OAR in the Community

OAR and its members give back to the community by donating their time, energy, expertise, and resources - supporting physical fitness, and access to on-water recreation opportunities in the area.

Please reach out if you would like to partner with us.

ERG ED®

ERG ED® is an program that introduces young people to the sport of rowing through classroom-based rowing (using Concept2 rowing machines) in Physical Education classes. It's part of a national initiative by the George Pocock Rowing Foundation to make rowing more accessible. OAR volunteer Jim Bertollini leads the ERG ED® program - teaching rowing technique to PE teachers in local school districts so they can pass skills along to Middle and High School students across South Puget Sound. Contact Coach.Jim@OlympiaAreaRowing.org if you would like additional details.

Community Dock

OAR proudly maintains two low-profile docks, moored to the North and South sides of the breakwater at Swantown Marina. Designed specifically for launching human-powered watercraft of all types—kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and rowing shells—this dock provides safe, year-round access to the water for the entire community*.

OAR pays for moorage and take on all maintenance responsibilities to ensure it remains clean, secure, and accessible. As a community-supported effort, we welcome donations to help us sustain and improve this shared resource.

Our dock is located on the breakwater at the North end of Swantown Marina. Please use common sense and use USCG Approved Personal Floatation devices when using the dock.

* OAR members and programs have priority use of the docks

JBLM Partnership

One of Olympia Area Rowing’s standout initiatives has been a series of collaborative events with the Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) military community. In 2022 and 2023, JBLM leadership teams joined OAR for a full-day, hands-on introduction to the sport.

Participants spend the day immersed in every facet of rowing—from technique and teamwork to the rhythm of the boat itself. By the end, they gained not only an appreciation for the sport, but also fresh perspectives on leadership, communication, and camaraderie.

Read more about this partnership on ThurstonTalk.

National Learn to Row Day

Each year, OAR offers free Learn to Row sessions to youth and adults on US Rowing's National Learn to Row Day. Sign up for our Newsletter for updates and schedules.

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