Camp Randall Rowing Club, Inc

If you have a general question about the Club, use our contact page. For questions about the WeCanRow Program, contact Mary McNicholas, WCR Manager at mcnicholasmary58@gmail.com.

WCR is a rowing program offered by Camp Randall Rowing Club (CRRC) and is specifically designed for female cancer survivors. WCR begins where surgery and physical therapy ends by providing physical exercise, self-image enhancement, group support and a team-building approach for women transitioning from being cancer patients to survivors.

The WCR season begins the first of April and continues through October. The sessions are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 PM to 8 PM at the beautifully renovated Brittingham Boathouse, located at 601 North Shore Drive in Madison, on Lake Monona across from the offices of J. H. Findorff & Sons, Inc. There is a parking lot next to the boathouse but because the lot is small, we encourage WCR participants to carpool. Also, a bicycle path passes the boathouse and there are four bicycle racks available.

WCR is designed for women cancer survivors, regardless of physical conditioning. So don't worry; we begin very slowly to make certain that everyone is able to fully participate. In fact, many WCR participants never took part in any athletic activities before starting to row as adults. WCR practices focus on basic rowing skills, rowing terms and teamwork, with an emphasis on learning how to row as a crew. Participants develop knowledge about rowing and build confidence in their abilities. As a result, many participants form strong friendships from the shared experience. Rowing is great fun!

In April and July, Camp Randall Rowing Club hosts kickoff events for WCR at the Brittingham Boathouse (Specific dates and times TBA). 

The WCR staff and WCR particpants will be on hand to answer questions. Refreshments will be served. Please join us for a tour of the boathouse and meet the WCR staff.

If you have not already mailed the information to us, please bring all materials mentioned on the "WeCanRow Check List" At the first practice you will:

• Meet with a UW Physical Therapist to review your PT Assessment. The PT will ask about surgeries and  treatment, and assess your range of motion and strength. We want to make certain that everyone will have an opportunity to fully participate with the program and the PT assessment will help the coaching staff individualize the program to meet your needs.
• Meet with the coaching staff and discuss any physical limitations they should know about based on the PT Assessment.
• Learn the nomenclature of rowing and how to safely move equipment from boathouse to water and back.
• Learn the essentials of rowing through land training with stability balls, lightweight medicine balls, resistance bands, on ergs (rowing machines) and through on-the water training on Lake Monona Bay.
• Row in the training barge with experienced rowers and other new WCR members, whom will help you and cheer you on!
• Participate in warm-ups, stretching, and general strength conditioning; coaches will monitor your efforts and check in with you regarding your progress.
• Be prepared to have the time of your life! Although challenging for first time rowers, rowing is fun! So relax and enjoy the beautiful lake and the camaraderie of the other women.

During the rowing season (April throught October), WCR meets every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The fee for the April -- October WeCanRow season is $400. For rowers joining the WeCanRow program after July 1, the fee is $200 for the remainder of the season. Most health insurance policies provide wellness incentive reimbursements and WCR qualifies for this benefit. If you have special financial needs, please review the CRRC Scholarships FAQ and the Scholarship Request Form. Note that CRRC offers scholarships to WCR participants on a financial need basis.

Athletic gear is all that is required, so long as it is not too baggy. Baggy clothing can get caught in the movable seats of both rowing shells and the ergs. T-shirts or tank tops and shorts, especially biking style shorts work well. Please wear gym shoes with socks, not sandals. A cap, sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended. Bring a water bottle. Of course, clothing needs change with the seasons.

Please note that the Brittingham Boathouse does not have a locker room or facilities to lock your valuables; therefore, participants should not bring valuables to the boathouse and should come dressed to row.

The WCR coaching staff members are former collegiate athletes, with experience as both rowers and coaches, who have a vested interest in working with women transitioning from being cancer patients to survivors.

We are serious about safety and strictly adhere to the safety regulations established by our sport’s governing body, the USRowing Association. We row rain or shine, as long as there is no danger of lightning and the winds are reasonably light. If storms do occur, the camp can easily move indoors at the Brittingham Boathouse for continued training on ergs.

You need to speak with your doctor about your individual situation. We are happy to hear that Dr. Carolyn ' Kaelin, a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, is studying female cancer ' survivors who row. A report about Dr. Kaelin’s medical practice says, "...Yet even though rowing is a rigorous, repetitious, and demanding arm exercise, none of the rowers in Dr. Kaelin's practice has lymphedema. The theory is that paced activity to build up arm strength and gradually stressed the lymphatics widens the remaining channels to accommodate the increased flow of lymph fluid." The National Lymphoma Network (NFN) reports that the majority of individuals with lymphoma can safely perform aerobic and resistive exercise using the affected parts of the body when compression garments are worn, the affected body part is not exercised to fatigue and appropriate modifications are adopted to prevent trauma and over use. The NFN also says that the majority of individuals who are at risk for lymphedema can safely perform aerobic and resistive exercises using the "at risk" part of the body when exercises are initiated at low intensity and increased gradually. In any event, if you have concerns about this issue, you should review them with your physician.

In addition to the advice from other WCR programs, we also solicited input from the local medical community and from local cancer survivor support groups. Our WCR program is a result of this collaborative effort and is designed to provide all participants with a safe and rewarding experience. Completion of the forms listed on the WeCanRow Checklist is the first step to becoming involved as a WCR participant.

The following is a brief description of the forms:

• CRRC Registration Form: This is the universal CRRC registration form used for all CRRC rowing programs.
• CRRC Emergency Contact Information Form: Because the WCR program involves rowing on Lake Monona, our coaches need to know if participants have any special medical conditions, i.e., allergies, limitations, etc., that require particular attention. Copies of participants' emergency contact forms are maintained by the WCR coaching staff and are readily accessible in the event of an emergency.
• Medical Release Form: All of our WCR participants are cancer survivors. This form will indicate if there any physical disorders or health restrictions that might adversely affect your ability to row. This information will help our staff tailor the WCR program to address your individual needs or restrictions, while keeping your safety and comfort in mind.
• Physical Therapy Assessment Form: Developed by the UW Physical Therapy Department, this form will help identify specific range of motion limitations that may result from cancer surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Participants currently in physical therapy should have your own personal physical therapist complete this form. For others, UW Physical Therapy Department staff will conduct assessments during the first week of practice at the Brittingham Boathouse. The assessment is designed to identify your specific needs for stretching, warm-up and strengthening. All participants will be provided with a set of home exercises that address their individual range of motion issues. Also, the PT assessment will help the WCR coaching staff develop individualized stretching, warm-up and strengthening programs for each of the WCR participants.
• Swim Test Form: Rowing is a water sport and we are always concerned about our member’s safety.
  Each of our training launches is equipped with life jackets, space blankets and first-aid kits. Also, each of the oars is a certified flotation device. Nevertheless, in the event of an accident on the water, participants need to possess a rudimentary ability to swim. Also, many of the cancer therapies adversely affect range of motion and upper body strength. The swim test allows us to identify the swimming skills of our WCR participants. We recommend that WCR participants unable to successfully complete the minimum requirements of the swim test should wear a life jacket on the water. We do also provide life jackets for any WCR participants wishing to wear them on the water. During the first week of practice, the WCR staff will review the swim tests. For the women who do not have access to a pool facility or who were unable to complete the swim, we will make arrangements for completion of the tests. The YMCA of Dane County agreed to open its pool to provide swim tests for our participants at the West- side facility.
• USRowing-Waiver: CRRC is a member of the USRowing Association. All participants in rowing activities of USRowing Association affiliates are required to sign an USRowing waiver.

Sure - let's get started!

1. First, schedule a physical exam and ask your physician or physician’s assistant to complete the Medical Release Form.
2. Next, if you belong to a swim or health club, you should complete the Swim Test Form.
3. Third, if you are currently under the care of a physical therapist, ask the physical therapist to complete the Physical Therapy Assessment Form.
4. Finally, complete the CRRC Registration Form, CRRC Emergency Contact Form, and USRowing Waiver and send everything to CRRC at the address listed below, along with your check for the registration fee.

Camp Randall Rowing Club, Inc.
c/o Steven Schaefer, President
15 N. Butler St., Suite 404
Madison, Wisconsin 53703

Once we have this – you are registered!
If you are unable to do these things before the first rowing practice, don’t worry. Bring all of your forms along to the first session and we will make arrangements to help you.