Caloosa Coast Rowing Club pairs with The Big Calusa event
The Caloosa Coast Rowing Club is pairing up with The Big Calusa event to showcase a free introduction to rowing at Cape Harbour.
The “Experience Rowing” event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. next Saturday, April 27, at Cape Harbour, the southernmost point of Chiquita Blvd. in Cape Coral. Those 13 years old and older are invited to attend. The mini classes are for beginners and no experience is necessary.
Caloosa Coast Rowing Club Vice President Len Cardone said he is involved with the Caloosa Waterkeeper and thought The Great Calusa was a great week long event.
The Big Calusa kicks off on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Millennial Brewing Company in Fort Myers. The event includes a week-long clean-up through April 28, as well as a Calusa Culture Night on Wednesday, April 24, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers. The event also includes the Big Calusa Day Saturday, April 27, at North Shore Park in North Fort Myers and concludes with Big Calusa Awards Ceremony from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28.
For complete details, visit www.calusawaterkeeper.org/bigcalusa.
“They are trying to present a positive view about the river,” he said. “We want people to start thinking this is a fun river and let’s fall in love with it. We wanted to do something to call people to the river.”
The “Experiencing Rowing” event will include about 10 to 15 minutes of practice on a rowing machine to show what techniques to use when out on the water. After the practice, participants will head down to the water and climb into a boat for a 10 minute, half a mile, row.
“They get to see the racing boats up close. The goal is hopefully to get people interested in learning it,” Cardone said.
If an interest is sparked, individuals will have the opportunity to take a Master’s Adult Learn to Row class, which is a six- session class that spans across three weeks. One will be held Monday and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting May 13 and the other will be held Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 9 a.m. starting May 11.
“The people who take a class get a free membership for a month after doing it. We invite them out and slowly work with them into the club,” he said.
The Caloosa Coast Rowing Club rows out of Cape Harbour and includes a master’s program, as well as a scholastic program, middle and high school kids, featuring 10 kids rowing and competing throughout the state of Florida.
In addition to rowing, the club also socializes quite a bit. For example they are holding an Easter Egg hunt, which includes the Easter Bunny hiding eggs down the canals.
“In addition, we are going to be doing a canal cleanup as we gather Easter eggs. We are going to pick up trash. We are going to row with our bags,” Cardone said.
There are currently 30 to 40 club members ranging in age from 30 to their 70s. He said staying active and weight loss motivates a lot of people to join the club.
“It’s a great way to meet people. A great way to enjoy the outdoors. We are very spoiled. Most of the world would love to be able to participate in this sport year round and we can. We have much calmer water. It’s the world’s best place to row,” he said.