Chicago Training Center

CTC is 10 years old and growing! In 2016/17, we’ll be moving into the Chicago Park District’s brand-new Eleanor Street Boathouse, which will enable us to nearly triple our enrollment capacity. And in conjunction with The George Pocock Rowing Foundation, we recently launched a new initiative for middle schoolers, Learn to Erg, that brings ergometers and free rowing instruction into school-based PhysEd classes. This past year, Learn to Erg introduced nearly 300 diverse, low-income students to the sport. We now plan to expand the program’s reach next year—and get even more young people excited about rowing and engaged in CTC.

 

But to make that happen, we first need to purchase additional ergometers for Learn to Erg and increase the electronic capabilities of our growing on-water fleet of 8x boats. As a fully free program, we rely on cash contributions to meet nearly 60% of our annual program expenses. Last year’s Razoo campaign was so much fun we decided we needed to do it again (and grant a rematch to our very competitive donor teams). So we invite you to get in the race, and help CTC reach our goal! Please consider a donation of any amount. And because a little rivalry never hurt anyone, we encourage you to set up your own team of fellow supporters to go head-to-head with other donor “boats.”

 

If you’re in Chicago, you can catch up with CTC at Lincoln Park Lagoon for the 36th running of the Chicago Sprints, July 9 & 10…or with a beer at our first annual Lagunitas Invitational, July 11. We’d love to meet you and thank you in person!  

 

Hope to see you there,

Montana Butsch, Founder/Executive Director

 

About Us: Since 2006, CTC’s free, award-winning programs have introduced hundreds of low-income and minority youth to the sport of competitive rowing. But CTC is about much more than winning medals. We target Chicago’s most under-resourced neighborhoods and public schools—primarily on the city’s South and West sides—where young people face numerous challenges including high rates of academic failure; exposure to violence, gangs, and street crime; and high incidences of childhood obesity and other health problems. Through rowing, we provide these teens with a safe out-of-school environment as well as vital opportunities to get active and stay healthy; make new friends; and build essential character values such as discipline, dedication, self-confidence, perseverance, and leadership. To date, 100% of teens who participate in CTC throughout their high-school years successfully graduate—despite hailing from schools with graduation rates of under 65%. And 100% of seniors enrolled in the program over the past three years immediately transitioned to college, some with full scholarships.