This year will mark the 13th time Dutchess BOCES staff and students have participated in the annual Polar Plunge, which raises money for the Special Olympics’ New York division. This year’s proceedings will look different from previous years, complete with a change of venue.
The event is now three days, taking place at various locations from Feb. 27 to March 1, instead of at Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill. The BOCES team will take the plunge at Eastdale Village in Poughkeepsie on March 1 at noon. As participation increased over the years, the event outgrew its original home, prompting the move to Eastdale, Marist University and Heritage Stadium in Fishkill.
“Expanding the Plunge to three days and new locations was an important step to reach more people, inspire new supporters and showcase the incredible opportunities our athletes have to grow and succeed,” Susanne O’Neil, Special Olympics’ Director of Development for the Hudson Valley Region, said. “This event is more than a fundraiser, it’s a lifeline for athletes with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round sports training and competition at no cost to them or their families.”
The organization provides free year-round Olympic-style sports to individuals with disabilities. Fundraisers like the Polar Plunge help cover numerous costs, from insurance to awards.
Team Organizer and Career & Technical (CTI) Institute Teacher Erin Scott said that participants will jump into a new mobile plunge unit filled with cold water. The unit has ramps on both sides for entering and leaving, and stairs when exiting the water. Eastdale will provide changing tents and portable toilets for participants.
Scott said that the new venue will be a breath of fresh air.
“There will be no more parking challenges or bus rides to navigate up the mountain,” Scott said, referencing the long trek to get to Sharpe. “Spectators will have a viewing area and parking will be plentiful.”
Special Olympics is a cause near and dear to Scott’s heart, as she has coached its athletes since 1996. BOCES students have previously participated in Special Olympics bowling and basketball skills teams and will do so again.
“This year, we are organizing a basketball skills team through Salt Point Center and the Resilience Academy,” Scott said.
So far, Scott has some plungers from CTI and Salt Point Center signed up, but she hopes to have representation from every branch of BOCES to show it is a united front. To join the team, or donate to support the team, visit: https://events.nyso.org/site/TR/Plunge/POLARPLUNGE?pg=team&team_id=24967&fr_id=3431.
“We hope now that with the ease of spectating, more people will come to watch us participate,” Scott said.
