Paddler payments

Our participants help us defray costs by contributing toward various fees. This page explains the current fees and payment options, including check, cash, Zelle, or PayPal.

Full-season paddling fee

Our full-season fee is the most affordable around! We keep fees low through our all-volunteer staff, generous donations, and active fundraising. Each fee covers less than half of the operational costs.

Steel Dragon paddler level – if you can pay more

For paddlers who are in a financial position where they can pay their full share of our expenses, we offer the Steel Dragon level of participation for a payment of at least $550.

If you can pay even more, it will help us to keep our fees low for everyone.

We understand that the Steel Dragon level is a stretch for most. Don’t worry – our standard paddler levels are staying just as affordable as ever.

Season fee schedule

Our affordable full season fees are:

• $250 Standard fee for adult paddler
  • Or $550, If you can afford it, for the “Steel Dragon Paddler” level ($250 goes toward your standard fee and $300 is pure donation)
• $225 for the second adult in a household
• $175 for students (up to age 21)

The fee for full-season paddlers is due by May 15, 2025 to receive a team jersey in time for the racing season and hold a spot on race crews. New paddlers who join in May can pay by June 10 to be entitled to a jersey and participation in the June race.

Race fee schedule

A flat fee from each paddler is needed for each race to help cover team race fees in the range of $800 – $1500 per crew.

• $55 per race – due 30 days prior to the event

Alternative payment arrangements

If paying any fee is a hardship that could prevent you from participating, contact the SCDBA Treasurer or Chairperson. They have various options that might work for you, including payment plans and “scholarships”.

Payment methods

We accept the following:

• Cash
• Check
• Zelle secure electronic transfers
• PayPal (or credit/debit cards processed through PayPal)

Cash or check payments

We accept cash or checks. Make checks out to SCDBA and hand to the SCDBA Treasurer (Liz Cooper) or Chairperson (Bob Randolph) at any team event or mail to:
Steel City Dragons
1312 Cascade Drive
West Homestead, PA 15120
Indicate in the memo section of your check or in a separate note what fee you’re paying and the paddler name(s) it applies to.

If paying by cash, please place the cash in an envelope with a note about what you’re paying for and give to Liz or Bob.

Zelle payments

If you have a Zelle account, you may send payments directly to zelle@steelcitydragons.org. Please add a note about what the payment is for.

Credit card or PayPal payments

Note that PayPal extracts a fee before sending the remainder of the amount to us. Consider Zelle, check, or cash payments if you’d like to avoid these fees.

Steel Dragon level paddler fee

Covers one standard paddler fee plus a donation above the amount of that fee.

One Steel Dragon adult $550 fee:
One Steel Dragon adult fee – paying any amount over $550 (When the PayPal box comes up, enter your amount in the “Price per item” box):

Standard paddler fees

One adult paddler standard $250 season fee:
One $225 season fee for the second adult paddler in a household:
One student (up to age 21) $175 season fee:

Event fees

You can pay for multiple events at once below.

Step 1: For each event you are paying for, select the Add to Cart button, then check out

June 14 Buffalo Niagara Dragon Boat Festival ($55)
July 19 (Akron) Dragons on the Lake Dragon Boat Festival ($55)
August 9 Chautauqua Lake Dragon Boat Race ($55)
September 20 Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival ($55)
September 27 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival ($55)

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