A new ERG ED® and Concept2 grant cycle is now open!
On February 5th, the George Pocock Foundation and Concept2 opened the ERG ED® grant application for all applicants in the United States. As part of their partnership, Concept2 and the GPRF seek to expand access to the sport of rowing for historically excluded students across the country. Concept2’s commitment of funds and equipment to this effort will allow ERG ED® to expand to six new locations between 2023 and 2025, with opportunities for two new programs to apply for funding this year.
The ERG ED®: Rowing in the Classroom curriculum is a nationally recognized and SHAPE-aligned Physical Education unit that offers easy implementation and integration for teachers, schools, and administrators. This classroom-based indoor rowing education program teaches students the fundamentals of rowing on Concept2 RowErg machines. Originally launched in 2010 by the GPRF, the ERG ED® program operates in 20 cities across the entire United States, with an estimated reach of 55,000 students annually. Through ERG ED®, students use rowing to learn essential life skills such as fitness, goal setting, and teamwork.
In 2023, the Cherokee County School District and Allatoona Rowing Association were selected as one of two programs to win the C2/GPRF grant. Through the grant, new cities are granted equipment through C2, curriculum from the GPRF, and the support of all ERG ED® partners across the country. The GPRF also facilitates connections between new sites and mentor sites to share best practices and ideas for increasing access to their programs.
"Through ERG ED®, almost 10,000 local middle school students will experience rowing, many of whom may have never been aware of the sport previously," stated Ann Carey, Director of Allatoona Rowing Association. "We are so thankful for the opportunity to implement ERG ED® and share the sport of rowing on a transformative level in our community."
"Partnerships make our school district stronger, and we're excited to expand our middle school PE program thanks to the support of the Allatoona Rowing Association and this generous grant," Superintendent Brian Hightower of Cherokee County School District said in a statement. “The rowing lessons will offer our students another path to fitness and the chance to learn a competitive sport, and we look forward to seeing our students succeed through this new opportunity."
Applications are open now to school districts and boathouses in the United States. Applications close on March 29, 2024.
About the George Pocock Rowing Foundation
Since its inception in 1984, The George Pocock Foundation (GPRF) has been focused on supporting and growing the sport of rowing in the Seattle area and the greater Pacific Northwest. As a leader in the sport, the GPRF works to help young people access and experience the life-changing sport of rowing, regardless of background or circumstance.
About Concept2
Founded in 1976 by rowers Peter and Dick Dreissigacker, Concept2 designs, manufactures, and sells oars for on-water rowing, as well as the RowErgs, the SkiErgs, and the BikeErgs for indoor training. Concept2 promotes and encourages the growth of rowing, both indoors and outdoors, and believes that rowing is a lifelong activity accessible to all.
Contact
Jon Campaña, George Pocock Rowing Foundation Director of Rowing Programs, jon@pocockfoundation.org, 206-432-9138.
