Downtown Boat House Volunteers

[admin]

Thank your interest in volunteering at the Downtown Boathouse. We will
Pleases Use the link above to register to receive emails.
If you do not or can not receive any email, the updates can be read at:

in the announcements forum and at
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/dtbh_volunteer_news/

We cannot reply individually to every question because we have no paid staff, and believe we will have answered most questions with this brief introduction. If you still have question(s) after reading this introduction and the various pages on the Web site, please ask by replying to one of the weekly email broadcasts.

The only physical requirement for volunteering at the Boathouse is that you know how to swim. You do not have to know how to kayak, nor be a member of the Boathouse. And if you can only help out on certain days, or during particular hours, or only for a few weeks during the summer, that is fine with us. Any assistance is most appreciated.

To start volunteering, simply come to any one of our two locations and help out. Bring a change of clothes if you wish.
When you arrive, tell the people at the desk that you are a new volunteer, and they will probably direct you to someone who will show you around and tell you the basics. We need volunteers all of the time, so come whenever you wish. Our opening times are as follows (see Web site for detailed directions):

Pier 96, Clinton at 56th St.
Weekends & holidays: May 17 to Oct 13, 9AM to 5PM
Weekday evenings: June 16 to Sep. 12, 5PM to 7PM

Pier 40, Houston St.
Weekends & holidays: May 17 to Oct 13, 9AM to 5PM

72nd ST, Riverside Park
Weekends & holidays: May 17 to Oct 13, 10AM to 5PM

Winter Pool Program.
Weekends during the winter from 4PM to 6PM

All activities are weather permitting. To try to ensure that you don't come when we are closed, we maintain a daily status line for Pier 96. Call in the afternoon for the latest update. We do our best to keep the status line updated, but sometimes we fall behind. There is also a status forum that may be updated.
As you get to know the volunteers at a specific location, you will have a better idea of staff coverage.

The benefits of volunteering at the Downtown Boathouse are many: You get to meet lots of people, get to learn how to kayak, get to try lots of different kinds of kayaks, and (if you learn the basics) get to go on short kayak trips - all for free.

To this end, Periodically, we will send you a note about upcoming volunteer kayaking classes and trips. These are not always planned that far in advance, and are not always held on regular schedules, so it maybe a few weeks before there is another.

You do not have to attend a class before you begin volunteering - classes are simply offered to teach you kayaking skills that you may not know. And if you cannot get to the formal classes, then simply come to Pier 96 and we will make private arrangements to teach you the basics.

Volunteers are encouraged to practice their kayaking skills and try out different boats whenever there are enough people to take care of the public program.

Volunteering at the Downtown Boathouse mostly involves dealing with people, so some social skills are required. Volunteers help people getting in and out of boats, and answer lots of questions. More experienced volunteers patrol the bay and/or help out on the public trips that we lead. Regardless of what you do, we like you to politely "engage" the public - tell them the rules, make sure that their life jacket is secure, and show them how to paddle if they have never done so before. None of these tasks are in the least bit onerous, and if you enjoy working with people, you will have a lot of fun. You also get to do a lot of (free) kayaking.

Thanks again for your interest in volunteering. We hope to see you at the Boathouse, and on the water, in the near future.



Downtown Boathouse

Web: www.downtownboathouse.org

E-mail: info@downtownboathouse.org


Mail: Downtown Boathouse

West Village Station 20214

New York NY 10014