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Mission

Inspiring Young People to Push Their Limits, Expand Their Opportunities, and Become Healthy and Engaged Members of Their Communities

In the sport of rowing, the City of Seattle has always been a trend setter.  In the 1980s, Seattle Parks and Recreation begun two of the country’s first public rowing teams not affiliated with particular schools—one of them at the Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center. Shortly thereafter, a coalition of Seattle rowers created the Pocock Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to developing, funding, and delivering innovative programs designed to increase access for everyone in the Northwest to the sport of rowing.

Uniting the Pocock Foundation’s experience in building access-based programs with the Mt. Baker Boating Advisory Council and Seattle Parks and Recreation’s experience implementing programs in South Seattle, Rainier Valley Rowing aims to pave the way for a new generation of aquatics programs: one where all of Seattle’s young people see these recreational resources as their own.

RVR's goals are lofty. Programatically, RVR aims to overcome obstacles many of our neighbors have to accessing rowing: cost, water comfort and swimming ability, transportation, clothing, and perhaps most crucially, facilities that promote a culture of inclusivity. The end goals for participants are increased opportunities and overall health, participation in a positive peer community, and the development of healthy relationships with their bodies.

WHY ROWING?

Rowing is an effective vehicle for learning life skills such as self-reliance, team work, leadership, communication and trying new things.

With new evidence that childhood health is largely connected to family income and even zip code, it is imperative that our community make existing recreational resources such as pools and boathouses and lifetime sports such as crew accessible to all of Seattle’s citizens.

Rowing creates opportunities for individuals to feel a necessary part of something larger. Experience being an integral part of a team and a community is the first step toward inspiring hopeful individuals and dedicated citizens.

 Inspiring Young People to Push Their Limits, Expand Their Opportunities, and Become Healthy and Engaged Members of Their Communities