About Us
Freedom Rowers was established 2004 under the vision of Diana Lobien as a competitive rowing program serving as an alternative to the ball oriented sports typically offered by the schools and county programs. Diana forged our relationships with the YMCA, Evergreen Cove, and town committees to give us a solid base of operation. She stayed with the team until the spring of 2011, when she passed the job of Executive Director and Coach to Chris Gill who retired in the spring of 2023.
We are a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit with no school affiliation; our funding is derived from the support of private donors and program fees. Freedom Rowers is open to students aged 13 – 18 in schools from Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne Counties as well as home schooled children.
HISTORY AND OVERVIEW
$550.00 per season (includes at least 4 - 5 competitive regattas in the Mid-Atlantic area)
Spring: March thru May | fall: September thru November
We offer two seasons a year:
to keep our rowers in shape and giving them a chance to participate in erg/rowing machine competitions held in DC.
SUMMER "LEARN-TO-ROW" CLASSES
Scheduled during the summer as a 4 day introduction to the skills and techniques used in the team "sweep boats"
Also offered is an introduction to sculling in single shells.
OPTIONAL WINTER TRAINING SEASON
also available:
Please refer to latest updates on our Home page.
For summer scheduling of classes, please inquire at the end of May
The Details
Our team can accommodate up to 40 rowers a season
2 - Eight person boats (60 feet long)
the current fleet includes:
4 – Four person boats
4 - Two person boats
5 Racing singles
We have 2 Boston Whalers which we use as chase boats…. always with the rowers during practice
6 TRAINING singles
Our Approach
Each rower has both their hands on one oar, rowing either “port” or “starboard” side.
SWEEP
WE TEACH TWO "TYPES" OF ROWING
When the rower has two oars in their hands.
SCULLING
Novice rowers typically learn to row in our large 8 person boats (sweep) and are later paired with JV and Varsity rowers to learn the skills needed for smaller boats or sculling.
Meet Our Staff
head Coach, Chloe allen
We welcomed Coach Chloe Allen to our team in the spring of 2023. Chloe comes to our staff with a great rowing background vital to the team. She got her start in High School with our very own Freedom Rowers and continued her rowing abroad in New Zealand. Upon returning to Easton she formed an adult rowing program, Eastern Shore Community Rowers which she still runs and coaches.
We're thrilled Chloe has returned to the world of competitive youth programs where she will be passing on her knowledge to the next generation of rowers.
Chloe lives in Easton with her husband Michael and their 2 dogs.
Contact her at : coachallen@freedomrowers.org
or tongchloe92@gmail.com
text may be sent to: 410-924-6621
Coach White joined Freedom Rowers in 2017 when his own sons were on the team. His background as a rower began at the Naval Academy, class of '92, and continued as an adult rower. Kevin is especially skilled at working with our Varsity rowers and taking their skills to the next level in preparation for competition. His background in the Marines has also benefitted our winter training program with his personalized workout regiment both in the gym and on the track.
Kevin is the owner and CEO of Global Vision 2020, and lives in Easton with his wife Rebecca and their two sons.
Assistant coach, kevin white
Growing up on the shore, Willoughby has a life-long passion for the outdoors and love of athletic camaraderie. She has always enjoyed being on the water, learning to sail at a young age, and swam competitively through high school. Willoughby attended St. Mary's Honors College where she studied writing, film and anthropology.
She has been a coach for Eastern Shore Community Rowers since 2017, and Freedom Rowers since autumn of 2023. Her favorite motto as a coxswain is "every stroke is a new opportunity to do something great"
Assistant Coach, willoughby buxton
contributes enormously to the health of mind and body
We believe rowing...
fosters team spirit and the realization a boat can only go fast when everyone is working and pulling together
offers opportunity for travel and adventure
will build lasting friendships with others who participate in this sport
offers opportunity for advanced education through scholarships
provides a deeper appreciation for nature and hands-on education about the physical world (fluid dynamics)
offers opportunity for those who might not be interested in ball oriented team sports
Freedom Rowers
Core Values
As an inclusive organization, we value the skills, strength, and intelligence of everyone in our diverse community and strive to create a team culture that is representative of this belief.
Realizing our community has a wide range of ages, we hope to foster relationships between adults and youth where young people learn from the experience of the adults, and the adults can better appreciate the gifts of young people.
As a group, we value higher education and are committed to offer a program that will hone the skills of participants so that they can be candidates for institutions of higher learning.
We believe the skills learned in rowing benefits health, fosters mental discipline, improves confidence and heightens appreciation for the beauty of the world in which we all live and work.
We are committed to cooperative work and play; integrity in relationships and responsibilities; total commitment on the part of participants to the purpose of his/her team and the mission of this organization; and respect for the leaders of this organization.
