Beginner Team 2026/27 Season Info

Fall Season 2026

• Dates: September 8-October 31

• Practice days/times: 

  • Tues/Thurs: 5:15-7:00p

  • Sat: 9-10:30a

• Locations:

Sweeps & Sculls Boatyard on the Lower Fox River

1317 Behan Road

Crystal Lake, IL

Sweeps & Sculls Indoor Rowing Center

4410 Route 176

Unit #14

Crystal Lake, IL

• Fees: $500

Fees include 1 regatta (race), Wisco Chase Regatta in Jefferson, Wi. 

We will be on the water at the Boatyard location unless otherwise indicated. There could be several reasons that we would move practice indoors. We will communicate practice information such as lineups, practice changes, etc. in a group texting app called GroupMe. Please see information below for information and links to join.

Fall Season Dates to Know

• Thurs, Sept 10 (during practice time) - PICTURE DAY (Arrive 15 minutes early for practice wearing team gear) (Rain Date: Thurs, Sept 17)

• Sun, Sept 27 (9a-Noon) - Friends & Family Day (Learn to Row Center at McCullom Lake) (no rain date for this event - if the weather does not cooperate, we will either shorten or cancel the event)
  This is an event we do every other year that allows parents, siblings, partners and other family and friends of our rowers to come out and experience what our rowers experience. This is a fun event where rowers get to share their sport. We will get friends and family that are 10 and older out in boats, have erg races, dryland rowing stations where rowers can teach their friends and family what they know, and a boat where kids younger than 10 sit in a boat and try the oar. **Beginner Parents - this is a chance for you to learn regatta setup and cooking with some of our experienced parents. AT LEAST ONE BEGINNER PARENT SHOULD PLAN TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.
  Sign up in iCrew, but also please fill out this form to sign up for a rowing time >>

• Thurs, Oct 1 (during practice time - practice will likely run late this evening) - Boat loading for Wisco Chase (Beginners will be helping)

• Sun, Oct 4 (all day) - WISCO Chase Regatta (Jefferson, WI) (Beginner Regatta Option)

• Saturday, Oct 31 (during practice time) - Costume Row and Fall Fun Awards (at the Boatyard on the Lower Fox River - weather permitting)
  Becuase Halloween falls on a Saturday, we will do a costume row during our regular practice time, followed by handing out our Fall Fun Awards. If the weather does not cooperate, we will move to the Indoor Rowing Center, shorten the time and just hand out the Fall Fun Awards.

Fall Regatta Opportunity:

Wisco Chase Regatta

Jefferson, WI

Sunday, October 5 (all day)

Boat loading on Thursday, October 2 at practice

Boat unloading on Sunday, October 5 at the Boatyard after the regatta

Regatta Information:

Wisco Chase is a fantastic opportunity for our new rowers to experience a regatta. We will make boats that are appropriate for rowers based on skill level and what other rowers are attending. It is important that you mark your attendance for this regatta as soon as possible so that we can plan and make sure that we have a boat that is suitable for them. If we do not get enough interest, we may not be able to put a boat together.

One adult from each family will be required to volunteer at the regatta.

Detailed information about the regatta experience including attendance and volunteer requirements will be discussed prior to the regatta.

Winter Season 2026/27

• Dates: Dec 1 - Mar 18

• Practice days/times: 

  • Tues: 5:15-6:30p

  • Thurs: 5:15-6:45p (all teams practice together on Thursdays)

  • Sat: 9:00-10:30a

• Location:

Sweeps & Sculls Indoor Rowing Center

4410 Route 176

Unit #14

Crystal Lake, IL

• Fees: $500

Fees include 1 indoor regatta (race), Southside Smackdown (Chicago) in February (morning to early afternoon)

Winter Season Dates to Know

• Saturday, December 12 (During Practice Time) - Savers Fundraising Drive (Indoor Rowing Center/Savers - we will need parent help to load bags and drive them to Savers in Crystal Lake)

• Early December TBD (afternoon/early evening) - Privateers Holiday Party (School of Expressive Arts & Learning in Elgin)

• Week of Dec 14-19 - First 2k Tests of Winter Season (Indoor Rowing Center)

• Saturday, January 23 (during practice time) - Marathons, Half Marathons and Team Distance Challenge (Indoor Rowing Center - the Beginner Team will do a team distance challenge - practice will be the same time as usual)

• Sunday, January 31 (time TBD, but likely between 9a and 11a) - Tank Session (Skokie)

• Saturday, February 6 (all day) - Southside Smackdown Indoor Regatta (Chicago, IL)

• Sunday, February 21(time TBD, but likely between 9a and 11a) - Tank Session (Skokie)

• Friday, March 5 OR March 12 - Team Game Night

• Thursday, March 18 - Basic Safety Certification during practice time (Sage YMCA in Crystal Lake)

Spring Season 2027

• Dates: April 5 - May 18

• Practice days/times: 

  • Tues/Thurs: 5:15-7p

  • Sat: 9-10:30a

• Locations:

Sweeps & Sculls Boatyard at Port Barrington Marina

1317 Behan Road

Crystal Lake, IL

Sweeps & Sculls Indoor Rowing Center

4410 Route 176

Unit #14

Crystal Lake, IL

• Fees: $500

Fees include 1 regatta (race), Indianapolis Junior Sprints on Saturday and Sunday, May 8/9 (all day event). 

We will be on the water at the Boatyard location unless otherwise indicated. There could be several reasons that we would move practice indoors. We will comminicate practice information such as lineups, practice changes, etc. in a group texting app called GroupMe. Please see information below for information and links to join.

Spring Season Dates to Know

• Thurs, May 6 - Boat loading for Indianapolis Regatta (at practice - Beginners will be helping as well)

• Satrurday/Sunday, May 8/9 - Indianapolis Junior Sprints (Indianapolis, IN) (Beginner Regatta Option)

• Wed, May 26 (6-7:30p) - Spring Banquet (families welcome and encouraged)
  The Spring Banquet ends our year with recognition and awards for our team. It is a family event. Parents of our Sophomores help to organize this event.

Spring Regatta Opportunity:

Indianapolis Junior Sprints

Indianapolis, IN

Satuday, May 8 (Sculling - All Day)

Sunday, May 9 (Sweep - All Day)

Boat loading on Thursday, May 6 at practice (practice will likely go later this night)

Boat unloading on Sunday, May 9 at the Boatyard after the regatta

Regatta Information:

The Indianpolis Regatta is a great opportunity for our new rowers to experience a sprint regatta. This is a 2 day regatta with the Sculling events on Saturday and the Sweep events on Sunday. PLEASE NOTE: Your rower may not row both days but we do need to know what day(s) you are available. If you are available both days, your rower has a better chance of having a boat.

We will make boats that are appropriate for rowers based on skill level and what other rowers are attending. It is important that you mark your attendance for this regatta as soon as possible so that we can plan and make sure that we have a boat that is suitable for them. If we do not get enough interest, we may not be able to put a boat together. We will let you know within enough time to make plans (cancel hotel reservations, etc.) if your rower has a boat and which days they are rowing.

You can see additional information about this regatta here: Indy Regatta Information >>

One adult from each family will be required to volunteer at the regatta.

Detailed information about the regatta experience including attendance and volunteer requirements will be discussed prior to the regatta.