Please support our local program with your donation

Hi all, I hope you are enjoying the Holidays! This is not a typical program update email. I am writing to ask for your financial support for our local Chittenden Program. As you know, Special Olympics does not charge athletes to participate in our program. That does not mean everything is free. Even though our local program is entirely run by volunteers, we have to pay for our facilities, equipment, uniforms and competition fees. Chittenden pays for all of this through fundraising events (such as our Flower Sale and our Calcutta) and donations. The more donations we receive, the less fundraising we have to do, it's that simple. So, I am asking for your financial support.  Below is a list of the sports we offer and the cost per athlete for each sport. Please consider donating to our program!

Sport	Athlete (1) Sponsorship*
Floorball	$30.00
Golf	$60.00
Soccer	$60.00
Bocce	$60.00
Softball	$70.00
Track	$70.00
Basketball	$80.00
Bowling	$100.00
Cross Country Ski & Snowshoeing	$130.00
Swimming	$130.00
Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding	$500.00
* Includes facilities, equipment and fees

Checks may be made out to Special Olympics Vermont with "Chittenden" in the memo section. You may hand checks to me or mail checks to:

Special Olympics Vermont

16 Gregory Drive, Suite 2

South Burlington, VT 05403

Thanks, for your support! Dave

David C. Bogdan

Chittenden Program Coordinator

Special Olympics Vermont

Pre-season Fitness Walk at the University Mall, 12/29/18

Hi all, due to anticipated poor weather, coach Maggie will hold the our pre-season fitness walk at the University Mall, 12/29/18 from 9:00 to 11:00.  
 

Pre-season Fitness Walk at the University Mall, 12/22/18

Hi all, due to anticipated rain, coach Maggie will hold the first pre-season fitness walk at the University Mall, 12/22/18 from 9:00 to 11:00.  
 

Pre-season Fitness Walk at the University Mall, 12/15/18

Hi all, due to anticipated rain, coach Maggie will hold the first pre-season fitness walk at the University Mall, 12/15/18 from 9:00 to 11:00.  
 

Join our Penguin Plunge Team - Chittenden Chatterers

The Penguin Plunge is an excellent opportunity for our Chittenden Program to raise money. Special Olympics Vermont splits 50/50 any funds our Plunge team raises. We also get the registration fee for any plunger from any team that selects Chittenden as the program they want to support. Last year, we raised $6,021 from the plunge. This year, we hope to do better. The best way support that is to join our team and help raise money! The second best way is to sponsor someone on our team:

Dave Join our team

 

2018 Special Olympics Vermont Holiday Games

The 2018 Special Olympics Holiday Games will be held Sunday December 9th. The Swimming and Floorball competitions will be held at Saint Michael's College. The Individual Bowling Competition will be held at Spare Time Colchester and the Team Bowling Competition will held at Champlain Lanes. 

The bowling competition and awards will be at the lanes and will be finished by 12:30 P.M. A take out lunch will be provided for registered athletes, coaches and support people.

Swimming and Floorball competition, lunch and awards will be at St. Mike's and will be finished by 4:00 P.M.

Please click on the event guide image to see the detailed event guide==>

2019 Chittenden Alpine Ski and Snowboard Practice

ALPINE SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING

Special Olympics Vermont and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport are partnering again to provide Chittenden Alpine Ski and Snowboard practice. New for this year, practices will be at Bolton Valley! On mountain practice will be from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM Sunday's beginning January 6th, 2019. There will be no practice on President's Day weekend or Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.

We are providing transportation to those who sign up for transportation from the Special Olympics Vermont office to Bolton Valley and back. We will depart at 12:00 PM, arrive at 12:30 PM, immediately get ready for practice and return to Special Olympics Vermont by 4:30 PM. Athletes may bring a lunch and eat in the vehicles on the way to Bolton or eat before arriving for practice.

Our schedule is:

• 12/16/18 - Vermont Adaptive Registration Due by December 16th 2018, see Registration below
• 01/06/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley
• 01/13/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley
• 01/20/19 - No practice - Happy Martin Luther King Jr. weekend!
• 01/27/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley
• 02/03/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley
• 02/10/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley
• 02/17/19 - No practice - Happy President's Day weekend!
• 02/24/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley
• 03/03/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley
• 03/10/19 - Practice 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Bolton Valley 
• 03/17/19 - Winter Games - March 17th - March 19th, Pico Mountain 73 Alpine Dr. Killington, VT United States

REGISTRATION

Please pre-register with Chittenden by calling or emailing Dave Bogdan, Phone: 802-865-3840, Email: dbogdan@ieee.org. If you leave a message, I will want to know if you plan on taking the bus and also if you will want to take advantage of the Alpine Shop free lease option.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport will require a separate registration due to them by December 17th 2017. The registration includes a Guidelines document, a Race Team registration form and a Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports waiver are required again this year. If you were on the team last year, your client profile only needs to be updated if you moved, have a new phone number or email or have new emergency contact information.

Client Profile: https://www.vermontadaptive.org/users/client-profile-step1
Waiver: https://www.vermontadaptive.org/participant-waiver/

Chittenden Program Coordinator:
David Bogdan: 802-865-3840, dbogdan@ieee.org

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Program Coordinator:
Kelly Walsh: 802-353-3178, truenorth@vermontadaptive.org

2019 Chittenden Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Practice

Saturday's beginning January 5th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Catamount Outdoor Family Center. Our trail tickets are graciously donated by the Catamount Outdoor Family Center. We will be handing out towels at the Penguin Plunge Saturday February 2nd. 

Registration

Contact Dave Bogdan by phone or email to pre-register for Winter Sports!

Phone: 802-865-3840
Email: dbogdan@ieee.org

Venue

This year we will use three practice venues depending on weather and snow conditions:

1. Catamount trails open and acceptable temperatures @ Catamount
2. Catamount trails closed and acceptable temperatures @ Burlington Bike path starting at Leddy Park and walking to north towards the Winooki River and return.
3. Unacceptable weather @ University Mall

Please watch this blog and your email for notices!

Schedule

January 5th - January 26th - Catamount Outdoor Family Center
February 2nd - Penguin Plunge - Burlington Waterfront
February 9th - March 16th - Catamount Outdoor Family Center
March 17th - March 19th - Winter Games, Pico Mountain, 73 Alpine Dr., Killington, VT United States

Pre-winter sports season Fitness Walks

Coach Maggie will hold pre-winter sports season fitness walks at the Burlington Bike Path, Leddy Park from 9:00 - 11:00 A.M. Saturday's starting December 15th through December 29th.

Special Olympics Chittenden Food Drive to benefit the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf - 12/1/18 and 12/2/18

We are very fortunate to call Chittenden County our home. Not all are fortunate to have food on the table. We are holding a food drive to support those who are hungry in our community. Please bring food to donate to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf to either Floorball Practice on 12/1/18 at the Baird School gym, Swimming Practice at the Edge Eastwood Drive or to Bowling Practice on 12/2/18 at Champlain Lanes. Coach Mario will collect the food and deliver it to the food shelf.

2019 Night to Shine Dance - Registration is open

2018 Chittenden Floorball Practice

Floorball practice begins Saturday October 27th, at the Baird School located on Pine Street in Burlington. Coach Mario will offer two sessions of floorball. The first session from 8:45 to 9:45 A.M. will be for skills athletes (those who do not feel ready to compete on a team). Then the team floorball athletes will practice from 10:00 - 12:00. 

We will also be offering Bowling and Swimming for Holiday Sports. Athletes may participate in only one sport (swimming, floorball, indivudual bowling or team bowling).

Pre-register please!
Please contact Karen or Dave Bogdan by phone (865-3840) or email (dbogdan@ieee.org) to sign up.

You have never played floorball before and you are not sure what floorball is about? Check out this video to find out more: https://youtu.be/MgW7i1N5GXc

 

We will have eight practices in all. Practice will be every Saturday through the Holiday Games Competition which will be held at St Michael’s College in Essex on December 9th.

There will be no practice on Saturday November 24 due to Thanksgiving. However, there will be a practice the next day, Sunday November 25, 3:00 - 4:00 P.M. for skills and to 4:00 to 6:00 P.M for team floorball. There will be one other practice that will not be on a Saturday. This one will be on Tuesday November 5th from 6:15 to 8:00. 

We will end the season with floorball games followed by snacks on Saturday, December 15 at 10:00 am (the week after the Holiday Games). 

 

On-site directions to the gym for those who will come to practice: When you arrive at the Baird School, walk towards the school and then take the walkway to the right (towards Pine Street). The gym entrance is on the right hand side of the school. See the diagram below.

Coach:
Mario Dupigny-Giroux

2018 Chittenden Swimming Practice

Chittenden's swimming practice will begin at on Saturday October 27th from 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM, at The Edge South Burlington Eastwood Drive, and run through Saturday, December 8th. The Holiday Games tournament will be held Sunday, December 9th at Saint Michael's College.

We will also be offering Bowling and Floorball for Holiday Sports. Athletes may participate in only one sport (swimming, floorball, indivudual bowling or team bowling).

Pre-register please!
Please contact Karen or Dave Bogdan by phone (865-3840) or email (dbogdan@ieee.org) to sign up.

Coaches:
Shasta Fowler

2018 Chittenden Bowling practice

Chittenden's bowling practice will begin at 10:00 AM on Sunday, October 28th, at Champlain Lanes, 2630 Shelburne Road, Shelburne and run through Sunday, December 2nd.

Athletes may compete either individually or on a team of 4, but not both. All Holiday Sports Competitions will be on Sunday December 9th. We will also be offering Swimming and Floorball for Holiday Sports. Athletes may participate in only one sport (swimming, floorball, indivudual bowling or team bowling).

The tournament will be held Sunday, December 9th at both Spare Time Colchester and Champlain Lanes, Shelburne. Individual bowling will be at one location and Team bowling at the other, with the location to be decided by the number of athletes in each.

Pre-register please!
Please contact Karen or Dave Bogdan by phone (865-3840) or email (dbogdan@ieee.org) to sign up. We plan on having lane assignments for the first practice.  We also need to know your whether you plan on competing in individual bowling, team bowling!

Special Olympics and Fees:

Special Olympics offers all programs to athletes at no charge but you may not realize that local programs have significant expenses. These expenses are paid for by donations and local program fundraising. Last year, we asked our bowlers to donate the cost of bowling each week: $9.00 a week. Many athletes and families did donate and this helped us pay for bowling with less fundraising. We are asking bowlers again to donate $9.00 a week to cover the costs. Thank you for your support!

Coaches:
Karen and Dave Bogdan - 865-3840
Karen Cutler
Gary DeCarolis
Brian Conroy
Steve Colley

Chittenden Golf practice will be indoors at Gonzo's HD Sports today 10/11/2018

Chittenden Golfers, we will have golf practice indoors at Gonzo's HD Sports, 1860 Williston Rd, South Burlington from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. We will then go to Al's French Frys for a bite to eat! Whoohoo!

Chittenden Soccer practice canceled today, 10/11/2018

Hi all, we are canceling soccer practice today due to the heavy rains. Next practice is Tuesday, only one week left for practice!
 

2018 Special Olympics Vermont Fall Games Event Guide

The 2018 Special Olympics Vermont Fall Games will be held on October 20th and 21st at CVU. Delegation check in is from 8:00 - 9:00 A.M. on Saturday followed by opening ceremonies and our competitons.  Soccer, Softball and Track participants should arrive by 8:00 a.m. at CVU on Sunday. Golf participants should arrive by 9:30 at the Burlington Country Club. Please click on the image on the right for the full event guide. Events include:

• Golf, Soccer, Softball and Track Competitions
• Merchandise tent
• Healthy Athletes
• Olympic Town
• Mountain Bike Demo by Vermont Adaptive
• Saturday Lunch, Diner, Sunday Breakfast and Lunch for registered athletes, coaches and support people
• Saturday night dance - "Fall Hootenanny"

A shuttle bus will provide transportation between CVU and the Golf venue at the Burlington Country Club and between CVU and the Doubletree and the Holiday Inn. The dinner and dance will be at the Doubletree. For Chittenden athletes, coaches and support staying overnight, check in will be after 4:00 p.m. and we must check out Sunday morning before leaving for the games. 

Delegations will be staying at the following hotels:

Holiday Inn- 1068 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT 05403

Rutland
Caledonia
Lamoille
Northshire
Castleton
Specialized Community Care

DoubleTree- 870 Williston Road, Burlington, VT 05403

Franklin County Maple Leaf’s
Chittenden
Bennington

Best Western- 1076 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT 05403

Orleans-Essex

Meals for Fall Games will consist of the following:

SATURDAY LUNCH (CVU and BCC): Turkey and ham sandwiches on wheat bread with cheddar cheese and lettuce, hummus wraps with sliced veggies, potato salad, fruit salad, and rice krispie treats

SATURDAY DINNER (DoubleTree): Spaghetti dinner with red sauce, meatballs (separate from sauce), garlic bread, tossed garden salad, cookies (gluten free pasta available upon request)

SUNDAY BREAKFAST (CVU and BCC): Three cheese and herb frittata, breakfast tater tots, sausage, fruit, and yogurt

SUNDAY LUNCH (CVU and BCC): Marinated chicken and sautéed vegetables over jasmine rice with teriyaki sauce (vegetarian option available), fruit, and a cookie

Chittenden Soccer Practice canceled - 10/2/18

Hi all, we are canceling soccer again tonight due to the heavy rain and the threat of thunderstorms. 

Starting Thursday, 10/4/18, practice will end at 6:45 due to the darkness. Please arrive at practice promptly and be ready to start practice at 5:45 so that we get a full hour in. 

Stay dry today!  

Chittenden Softball Hitting Practice canceled - 9/26/2018

There is a severe weather advisory for Wednesday afternoon so we are canceling softball hitting practice. See everyone on Saturday!

Chittenden Soccer practice canceled today, 9/25/2018

We are canceling tonight's soccer practice due to the weather!

Chittenden Track Practice rescheduled from Wednesday to Thursday this week only

Due to the weather advisory for Wednesday afternoon, we are rescheduling track practice to 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., Thursday 9/27/18. This is for this week only. I hope everyone can make it on Thursday!

2018 Fall Unified Fitness at UVM

The UVM Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science will offer the Unified Fitness program again this fall. Please click on the image for more information. 
 

Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Friday September 28th

We have been invited to Take Me Out to the Ballgame night at Schifilliti Park, Friday September 28th. Come watch the Yankees vs the Red Sox live on a large screen TV. The event is free and sponsored by the Thomas P Clairmont Sr Baseball Foundation. Proceeds from the 50/50 will be designated to benefit victims of Hurricane Florence. Click on the image to see more information!

Chittenden Softball Hitting practice

Our softball coaches are offering an optional hitting practice every Wednesday starting this Wednesday, September 12th, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Schifilliti Park. Athetes and partners are encouraged to attend! 
 

Chittenden Track practice canceled, 9/5/2018

Hi all, we are canceling tonight's track practice due to the extreme heat and humidity.  Hope to see you next week! Let's hope it cools off to more Vermont like temperatures!

Chittenen Track practice canceled - 8/29/18

Hi all, we are canceling tonight's track practice due to the extreme heat and humidity. See you next week!

2018 Chittenden Golf Practice

Our Chittenden Program is happy to add golf to our sports program and it is time to sign up! Special Olympics requires that a current medical be on site at every practice and competition. Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to pre-register so that we can have your medical at practice. We no longer allow athletes to begin practice without a current medical. Medicals are good for three years from the date of exam.


We are pleased to announce that practice begins Thursday August 23rd, 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the The Kwini Club, 5531 Spear St., Shelburne. Practice will be every Thursday until The Fall Sports Competiton which will be held at the  on October 20th and 21st at the Burlington Country Club. Please note that it is a two day competition, please plan accordingly!

Coach: 

Greg Clairmont - Phone 802-343-8446 , email: listandsellvt@gmail.com

PS.
With regard to inclement weather, please go to the Chittenden Delegation website/blog located at https://sovchittenden.blogspot.com to learn if practice is canceled. Once practice has been canceled for the day, it will not be changed even if the weather improves later in the day!  

2018 Chittenden Track Practice

It is time to sign up for Track! Special Olympics requires that a current medical be on site at every practice and competition. Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to pre-register so that we can have your medical at practice. We no longer allow athletes to begin practice without a current medical. Medicals are good for three years from the date of exam.

We are pleased to announce that practice begins Wednesday August 22nd, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at UVM Outdoor Track. Practice will be every Wednesday until The Fall Sports Competiton which will be held at the Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) on October 20th and 21st. Please note that it is a two day competition, please plan accordingly!


Coach:  
Joe McNamara - Phone 802-310-4263
Mary Turnbaugh

PS.
With regard to inclement weather, please go to the Chittenden Delegation website/blog located at https://sovchittenden.blogspot.com to learn if practice is canceled. Once practice has been canceled for the day, it will not be changed even if the weather improves later in the day! 

 

2018 Chittenden Softball Practice

It is time to sign up for Softball! Special Olympics requires that a current medical be on site at every practice and competition. Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to pre-register so that we can have your medical at practice. We no longer allow athletes to begin practice without a current medical. Medicals are good for three years from the date of exam.

We are pleased to announce that practice begins Saturday August 25th, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Schifilliti field located at the end of Gosse Court in Burlington. Practice will be every Saturday through the Fall Sports Competiton which will be held at the Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) on October 2oth and 21st. Please note that it is a two day competition. Please plan accordingly!


Coaches:  
Karen Cutler - Phone 802-734-7981
Paul Cormier
 

 

2018 Chittenden Soccer Practice

Dear Athletes, Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers:

On behalf of the entire volunteer coaching staff let me welcome you to the Chittenden Delegation’s 2018 Soccer Program.

Special Olympics requires that a current medical be on site at every practice and competition. Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to pre-register so that we can have your medical at practice. We no longer allow athletes to begin practice without a current medical. Medicals are good for three years from the date of exam.

We are happy to announce that this year’s program officially begins on Tuesday, August 21st at 5:45 pm at our practice field located at the Willey Family Farm in back of the Fairgrounds in Essex Junction. Take the back entrance to the Fairgrounds (also road to St James Church) right to the Fairgrounds gate and park in the stone parking area.  The fields are just to the right of the access road – roughly ¼ mile up from Route 2A.

Practices will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm right up to the Special Olympics Vermont Statewide Tournament at Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) on Saturday and Sunday, October 20th and 21st. Please note that it is a two day tournament!

You can expect that our coaches will be working with each athlete to have fun, to teach the game, to build a sense of teamwork and most importantly promote good sportsmanship in practice and in competition.

You can expect that our coaches will treat all athletes, parents, guardians, and caregivers with respect and ask you to provide that same level of respect to our coaches and to other athletes. Like last year, we will be organizing athletes into groups to maximize their skill development while maintaining our focus on safety for all athletes. We have an expectation that each athlete will arrive wearing a team purple practice t-shirt, black shorts, soccer cleats, shin guards, with a water bottle, and a soccer ball --- ready to play.

As coaches, we have an expectation that athletes will arrive on time for practice and will be are picked up on time at the conclusion of practice --- as our volunteer coaches have commitments as well. We will also make an extra effort to end practice on time.

If you have an issue of concern, please call me at 802.598.3123 so we can resolve it as soon as possible.

Dedicated to keeping it fun, safe, and respectful,

Head Coach Giles Willey

PS.
With regard to inclement weather, please go to the Chittenden Delegation website/blog located at https://sovchittenden.blogspot.com to learn if practice is canceled. Once practice has been canceled for the day, it will not be changed even if the weather improves later in the day!