’s classroom, B109:
– NEW athletes: Wed, Sep 10
– RETURNING and/or NEW athletes: Mon, Sep 29
2. Review volunteering opportunities and start signing up now!
1. SPREAD THE WORD
Recruitment should be at the top of our minds and in full swing! Please share your enthusiasm for our team. Speak to other students and parents; encourage them to check us out. Direct interested athletes and their parents to our woodsonrowing.org or have them send an email to our Membership Chair!
2. SPORTS PHYSICALS, REGISTRATION AND OTHER FORMS
All athletes (new or returning) will need a valid sports physical turned into the Woodson front office before the season begins. Also the Woodson Athletics registration needs to be completed for all athletes. Don’t delay with these critical pieces of information. Take care of it now!
If you’re an overachiever, you can also fill out and submit the forms located on our website to our Membership Chair. Get organized now and simply enjoy watching your athlete in the spring!
3. ATHLETE INFORMATION SESSIONS
NEW ATHLETES: Interested in learning more about rowing? Meet Coach Tylander, our Director of Rowing, after school on Wednesday, September 10, Room B109. Coach Tylander will talk a little bit about the requirements for rowing, green days, and more!
RETURNING and/or NEW ATHLETES: Meet with Coach Tylander after school (approx 3p) on Monday, September 29 in room B109. He’ll give you a brief rundown of what to expect for the season. Have a friend that’s interested in learning more about rowing at Woodson? Bring them!
4. SWIM TEST (FOR NEW RECRUITS ONLY)
Every new rower and coxswain is required to pass a swim test certified by a Woodson Rowing Coach prior to participating in green days and on-the-water practices. Passage of this test is required only once so if you have completed a swim test in prior seasons, you don’t need to do it again.
Swim Tests will be held at Providence Rec Center, 7525 Marc Drive, Falls Church, VA on Friday, 9/12 from 6-7p or Saturday, 9/20 from 1-2p. Please sign up here: Fall Swim Test
5. GREEN DAYS BEGIN TUE, 9/16
Green Days are out of season opportunities for coaches to instruct their student athletes. Rowers and Coxswains are encouraged to attend as many Green Days as possible. For more information, visit our Green Days FAQ.
Green days begin September 16 and will take place Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after school, from 4:45p-6:45p, at Sandy Run Regional Park (10450 Van Thompson Road, Fairfax Station, VA). Participants are responsible for their own transportation, and carpooling is highly recommended.
BEFORE participating, all athletes MUST (without exception) have:
- A valid VHSL physical, on file with the Woodson Athletic trainers.
- Completed a swim test, AND
- Submitted the Woodson Activity Registration.
In addition, if your athlete will be traveling with another adult or student to the water, you will need to submit the forms located on our website to our Membership Chair.
First-time athletes (those who have NOT previously been on the water in a Woodson Rowing boat) should try, if possible, to register for their first day on the water on a TUESDAY in order to receive a more thorough orientation. After your first day, you are welcome to come on any and all days that fit your schedule.
6. RENTAL ERG RETURN SAT, OCT 18
Athletes – keep on erg-ing!! Erg rental return will take place on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 from 9-10a. Location will be the erg shed at the back of the school (near the senior parking lot). We also need volunteers to help service our fleet of ergs, so sign up to help here: Erg Workday.
7. OCTOBER 25 IS OUR FIRST TAG DAY!
Tag Days are the Woodson Rowing team’s most important fundraiser of the year. The dates for Tag Days are set in conjunction with all of the teams/clubs at Woodson. For this season, Woodson Rowing has been assigned Saturday, October 25 and Saturday, November 15. Please mark your calendars as we need all hands on deck to make this event work. Sign up here: Tag Day Sign Up. Check out our Tag Days webpage for information.
8. MARK YOU CALENDAR FOR THE 32nd ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW
Our annual craft show is back for its 32nd year. This is a very big fundraiser for our team and is also a very important event in our community. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 10a-4p. Set up for the event will begin Friday, October 31 and we will need all hands on deck to make it a success! Planning has already begun and a signup genius for volunteers will come out soon.
Please also contact any artisans/crafters/makers in your life and let them know you’d love to see their wares on site at Woodson. All Vendors can sign up here: 2025 Craft Show Vendor Registration.
9. CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Part and parcel of being on Woodson Rowing means volunteering. Throughout the year/season there will be ample opportunities to get involved and to earn volunteer credits for your family, at a pace and time that is most convenient for you. Athletes that volunteer will, more often than not, be able to get service credits for any time they spend volunteering. You can always review current volunteering opportunities and review requirements on our website!
A. SEEKING A BOARD SECRETARY
The Woodson Rowing Board Secretary position is now vacant because Andi Knopp, our former Secretary, will be taking on a different role with the Board! As a result, the Board is looking for someone to take on this critical position. This position entails finalizing agendas for monthly board meetings; recording, preparing, and distributing meeting minutes; and maintaining a file of all meeting minutes. The Secretary is a voting member of the Executive Committee and also coordinates the Annual End-of-Year Party/Meeting. Volunteering for this critical job means all of your volunteer credits are covered for the season AND you’ll play a vital role in the smooth operation of the Board! If you are interested or have questions about the position, please contact Tim Schnelle or Andi Knopp via Slack or email.
B. WOODSON BOATHOUSE WORKDAY, SAT 9/6
Mark your calendars for next Saturday morning, 9/6. We could use some help at the boathouse getting the launches in the water and ready for upcoming Green Days. Parents and athletes are welcome. Sign up here: Boathouse Workday.
C. VASRA CLEAN-UP DAYS
VASRA has scheduled the Fall clean up days for the next 5 Saturdays! Each school is expected to send one volunteer for each clean up day; e.g. 5 or more Woodson volunteers total. The current dates are: September 6, 13, 20, 27 and October 4. When you sign up, please indicate your affiliation with Woodson: VASRA Workdays Sign Up.
D. FOOTBALL CONCESSIONS, FRI 11/7
Each season, Woodson Rowing is responsible for working the concession stand at a Woodson Football game. There will be two shifts to volunteer – 6:15-8:00 and 8:00-9:45 PM. We need 9 volunteers for each shift. This is a fun opportunity to get some volunteer credits early AND get to watch the game. Sign up here: Football Concessions Sign Up.
10. PARENT & ATHLETE INFORMATION SESSION, WED, 9/17
The Board will be holding an information session for returning and new parents and athletes on Wednesday, 9/17. We’ll walk through the plan for the upcoming season, go over dues, transportation, winter conditioning, uniforms and preview what happens on the water in the spring. Bring anyone who is interested in learning more about our sport. The meeting will be at 7:30p with location TBD.
11. WOODSON ATHLETIC BOOSTER GOLF TOURNAMENT, MON 9/22
The Booster Board is looking for golfers to play in its fundraising golf tournament on 9/22 at the Country Club of Fairfax. If this is your jam, please sign up here: Tournament Sign Up. More info here: Woodson Athletic Booster Golf Tournament.
12. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
This calendar is constantly updated as events are added. Scroll here for a quick rundown of what’s up and coming. Where relevant and/or available, links are provided for more information. You can also see a visual representation of our calendar on our website: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/
SEPTEMBER:
Sat, 9/6: Woodson Boathouse Workday, Sandy Run
Sat, 9/6: VASRA Workday #1
Wed, 9/10: new rower interest meeting, 3p, Woodson, Rm B109
Fri, 9/12: new athlete swim test, Providence Rec Center, 6-7p
Sat, 9/13: VASRA Workday #2
Tue, 9/16: Green Days begin (T, W, Th through Oct 23)
Wed, 9/17: parent info meeting, 7:30p, Details TBD
Sat, 9/20: new athlete swim test, Providence Rec Center, 1-2p
Sat, 9/20: VASRA Workday #3
Mon, 9/22: Booster Club Golf Tournament
Sat, 9/27: VASRA Workday #4
Mon, 9/29: returning student interest meeting, 3p, Woodson, Rm B109
Tue, 9/30: Board meeting via Zoom, contact President for more info
OCTOBER:
Sat, Oct 4: TENTATIVE Parent learn to row fundraiser
Sat, Oct 4: VASRA Workday #5
Sat, 10/18: erg rental return and service work day
Thu, 10/23: final Green Day, 4:45p
Sat, 10/25: 1st Tag Day
Fri, Oct 31: Set up for the craft show, details TBD
NOVEMBER:
Sat, 11/1: 32nd Annual Craft Show, 10a-4p
Fri, 11/7: Football concessions volunteering
Fri, 11/8: Winterize boats and boat house workday. Details TBD.
Sat, 11/15: 2nd Tag Day
DECEMBER:
Mon, 12/1: Winter Conditioning Begins
TENTATIVE: Winter break optional weight lifting, details TBD
FEBRUARY 2026:
Mon, 02/23: first day of on-the-water practice!
14. STAY IN-THE-KNOW
RECRUITMENT:
Direct interested athletes and their parents to our interest form or have them send an email to our membership team at: [email protected].
STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING WOODSON ROWING?
Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.
Can’t sponsor but want to donate?Check out our Donors page for instructions and information on how your donations benefit our team!
NEED SWAG?
There are many ways for you to shop and benefit the team all while sporting your support! See our Spirit Wear Page for more info!
VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!
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