Dragon Boat Festivals & Team events
Heart and Soul hosts fundraisers and participates in local events throughout the year that helps to support our mission of promoting cancer awareness and giving back to our community here in Brevard County.
Dragon Boat Festivals and Races
Dragon boat festivals, races, and training camps are held throughout the country and around the world including many right here in the state of Florida. The festivals and races include breast cancer survivor teams, supporter teams, club teams and community teams. Most participate for the thrill of the competition and some just for the fun and camaraderie of racing. The length of the races varies from 200 meters to 500 meters, sometimes including a 1000 or 2000 meter.
In addition to festivals and races, there are several dragon boat training camps held around the state. We are fortunate to host the Space Coast Dragon Boat Camp at our local venue out of Oars and Paddles Park every year for three weeks in April.
| 2024 Dragon Boat Festival Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3/23/2024 | Inverness Dragon Boat Festival | Inverness, Florida |
| 4/13/2024 | Clermont Dragon Boat Festival | Clermont, FL |
November 4, 2023-Lake Hernando Dragon Boat Festival-Senior Women take the Gold
WEEKLY PRACTICE EVENTS
OPEN PRACTICES
Held on Sundays and Wednesday evenings, from 6:15 PM - 7:30 PM.
Coached by Lead Coaches, Laurie Gieniewski and Roxanne Leavitt.
Paddling on the Banana River is an amazing experience in itself. Add a rigorous practice to boot and you have it all. Thanks to our steers and assistant coaches for their help. Thanks to the paddlers, who after a practice, have committed to the proper care of the vehicles that afford them the opportunity to Paddle Weekly on the Banana River.
HIGH INTENSITY PRACTICES (HIP)
Held on Saturday mornings.
Coached by Lead Coach, Bridget Ehlers
Designed for paddlers who have a higher level of paddling and competitive experience, these practices are about endurance, increasing one's ability to go faster and for longer distances.
RECREATIONAL PADDLE EVENTS
Occurring on a week day morning
Organized by Coach, Amy Ianneco
The key words are leisurely, fun, and dolphins.
HEART AND SOUL DRAGON BOAT CLUB EVENTS
2024
Heart and Soul Dragon Boat Mini-Camp
Featuring Albert McDonald
of
Dragon Beast Dragon Boat Club, Nova Scotia
March 1-3, 2024
BREVARD CORPORATE 5K
APRIL 11, 2024
There will be over 2000 runners and walkers for this race as we run along Melbourne Airport runways. There will be live music, free beer and snacks, and food trucks for anyone wishing to stay for the after party.
Registration is $35 up until April 1, and benefits the Eau Gallie High School Avionics program. Be sure to register early as the race did fill up last year, and there were no shirts left after the deadline (btw the shirts last year were really cool, but they are unisex and run really big).
https://www.brevardcorporate5k.com/Race/Info/FL/Melbourne/Corporate5K
Community Outreach Paddle Event
April 6, 2024
Boy Scouts of America Paddle Event
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE EVENTS
OARS AND PADDLES PARK CLEANUP. A QUARTERLY EVENT.
THE DYER CAMP
January 27, 2024
John and Linda Dyer, from Burlington, VT, were the co-founders of our organization. They reside here from September - April of each year. In years past, John has held an Introduction to Dragon Boat session for men, and most recently, Linda held a camp for paddlers, from FL, NC, VT and SC, who were attending the 2023 IBCPC Festival in Cambridge, New Zealand. In February of 2023, they held a weekend camp for our members.
HEALTH FIRST PADDLE EVENT
February 3, 2024
We were able to provide a paddle event for our Premier Sponsor, Health First in 2023. It was a success and was repeated in August 2023 and again in February 2024.
OUTREACH PADDLE EVENTS
Opening up our boats to the community has been a highpoint of the Outreach Committee. Groups who have attended include Health First Associates, Bank of America, Boy Scouts of America, L3Harris, Breast Cancer Organizations, and Veterans.
2023 WAS AN "EVENTFUL" YEAR
THE SHARON BOLTON-EELS MEMORIAL FUND
Heart and Soul Dragon Boat Club and Satellite High School Volleyball Teams join together in an effort to expand Breast Cancer Awareness and Support in our local communities.
In 2022, Heart and Soul's Breast Cancer Team were the recipient's of the Satellite High School Volleyball teams' PINK OUT Donations. These monies have been used to support our team of Breast Cancer survivors and club activities.
In 2023, Heart and Soul Dragon Boat Club's Breast Cancer teams have again been designated as the recipients of the donation. These monies will be used to assist breast cancer patients, within our communities, who are in need of financial assistance.
We are proud to be a part of such a worthy endeavor and thank Coach Bolten and his teams for this generous donation.
HEART AND SOUL + SATELLITE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL TEAMS = BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Brevard County Zoo Day
JUNE 17, 2023
As part of our participation and support of the "Our Legacy Campaign", Heart and Soul members have been invited to a tour and update on the program. Pictures and Info to follow!
Cancer Survivor Paddle Event
July 8, 2023
A Paddle event was held for Cancer survivors, including Breast Cancer survivors. Organizations represented included Space Coast Survivors, Driven by Heart, Brevard Cancer Care, and Complimentary Cancer Care.
HEALTH FIRST Paddle Event
AUGUST 19, 2023
Just one of our ways to say THANK YOU for being our Premier Sponsor.
Their Sponsorship has been renewed again for 2024. Thank you to the Health First administration for their continued support.