Author: VP Communications

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POLAR BEAR REGATTA 2025

Welcome to a special edition newsletter on our first regatta of the season! Lots of details below, so take your time reading through and ask questions!. The weather is set to be sunny and cool. Fingers crossed it stays that way! Spectators should plan accordingly – lots of layers – as the grandstands are open to the elements.

1. REGATTA VOLUNTEERS

2. POLAR BEAR REGATTA THIS SATURDAY, 3/22
A. ATHLETE ATTENDANCE
B. REPORT TIMES

3. REGATTA PARKING AND GETTING TO THE GRANDSTAND
A. OFFSITE PARKING FOR SPECTATORS
B. ONSITE PARKING

4. FOOD

5. SPECTATOR TIPS AND CHEERING

6. DON’T FORGET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR!

7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

SUPPORT THE TEAM!

ACTION ITEMS BEFORE THIS REGATTA

  1. Fill out a VASRA waiver for your athlete. This is a new requirement this season, but it is REQUIRED before your athlete can race. Many thanks to those who already completed this requirement.
  2. RSVP for the Parent social taking place Friday, 3/21 from 6-9p

1. REGATTA VOLUNTEERS
Gentle reminder that if you sign up, you’re expected to volunteer. If it is a regatta weekend and you are unable to fulfill your duties, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Veigel, so that she can try to help you find a replacement for your shift.

All volunteer slots for the regatta this weekend are full. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! Sign up here to help at future regattas. Feel free to check back frequently, even if shifts appear to be full, in case others are unable to fulfill their duties. If you sign up to drive a launch, you must have completed the recent launch driver training AND have practiced with a coach!

2. POLAR BEAR REGATTA THIS SATURDAY, 3/22
Our first regatta for our varsity boats is this Saturday. Woodson will be racing 5 boats between, approximately, 9am to 1p. According to the current TENTATIVE event list, smaller boats will be racing first. So, all of our boats should be prepared/plan to be the later races of the day. Specific race times will be finalized and shared with coaches late tonight. Athletes should anticipate hearing more about timing by practice on Friday, 3/21.

Feel free to check here for more information: Regatta Central – Polar Bear Regatta.

Results and heatsheets will be posted here, when available: VASRA website.

A. ATHLETE ATTENDANCE
While no novice boats row at this regatta, novice athletes are highly encouraged to attend, if available. Regattas are a unique experience and familiarity with how they run will help the athletes as they prepare for their first regatta, next weekend. Learning the mechanics and rhythms of a regatta before they participate builds confidence and experience. Plus, it’s fun to watch your teammates race without dealing with your own nerves!

Novices should plan to be at the boathouse about 1 hour before Woodson boats hit the water. 

Returning Athletes will hear from your coaches what boat you will be on. Unless told otherwise by a coach, athletes are advised to be at the boathouse no later than two hours before their scheduled race, and coxswains must be there for the coxswain’s meeting.

B. REPORT TIMES
Will be communicated via Slack as it becomes available. If you aren’t yet on Slack, send a message to [email protected]. Official lineups will be posted on Slack and social media after the schedule is set.

3. REGATTA PARKING AND GETTING TO THE GRANDSTAND
This is always a big deal and a big issue until you realize what the system is like, so we highly recommend that you plan lots of excess time to get to where you need to go. As we all know, Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance, so a little goes a long way. All of the information below, and more, is located on our website. If you’re nervous or curious, to learn more visit our website: Sandy Run Park Info.

A. OFFSITE PARKING FOR SPECTATORS: There is no spectator/visitor parking at Sandy Run. As a result, families should plan accordingly.

❖ Parents driving athletes can drop athletes off at Sandy Run and then proceed to the offsite parking area. If you are only dropping off your rower, plan on arriving on site at least 15 minutes before your rower needs to report because Hampton Road and Van Thompson Road are often backed up with cars. Tell the parking volunteers that you are dropping off a rower, and they will direct you.

❖ OFF SITE PARKING IS LOCATED AT SOUTH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. South County High School is located at 8501 Silverbrook Rd, Lorton, VA 22079.

❖ Spectators will park at South County High School and take a shuttle bus to the regatta. The cost of the shuttles is $10 EACH WAY ($20 total). Please bring cash. You will pay at South County prior to boarding the bus AND AGAIN at the bus pick up spot in Lot C at Sandy Run. Athletes in uniform can ride the shuttle for free. Families should plan for a 15-20 minute walk or a shorter shuttle ride between where the buses stop (Lot C) and the grandstand.

❖ The shuttles are scheduled to begin at 7:00 am (2 hours before the first race) and will conclude running from Sandy Run NLT 1 hour after the last race. 

To get to the grandstands from Lot C, you have two options:

  1. You can walk. The path is unpaved and very hilly. It is about ¾ of a mile and takes about 20 minutes to walk.
  2. You can take the shuttle van which costs a small fee each way. In the past this fee has been $5 EACH WAY. Cash is preferred. Please plan accordingly. The shuttle runs continuously and takes about 5 minutes.

B. ONSITE PARKING: Onsite parking is limited to the groups below only. There is no fee for these groups to park at Sandy Run.

❖ ATHLETES: parking is available in the Loisvale Lot until the lot is filled. Please plan for the short walk from parking to the water!

❖ VOLUNTEERS: Lot D (larger gravel lot that is to the right as you pass the gated entry to the park)

❖ COACHES: Lot D. There will be designated parking. Please display your green coaches hangtag.

❖ STAFF / LOC: B lot, second row from the back. This is the paved lot closest to the water on the right.

❖ REFEREES: B lot, back row

❖ HANDICAPPED: Lot C, as designated.This is the smaller gravel lot to the left as you pass through the gated entry.

4. FOOD
For athletes, the team provides snacks. If your athlete has food restrictions, those will have been accounted for by the team – but if they have specific nutritional needs we recommend packing them what they need. They may buy from the Headquarters concession stand, but may not have the time or opportunity to do so until after their race, so plan accordingly.

For spectators, there is a concession stand at the grandstand. Bring cash to make your life easier because mobile payments are notoriously hard due to spotty wi-fi coverage on the water.

You can find concession menus on the VASRA website here: https://www.vasra.org/regattas/concessions-menu

5. SPECTATOR TIPS AND CHEERING
Check out a list of tips for regatta watching here: https://woodsonrowing.org/regatta-spectator/.

All the Woodson families try to sit together as a team. So, where is the team? Well – look for the swag. We know it’s challenging when you’re new to the sport and new to the team, but trust that everyone is friendly and interested in meeting you!

Cheering is one of our primary duties as spectators! When a Woodson boat goes down the course on their way to the start, all the parents get together to yell “HEY, WOODSON!” as loud as possible. We will know that the kids hear us when a coxswain or rowers take a moment to wave at us.

If you’re interested and brand new to the sport of rowing, we have a lot of resources on our website to help you feel “in-the-know” once you get to the grandstands. Some suggested reading:

6. DON’T FORGET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR!
Purchase Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear to show your support and benefit our team!

7. 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/

Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
Winter Conditioning (October through February)
On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

Important dates: 

MARCH:

  • Fri, 3/21: Parent social, 6-9p
  • Sat, 3/22: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only), Sandy Run
  • Fri, 3/28: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser, 4-8p, 10296 Main St.
  • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

APRIL

MAY

SUPPORT THE TEAM!

VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

REP THE TEAM WITH PRIDE!

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!

SPONSOR WOODSON ROWING!

Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

FEELING GENEROUS?

No amount is too small or too big and is a HUGE part of our successes!!
Visit our Donors page for information on how your donation will be used!

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Posted on

March 18, 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to your first-of-many Tuesday newsletter! Practices have been coming along and we are speeding into our first regatta this weekend! There are lots of things to do in support of and leading up to competition season. Check out the info below to learn more.

1. *REQUIRED* VASRA WAIVER, COMPLETE NLT WED, MAR 19
2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
3. SPRING SPORT PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
4. POLAR BEAR REGATTA INFO
5. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
6. SHOW YOUR SPIRIT!
7. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI, APRIL 25, 7p
8. *SAVE THE DATE* END-OF-YEAR AWARDS BANQUET, WED, MAY 28, 7p
9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

SUPPORT THE TEAM

ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK

  • Fill out VASRA waiver for your athlete
  • RSVP to parent social (Friday, March 21)

1. *REQUIRED* VASRA WAIVER, COMPLETE NLT WED, MAR 19
For our athletes to attend VASRA regattas, a waiver form must be completed before they will be allowed to compete. This process will take you about 3-5 minutes per athlete, so please complete these steps NO LATER THAN COB on Wednesday, March 19. NO ATHLETE will be allowed to compete without this waiver being completed. NO EXCEPTIONS.

(1) Visit https://waivers.regattacentral.com/VASRA2025

(2) Search for and select “Woodson High School Rowing”

(3) Fill in your athlete’s last name and birthdate. Then click “Next”

(4) Your student’s name should appear. Select their name and click “Next”

(5) The next page calls for your athlete’s information. After filling out the info and selecting “Next” you will find the waiver in its entirety. Check the acknowledgement on the bottom left and submit. You will receive a copy of the waiver at the email address provided..

Please note, if your athlete is 18 or older, the waiver should be filled out and acknowledged by the athlete. If they are under 18, then a parent/guardian must complete the waiver.

2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
We hope you can join us at a Parent/Guardian Social on Saturday, March 21 at the home of Maz and Fredy Chinoy from 6-9p. This is an opportunity to get to know other parents, meet some coaches and members of the board and learn more about the sport and season. This gathering is a potluck! Please RSVP and bring something to share. Wine will be provided by our hosts, but feel free to bring any other beverage of choice. The RSVP Sign Up Genius lists the location and directions, so make sure you check it out!

3. SPRING SPORT PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!
The spring sports photos that our athletes took on March 6 are now available for purchase. Follow the links below: 

BOYS TEAM: https://shop.imagequix.com/s1740266205

GIRLS TEAM: https://shop.imagequix.com/s1516150167

Any questions re: these photos should be directed to the Victor O’Neill Studios customer service team at [email protected]

4. POLAR BEAR REGATTA INFO
Your next newsletter will be chock full of ALL you need to know about the Polar Bear Regatta this weekend. Specific details (such as parking, timing and line ups) will be sent out by this Friday. Please note that while no novice boats row at this regatta, novice athletes are highly encouraged to attend. Regattas are a unique experience and familiarity with how they run will help the athletes as they prepare for their first regatta, next weekend. Learning the mechanics and rhythms of a regatta before they participate builds confidence and experience. Plus, it’s fun to watch your teammates race without dealing with your own nerves! For spectators, it’s a great way to get a feel for the off-site parking, the walk to the grandstands and to just get into the energy at a regatta.

Generally speaking, this regatta is shorter than others since it is only varsity boats racing. So, please plan to set aside your Saturday morning (or arrange carpools now) to get athletes and spectators to Sandy Run!

If you’re interested and brand new to the sport of rowing, we have a lot of resources on our website to help you feel “in-the-know” once you get to the grandstands. Some suggested reading:

5. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
VOLUNTEER CREDIT REMINDER: Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

A. TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER
Have you seen our collection of team photos on SmugMug? Wonder how you can get those cool racing photos of your kids at regattas? Whether you’re a professional, hobbyist or amateur photographer, we want your help in turning this season’s events into memories. The team photographer will work with the VP Communications to take photos at events they attend as well as collect photos from parents and athletes to post to the team SmugMug. Contact Jenn McRobbie, VP Communications, via Slack if you are interested in taking up this role. P.S.: This role will fulfill your volunteer requirements for the year.

    B. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
    We are seeking volunteers to serve on this year’s nominating committee. The nominating committee will identify parents with interest in serving on the Board in the 2025/26 school year and beyond! The nominating committee would submit recommendations for future Board members by mid-May 2025. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow parents and to also get a feel for what each Board member does. Ideally, we would have a MINIMUM of 2 parents step up for this role, one from the boys’ team and one from the girls’ team. But, the more the merrier. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee, please contact Catherine Backmeyer on Slack to find out more on what the responsibilities entail.

      C. SHADOW CURRENT BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
      While the Board is, thankfully, fully staffed this season, there will be several roles available next year due to term limitations and graduating athletes! If you are at all interested in any of these roles, please contact the current committee member (just search the role on Slack and the current member’s name will pop up). All would love a “shadow” to help learn the ropes so that there can be a smooth transfer of information throughout the season! Roles that we already know will be available next year (with others potentially arising) are:

      EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

      • Treasurer
      • Secretary
      • Senior VP (non-voting, has interest in potentially becoming the Board President in 2 years)

      COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

      • Membership
      • Fundraising
      • Sportswear/Uniforms
      • Booster Liaison

      KEP SUPPORT ROLES:

      • Craft Show Coordinator (shadow needed ASAP for this role. This person would start right away shadowing Gail Lee, who has several years of experience with one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. The Craft Show takes place at Woodson in early November.)
      • RAFT Coordinator
      • Restaurant Night Coordinator

      6. SHOW YOUR SPIRIT!
      We have a limited number of 2025 sponsor t-shirts and tank tops available to purchase for $20 a piece! Check out these options and more on our website at Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear! Share the website and links with family members so that they can also sport their support near or far!

      7. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI, APRIL 25, 7p
      It seems so early to be talking about how our very large group of seniors (16!!!) will be moving on from the team next year! Plans are clearly in the very early stages, but parents of seniors – mark your calendars now! Senior night will take place at the team dinner on Fri., April 25 at 7p.

      8. *SAVE THE DATE* END-OF-YEAR AWARDS BANQUET, WED, MAY 28, 7p
      RSVP and help out at the End-of-the-Season Banquet on Wednesday, May 28, 7p at Woodson Cafeteria A. Please join us in celebrating all the whole team; athletes, coaches AND parents/guardians! This is more than just an end-of-season celebration. Coaches will present awards, we will recognize our seniors and attending parents will have an introduction/vote for next year’s new board members!

      9. 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/

      Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
      Winter Conditioning (October through February)
      On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
      2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

      Important dates: 

      MARCH:

      • Fri, 3/21: Parent social, 6-9p
      • Sat, 3/22: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only), Sandy Run
      • Fri, 3/28: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser, 4-8p, 10296 Main St.
      • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

      APRIL

      MAY

      SUPPORT THE TEAM!

      VIEW AND UPLOAD PHOTOS: Visit our Woodson Rowing photos page for more information on how you can help protect our legacy with photographs!

      REP THE TEAM WITH PRIDE!

      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!

      SPONSOR WOODSON ROWING!

      Visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Woodson Rowing Fundraising.

      FEELING GENEROUS?

      No amount is too small or too big and is a HUGE part of our successes!!
      Visit our Donors page for information on how your donation will be used!

      FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

      Posted on

      March 13, 2025 Newsletter

      REMEMBER: newsletters will begin coming out TWICE per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) beginning next week. Generally, Tuesday newsletters will be full of “things to do” while Thursday newsletters will be more regatta focused. If there are other people in your family that need to be added to the newsletter list, please make sure to send an email to [email protected] to be added to the newsletter list. In the alternative, you can always view our newsletter archives on our website.

      1. *LAST CALL* DOES YOUR ATHLETE HAVE ALLERGIES/DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?
      2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
      3. *NEW* SEEKING A TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER
      4. REGATTA VOLUNTEER NEEDED, SAT. MAR 22
      5. *NEW* NOMINATING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
      6. *NEW* BOARD AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR SHADOWING!
      7. NEW SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE
      8. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI., APRIL 25, 7p
      9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

      WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

      1. *LAST CALL* DOES YOUR ATHLETE HAVE ALLERGIES/DIETARY RESTRICTIONS?
      If so, we need you to fill out this form ASAP: Dietary Restrictions & Allergies Form. You only need to fill out this form if your athlete needs some accommodation for their food allergies or dietary restrictions. Please contact Gloria Totten, Team Dinners Coordinator, via Slack with any questions.

      2. *RSVP NOW* PARENT SOCIAL: FRI, MARCH 21
      We hope you can join us at a Parent/Guardian Social on Saturday, March 21 at the home of Maz and Fredy Chinoy from 6-9p. This is an opportunity to get to know other parents, meet some coaches and members of the board and learn more about the sport and season. This gathering is a potluck! Please RSVP and bring something to share. Wine will be provided by our hosts, but feel free to bring any other beverage of choice. The RSVP Sign Up Genius lists the location and directions, so make sure you check it out!

      3. *NEW* SEEKING A TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER
      Have you seen our collection of team photos on SmugMug? Wonder how you can get those cool racing photos of your kids at regattas? Whether you’re a professional, hobbyist or amateur photographer, we want your help in turning this season’s events into memories. The team photographer will work with the VP Communications to take photos at events they attend as well as collect photos from parents and athletes to post to the team SmugMug. Contact Jenn McRobbie, VP Communications, via Slack if you are interested in taking up this role. P.S.: This role will fulfill your volunteer requirements for the year.

      4. REGATTA VOLUNTEER NEEDED, SAT. MAR 22
      It’s an early morning shift, but it sets you up to be in the PERFECT place to watch races while satisfying a VASRA volunteer credit. We are still looking for a volunteer to work Grandstand Concessions from 6:30-9:30a at the Polar Bear Regatta on Saturday, March 22. If you are interested, sign up here: 2025 VASRA Regatta Sign Up.

      This is also a gentle reminder that if you sign up for a position at a regatta, you’re expected to show up. If it is a regatta weekend and you are unable to fulfill your duties, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Veigel, so that she can try to help you find a replacement for your shift.

      VOLUNTEER CREDIT REMINDER: Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Athletes are also expected to volunteer (3 credits for novice athletes, 5 for returning athletes). Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

      5. *NEW* NOMINATING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
      We are seeking volunteers to serve on this year’s nominating committee. The nominating committee will identify parents with interest in serving on the Board in the 2025/26 school year and beyond! The nominating committee would submit recommendations for future Board members by mid-May 2025. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow parents and to also get a feel for what each Board member does. Ideally, we would have a MINIMUM of 2 parents step up for this role, one from the boys’ team and one from the girls’ team. But, the more the merrier. If you are interested in serving on the Nominating Committee, please contact Catherine Backmeyer on Slack to find out more on what the responsibilities entail.

      6. *NEW* BOARD AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR SHADOWING!
      While the Board is, thankfully, fully staffed this season (https://woodsonrowing.org/board-of-directors/), there will be several roles available next year due to term limitations and graduating athletes! If you are at all interested in any of these roles, please contact the current committee member (just search the role on Slack and the current member’s name will pop up). All would love a “shadow” to help learn the ropes so that there can be a smooth transfer of information throughout the season! Roles that we already know will be available next year (with others potentially arising) are:

      EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

      • Treasurer
      • Secretary
      • Senior VP (non-voting, has interest in potentially becoming the Board President in 2 years)

      COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

      • Membership
      • Fundraising
      • Sportswear/Uniforms
      • Booster Liaison

      KEY SUPPORT ROLES:

      • Craft Show Coordinator (shadow needed ASAP for this role. This person would start right away shadowing Gail Lee, who has several years of experience with one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. The Craft Show takes place at Woodson in early November.)
      • RAFT Coordinator
      • Restaurant Night Coordinator

      7. NEW SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE

      We have a limited number of 2025 sponsor t-shirts and tank tops available to purchase for $20 a piece! Check out these options and more on our website at Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear! Share the website and links with family members so that they can also sport their support near or far!

      8. *SAVE THE DATE* SENIOR NIGHT – FRI., APRIL 25, 7p
      It seems so early to be talking about how our very large group of seniors (16!!!) will be moving on from the team next year! Plans are clearly in the very early stages, but parents of seniors – mark your calendars now! Senior night will take place at the team dinner on Fri., April 25 at 7p.

      9. 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/

      Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
      Winter Conditioning (October through February)
      On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
      2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

      Important dates: 

      MARCH:

      • Sat, 3/15: VASRA Work Day #4, 8a-noon or 1-4p, Sandy Run
      • Fri, 3/21: Noodles & Co. Restaurant Fundraiser AND parent social
      • Sat, 3/22: Polar Bear Regatta (Varsity Only), Sandy Run
      • Sat, 3/29: Noxontown Regatta, St. Andrew’s, Middletown, DE

      APRIL

      MAY

      WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

      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!

      FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

      Posted on

      March 6, 2025 Newsletter

      On-the-water is in full swing!! With regatta season upon us, your newsletters will begin coming out TWICE per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) beginning March 18. Generally, Tuesday newsletters will be full of “things to do” while Thursday newsletters will be more regatta focused. If there are other people in your family that need to be added to the newsletter list, please make sure to send an email to [email protected] to be added to the newsletter list. In the alternative, you can always view our newsletter archives on our website.

      1. *TODAY* SPRING PICTURES FOR ATHLETES!!
      2. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, CHECK YOUR EMAIL BEFORE MARCH 8
      3. ALLERGIES FORM DUE MARCH 12
      4. WEATHER NOTES, FROM YOUR COACHES
      5. REGISTRATION & NOVICE REFUND POLICY
      6. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
      8. ENSURE YOUR SLACK APP IS UPDATED
      9. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
      WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

      1. *TODAY* SPRING PICTURES FOR ATHLETES!!
      All athletes should report to the Main Gym at 3:05p to have your pictures taken for the yearbook. Your team shirts will be handed out at that time. Once in the gym, all girls should head to Photographer 1, boys to Photographer 2. Seniors should have a separate senior headshot taken with photograph 3. SENIORS: please make sure you take TWO photos before you leave!

      Carpools should be staged in front of the school (by the big rock is a good place to meet) so that athletes can hustle to the water as soon as photos are finished.

      2. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, CHECK YOUR EMAIL BEFORE MARCH 8
      If you have already signed up for the launch boat training, you should have received an email  with an attachment and video to review prior to attending the training. 3 spots still remain, however! If you are interested in participating, all parents/guardians are welcome to learn from our very own Coach Joe! Sign up to attend training right after our Saturday practice, here: Launch Boat Driver Training.

      If you have already completed launch boat driver training in a previous season and are willing to be a driver again this year, please join the #launch-boat-drivers channel on Slack.

      3. ALLERGIES FORM DUE MARCH 12
      To ensure everyone can safely enjoy our Friday Night Team Dinners and snacks at regattas, we need to know about any food allergies, intolerances, or religious dietary restrictions. If your athlete has any dietary needs, please take a moment to fill out our Dietary Restrictions & Allergies Form.

      Your input helps us plan meals that accommodate everyone. Please complete the form by March 12 so we can make the necessary arrangements. Thank you for your help in keeping our team dinners safe and inclusive! Please contact Gloria Totten, Team Dinners Coordinator, via Slack with any questions.

      4. WEATHER NOTES, FROM THE COACHES
      While weather forecasts have gotten quite good, they generally do not have the level of granularity to tell us exactly what is going to occur at the exact location we are rowing, especially with regards to thunderstorms. If there is a high level of uncertainty in the forecast, generally the team still goes down to the boathouse so that the weather conditions can be evaluated real-time. Options can be delayed launching and/or stay on shore and work out on land. In rare instances, practice will be canceled ahead of time. Weather certainly is unpredictable for any outdoor sport, but know that our coaches are diligent in balancing athlete safety as well as the need to have consistency in training! If there is impending weather, decisions will be made as soon as possible and disseminated via Slack, social media, and, if needed, announced over the PA system at school. Thank you, as always, for your flexibility!

      5. REGISTRATION & NOVICE REFUND POLICY
      All the information you need to know is located on our registration website: https://woodsonrowing.org/registration/.

      Novice athletes are granted 2 weeks on the water to fully commit to Woodson Rowing. As a result, any first time athlete must submit a written withdrawal to Woodson Rowing Membership by this Friday, March 7, 2025 to receive a refund of all fees minus a credit card fee.

      Still have questions? Reach out to Catherine, Membership Chair, via Slack or at [email protected].

      6. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Athletes are also expected to volunteer (3 credits for novice athletes, 5 for returning athletes). Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

      7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
      Sport your support AND help the team financially (portions of all proceeds are donated back to the team) with Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear!

      8. ENSURE YOUR SLACK APP IS UPDATED
      Beginning March 15th, 2025, Slack will be ending support for older app and browser versions. As a result, users will need to ensure they are using the most updated version of Slack. Click here for information on how to update your app: Slack Update.

      In addition, some operating systems (OS) will no longer be supported. Users on an unsupported OS will still be able to access Slack if they’re using a supported app version, but they won’t receive future updates. For the best experience, it is recommended that you update the following OS as soon as possible: Redhat 8, Windows 10 Version 21H2 and Android 10.

      Questions? Contact Slack help at [email protected]

      9. 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/

      Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
      Winter Conditioning (October through February)
      On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
      2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

      Important dates: 

      MARCH:

      APRIL

      MAY

      WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

      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!

      FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

      Posted on

      February 27, 2025 Newsletter

      Thank you to all who showed up for a very successful Boathouse Workday last weekend. Your hard work set us up to officially begin the season! This first week on-the-water is a lot of logistics – but we so greatly appreciate the team work and sense of community you are all bringing to each hurdle. 

      1. *ACTION NEEDED* ALLERGIES FORM DUE MARCH 12
      2. *CRITICAL* CARPOOL ASSISTANCE NEEDED
      3. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, 3/8, 11a
      4. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      5. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR SLACK APP
      6. HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET?
      7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
      8. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

      WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

      1. *ACTION NEEDED* ALLERGIES FORM DUE MARCH 12
      To ensure everyone can safely enjoy our Friday Night Team Dinners and snacks at regattas, we need to know about any food allergies, intolerances, or religious dietary restrictions. If your athlete has any dietary needs, please take a moment to fill out our Dietary Restrictions & Allergies Form.

      Your input helps us plan meals that accommodate everyone. Please complete the form by March 12 so we can make the necessary arrangements. Thank you for your help in keeping our team dinners safe and inclusive! Please contact Gloria Totten, Team Dinners Coordinator, via Slack with any questions.

      2. *CRITICAL* CARPOOL ASSISTANCE NEEDED
      Hopefully carpools have been working and useful for these first few days of on-the-water practice. Do you still have room in your carpool? We have some new athletes that just joined the team this week and they are looking for long term transportation solutions. If so, please join and post on the #carpool channel on Slack.

      3. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, 3/8, 11a
      One of the more exciting volunteer activities at regattas is to drive a launch boat. Launch boat drivers are responsible for ferrying spectators, officials and referees. Being a Launch Boat Driver fulfills your VASRA volunteer requirement and gets you the best seat in the house at regattas! All parents/guardians are welcome to learn how to perform this task from our very own Coach Joe. Attendance is limited due to space constraints. Sign up to attend training here: Launch Boat Driver Training.

      If you have already completed launch boat driver training in a previous season and are willing to be a driver again this year, please join the #launch-boat-drivers channel on Slack.

      4. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Athletes are also expected to volunteer (3 credits for novice athletes, 5 for returning athletes). Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering, sign up to participate or just keep up with the current volunteering opportunities, visit our website: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

      5. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR SLACK APP
      Beginning March 15th, 2025, Slack will be ending support for older app and browser versions. As a result, users will need to ensure they are using the most updated version of Slack. Click here for information on how to update your app: Slack Update.

      In addition, some operating systems (OS) will no longer be supported. Users on an unsupported OS will still be able to access Slack if they’re using a supported app version, but they won’t receive future updates. For the best experience, it is recommended that you update the following OS as soon as possible: Redhat 8, Windows 10 Version 21H2 and Android 10.

      Questions? Contact Slack help at [email protected]

      6. HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET?
      All the information you need to know is located on our registration website: https://woodsonrowing.org/registration/.  Still have questions or can’t remember if you filled everything out? Reach out to Catherine, Membership Chair, via Slack or at [email protected].

      7. GET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR BEFORE THE FIRST REGATTA
      Sport your support AND help the team financially (portions of all proceeds are donated back to the team) with Woodson Rowing Spirit Wear!

      8. 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/

      Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
      Winter Conditioning (October through February)
      On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
      2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

      Important dates: 

      MARCH:

      APRIL

      MAY

      WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

      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!

      FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

      Posted on

      February 20, 2025 Newsletter

      It’s almost time for on-the-water practice! Read on for all the information you’ll need to start the season prepared!

      1. *CRITICAL* REGISTRATION & PAPERWORK REQUIRED BEFORE TUESDAY, FEB 25
      2. ON-THE-WATER MEETING SLIDES
      3. OPTIONAL APPAREL STILL AVAILABLE FOR ORDER
      4. ALL ATHLETE PRACTICE/TRY-OUTS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 3:30-5p
      5. CARPOOL ASSISTANCE FOR NOVICE/FRESHMAN ATHLETES
      6. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, 3/8, 11a
      7. KING CAKE FUNDRAISER
      8. TEAM VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      9. VASRA VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
      WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

      1. *CRITICAL* REGISTRATION & PAPERWORK REQUIRED BEFORE TUESDAY, FEB 25
      Review the registration portion of the website to learn more.

      Still have questions or can’t remember if you filled everything out? Reach out to Catherine, Membership Chair, via Slack or at [email protected].

      2. ON-THE-WATER MEETING SLIDES
      Thanks to all who attended the on-the-water meeting last night at Woodson. You can find a copy of the slides here: February 2025 On-The-Water Slides. Extra thanks to Monika, Kyra and Sayuri for giving a demonstration of clothes to wear for rowers and coxswains. You can find all the information you need to prepare for one-the-water practice on our website here: https://woodsonrowing.org/on-the-water-practice/.

      3. OPTIONAL APPAREL STILL AVAILABLE FOR ORDER
      The non-required custom apparel that we order through Boathouse requires a minimum number of items for an order to be fulfilled. Apparently the shop is still open – so place any remaining orders ASAP at: https://cgwoodson2024.itemorder.com/.  (Choose the “bulk shipping” option at check out. Items will be delivered to our sportswear rep for distribution.) Questions? Contact Cheryl, our Sportswear Chair via Slack or [email protected]

      4. ALL ATHLETE PRACTICE/TRY-OUTS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 3:30-5p 
      If you are interested in being on the rowing team for Spring 2025, please make sure you come to practice/try-outs on Monday, February 24 from 3:30-5p in Cafe B. While rowing is a no cut sport, everyone tests on the ergs. The best scores are more likely to make initial boat assignments. Attendance on Monday is crucial for coaches to be able to begin planning boat line ups.

      5. CARPOOL ASSISTANCE FOR NOVICE/FRESHMAN ATHLETES
      While we do not have a team carpool coordinator this year, two parents have offered their help for our freshman and novice families! We know how hard it can be to start up carpool arrangements when you don’t know a lot of people on the team yet. So, if you need assistance arranging a carpool, send a message via Slack with your name, athlete’s name/grade, and neighborhood to:

      • Boys: Gloria Totten
      • Girls: Kirsten Lukas

      6. LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, 3/8, 11a
      One of the more exciting volunteer activities at regattas is to drive a launch boat. Launch boat drivers are responsible for ferrying spectators, officials and referees. Being a Launch Boat Driver fulfills your VASRA volunteer requirement and gets you the best seat in the house at regattas! All parents/guardians are welcome to learn how to perform this task from our very own Coach Joe. Attendance is limited due to space constraints. Sign up to attend training here: Launch Boat Driver Training.

      If you have already completed launch boat driver training in a previous season and are willing to be a driver again this year, please join the #launch-boat-drivers channel on Slack.

      7. KING CAKE FUNDRAISER
      Celebrate Mardi Gras with a Gambino’s King Cake. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Woodson Rowing, so laissez les bons temps rouler and benefit the team at the same time! Note: if you normally order on your own, ordering through us saves you the $31 shipping charges!!! Reserve by emailing Emmy Obruba (mom to athlete Nathan) at [email protected]. Payment will be via PayPal or Venmo. TEXT ONLY (no calls, please) to 757-613-2862 if you have questions. Instructions for pick up will be provided upon payment.

      8. TEAM VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Athletes are also expected to volunteer (3 credits for novice athletes, 5 for returning athletes). Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

      A. BOATHOUSE WORK DAY, 2/22, 9-11a
      Let’s get the boathouse ready for the season! Even if the Sign Up is full, please feel free to show up, get a volunteer credit and maybe even a little tour of the area! Sign up or modify your sign up here: Boathouse Workday.

        B. FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS
        THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED! Stay tuned to the newsletter – as we approach the Friday night dinners if spots open up for volunteers as schedules change. View the sign up here: Friday Night Dinner Volunteering

          9. VASRA VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
          The Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) is our local governing body. They are responsible for all of our at-home regattas and more. Volunteering with them is a requirement of participation on our team and also a way to give back to this amazing community. Of your family’s 5 volunteer shifts/credits, AT LEAST one should be a VASRA task. See details about the available tasks below!

          A. PRE-SEASON WORKDAYS
          All slots are currently full! Thank you to the Woodson team members who already signed up. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up but would like to participate, keep an eye on the sign up genius for openings. If you choose to show up for any of these work days when the Sign Up is full, please make sure you reach out to Lisa, our volunteer coordinator, via Slack to ensure you get team credit for your attendance.

            B. REGATTA TASKS
            We are required to provide volunteers for the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) jobs at the Regattas in which we participate.  Each family should strive to do at least 1 shift per season. There are several dates, times, and locations within the park ~ all shifts on this signup take place before/during the regattas held at Sandy Run, 10450 Van Thompson Road, Fairfax Station. Many of these jobs are very exciting and give you a front row seat to all the action! Get the cream of the crop assignments by signing up early here: 2025 VASRA Regatta Tasks

              10. 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/

              Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
              Winter Conditioning (October through February)
              On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
              2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

              Other important dates: 

              FEBRUARY:

              MARCH:

              APRIL

              MAY

              WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

              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!

              FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

              Posted on

              February 13, 2025 Newsletter

              If you’re participating in our 2nd Maverick Rowing event this Saturday, please see links for payment below!

              1. MAVERICK ROWING THIS WEEKEND
              2. *CRITICAL* BOATHOUSE OPTIONAL APPAREL, MINIMUMS NOT MET
              3. LAST SWIM TEST OPPORTUNITY ON FEB 15
              4. *RESCHEDULED* ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 19, 7p IN CAFE B
              5. *NEW* LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, 3/8, 11a
              6. *NEW FUNDRAISER* KING CAKES!
              7. TEAM VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
              8. VASRA VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
              9. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
              10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

              WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

              ACTION ITEMS
              Order from optional apparel items from Boathouse (#2 below)

              1. MAVERICK ROWING THIS WEEKEND, 2/15
              There are 5 spots available for anyone interested in participating in this unique indoor rowing opportunity. It’s a great way to put all your winter conditioning to practice. We will accommodate up to 35 rowers for the full two hours: from 10am-12pm.

              To participate, here are the steps you need to take BEFORE Saturday, February 15:

              Please plan to be there by 9:45a. If you will not be participating in the entire 2 hour time slot, please coordinate with Coach Tylander.

              2. *CRITICAL* BOATHOUSE OPTIONAL APPAREL ORDER BY 2/16

              The non-required custom apparel that we order through Boathouse requires a minimum number of items for an order to be fulfilled. The following items cannot currently be fulfilled without additional purchases:  

              Pro-Tech Stevenson, 1 more required

              Mens Training tight, 2 more required

              Cold weather half zip, 1 more required

              GoreTex Stevenson, 3 more required

              They will keep the shop open until Sunday, February 16th for any remaining orders. Please order ASAP at: https://cgwoodson2024.itemorder.com/.  (Choose the “bulk shipping” option at check out. Items will be delivered to our sportswear rep for distribution.)

              Questions? Contact Cheryl, our Sportswear Chair via Slack or [email protected]

              3. LAST SWIM TEST OPPORTUNITY ON 2/15
              We currently have no athletes signed up for the February 15 swim test. If you’ve never done a swim test with us before, sign up here: Winter Swim Tests. A swim test is REQUIRED before you will be allowed to go on-the-water with the team. If this date does not work for you, please reach out to your coaches.

              4. *RESCHEDULED* ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, 2/19, 7p IN CAFE B
              Due to the school closure on Wednesday, The Board has rescheduled the in-person on-the-water meeting to Wednesday, February 19 at 7:00pm in Cafe B at Woodson. Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting.

              5. *NEW* LAUNCH BOAT DRIVER TRAINING, 3/8, 11a
              One of the more exciting volunteer activities at regattas is to drive a launch boat. Launch boat drivers are responsible for ferrying spectators, officials and referees. Being a Launch Boat Driver fulfills your VASRA volunteer requirement and gets you the best seat in the house at regattas! All parents/guardians are welcome to learn how to perform this task from our very own Coach Joe. Attendance is limited due to space constraints. Sign up to attend training here: Launch Boat Driver Training.

              If you have already completed launch boat driver training in a previous season and are willing to be a driver again this year, please join the #launch-boat-drivers channel on Slack.

              6. *NEW FUNDRAISER* KING CAKES!
              Celebrate Mardi Gras with a Gambino’s King Cake. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Woodson Rowing, so laissez les bons temps rouler and benefit the team at the same time! Note: if you normally order on your own, ordering through us saves you the $31 shipping charges!!! Reserve by emailing Emmy Obruba (mom to athlete Nathan) at [email protected]. Payment will be via PayPal or Venmo. TEXT ONLY (no calls, please) to 757-613-2862 if you have questions. Instructions for pick up will be provided upon payment.

              7. TEAM VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
              Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits, one of which should be a VASRA task. Athletes are also expected to volunteer (3 credits for novice athletes, 5 for returning athletes). Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

              A. BOATHOUSE WORK DAY, 2/22, 9-11a
              Let’s get the boathouse ready for the season! FYI: there will be no Green Day associated with this work day. Sign up or modify your sign up here: Boathouse Workday.

                B. FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS
                The team enjoys pre-regatta dinners each Friday night during the season. This season, we will be holding all of our dinners at the Woodson high School Cafeteria. We need parents to help with picking up a meal order, setting up/serving dinner & cleaning up. This is a great time to see the camaraderie of our team grow! Sign up here: Friday Night Dinner Volunteering

                  8. VASRA VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIE
                  The Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) is our local governing body. They are responsible for all of our at-home regattas and more. Volunteering with them is a requirement of participation on our team and also a way to give back to this amazing community. Of your family’s 5 volunteer shifts/credits, AT LEAST one should be a VASRA task. See details about the available tasks below!

                  A. PRE-SEASON WORKDAYS
                  All slots are currently full! Thank you to the Woodson team members who already signed up. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up but would like to participate, keep an eye on the sign up genius for openings.

                    B. REGATTA TASKS
                    We are required to provide volunteers for the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) jobs at the Regattas in which we participate.  Each family should strive to do at least 1 shift per season. There are several dates, times, and locations within the park ~ all shifts on this signup take place before/during the regattas held at Sandy Run, 10450 Van Thompson Road, Fairfax Station. Many of these jobs are very exciting and give you a front row seat to all the action! Get the cream of the crop assignments by signing up early here: 2025 VASRA Regatta Tasks

                      C. *NEW* LOC CANDIDATES NEEDED
                      This season Woodson Rowing is required to fill two VASRA Local Organizing Committee (LOC) positions. We have already filled one but still need to fill one more. LOC members are part of the Regatta staff and work the same job for the entire day for every regatta and train the weekly volunteers who assist them on how to perform their duties. The candidate for this position can serve as a Referee Candidate or as a River Rat. No prior experience is required and training will be provided.

                      If you are interested in volunteering for either of these positions, please contact Woodson Rowing’s VASRA Representative, Michael Chase, at [email protected], or in person at the February 19 On-The-Water meeting.

                        REFEREE CANDIDATE DUTIES: This position provides the additional benefit of being able to ride in a launch that follows alongside the rowers during races, which is literally the best seat in the house to enjoy a regatta. Referee Candidates have to attend a minimum of five regattas during the season, which do not all have to be at the Occoquan. No advance study, knowledge, or experience is required to volunteer for this position, and a training clinic will be held in the spring. Must be comfortable riding in launches.

                        RIVER RAT DUTIES: Dedicated course workers who are responsible for the installation and maintenance of the course during the season and the deployment of the platforms for racing. Must be comfortable riding in launches and handling course equipment.

                        BENEFITS OF BECOMING PART OF THE LOC: Filling one of these LOC positions satisfies ALL Woodson Rowing volunteer requirements for your family (team and VASRA), you are given a parking pass to park for free and are allowed to park in the “B” lot if space is available, and VASRA Management works with you to cover for you so you can go to the Finish Line or Grandstand area via a quick ride in a launch instead of hiking through the woods to watch your athlete’s race. Perhaps best of all, you get to see the regatta and student-athletes up close in a way that is not possible from the Grandstand area.

                        9. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
                        If you haven’t yet, please register now! Review the registration portion of the website to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].

                        10. 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/

                        Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
                        Winter Conditioning (October through February)
                        On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
                        2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

                        Other important dates: 

                        FEBRUARY:

                             Swim test for new recruits, 11a-12p, Audrey Moore Rec

                        MARCH:

                        APRIL

                        MAY

                        WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                        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!

                        FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

                        Posted on

                        February 6, 2025 Newsletter

                        We had an incredible showing at ErgSprints this last weekend! Please see our Instagram or Facebook posts to celebrate our hard working athletes!

                        1. PRACTICE BUS TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
                        2. NEW ATHLETES: REQUIRED SWIM TEST ON FEB 8 OR FEB 15
                        3. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
                        4. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15
                        5. *UPDATED* LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
                        6. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
                        7. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

                        WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                        ACTION ITEMS

                        1. PRACTICE BUS TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
                        Despite best efforts, the Board has not found a financially viable option for a practice bus this season. We understand the burden this places on some families and are truly sorry that our efforts have not yielded a workable solution. Since we have not had a volunteer step up to coordinate efforts, we highly recommend affected families begin coordinating carpool efforts. The #carpool channel on Slack is a great place to start that coordination, especially if you are new to the team. If you have questions or would like to assist in carpool coordination, please reach out to Maz, our V.P. of Activities at [email protected].

                        2. NEW ATHLETES: REQUIRED SWIM TEST ON FEB 8 OR FEB 15
                        The next two swim tests are scheduled for February 8 and February 15. All athletes must pass a swim test once with Woodson Rowing in order to participate in on-the-water practices. If you’ve never done a swim test with us before, sign up here: Winter Swim Tests.

                        3. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
                        The Board is hosting an on-the-water meeting in the evening on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00pm in Cafe B at Woodson. Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting. Stay tuned to Slack for updates regarding the impact of potential weather next week.

                        4. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15
                        There is still space in the Maverick Rowing event Feb 15th, so sign up now! Since we would still like to give as many people an opportunity to participate as possible, we continue to ask that you first sign up for only one of the hour-long slots. As was the case for the January 18 event, once we get closer to the date and see how many rowers are registered, we will open it up for rowers to sign up for the second hour as space permits. Cost to participate is $20 – a link will be sent for payment closer to the date. Sign Up here: Maverick Rowing Sign Up Genius

                        5. *UPDATED* LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
                        We highly recommend you jump into volunteering early as it makes it easier to meet your volunteer requirements for the season and gives new families the opportunity to meet returning families! The team tracks participation by assigning “credits” each time a family or athlete volunteers. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

                        A. *RESCHEDULED* BOATHOUSE WORK DAY, FEB 22
                        Due to potential bad weather on Saturday, we have rescheduled the boathouse work day to Saturday, February 22. We had to cancel the associated Green Day because we will be in an FCPS-designated time period when Green Days are not allowed. If you previously signed up for the Feb 8 work day and are still available, you don’t need to do anything. Just show up on the 22nd! If you are no longer free to help on that day, please remove yourself from the sign up genius. Sign up or modify your sign up here: Boathouse Workday.

                          B. VASRA WORKDAYS: 2/22, 3/01, 3/08, 3/15
                          Please review the sign up genius and sign up for slots based on your availability. You should be willing to get dirty and wet – but no experience required. Don’t forget to indicate that you are representing the Woodson Rowing team. Note: Athletes are encouraged to sign up for these workdays. You will receive school volunteering credits for participating! Remember, as a team, each family should strive to complete AT LEAST one VASRA shift per season (you might find you do more because they can be really fun and informative). Get started now!

                            C. *NEW* REQUIRED VASRA REGATTA VOLUNTEERING
                            We are required to provide volunteers for the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) jobs at the Regattas in which we participate.  Each family should strive to do at least 1 shift per season. There are several dates, times, and locations within the park ~ all shifts on this signup take place before/during the regattas held at Sandy Run, 10450 Van Thompson Road, Fairfax Station. Many of these jobs are very exciting and give you a front row seat to all the action! Get the cream of the crop assignments by signing up early here: 2025 VASRA Regatta Tasks

                              D. FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS ARE COMING BACK IN APRIL!
                              The team enjoys pre-regatta dinners each Friday night during the season. This season, we will be holding all of our dinners at the Woodson high School Cafeteria. We need parents to help with picking up a meal order, setting up/serving dinner & cleaning up. This is a great time to see the camaraderie of our team grow! Sign up here: Friday Night Dinner Volunteering

                              6. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
                              If you haven’t yet, please register now! Review the registration portion of the website to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].


                              7. 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/

                              Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
                              Winter Conditioning (October through February)
                              On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
                              2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

                              Other important dates: 

                              FEBRUARY:

                              MARCH:

                              APRIL

                              MAY

                              WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                              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!

                              FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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                              January 30, 2025 Newsletter

                              The uniform storm will close on SATURDAY and we need your help evaluating whether a practice bus is viable. First two links under “Action Items” will get you there, so please act now!

                              1. UNIFORM STORE CLOSES JANUARY 31, 2025
                              2. *NEW* PRACTICE BUS SURVEY RESPOND BY SUNDAY, FEB 2
                              3. ERGSPRINTS
                              4. NEW ATHLETES: REQUIRED SWIM TEST ON FEB 8 OR FEB 15
                              5. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
                              6. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15

                              7. *UPDATED* LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
                              A. CRITICAL NEED FOR A TEAM COORDINATOR
                              B. BOATHOUSE WORK DAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
                              C. *NEW* VASRA WORKDAYS: 2/22, 3/01, 3/08, 3/15
                              D. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8
                              E. *NEW* FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS ARE COMING BACK!

                              8. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
                              9. CHIPOTLE RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER, WED, FEB 5
                              10. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

                              WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                              ACTION ITEMS

                              1. UNIFORM STORE CLOSES JANUARY 31, 2025
                              The deadline for the uniform store was extended to tomorrow, Jan 31. Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

                              2. *NEW* PRACTICE BUS SURVEY RESPOND BY SUNDAY, FEB 2
                              By request, we are issuing a REVISED Practice Bus Survey due to potential changes in work-from-home policies that may be impacting families in our region. If we are able to get a more significant number of athletes interested in a practice bus, the cost may decrease enough to make contracting with a company viable.

                              EVERYONE should fill out the form, whether you intend to sign your athlete up or not. The more people that fill out this form the better the data so please spread the word.

                              Please fill out the form by Sunday, February 2 in order to give our team time to review the results and consider options: REVISED Practice Bus Interest Form.

                              If you have multiple athletes, we would appreciate you filling out the form once PER athlete so that we can get a more accurate count. Thank you so much!

                              3. ERGSPRINTS
                              Attendance is not limited to those who are competing! Feel free to go by the event and cheer on our registered athletes. The ErgSprints website is a treasure trove of information for spectators and athletes. Some links to critical information (that you should check out BEFORE you go):

                              ATHLETES: know that parking is almost always an issue at this event. So please build in time to arrive, park and to get oriented to the event BEFORE your scheduled check-in time.

                              4. NEW ATHLETES: REQUIRED SWIM TEST ON FEB 8 OR FEB 15
                              The next two swim tests are scheduled for February 8 and February 15. All athletes must pass a swim test once with Woodson Rowing in order to participate in on-the-water practices. If you’ve never done a swim test with us before, sign up here: Winter Swim Tests.

                              5. ON-THE-WATER MEETING, WED, FEB 12, 7p IN CAFE B
                              The Board is hosting an on-the-water meeting in the evening on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00pm in Cafe B at Woodson. Join us to learn what to expect once the competitive regatta season starts. We will share important information for novice and returning parents alike. Athletes are welcome to attend. Board representatives and coaches will be on hand to answer questions. If you cannot attend, we will share a link to the slides following the meeting.

                              6. MAVERICK ROWING, FEB 15
                              There is still space in the Maverick Rowing event Feb 15th, so sign up now! Since we would still like to give as many people an opportunity to participate as possible, we continue to ask that you first sign up for only one of the hour-long slots. As was the case for the January 18 event, once we get closer to the date and see how many rowers are registered, we will open it up for rowers to sign up for the second hour as space permits. Cost to participate is $20 – a link will be sent for payment closer to the date. Sign Up here: Maverick Rowing Sign Up Genius

                              Check out photos of the Jan 18 event here: Pre-Season Photos.

                              7. *UPDATED* LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
                              We highly recommend you jump into volunteering early as it makes it easier to meet your volunteer requirements for the season and gives new families the opportunity to meet returning families! The team tracks participation by assigning “credits” each time a family or athlete volunteers. Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. If you want to learn more about volunteering with Woodson Rowing, please visit our website at: www.woodsonrowing.org/volunteering.

                              A. CRITICAL NEED FOR A TEAM COORDINATOR
                              We are looking for someone to fulfill the role of Carpool Coordinator. If the new poll indicates that a practice bus might be possible, this person would be responsible for helping to coordinate the chaperoning process for the practice bus. So no matter what – we need you now!! Generally speaking, if you are somewhat organized this is a great role for you to earn your team volunteer credits at your own pace. Please contact Maz at [email protected] if you are interested in fulfilling this role.

                                B. BOATHOUSE WORK DAY / GREEN DAY, FEB 8
                                We will also have a boathouse workday/green day on Saturday, February 8. Some parent volunteers are needed and athletes should sign up to help/get on the water! Athletes who want to participate in the Green Day portion of this work day should have already completed a swim test. Sign up here: Feb 8 Workday/Green Day.

                                  C. *NEW* VASRA WORKDAYS: 2/22, 3/01, 3/08, 3/15
                                  Please review the sign up genius and sign up for slots based on your availability. You should be willing to get dirty and wet – but no experience required. Don’t forget to indicate that you are representing the Woodson Rowing team. Note: Athletes are encouraged to sign up for these workdays. You will receive school volunteering credits for participating! Remember, as a team, each family should strive to complete AT LEAST one VASRA shift per season (you might find you do more because they can be really fun and informative). Get started now!

                                    D. CHUCKWAGON WORKDAY, MAR 8
                                    The Chuckwagon is an important part of uplifting the morale of the team. We will be doing a pre-season inventory and cleaning on Saturday, March 8 before we race off into the season. Sign up here: Chuckwagon Workday

                                      E. *NEW* FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS ARE COMING BACK!
                                      The team enjoys pre-regatta dinners each Friday night during the season. This season, we will be holding all of our dinners at the Woodson high School Cafeteria. We need parents to help with picking up a meal order, setting up/serving dinner & cleaning up. This is a great time to see the camaraderie of our team grow! Sign up here: Friday Night Dinner Volunteering

                                      8. PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE WE GO ON-THE-WATER
                                      f you haven’t yet, please register now! Review the registration portion of the website to learn more. Still have questions? Reach out to our membership team at [email protected].

                                        9. CHIPOTLE RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER
                                        Chipotle restaurant fundraiser on Wednesday, Feb 5 between 4-8p!! Order your dinner online or in-person to benefit the team! Show this flyer or use the code KVTT7ZJ to order online for pick-up.


                                        10. 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/

                                        Graphics of our various schedules can be found at the links below:
                                        Winter Conditioning (October through February)
                                        On-The-Water Practice (late February through May)
                                        2025 Regatta Schedule (March through May)

                                        Other important dates: 

                                        FEBRUARY:

                                        MARCH:

                                        APRIL

                                        MAY

                                        WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

                                        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!

                                        FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

                                        Posted on

                                        January 28, 2025 Uniform Store

                                        DEADLINE TO ORDER UNIFORMS EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, JAN 31.

                                        Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

                                        This year’s uniform is consistent with prior years, so it is not a requirement to purchase a new uniform if your athlete already has one. New athletes MUST purchase a new uniform by this Friday. If cost is an issue, please contact our Sportswear Chair, Cheryl Urban at [email protected] or via Slack.

                                        Early in the season the “uniform rule” may be waived for weather, but for the most part all athletes in a boat must have on the same uniform. Therefore, it is critical that the uniforms be purchased now as they are made to order.

                                        Samples have been made available for students to try on during conditioning hours, so talk to your athlete about sizing. The uniform sizes do tend to run small, so please order up a size if your athletes did not get the chance to try one on.

                                        Find links and all the information you need to order uniforms or training items on our website: Uniform Store Info.

                                        Direct all questions to Cheryl Urban, Sportswear Chair at [email protected] or via Slack. Thank you!