IMPORTANT: New COVID-19 Restrictions - 11/13/2020 Announcement

In accordance with the new restrictions put in place by the Governor and State of Vermont today, Special Olympics Vermont is immediately cancelling all in-person activities until December 15th. 

 

The remaining Chittenden Holiday Fitness Walks at Burlington are canceled.

The remaining Chittenden Holiday Fitness Runs at Williston are canceled. 

The remaining Chittenden Holiday Fitness Walks at Essex are canceled. 

 

Special Olympics Vermont is still offering many virtual activities that you may participate in. The most recent is a Virtual Group Art Project. Sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/203145589070051?utm_source=SOVT+Mailings&utm_campaign=1ab58d2408-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_04_08_37_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fd6249e1a5-1ab58d2408-110347077

 

2020 Chittenden Holiday Season Fitness Walk/Run

H.L. Glenn Photography

Our Fitness Walk/Run leaders are happy to announce that we will continue our in person fitness offering with the Chittenden Holiday Season Fitness Walk/Run. The schedule will change from the fall season for most locations due to the darkness. We will again limit the size of the walks to 16 athletes each and follow our safety protocols. I am asking that people sign up again (email dbogdan@ieee.org or call 802-865-3840) so that we may manage the group size. We will again have four groups, athletes and volunteers may sign up for one group. Each group will meet once a week through the middle of December. Please contact me to sign up for one of these groups:

• Essex Walk - Mondays 2:00 - 3:00 from 11/2/20 through 12/7/20 (Willey Family Farm, St James Place, Essex Junction, led by Giles Willey)
• Shelburne Walk - Saturdays 10:00 - 11:00 from 11/720 through 12/12/20 (Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, led by Ellen Vaut)
  
• Burlington Walk - Saturdays 1:00 - 2:00 from 11/7/20 through 12/12/20 (Leddy Park Bike Path, Burlington, led by Dave and Karen Bogdan)
  
• Williston Run - Sundays 11:00 -12:00 from 11/8/20 through 12/13/20 (Williston Community Park, 250 Library Lane, Williston, led by Joe McNamara)

 

H.L. Glenn Photography

 

H.L. Glenn Photography

Special Olympics Vermont On Going Virtual Opportunities

 

Ongoing Virtual Opportunities In addition to fitness opportunities, Special Olympics Vermont will be hosting a bi-weekly athlete wellness series! Our athlete wellness series will provide an opportunity for athletes and families to connect with each other through virtual engagement opportunities including: Cooking Classes Fitness Classes Guided Mindfulness Exercises Conversations with Health & Wellness Experts Athlete-led discussions We will be using the same Zoom link for all wellness series events. Bookmark the zoom link and click to join at 3:30pm on the dates listed below! October 9th - Yoga October 23rd - Preparing for Practice November 6th - Inclusion in the Virtual World November 20th - Practicing Gratitude December 4th - Cool Down  December 18th - Get ready to dance! Please email info@vtso.org with any ideas or topics you are interested in!

Participants in our Fall Fest Performance Arts Session with Inclusive Arts Vermont giving each other high fives!

2020 Fall UVM Unified Fitness

2020 Holiday Season - SONA Stride Challenge

October 19 - December 13 Join Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from across the country and North America in an 8 week distance challenge by walking, running, or rolling in a wheelchair from October 19th- December 13th, 2020. Athletes and Unified partners in Vermont can register using the registration buttons below! Athletes can register as individuals or as part of a Unified pair. Don’t have a partner in mind, but looking for a virtual buddy to help motivate you? SOVT will seek to help pair athletes and partners interested in virtually working together.  Coaches looking to join in on the fun can register either as Unified partners or as a coach to help support accountability, miles submission, and athlete engagement. Mileage totals will be collected each week by Special Olympics Vermont and reported to the national leaderboard. Reminders to submit your miles will be sent weekly to registered participants. Miles submission can be done individually or via a coach overseeing a group of participants.
Athlete/Unified Partner Registration
Coach Registration
Each week will also feature a national theme! Join your fellow runners, walkers, and rollers across the country by sharing pictures on social media. Don’t forget to tag @SpecialOlympicsVermont @SONorthAmerica #SONAStride

2020 Special Olympics Vermont Fall Fest - Saturday September 26th

 

Good morning Unified Virtual Torch Runners!

I hope everyone is having a great week of running, walking, or rolling across Vermont! The weather has been beautiful and you have all been doing such a great job.

Don’t forget to log your miles this week using THIS LINK and to send us photos and videos of you getting those miles done! Print out the attached PDF sign to include in your photos if you wish.

After working so hard this week, join us on Saturday, September 26^th, for Fall Fest! Check out the schedule and information below:

Fall Fest Zoom Link- use this link to join activities throughout the day!

 Schedule of Events for Saturday, September 26^th

9:30am- Tune in for a Fall Fest Kick Off Video featuring Unified Virtual Torch  Run Participants!

10:30am-11:00am- Join SOVT’s Snowshoe Venue Director, Sam Chalfin, to practice, learn about, and discuss mental health strategies and techniques for managing stress.

12:30pm-1:00pm- Tune in for some more recipe ideas and healthy cooking demonstrations!

1:30pm- 2:00pm- Get ready to move those bodies with a live fitness class lead by the Unified Fitness Club at Burlington High School! No equipment or previous experience required!

3:00pm-3:30pm- Join our friends at Inclusive Arts Vermont for an interactive performance/theater art class!

6:45pm-8pm-We’ll kick things off with a quick informational video to highlight upcoming virtual opportunities and then… It wouldn’t be Fall Fest without a VIRTUAL DANCE! Tune in to dance in the comfort of your home and showcase your best fall attire! Flannel shirts, overalls, and pumpkins-oh my!

Please note: The same zoom link can be used for all sessions throughout the day and will also be available on our website!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out- we are happy to help!

Keep up the great work and I hope to see many of you on Saturday

Best,

Kaila 

2020 Chittenden Fall Fitness Program

 

We have finalized our Fall Fitness Walk locations and schedule. Please contact me to sign up for one and only one session. We are limiting each session to 16 athletes so get your name on a list quickly! Here is what we are offering:

• Monday walk 2:00 PM, starting 9/7/20 through 10/26/20 at the Willey Family Farm, St James Place, Essex Junction, led by Giles Willey

• Tuesday walk 5:30 PM, starting 9/8/20 through 10/27/20 at Leddy Park Bike Path, Burlington, led by Dave and Karen Bogdan

• Tuesday run 6:00 PM, starting 9/8/20 through 10/27/20 at Williston Community Park, 250 Library Lane, Williston, led by Joe McNamara

• Thursday walk 5:30 PM, starting 9/9/20 through 10/29/20 at Shelburne Farms, Shelburne, led by Ellen Vaut

Everyone is required to wear a mask to practice and we will have a formal check-in asking Covid-19 questions and taking temperatures at every practice. Drivers must stay onsite until athletes are checked in. We will be sending people home if they have a temperature or are sick. 

 

Walker's will be required to wear a mask while walking but runners will be able to remove their mask while running.

All participants should be aware that there are no restroom facilities at any of the locations, they are all locked. Also, all participants should bring their own water bottle and not share.

 

All participants should be aware of Who is at Higher Risk from COVID-19 before joining our program.

All athletes and caregivers must read and review the Green Mountain Self-Advocates Guide to Coronavirus. This should be read and reviewed in advance of attendance at first practice.

Athletes, volunteers and anyone joining our walk/run will be required to complete a Covid-19 waiver.

We will not have time to send out postcards so if you know anyone who does not check on-line or email, please let them know about our Fall Fitness Program.