Play-It-Forward
VOLUNTEER EVENT
Let's Dragon Paddle!
Come enjoy two hours of fun and games paddling with your fellow volunteers at the Berkeley Marina with DragonMax. We are a non-profit organization that provides and promotes the sport, culture, and awareness of dragon boating to the East Bay community and beyond. We host youth programs and great team building experiences for community groups at the Berkeley Marina, Dock M. As a club, we welcome all ages and ability levels and field both competitive and recreational crews for local and out-of-town races.
Click here to check it out DragonMax
Dragon boating started over 2,300 years ago with a scholar and a poet name Qu Yuan. During the warring states period in China, Qu Yuan was an advisor to the King of Chu, one of the largest states during that period. Seven states vied for power and the other factions tried and succeeded to discredit Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan saw the decline of the Chu country. In despair, on the fifth day of the fifth month, he took his life by throwing himself in the Miluo River. In an attempt to save him, villagers raced in their boats, slapping paddles in the water and banging drums to scare the fish from eating his body. And from this event, we have continued to relive this memory by re-enacting the rescue of Qu Yuan.
Currently, dragon boat events are held all over the world. It is one of the fastest growing sports in America and continues to grow in the Bay Area. A dragon boat is typically 40 to 50 ft long, propelled by 20 paddlers, a steersperson and a drummer.
There are over 2,000 residents in the Bay Area racing locally and internationally.
If you are interested in finding out more or to register for this event,
(The paddling and games will be recreational, not competitive racing, as viewed in the video)
Friends and family are welcome but SPACE IS LIMITED!
Light lunch will be provided
Please RSVP and save your spot!