From their event page: 

Always wanted to try rowing but never knew how? Join Fairmount Park Conservancy and Brannon Johnson of BLJ Community Rowing for a special intro to rowing clinic along the Schuylkill River!

Brannon is a Philadelphia native who became a world-class rower after getting her start in the Fairmount Park Community Rowing Program. Through BLJ Community Rowing, Brannon and her team have taught over 1,000 people how to row in the last ten years. As the only black-owned and operated rowing club in America, BLJ is passionate about providing access to the elite sport of rowing by removing boundaries and creating opportunities.

The Learn to Row program is extensive, inclusive, and effective. Beginners will learn all aspects of sculling, including a breakdown of the stroke, how to get in and out of the boat, the rules of the river, and the many technical aspects of the sport in an easy-to-understand way.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Brannon Johnson, a Philadelphia native and current resident, is the head coach and owner of BLJ Community Rowing, one of the most diverse community rowing programs in the Philadelphia metro area.  She has built an extensive resume in rowing, teaching and coaching over the past 15+ years. At the age of 15, she learned to row at the Fairmount Park Community Rowing Program.  Continuing to reign locally on the Schuylkill River, she began to develop as a single sculler under the tutelage of Kay MacDonald. She began her racing career and started to distinguish herself from other athletes which lead to training at Boston University’s elite summer program for two consecutive years.  She competed in and placed in the Stotesbury Regatta as well as the Philadelphia City Championships.  Brannon received a full athletic scholarship to attend the University of Texas, where she rowed at the Division 1 varsity level all FOUR years. In 2003, Brannon competed as a single sculler in the internationally known Henley Royal Regatta, one of the most prestigious regattas held on the Thames River in England. Brannon currently still rows and competes and is a fixture in the Philadelphia rowing community.

DATES:This program takes place on three consecutive Wednesdays (9/18, 9/25, and 10/2 — all from 4:30-6:00 PM). There are a limited number of spots open for this program (six total) so we ask that you please only register if you can attend all of the dates.