Reach Out And Row

Dates/Times

ROAR Open House-Friday May 30, 4-6pm

You are invited to come see the ROAR rowers in action.  Meet rowers and coaches.  See rowing shells up close!  Directions

What is Reach Out And Row?

The purpose of the Reach Out And Row (ROAR) Program is to present the benefits of rowing and provide youth development activities to the diverse population in our local community.  The NRRA is the only rowing club in Fairfield County to provide rowing programs for at-risk youth at low or no-cost to participants. 

Why rowing?

Athletes from all income brackets have the opportunity to experience the intrinsic benefits of rowing, such as:

• teamwork

• goal setting

• physical fitness

• discipline

• self respect

• respect for others

• respect for the environment

Who are the participants?

ROAR currently provides enrichment programs to students through the following local organizations:

• Family and Children’s Agency (FCA)

• Horizon’s Student Enrichment Program

• Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. (NEON)

• Norwalk Housing Authority

• Norwalk YMCA

• Side-by-Side Community Charter School

Does Norwalk really need outreach programs?

According to social researcher Mary H. Shann, after school hours are when students are most likely to spend time unsupervised, participate in risk-taking behaviors, and be the perpetrators or victims of crime or abuse.  In her 2001 study “Students’ Use of Time Outside of School:  A Case for After School Programs for Urban Middle School Youth,” Shann found that less than 14% of economically disadvantaged youth have the opportunity to participate in after school programs or lessons, although nearly one third report watching TV or playing video games for four or more hours per day.

In Norwalk, nearly one third (31%) of public school students are considered economically disadvantaged.  Of the students in the Norwalk Public School District, only 14.5% of the total student population opportunity to participate in after school programs sponsored by the Norwalk After School Alliance. Many of the students who do participate are attending at-cost childcare programs.  This leaves a considerable portion of the at-risk teenage population under served, as the after school programs in our area do not have the capacity to provide services.  As a member of the Norwalk After School Alliance, ROAR looks to fill the need of after school programming in our community.

Is ROAR successful?

The ROAR program directly affects the lives of those who have the opportunity to participate as they develop physically, socially, academically and emotionally.  Dan Pierce, a 2006 graduate of NRRA’s Youth Racing Team, first got his start as a member of ROAR.  When asked how he decided to stay involved in rowing, he replied, “There just wasn’t any sport like it.”  While Dan considered playing hockey or football, rowing offered a different kind of team, which impressed him. 

Through his strong start in ROAR, Dan went on to join the racing team, serving as captain his senior year.  Dan credits his academic performance to his participation in the sport; the dedication and leadership skills he developed as a rower easily transferred to class work.  While Dan always knew he wanted to go to college, he never expected that he would receive an athletic scholarship to do so.  Following offers from Cornell, Wesleyan, and Trinity Universities, among others, Dan chose Washington College to continue his academic career and row on the Varsity Men’s Team as a freshman.  This fall Dan returned to his team, where he has stroked his collegiate boat, while pursuing a degree in Business Management with a minor in Economics.

While Dan’s story is impressive, it is not unique.  His progression from novice ROAR rower to college recruit is one example of what rowers have done since ROAR was founded. ROAR athletes have seen their concept of “college” go from being something meant for “other people” to a reality now open to them by virtue of ROAR and the massive influx of scholarship funding that has become available to the sport of rowing.  Now is the time to restructure the ROAR program in order to ensure that more students like Dan have the opportunity to pursue rowing, develop solid goals, and gain the exposure to valuable life lessons.