How to Join

Membership in the Chicago River Rowing & Paddling Center is open to experienced paddlers (canoeists and kayakers) and rowers (scullers).

For persons with prior paddling or rowing experience, the first step in joining CRRPC is submitting the appropriate membership request form to CRRPC (see below for detail and forms).

Upon receipt of the application request form, CRRPC will evaluate the prospective member’s equipment storage needs (if any) and skill level. CRRPC will then provide a response concerning the availability of equipment storage space and whether or not additional skills training will be needed before joining CRRPC.

If additional training is needed to qualify for membership, CRRPC will state whether it or another source can provide the type and amount of training required.

If CRRPC can meet the prospective member’s equipment storage needs and no additional training is needed to qualify for membership, CRRPC will send the prospective member a membership application. As soon as the prospective member returns the membership application and fee to CRRPC, a membership orientation and certification session will be scheduled.

 

Paddling Membership

CRRPC paddling members enjoy canoeing and kayaking on both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. A short hop from the CRRPC dock to the Lock at the mouth of the River gets our paddlers on Lake Michigan in no time.

Paddling memberships are open to experienced canoeists and kayakers who own their own equipment (canoes, kayaks and paddles) which may be stored at the Boating Center (on a space-available basis) as part of the annual membership. CRRPC does not provide club-owned paddling equipment for the use of its paddling members.

CRRPC does not currently provide instruction for beginning paddlers (canoeists and kayakers), but can provide guidance concerning where prospective paddling members can obtain the necessary training.

Rowing Membership

CRRPC rowing members enjoy endless miles of flat water for both general fitness and training for competition. Athletes from all over the U.S. and around the world come to row at CRRPC as our guests, and marvel at finding such access for human-powered craft in the downtown heart of an international city.

Rowing membership is open to experienced scullers, regardless of whether or not they own their own rowing shell. Rowing equipment (shell and oars) owned by members may be stored at the Boating Center (on a space-available basis) as part of the annual membership. All rowing members may also utilize club-owned sculling boats: singles, doubles and quads. Because CRRPC is a sculling-only rowing facility, it does not provide or store any sweep rowing equipment for the use of its members.

Prospective members having no prior rowing experience, or only some sweep rowing but no sculling experience, or very limited sculling experience, will be required to take Learn-To-Row classes in order to be eligible for membership in CRRPC.

From time to time CRRPC provides Learn-To-Row Classes for beginning rowers. Persons with no prior rowing experience are directed to the Upcoming Events Calendar for announcements, class schedules, and instructions concerning how to register for Learn-To-Row program events and classes.