2022 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 Basketball practice sessions, Tuesday and Thursday, starting April 12th and April 14th, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at the Colchester High School. Practices will be Tuesdays and Thursdays through June 2nd. Athletes will be assigned to one practice depending on which team you are on. We need to keep our group size smaller so you may only attend your assigned practice.

Masks will be required while indoors and during practice.

Special Olympics Vermont will not be offering Summer Games Basketball competition this year. 

2022 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 13th, 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 June 1st. 

Masks will be optional for those who are vaccinated for COVID-19 and have had booster shot. Masks will be required for those not vaccinated for COVID-19.

Special Olympics Vermont is hoping to offer a Bocce Sports Competition on Saturday June 4th. The location and times for the competition have not been finalized but it will be a one-day event! 

 

2022 Winter Sports Update

Hi all, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! We announced Winter Sports in early December and have had 28 athletes and 12 coaches and support sign up! Unfortunately, we have to postpone the start of Winter Sports due to the increase in COVID-19 cases. We are all sad about this.

The current Special Olympics COVID-19 policy will not allow in-person activities when the COVID-19 case rate is over 50 cases per 100,000 at the local level. Chittenden county surpassed that about 2 weeks ago and has continued to climb and is currently at 110 per 100,000. We are not likely to drop below 50 before next weekend so we are postponing the start of Winter Sports.

Special Olympics has announced plans to revise the COVID-19 guidance by the end of January or early February. The new policy may allow in-person activities if every participant is fully vaccinated. So, if you haven't already, please get your vaccination and booster shots! 

I will send out an update on when we can start as soon as Special Olympics updates the policy or the case rate drops below 50 per 100,000. Until then, please continue to stay safe and implement a personal fitness program so that you are ready to play in the snow when we start back up!  

 

You may check the COVID-19 case rate here: https://mchvaughan.shinyapps.io/so_guidance/

 

Thanks, Dave

2022 Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Practice

We are happy to offer Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe practice starting Saturday January 8th 2022 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center. Please contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdan@ieee.org> or 802-865-3840 to sign up. 

As with many things, there will be some changes this year. The Lodge will not be open due to COVID-19 restrictions so we are shortening the practice by half an hour and will not gather indoors after practice. Snowshoes are not allowed on the groomed cross country ski trails so you will be on a different 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 not be offering free equipment this year. They will charge $20 for skis and, with advanced notice, can have snowshoes available for $5. 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 8th through March 5th. 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.

2022 Chittenden Alpine Ski and Snowboard practice

Our Chittenden program  is pleased to partner with Vermont Adaptive to provide Alpine Ski and Snowboard practice. Please contact David Bogdan <dbogdan@ieee.org>, phone 802-865-3840 to sign up. This year, those needing equipment will be able to get free rentals at Mt. Ellen through Vermont Adaptive. I will need to know if you need equipment and transportation when you sign up. We will require a current medical on file before you may go to the mountain!  

We will again 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. 

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 Felicia at Vermont Adaptive, you will have to complete the athlete profile and the online waivers:

- Sunday Afternoon's 1-3:30 at Mt Ellen

January 9, 23, 30

February 6, 13, 27

March 6, 13

(the first day of practice will likely be very busy, we have another group of around 15 or so in town)

Paperwork- 

1. Athlete Profiles - for all athletes

2. Online Waivers - for all athletes and staff

Covid Guidelines - please read carefully

Updated Nov. 15, 2021 -  VERMONT ADAPTIVE “RESPECT THE PLAY” COVID-19 PLAN

As we prepare for the winter season and the return of close-contact lessons, Vermont Adaptive is asking each and every one of our community members - athletes, companions, volunteers, interns, and staff - to agree to RESPECT THE PLAY. By following these simple  practices, we can make Vermont Adaptive winter programs possible and allow for fair and safe access to outdoor play for EveryBODY.

We believe that everyone has the right and the need to have opportunities to play. When each of us agrees to these simple practices, it allows for everyone to make their own, personal decision about the level of risk they are comfortable with while playing at Vermont Adaptive this winter. When everyone RESPECTS THE PLAY, everyone gets fair access to play.

Thank you for adhering to these Winter 2021-2022 RESPECT THE PLAY practices:

1. ALL Vermont Adaptive Participants (athletes, companions, volunteers, interns, and staff), age 5 and older, will be fully vaccinated.

2. We will ALL wear masks at ALL times indoors.

3. We will ALL wear masks outside anytime we are within 10 Feet of someone from another household.

4. We will ALL complete a daily health check and stay home if we are sick or we can’t pass the health check.

These practices may change and Vermont Adaptive reserves the right to make updates as Federal, local, and industry guidance change. We anticipate some version of this to be in place for the entire winter.

Details of how we will RESPECT THE PLAY will be covered in future training and in reservation confirmation emails. 

If you have questions about these RESPECT THE PLAY practices, or you are concerned that you may not be able to meet them, please speak with the Program Coordinator at your location. We hope you will all choose to follow the RESPECT THE PLAY practices and come play this winter.

Let me know what questions come up!

- Felicia

Felicia Fowler, CTRS

(she/her/hers)

Program Coordinator 

(802) 343-1193

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports
Sports for Every Body

Calling All Volunteers! We need you this winter! Preparations for winter off- and on-snow training are underway, and we’re looking for new and returning volunteers to join us on the snow this winter. The first step is to sign up and register to volunteer. You’ll then be on our preferred list to receive all the up-to-date information about training (virtual and in-person) that will begin late fall and continue into November and December. Come share your passion for snow sports with others - register today! https://www.vermontadaptive.org/get-involved/

 

2021 Chittenden Dry Land Training

 Now that our fall fitness walks have finished, we are going to start a Dry Land Training program. This will be an outdoor fitness program to get us in shape for winter sports or, for those who don't do winter sports, the sports that come after that. We plan to meet from 11:00 - 12:00 AM Sundays at the Willey Farm starting 11/21/21. The training will be more strenuous than our fitness walks have been and will focus on core strength and flexibility. This will be excellent preparation for alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. We are planning on offering winter sports starting in January so now is the time to get off the couch and get prepared!  People not planning on doing winter sports are encouraged to come too! This will be good for everyone!  

We will run the program Sunday 11/21/21 through Sunday 12/19/21. Watch your email and the blog for weather cancellations. Dress in layers because it will probably be cold but as we exercise, you will get hot and want to take a layer off. Bring a water bottle. Also, if you have an exercise mat, you may want to bring it. 

Please contact David Bogdan <dbogdan@ieee.org> or 802-865-3840 to sign up. We will be checking for current medicals. Special Olympics COVID-19 protocols are still in place, please wear a mask to check-in and we will be taking temperatures and asking the COVID-19 questions. 

Coaches:

Jay Schulz

Karen Bogdan

Dave Bogdan

 

Williston Fitness Walk Canceled - 11/3/21

 We have canceled the Williston Fitness walk today, 11/3/21.