Green Days & More!

Thanks to those of you that attended the parent interest meeting yesterday. If there is interest in having another meeting (since sometimes its just easier to talk things out in person), please contact us at [email protected] or reach out on Slack!

Curious or have time on your hands? You can always find the newsletter archives on our website.

1. TONIGHT! THERE’S STILL TIME! NOODLES & CO, 4-8PM
2. REGISTRATION OPENS 10/1 – GET FORMS DONE NOW!
A. ALL ATHLETES (new AND returning)
B. NEW TO ROWING ATHLETES: SWIM TEST REQ’D
3. EARLY MORNING WEIGHT LIFTING TIME CHANGE
4. GREEN DAYS ONGOING
5. PARENT INFO SESSION SLIDES
6. WOODSON ATHLETIC BOOSTER GOLF TOURNAMENT, MON 9/22
7. NEXT ATHLETE INFORMATION SESSION, MON 9/29
8. UNIQUE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY, SUN 10/5
9. RENTAL ERG RETURN, SAT 10/18
10. SIGN UP FOR TAG DAY, SAT 10/25
11. WE NEED HELP FOR THE 32nd ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, SAT 11/1
12. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
13. BOARD AND CHAIRPERSON POSITIONS AVAILABLE
A. BOARD SECRETARY
B. CRAFT SHOW CHAIR
14. SCHOLARSHIP FUND
15. CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

WAIT – THERE’S MORE?

ACTION ITEMS

1. NEW ATHLETES: Swim test on Saturday. Sign up and more info: HERE
2. ALL ATHLETES: let the coaches know you’re coming by signing for Green Days
3. PARENTS & ATHLETES: Review volunteer opportunities and sign up now! https://woodsonrowing.org/volunteering/
   

1. TONIGHT! THERE’S STILL TIME! NOODLES & CO, 4-8PM
What’s for dinner?! Set up your order online as you’re coming home from Green Days (or just stop by on your way back home). No need to plan, shop or cook! Visit or order from Noodles & Company, 10296 Main Street between 4-8p. Benefit the team with your purchase AND be your family’s hero. Valid for pickup and in-restaurant. Please mention you are supporting the fundraiser or use “GIVING25” in the Coupon Code line at online checkout or via the Noodles Rewards app.

2. REGISTRATION OPENS 10/1 – GET FORMS DONE NOW!
There are a lot of steps that athletes need to take to participate in sports at Woodson. We know. In an attempt to clear up any confusion, here is a short primer. Follow the directions below and you’ll be set up for success. All of the below can be done BEFORE registration with the team, which will open October 1, 2025.

A. ALL ATHLETES (new AND returning)
Whether this is your first time doing athletics with Woodson or your 4th year, you must have the following on file BEFORE you’re allowed to participate in any activity with the team:

• A valid sports physical on file with the Woodson athletic trainers. Instructions for filing HERE.
• Fill out the Woodson Athletics registration. Once you create an account and/or log in, scroll down to the bottom of the sports list and locate “FCPS Physical Activities Crew – Crew Boys (spring)” or FCPS Physical Activities Crew – Crew Girls (spring)” and select the appropriate category. Then follow the instructions to fill out the remainder of the form.
• Fill out the THREE (3) forms under the “FCPS Transportation Forms” header on the Woodson Rowing website HERE. Submit those forms to our Membership Chair.

B. NEW TO ROWING: SWIM TEST REQ’D
Whether you have participated in another sport at Woodson or not, rowing athletes MUST complete a swim test certified by a Woodson Rowing Coach. 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. Doing this test earlier rather than later allows athletes to spend the most time possible on-the-water with the team.

The next swim test will be held at Providence Rec Center, 7525 Marc Drive, Falls Church, VA on Saturday, 9/20 from 1-2p. Please sign up here: Fall Swim Test.

If you are NOT able to attend this swim test, please send an email to [email protected] so that we know whether we need to hold another swim test during green days. Otherwise, we will hold another test closer to on-the-water practice in February.

3. EARLY MORNING WEIGHT LIFTING TIME CHANGE
The coaches are holding early morning lifting sessions at Woodson on Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30a. This is a 15 minute later start time. All athletes participating in early morning lift sessions MUST have a valid sports physical on file PRIOR to participation.

4. GREEN DAYS ONGOING
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. This is true especially if you are new to rowing because it is a sport unlike any other. For more information, visit our Green Days FAQ.

Green days began this week and we’ve already had boats out on the water! Sign up to attend on 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.

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.

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.

5. PARENT INFO SESSION SLIDES
We had a productive information session for returning and new parents and athletes on Wednesday. If you could not attend or want to look over the materials at your own pace, check out the slide deck here.

6. 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.

7. NEXT ATHLETE INFORMATION SESSION, MON 9/29
Coach Bryan Tylander held an information session for new athletes at Woodson on  9/10 after school. If you’re a prospective athlete and you missed it, NO WORRIES! Track down Coach in his classroom (B109) or come to the NEXT meeting on Monday, September 29 in room B109.

8. UNIQUE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY, SUN 10/5
The Prince William Crew Association (PWCA) is hosting The Occoquan Challenge and the Regatta is still in need of support to ensure it is run efficiently and safely. The Regatta will make a donation, in the volunteer’s name, to the organization of your choice in the amount of $50 – $100, depending on the position filled. Please indicate in the comments if you would like the donation to go to Woodson Rowing or the PWCA Scholarship Fund. Sign up HERE.

9. RENTAL ERG RETURN, SAT 10/18
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.

10. SIGN UP FOR TAG DAY, SAT 10/25
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 (we are still working with the administration to secure our second day). 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.

11. WE NEED HELP FOR THE 32nd ANNUAL CRAFT SHOW, SAT 11/1
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! We have already secured all of our vendors for this prestigious event, so now it comes down to getting the help we need to pull it off. Please sign up to volunteer HERE.

ALSO, as noted below, we are actively seeking someone to shadow our current craft show coordinator, Gail Lee, because her athlete will be graduating this year. This position directly supports our fundraising efforts and has been a major part of our team’s community representation for decades. Please reach out to Gail via Slack for info.

12. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS AND 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. The team tracks participation by assigning “credits” each time a family or athlete volunteers. One shift (regardless of the duration of the shift) = one credit.

Each family is required to do 5 volunteer shifts/credits (e.g., a Fri night dinner, boathouse workday, football concessions, tag day, craft fair, etc.), at least one of which should be a VASRA task (e.g. one of the jobs at the regattas or one of the VASRA workdays).

Athletes are also expected to volunteer as their schedule and studies allow.

Failure to meet your volunteer credits by the end of the season will result in a $200 per credit charge. Questions about the status of your family’s fulfillment of volunteer requirements should be sent to our Volunteer Coordinator.

VOLUNTEER NOW BY CHECKING OUT OPPORTUNITIES HERE: https://woodsonrowing.org/volunteering/

13. BOARD AND CHAIRPERSON POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Serving on the Board of Directors for the Woodson Rowing team is fulfilling. Our all volunteer board and chairpersons are critical for the success of our team! Volunteering for a board position means all of your volunteer credits are covered for the season AND you’ll play a vital role in the smooth operation of the team.

We are currently looking for people to fill TWO (2) CRITICAL ROLES:

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. If you are interested or have questions about the position, please contact Tim Schnelle or Andi Knopp via Slack or email.

B. CRAFT SHOW CHAIR
We are seeking someone to shadow Gail Lee for our MAJOR FUNDRAISER, the Woodson Craft Show. Unfortunately, Gail’s athlete will be graduating this year so we are looking for a new Craft Show Chair. This position directly supports our fundraising efforts and has been a major part of our team’s community representation for decades. Please reach out to Gail via Slack for info.

14. SCHOLARSHIP FUND
If you’re already thinking about the financial output that comes with participating in a high school sport, consider applying for the Occoquan Boat Club (OBC) Julia Shew Memorial Rowing Scholarship. Scholarships up to $1000 are available to eligible athletes. Details can be found here: https://www.rowobc.org/home/scholarships.

15. 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. Check out and subscribe to our online calendar here: https://woodsonrowing.org/calendar/

SEPTEMBER:
Green Days T, W, Th through Oct 23
Thu, 9/18: Noodles & Co. restaurant fundraiser, 4-8p
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!

STAY UP TO DATE: Join the newsletter by sending an email to [email protected] or view the newsletter archives on our website.

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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