Yale Community Rowing in Derby

Visit the official Yale Community Rowing website by clicking here.

Mayors Staffieri and Lauretti surround Jamie Snaider and Barbara Chesler of Yale at the Gilder Boar House.

Photo by Fred Ortoli

Yale University celebrated 10 years of its Community Rowing Program with a day full of activities at the Gilder Boat House in Derby on Friday, July 18, 2008. During the summer the program is held at the Gilder Boat House in Derby. During the winter months, activities are held at Yale.

The program has been a success since the very beginning and provides an opportunity for people in the Valley and Greater New Haven to learn the sport. There are several former participants now rowing in college. For the full history of the program, check the Yale University site by clicking here.

July 8, 2005 - Two new shells dedicated

Hundreds of children and adults add rowing to their recreational experiences every year thanks to the Yale Community Rowing Program which conducts its community rowing program at the beautiful Gilder Boat House on the Housatonic River in Derby. The Yale staff under the capable direction of Jamie Snider conducts sessions for younger children, high school aged youth and even a special program for adults.

Gilder Boat House

The special programs introduced participants to the sport of rowing through the use of land based ergometers before advancing to specially constructed training barges and graduating to racing shells including the recently dedicated Hazel Knapp. On the last day of instruction, participants even had the opportunity to race the shells against each other.

Training Barge

The key to the success of the program was the excellent staff that Jamie Snider recruited. Instructors and lifeguards were recruited from all over the country including the Valley. Their warm, friendly manner and skilled instruction turned nervous neophytes into enthusiastic rowers in no time.

Staff

Adult "Campers" - click on images for larger pictures.

During the course of the summer, the Community Rowing Program worked with several Valley groups including the Recreation Camp, the Lower Naugatuck Valley Boys & Girls Club and the Recreation Departments in the towns.