Friends of Detroit Rowing

Friends of Detroit Rowing (FODR, est. 1972) is dedicated to the education and promotion of rowing in the Detroit Metropolitan community and the sponsor of the Detroit Boat Club Crew, a nationally ranked crew and one of the oldest (est. 1839) rowing programs in North America. 

We provide competitive and recreational activities for people of all ages and abilities - from beginner Learn to Row classes, to Veterans and adaptive rowing programs, to Competitive Racing programs in which participants, from Juniors to Masters, travel across the United States, and internationally, to compete. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a USRowing sponsored STEM rowing class aligning rowing principles with kinesiology and physics. FODR is working to activate the Northern Shoreline of Belle Isle as a hub of activity for watersports and recreation from the bridge to the beach, transforming public access to the Detroit River while increasing access to rowing programs for Detroiters of all ages. 

FODR trains thousands of people of all ages and abilities to row, instills in them the finest qualities of teamwork and leadership, provides athletes opportunities to compete around the globe, and helps our youth find pathways to higher education. 

According to the NCAA, educational outcomes for high school rowers who compete in college are significantly higher than the national average of 7% for nearly all other sports. In Rowing, nearly 17% of women and 10% of men go on to compete in college. These rates are even higher for Detroit Boat Club Crew athletes with more than 90% moving on to compete in college since 2001 - many with scholarships, sports-related financial aid, or admission assistance.

Despite these impressive numbers, Detroit residents are chronically underrepresented due to a lack of experience with water sports. According to the Detroit YMCA, 7 out of 10 Detroit children do not know how to swim. FODR is actively seeking to strategically recruit and fund Detroit middle and high school students to participate in a wide range of year-round rowing activities as well as access to exceptional college readiness, recruitment opportunities and swim programs.