About NCAWPA
NCAWPA, National Capital Area Women's Paddling Association, established in 1992, first came together as a women's dragon boat team. Now called the DC Dragons, it has evolved to include men's and mixed teams, and a breast cancer survivor team GoPink! DC. A non-profit, community-based organization, NCAWPA spearheaded the development of dragon boating and outrigger canoeing both locally and along the East Coast and was a driving force behind the creation of the Eastern Region Dragon Boat Association. We are a co-sponsor of the Washington Dragon Boat Races, the first and only dragon boat race in Washington, DC and we've been a member of the Board of Directors for the Washington, DC Dragon Boat Association since 2001.
Community service is the main focus of NCAWPA. We have trained many hundreds of people in dragon boating and outrigger canoe and built ties within the local community. We actively participate in the Anacostia Environmental Fair, the Lighted Boat Parade, Alexandria Seaport Festival, Anacostia Port Towns Paddlesport Regatta, Near East Regatta, Naval Seas Systems Command Day, and the Tall Ships' event for the Cherry Blossom Festival. NCA has also taken DC Public School children out on the water for Earth Day. Some NCA members have even gone so far as to take the NCA message on the road, running the DC Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis dressed up as reindeer - carrying paddles of course! Despite the fun, one of the most important features to our paddling community is "ohana" - building family - and recognizing the cultural roots that these sports arise from while working to establish ties within the Asian Pacific Islander community. In 2002 we had our first outrigger boat blessing under the guidance of a native Hawaiian bringing a bit of the Islands and the true meaning of the word "Aloha" here to Washington.