July 21, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State rowing program will open its boathouse doors to nearly 200 Lansing-area children for a week-long program that gives children ages 8-14 a chance to learn about the sport. The camp, now in its fifth season, runs from July 22-24; groups of 30-50 children will receive basic rowing instructions, experience a workout on a rowing machine, and spend 30 minutes rowing on the Grand River. The campers are members of a program put on by the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department throughout the summer.

The week-long program is put on by rowing head coach Matt Weise, assistant coaches Stacey Rippetoe and Christiina Tymoszewicz and rigger Ed Gunter along with members of the Big Ten Champion Spartan squad.

Michigan State rowers will coach the children in the specially- constructed barge, made by connecting two eight-person shells with a board stretched between them, making the boat more stable and providing a place for the Spartan instructors to be readily able to help the students. The youngsters also will also compete in head-to-head races and games of Simon Says on the rowing machines to help them remember the more technical side of rowing. The children will also see clips of Spartan rowers in action this past season.