There are many ways to help at regattas--set up, food, chaperoning. Overnight regattas can be a lot of fun and offer a chance to get to know the coaches and the parents of other rowers a little better. The rowers really appreciate your support.
Bus Chaperone
The team charters a bus to the state championship regatta in Saratoga Springs and sometimes to otherregattas.You get to ride with the team. Very entertaining.
Tent and Table Set up/Breakdown
Arrive 30 minutes before start time for set up; breakdown is after the last CHS race. You may need to pick up the tent/tables the night before or return them the day after the regatta. The Regatta Chair will let you know where and when. There are usually many people around with experience, so this is a great way to get started.
Food Organizer
Buy, cook, set-up, or clean-up. We have lists of popular and healthy meals, snacks, and drinks. Sometimes we do potluck, and other times a couple of people plan the meal(s), buy the food (we tell you how much to buy), cook it if needed, deliver it to the regatta, set it up on the tables, keep the area generally clean, and put food and utensils away before breakdown. When more than one person works on food, it's really not that bad (and the chicken caesar salad is delicious).
Hotel Chaperone
Taking 40 high school kids on the road is an adventure. We generally have at least 1 chaperone for every 8 rowers. Chaperones stay at the rowers' hotel and check to see that rowers are in their rooms at curfew and up on time. Chaperones should be available to handle any special needs or problems that arise for "their" kids.
Van Driver
Sometimes the team rents 12-passenger vans to get the rowers to a distant regatta (Philadelphia, for example). Parents drive these vans. If you like to hit the open road (with a bunch of teenagers as backseat drivers), this is the job for you. Needless to say, you should be a safe and confident driver if you volunteer to drive a van. You'll promise to obey all speed limits and other traffic laws, of course.