Chicago Rowing Union

06/03/2026

PRIDE Picnic and Fun Row - Please join us Sunday, June 7th!
Current CRU members, alumni and friends are welcome to join us for a PRIDE Picnic and Fun Row at Dammrich Rowing Center on Sunday, June 7th, 10:30am - 1:00pm. Wear your colors, hop in a boat or stay on land, and connect with the team while enjoying a picnic lunch and rainbow cake. For more information and to RSVP, please send a message to [email protected].

05/16/2026

Finished up our Learn to Row class today! Building our team with new novice rowers! Welcome to our club! We had a blast teaching you the basics and look forward to your growth as rowers!! See you on the water

04/21/2026

and just like that, we are back on the water.
Photo credit: .the.brown

04/14/2026

Overflow Action Alert

Heavy rain is expected in the Chicago area today. Reduce your use of water during and after the storm to help prevent flooding and protect water quality:

• Delay showers and baths
• Flush less frequently
• Wait to run the dishwasher or washing machine.

04/13/2026

Our Learn to Row Program is FULL!!! See you in the water! 💦💦

04/05/2026

Happy Easter from everyone at Chicago Rowing Union.

04/01/2026

📣 Official Mascot Announcement | As we approach the start of our new season, Chicago Rowing Union is excited to introduce our new team mascot Brenda the Canadian Goose.

Brenda arrived at our dock in the spring of 2024 and has not left.
We did not invite her.
We did not vote on her.
She simply decided this was now her home.
Since then, Brenda has attended every practice without exception. Her commitment to showing up is unmatched.

She has also fouled the dock in ways we will not describe here but will never forget.

We have tried everything. Brenda remains.

After careful deliberation, the board agrees that this level of dedication cannot go unrecognized.
Effective immediately, Brenda will hold the title of Official Mascot of CRU. She was not consulted on this decision. She does not care.
We are proud.
We are also a little afraid.

Welcome to the team, Brenda. You were already here.

04/01/2026

As Transgender Day of Visibility comes to a close, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusion and community. As the Midwest’s only LGBTQ+ rowing team, we celebrate the strength in our diversity. In our boathouse, you are safe, you are seen, and there will always be a seat for you.
🏳️‍⚧️

03/31/2026

Weather is being Chicago 😊 we are getting close to filling our Learn To Row program…. Now’s the time, this is a spring event and only happens for a couple of weeks. We fill fast…

www.chicagorowingunion.org/learn-to-row

We are excited to announce that our Spring 2026 Learn to Row program is now open for registration. We are running the classes in May this year, in hopes of warmer spring weather. Successful graduation of Learn to Row is required before joining our Novice program, which will begin in June and run thr...

02/26/2026

If you follow us, you have seen MANY photos of our boats in front of the Bahá’i Temple posted by us and our rowers. At practice, especially during head season, you will frequently hear coaches say “To Bahà’i and back.”
Here is some interesting history of this beautiful structure.
The cornerstone was laid in 1912. The Baháʼí House of Worship in Wilmette took over 40 years to build (completion in 1953) primarily due to funding limitations relying on voluntary donations, the Great Depression, and WWII. In January of 1931, the building, still under construction caught on fire, which caused $50,000 in damages. The photo shows Wilmette and Evanston Fire Departments battling the blaze.
Additionally, the complex, intricate design required innovative concrete techniques.

Baháʼí Houses of Worship are intended to include several social, humanitarian, and educational institutions clustered around the temple, although none have been built to such an extent. The temples is open to the public and used as devotional spaces for people of any faith.