G-ROW BOSTON (Girls-Row Boston) is the first rowing and relationship-building program designed specifically for girls in the Boston public schools. G-ROW builds girls’ strength and confidence, and also aims to diversify the traditionally exclusive sport of rowing. The program was launched in 1998 under the vision of Olympic gold medallist Holly Metcalf. Today, G-ROW is a program of Community Rowing, Inc., and reaches over 200 girls each year.

G-ROW BOSTON provides girls with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to learn to row and compete on the Charles River. The girls practice three to four days per week throughout the school year to develop new skills, including on-water rowing and racing, weight and erg training, boat maintenance, swimming, and leadership skills development. The program also provides mentors, an academic support program, and college advising through a partnership with The Bottom Line. To date, nearly all of our graduates have gone on to college. 

G-ROW BOSTON is based on two fundamental beliefs:

• Adolescent girls need to form healthy relationships and a sense of belonging in order to truly express themselves and be themselves;
  
• Rowing for girls promotes self-confidence, determination, strength and personal growth in a tangible and powerful way

A five year longitudinal study conducted by a team of researchers from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education identified what it considers a unique quality in G-ROW, the element they refer to as "high challenge/high support." Rowing is physically and technically more demanding than many other activities and for some girls, G-ROW is their first experience with physical activity. The encouraging environment of the team and the coaches helps girls to believe that they can do it. We believe that this combination of physical challenge and emotional support from the coaches and teammates creates a dramatic and lasting impact on the lives of girls and women.