Celebrating 20 years of free community kayaking!
The Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club is very proud to announce that its free kayaking program kicks off for the 20th season! YPRC has successfully run free kayaking programs since 2006, putting 16,000 youth and adults on the water and introducing them to the River in their backyard.
The free paddling program is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants do not need to sign up in advance. All programs are weather dependent.
· Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 4 pm–7 pm, at JFK Marina, Yonkers. Ages 5 and older. The last boat on the water is 6:30 pm. Participants use sit-on-top boats.
· Sundays, from 10:30 am–1 pm, at YPRC’s Alexander Street Boathouse, 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers. Ages 13 and older. Participants use deck boats.
Camps and community groups are welcome; pre registration required.
All groups of eight or more must register in advance. They may request a 1–2 hour paddling adventure
Wednesdays and Thursdays, between noon to 7 pm. Nonprofit groups paddle free. There is a fee for for-profit organizations
Information, group signup and waivers can be found here: https://www.yprc.org/free-public-kayaking.html
YPRC provides all equipment including kayaks, life jackets and paddles. YPRC also provides safety-trained volunteers on and off the water to make sure that every participant is safe and has a rewarding experience.
Phil Giller, a resident of Riverdale and the coordinator of YPRC’s free public kayaking, says, “This program is a gift from our members and trained instructors to all who want to kayak. It is our hope that by introducing youths and adults to the natural wonders that can be found in their backyard, they will begin to form a connection with the environment and become the stewards of the Hudson.”
YONKERS PADDLING & ROWING CLUB (YPRC)
Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club is an historic nonprofit along the Yonkers riverfront that nurtures paddling and environmental awareness. Programs include rescue and paddling skills clinics, a winter boat-building workshop, and Hudson River Riders free public kayak sessions. It receives support from the City of Yonkers, Westchester County, REI and members.
YPRC’s historic boathouse, just north of the Yonkers Pier, was home to Yonkers Canoe Club (YCC) which is remembered for the two Olympic Gold medals it brought home in 1948.
