Chittenden Floorball Change of location 12/9/23

Hi all, we have a new location for our last floorball practice and the competition. Our practice on Saturday 12/9/23 will be at the South Burlington Rick Marcotte Central School, 200 Market Street, South Burlington from 9:00 - 10:30.

2024 Chittenden Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Practice

Hi all, we are happy to offer Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe practice starting Saturday January 6th 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center. Please contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdansr@gmail.com> or 802-865-3840 to sign up.

As with last year, snowshoes are not allowed on the groomed cross country ski trails so you will be on a snowshoe trail while skiers will be on a ski trail. We will have to check in and register as a group at the shack in the parking lot. The coaches will do the check-in but we need to know who is attending each Saturday. 

Catamount will require all participants to complete a waiver. You may complete it on-line here: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/588f7c34a36c8/web/%20target=

Catamount will have equipment for rent. They will charge $20 for skis and, $5 for snowshoes. You will be responsible for paying for equipment if you need it. 

As always, we need a current medical to participate. I can check your status when you sign up. 

Practice will run from January 6th through March 2nd. If the trails are closed, we have the option to walk the Burlington Bike Path. At this point, we are not planning on any indoor alternatives. 

 

Special Olympics Vermont Competition 

Special Olympics will host the statewide Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Competition at the Rickert Outdoor Center on Saturday March 9th!

 

Thanks, Dave

2024 Chittenden Alpine Ski and Snowboard Practice

Hi all, our Chittenden program is pleased to partner with Vermont Adaptive to provide Alpine Ski and Snowboard practice. Please contact David Bogdan <dbogdansr@gmail.com>, phone 802-865-3840 to sign up. I will need to know if you need equipment and transportation when you sign up. Also, we will require a current medical on file before you may go to the mountain!  

I want to highlight that attendance at practice is important. We expect everyone who signs up to commit to attending practices! That said, we will still follow Covid Guidelines. I want to emphasize that if you have any symptoms, such as sneezing, cough or fever or just aren't feeling well, you must stay home!

Now is a good time to get your equipment out and schedule a tune-up so you are all set to go!

We plan to provide transportation from Special Olympics Vermont to Sugarbush Mt Ellen for those who need it. We will depart at 11:45AM and plan to be back by 4:45PM. We do need volunteers to drive! Please contact David Bogdan to volunteer!

Please note that the lunch bar at Mt Ellen will only take payment by credit card and will not accept cash. Please plan accordingly and bring snacks and drinks if you do not have a card.  

Here are the details from Sarah at Vermont Adaptive, you will have to complete the athlete profile and the online waivers:

When: Sundays, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm 

Dates: January 7, 21, 28. February 4, 11, 25. March 3, 10, 17, 24

Where: Vermont Adaptive Office, Murphy’s Annex, Mt Ellen, Sugarbush Resort, Warren, VT

Required Vermont Adaptive Paperwork- 
1. Athlete Profiles - for all athletes
2. Online Waivers - for all athletes and volunteers (this will be available in December, stay tuned)

Special Olympics Vermont Competition

Special Olympics Vermont is planning on having a one day Statewide competition at the Middlebury Snowbowl on a Monday in March. The date has not been finalized.

Thanks, Dave

2023 Holiday Fitness Walk

Coach Maggie will start a weekly Saturday Morning Fitness Walk at the University Mall starting Saturday, November 18th from 9:30 - 11:00. We will meet at the Kohl's end of the mall. Please let me know if you will be joining the fitness walk.

2024 Night to Shine Registration

The Tim Tebow Foundation will be holding the Night to Shine Event on Friday, February 9, 2024 in the evening at the Essex Alliance Church Campus, as well as other locations internationally on this date.

Registration for this event will open on Saturday, October 21^st and will be handled on a first-come first-served basis.  The following link shares more information about the event:  https://essexalliance.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1966014

2023 Special Olympics Chittenden Fall Floorball Practice

We are happy to announce our 2023 Floorball season. Sorry for the short notice but we start in less than a week!

When: Saturdays, starting 10/16/23, from 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the Chamberlin School, 262 White St, South Burlington, VT 05403

 

Practice dates are:

 

10/16/23 Chamberlin School

10/21/23 Chamberlin School

10/28/23 Chamberlin School

11/04/23 Chamberlin School

11/11/23 Chamberlin School

11/18/23 Chamberlin School

11/25/23 - No Practice, Happy Thanksgiving!

12/02/23 - No Practice

12/09/23 Chamberlin School

12/16/23 Chamberlin School

Contact me to sign up!

 

Thanks, Dave

2023 Fall Fitness Walks

Hi all, the survey says the Essex location is the favorite! I hope those who prefer Williston will still participate in the Essex or Burlington walk.

Essex Fitness Walk - 5:00 - 6:00 PM Monday's starting 10/2/23 at the Willey Family Farm, 7 St James Place, Essex Junction.

Burlington Fitness Walk - 5:00 -6:00 PM Thursday's starting 10/5/23 at Leddy Park, Burlington.

Please let me know if you plan to attend either walk.

I am still working on our Holiday Sports schedule for Floorball and Swimming.

2023 UVM Unified Fitness Program

Special Olympics Vermont Fall Games Torch Run

Hi all,

Officer Bri Williamson shared some info regarding upcoming Torch Run events. Please be in touch with Bri and me to let us know if you have athletes who may be interested in joining for any part of the Torch Run. As a reminder, many of the route segments are not supported by a vehicle/cruiser, so any athletes who sign up need to be physically able to complete the run they sign up for. If athletes would like to run, but are not able to run the full distance outlined, please be in touch so we can see if there are opportunities to set up a shorter segment within any of the longer segments for athletes to join. Athletes will need to arrange their own transportation to and from any events in which they choose to participate.

Please note: there are additional segments Bri is working to confirm. Once I receive that information, I will share out. If it is not listed here, I don’t yet have the route information

Wednesday, September 13

• Highgate Springs, VT - Swanton, VT, 7:30am start
• Run begins at Highgate Springs Port of Entry and goes to Swanton Sector Border Patrol
• Windsor, VT, 10am start
• Officers start run at elementary school track
• Continue a walk/run with group of students down Main Street
• Collect high school students and continue run for 1.5 miles

 

Thursday, September 14

• Brattleboro, VT – Dummerston, VT, 8am start
• Brattleboro & other local area PDs run from downtown Brattleboro to Dummerston line along US-5
• Vermont Police Academy Torch Run/Field Day, Pittsford, VT, 4:20pm-7:30pm
• Quick presentation to Police Academy recruits about Special Olympics and Torch Run (athletes invited to introduce themselves, share their favorite things about Special Olympics, and what sports they play)
• Everyone moves outside or to the gym for relay games/events
• Athletes are invited to join police recruits for dinner at 6:30
• Athletes must be picked up no later than 7:30pm

 

Friday, September 15

• Barre, VT – Montpelier, VT, 8:30am start
• Route starts at Spaulding High School to South Main/RT 14 to North Main/RT 302
• RT 302 west through Barre City, Berlin, and Montpelier
• At roundabout in Montpelier, route takes RT 2 to Main St to State St (Capitol building) – arriving around 10am
• Montpelier, VT – Bolton, VT, 10am start
• Capitol building to creemee stand on RT 2 for handoff to VSP Middlesex
• Creemee stand on Rt 2 to Waterbury/Bolton town line
• Georgia, VT – Milton, VT, 11:30am start
• Route starts with Milton PD around 11:30 am from Red Barn Warehouse on the Georgia/Milton line
• Run down RT 7 and meet for handoff to Colchester PD/Rescue at Gonyeau Rd, Milton
• Milton, VT – Essex, VT, 1pm start
• Colchester PD start from Gonyeau Rd, Milton and run to the Colchester/Essex line on 2A for handoff to Essex PD
• At approximately 2pm, Essex PD continues down 2A, through 5 Corners in Essex Jct, up Pearl St (past the Expo and Susie Wilson Rd), to Fort Ethan Allen
• Williston, VT – South Burlington, VT, 2:45pm start
• Segment starts at Williston Fire Department and travels Williston Rd, through Taft Corners
• Turns on South Brownell to Shunpike Rd and up Marshall Ave to South Burlington PD/SOVT office
• Essex/Colchester, VT – Winooski, VT, 3:30pm start
• Winooski PD begins run at Fort Ethan Allen and runs down College Parkway and RT 15, to East Allen, then West Allen, ending at the Winooski PD

 

Saturday, September 16

• St. Albans, VT – 8:15am start
• Meet at VSP St. Albans barracks at 8:15-8:30am
• Run 1.3 miles from barracks to Collins Perley Sports Complex
• ALL athletes attending Northern Fall Games will be invited for a walking/rolling final lap around the track at Collins Perley as the Parade of Athletes to kick off Opening Ceremonies

 

Best,

Rachel

.....

Rachel Hamm Vaughan

Vice President of Programs

2023 Special Olympics Vermont Fall Sports Competition and Golf Tournament

Here is the high level schedule for Fall Games. The Soccer Softball and Track competition will be at the Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center in St. Albans on Saturday September 16th.  The Golf competition will be at the Golf Club at Basin Harbor on Sunday September 17th.  Both locations will have a similar high level schedule:

9:00 AM - Check-in, we will be handing out jerseys during check-in.

9:30 AM - Opening Ceremonies (9:45 for Golf)

10:00 AM - Competition begins

3:00 PM - Estimated end of all competitions and awards

Lunch will be available for registered athletes, coaches and partners. Please bring a water bottle.

We will collect the jerseys after final awards and before you leave. 

 

Softball and Soccer spectators may want to bring lawn chairs.

Baseball Extravaganza Night - Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees, Saturday August 19th

 

We are invited to a free community event hosted by our head golf coach, Greg Clairmont. All are welcome!

 

Soccer Practice Canceled - 7/24/2023

 Hi all, we are canceling our first soccer practice, 7/24/23, due to the predicted thunderstorms!  Hopefully we will be able to start next Monday.

2023 Special Olymics Chittenden Fall Sports

Hi all, Summer is just underway and it is time to announce our Fall Sports Program! We start fall sports in July but the competition is in September so we call it fall sports!

Soccer - Soccer will be on Mondays, starting July 24th from 5:45pm - 7:00pm at the Willey Family Farm, 4 St. James Place, Essex Junction. The Fall Games will be on Saturday, September 16th at the Collins Perley Sports Complex in St. Albans. Contact Dave Bogdan to sign up!

Track - Track will be on Mondays, starting July 31st from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the Essex High School track. The Fall Games will be on Saturday, September 16th at the Collins Perley Sports Complex in St. Albans. Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdan@ieee.org> or 802-865-3840 to sign up!

Softball - Softball will be on Tuesdays, starting July 25th from 5:30pm - 7:00pm at Schifilliti Field, 126 Gosse Ct, Burlington, VT 05408. The Fall Games will be on Saturday, September 16th at the Collins Perley Sports Complex in St. Albans.  Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdan@ieee.org> or 802-865-3840 to sign up!

Golf - Golf will be on Thursdays, starting July 27th from 5:30 - 7:00 at the Kwini Club Practice Facility, 5353 Spear St, Shelburne, VT 05482. The Golf Tournament will be on Sunday, September 17th at The Golf Club at Basin Harbor, 4800 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT 05491. Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdan@ieee.org> or 802-865-3840 to sign up!

Baseball Extravaganza - Mark your calendars! Coach Greg Clairmont has hosted a community Baseball Extravaganza featuring the Yankees vs the Red Sox on the big screen for several years. This year, the Extravaganza will be Saturday afternoon, August 19th from noon to 4:00pm at Schifillitti Park.This is a community event with Special Olympics athletes, coaches, partners and families invited. Come enjoy the free food and fun activities. 

Special Olympics Lake Monster Night Friday 6/23/23, 6:35 PM

Hi all, we have an opportunity to attend the Lake Monster's Special Olympics Night for a special price of $8.00. Our Chittenden Program will receive $4.00 for each ticket sold. To get this price, you have to order tickets on-line. I am willing to pre-order a bunch of tickets for those who want to sit together. You
will have to pay me the $8.00 or you can buy on-line but you may not be sitting near friends. I plan on ordering tickets Monday evening so let me know by 4:00 PM. Call (802-865-3840) or email (dbogdan@ieee.org) to let me know that you want to get your ticket through me. The link to buy tickets on your own is here:

 

https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/Buy.asp?EventID=334069&promocode=SO2023

The Promo code is SO2023

The game is on Friday, 6/23/23 at 6:35 PM.

Thanks, Dave

Basketball Practice at Winooski High School Gym 5/21/23

 Our basketball practice will be at the Winooski High School gym on Sunday 5/21/23, same time as usual!

2023 Chittenden Summer Fitness Walks

We are happy to announce the start of two fitness walks.

Our popular Essex Fitness Walk will begin Monday May 15th  from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at the Willey Family Farm. Contact me to sign up!

Our Burlington Fitness Walk will begin on Wednesday May 31st  from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at Leddy Park. Contact me to sign up!

2023 Special Olympics Vermont Summer Sports Competitions

Happy Spring everyone! Our basketball and bocce practices are well underway training for our Summer Competition. Last year, we had a bocce competition but no basketball competition. This year, we will have both bocce and basketball competitions but they will not be on the same day or at the same location. Special Olympics Vermont has not firmed up the schedule yet but we do have dates and locations and tentative arrival times.

The Bocce Competition will be on Sunday, May 21st, tentative check-in at 1:30 PM at the Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center in St. Albans.

The Basketball Competition will be Saturday, June 10th tentative check-in at 9:00 AM at various Rutland City Schools. Teams will be assigned a division and divisions will be assigned a school. There will be a Healthy Athlete with Open Eyes (free eye exam) at one of the schools and teams will be encouraged to go visit.

 

Both competions will be single day events with no overnight events. 

2023 American Flatbread Benefit Bake - Tuesday 3/28/23

 

2023 Chittenden Bocce Practice

 It is time to sign up for Bocce!  Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to preregister so that we can have your medical at practice.

We are pleased to announce that Bocce practice begins Wednesday, April 12th, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Willey Family Farm in back of the Fairgrounds in Essex Junction. Take the St. James Place entrance to the fairgrounds from route 2A. Practices will be Wednesdays through May 31st. 

Special Olympics Vermont is planning on hosting Summer Games. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they succeed in scheduling a competition!

2023 Chittenden Basketball Practice

 It is time to sign up for Basketball!  Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdan@ieee.org or 802-865-3840) to preregister so that we can have your medical at practice.

We are pleased to announce that we have scheduled two back to back Basketball practice sessions, Sunday's, starting March 19th at the Essex High School Gym. Session 1 will be from 1:00 - 2:30 and session 2 will be from 2:30 - 4:00.  Athletes will be assigned to one session depending on which team you are on. We need to keep our group size smaller so you may only attend your assigned practice. 

Practice will run from March 19th through May 28th June 4th. There will be no practice Easter Sunday, April 9th. 

Alpine Ski and Snowboard athletes, please plan on attending Alpine practice. It is ok to miss the first two basketball practices!

Special Olympics Vermont is planning on hosting Summer Games. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they succeed in scheduling a competition!

2023 Annual Potluck Supper and Awards Night

Please mark your calendar

Wednesday, March 22nd   6PM 

OUR LADY OF GRACE PARISH HALL

784 Main St.

Colchester Village

Athletes, families, caregivers, coaches, volunteers and friends welcomed!

Call Laurette Cade, 802-879-6061 to RSVP

Hot and cold dishes, salads, rolls and dessert needed.

Awards, prizes, good food and fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

2023 Jeff Kutt Spirit Award Nomination Information

The Jeff Kutt Award was founded in 2002 to honor athletes who epitomize the spirit of the Special Olympics. The recipient of this award has exemplified his or her commitment to the team, strives for excellence, demonstrates teamwork on and off the field, and has shown courage in their attempt to succeed.

Those worthy of this award will exhibit the following behaviors/qualities:

• Helpful to teammates
• Encouraging to teammates, especially when others are feeling down.
• Exhibits great sportsmanship, win or lose.
• Shows enthusiasm, win or lose.
• Is attentive and focused both during practice and events.

Nomination Process

1. Identify the athlete you would like to nominate with their full name and sport(s) they participate in.
2. Provide a brief description of the athlete, including how they relate to the qualities listed above.
3. Send your nominations in email form to James Bove at jbovevt@comcast.net by noon, Friday March 10th.

Once nominations have been received, we will compile them into a master document and send it to the award committee, comprised of the Chittenden Program management committee. The recipient of the award will be announced at the spring Annual Potluck Supper and Awards Night on Wednesday March 22nd.

The Jeff Kutt Award has honored the following athletes:

2019 Becky Brown
2018 Adam Brooks
2017 Danielle Viau
2016 Sarah Laclair
2015 Leah Boardman
2014 Joshua Holsopple
2013 Carrie Fox
2012 Malai Holland
2011 Shanan Duba
2010 Daniel Goodrow
2009 Camille Cardinal
2008 Scott Johnston
2007 Robin Shockey
2006 Wayne Ashline
2005 Dawn Daggett
2004 Randy Turner
2003 Peter Tarte
2002 Larry Young

2023 Special Olympics Vermont Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Competition - Rickert Outdoor Center, March 4th

The Special Olympics Vermont Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Competition will be held Saturday March 4th at the Rickert Outdoor Center, 106 College Cross Rd, Ripton, VT 05766.  

Check-in will be at 9:00 AM. 

Competition will start at 10:00 AM. 

Awards will be given at the end of each race. We expect to be done by 12:00 PM. 

Lunch will not be provided so pack your own lunch or plan on eating somewhere afterwards. We are not planning on providing transportation. Please let me know if you are not able to attend or have transportation problems. Thanks, Dave

2023 Penguin Plunge Extreme Weather Update

 

2023 Penguin Plunge Extreme Weather Update

Hi Plungers,    As we’re sure many of you realize, the weather forecast for this weekend is simply awful. After a relatively mild winter so far, Mother Nature and the North Wind have conspired to bring sub-zero temps and gusts that make conditions unsafe to be outside, let alone jump into the lake. Special Olympics Vermont is very disappointed to let you know that we’ve had to turn the 28th annual Penguin Plunge into a remote event.    Tyler Jankoski, Chief Meteorologist for WPTZ-TV NBC5 News has informed us that based on several global meteorological models, he has high confidence that "air temperatures will stay below zero in the Champlain Valley for most, if not all of Saturday. With even a little wind, it could feel like 30 below zero." He added that wind chill warnings will very likely be communicated for the entire northeast region by the national weather service by mid-week.    Public Safety Authority Derek Libby, Acting Chief and Task Force Leader for Burlington Fire Department, in consultation with the National Weather Service, strongly advised against holding the Penguin Plunge this weekend as any outdoor event would pose significant threats to public safety, stating “Participant and spectator safety are of utmost importance and there are significant concerns that these temperatures will present an unsafe environment. While we wholeheartedly support the efforts of the Penguin Plunge and the great work of Special Olympics Vermont, we share these public safety concerns as a means to protect the participants, spectators, and support staff throughout the entire event.”     Please read our Frequently Asked Questions to get answers to questions you may have, including information about how to plunge remotely. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to our office at events@vtso.org.    Thank you for your continued support of Special Olympics Vermont.  We very much look forward to seeing you at the Waterfront with beautiful weather in 2024!   Sincerely, Missy Siner, President & CEO and The SOVT Team

Penguin Plunge Frequently Asked Questions

Special Olympics Chittenden 2023 Recreational Floorball

Hi all, back by popular demand, we are offering Recreation Floorball starting this Sunday. This is a great opportunity to participate in a Special Olympics sport indoors during the winter. Since it is recreational, you can do Floorball and Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe. Unfortunately, it conflicts with our Alpine Ski and Snowboard schedule. Please let me know if you want to participate. I encourage all who want to participate to come to the first practice but since this is short notice, it is ok to start the following week. Here's the details:

What: Recreational Floorball

When: Sundays from 4:00 - 6:00 PM starting 1/29/23 through 3/26/23

Where: Chamberlin School, 262 White St, South Burlington, VT 05403

Contact me to sign up!

David C. Bogdan

Chittenden Program Coordinator

Special Olympics Vermont

802-865-3840

2022 Special Olympics Vermont Swimming Competition - 1/27/2023

Hi all, the Swimming Competition plans have been finalized. We will have the competition on a Friday afternoon in South Burlington. Please let me know if you can make it or not. Here are the details:

When: Friday, 1/27/23 from 3:15 PM - ~ 7:00 PM

Where: The Edge South Burlington, 75 Eastwood Dr, South Burlington VT, 05403

Schedule:

3:15 - 4:15 PM Locker room open for changing

4:15 - 4:30 PM Warm up

4:40 - 6:40 PM Competition

6:40 - 7:00 PM Awards

Please let me know if you plan on competing or not and if you have any favorite events. Due to the time constraints, not all events will be offered. Thanks, Dave

2022 Floorball competition - January 7, 2023

Hi all, I finally have some details around our competition this Saturday

When: 9:00 AM - ~12:00 PM, Saturday January 7th 2023

Where: Collins Perley Sports & Fitness Center

Awards immediately after the competition followed by pizza with gluten free options available.

Coach Mario and coach Jim will be leading our teams. I will be at the first Cross Country Ski practice so I will wish you well now!  Please let me know if you cannot make it. Also, just a reminder that if you are sick or have COVID-19 symptoms, stay home! Thanks, Dave