2026 Special Olympics Chittenden Fall Sports

Hi all, Summer is here 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 20th from 5:45pm - 7:00pm at the Willey Family Farm, 4 St. James Place, Essex Junction.  Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdansr@gmail.com> or 802-865-3840 to sign up!

Track - Track will be on Mondays, starting July 20th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the Essex High School track. Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdansr@gmail.com> or 802-865-3840 to sign up!

Softball - Softball will be on Thursdays, starting July 23rd from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at Schifilliti Field, 126 Gosse Ct, Burlington, VT 05408. Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdansr@gmail.com> or 802-865-3840 to sign up! 

 

Golf - Golf will be on Tuesdays, starting July 28th from 5:30 - 7:00 at the Kwini Club Practice Facility, 5353 Spear St, Shelburne, VT 05482. Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdansr@gmail.com> or 802-865-3840 to sign up! We have a maximum capacity of 24 golfers. Last year's athletes have first dibs and I will start a wait list for new athletes, on a first come first serve basis!

 

Fitness Walk - Don't forget we are offering a fitness walk on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 at the South Burlington Recreation Path. Parking at the UVM George D. Aiken Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Contact Dave Bogdan <dbogdansr@gmail.com> or 802-865-3840 to sign up!

 

The 2026 Special Olympics Vermont Fall Games including soccer, softball and track will be on Sunday September 13th at the Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center.

 

The 2026 Special Olympics Vermont Golf Tournament will be on Sunday, September 20th at The Golf Club at Basin Harbor, 4800 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT 05491.  

 

Heads up for new people, if you sign up for a sport, we expect you to participate in the competition. If you cannot participate, we expect you to let your coach know.  

 

2026 Summer Fitness Walk - South Burlington Rec Path

Hi all, Summer Games was successful if a little wet. Chittenden had 7 basketball teams and 14 bocce teams with a total of 122 registered athletes! An all time record! 

 

Now that bocce and basketball are over, we are going to offer a Fitness Walk, Wednesday evenings starting June 17th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at the South Burlington Rec Path. We will walk out a mile, rest a few minutes then walk back. Parents and caregivers are welcome to join the walk. Coach Mario and I will lead the walk but we are looking for other leaders for when we are on vacation. Mario and I walked the path and it is relatively flat, paved and less busy than the Burlington Bike Path. 

 

Days: Wednesday evenings starting 6/17/26 through the summer

Time: 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Parking Location: UVM George D. Aiken Forestry Sciences Laboratory: here

 

Please let me know if you are interested in participating!

 

We have not scheduled our fall sports yet. I will send out an announcement as soon as we do. Fall sports typically start in the middle of July and the competitions are in September.

 

Thanks Dave

 

David C. Bogdan

Chittenden Program Coordinator

Special Olympics Vermont

2026 Special Olympics Vermont Summer Games - June 5th and 6th

Summer Games are coming up June 5th and 6th. Special Olympics Vermont has published an event guide here but I want to give more specific details for our Chittenden Delegation. First off, Friday evening is optional but everyone may attend the events regardless if you are staying overnight or not. Athletes, partners, coaches and registered chaperones may enjoy dinner. Others may pay a nominal fee to eat dinner.

For those who let me know they want to stay overnight, please arrive by 2:30 and go directly to the dorms (see the maps in the event guide). Coaches and chaperones will be there to assist you in settling into your rooms. Linen will be provided. 

The dance theme is "Party in the USA". You may want to dress in a USA theme.

Those not staying overnight may arrive at 3:30 and go to the Ross Sports Center. 

All registered athletes, partners, coaches and chaperones are welcome to breakfast and lunch on Saturday. If you are not staying overnight, please arrive by 8:30 AM Saturday morning, earlier if you want breakfast.  We will have basketball jerseys and credentials to hand out. We collect the basketball jerseys after awards or before you leave. Bocce players should bring and wear their Hawaiian shirts. 

Please know that since Chittenden is local, we did not register for and will not be attending the Saturday dinner.

Please remember to bring a water bottle and rain gear. There are water fill stations in the Ross Sports Center.

If you plan on participating in Healthy Athletes, please complete the Healthy Athletes Pre-Screening Questionnaire: Athlete Pre-Screening Questionnaire 

If you have someone picking you up after awards, please have them on call to pick you up when you are done. Not everyone will be staying until 5:00 PM.

Please note that the Event Guide has much more information including information about the Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

Summary:

Review the event guide here for more details

Friday:

2:30 PM arrival for those staying in the dorms 

2:30 PM Unified Basketball Exhibition Game

3:00 PM arrival for those not staying in the dorms

3:40 PM Law Enforcement Torch Run departs from Dunkin

3:45 PM Line up for Opening Ceremonies Parade of Athletes

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Dinner

5:30 PM Dance: Theme is “Party in the USA”

Saturday:

7:00 - 8:00 AM arrival if you want breakfast

8:30 AM arrival for everyone else

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Competition and Healthy Athletes

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Awards

Thanks, Dave

David C. Bogdan

Chittenden Program Coordinator

Special Olympics Vermont

2026 Basketball Sessions

Hi all, I have two announcements, first, we may have a special guest at our next practice on 4/4/2026 so please try to attend practice. 

Also, as we announced at our first practice, we are splitting our practice in two sessions below is the session assignments that our coaches agreed on:

Session 1    3-4pm	Session 2    4-5pm
Austen B. Brandon H. Dylan S. Lucy F. Mark B. Sam C. Toby C. Vish L. Chelsea S. Hudson S. Jenny D. Maddie H. Malai H. Robert P. Wyatt S. Olivia L. Cosmo D. Randall C. Nicole V. Gabriel G. Joey C. Violette B. Holly D. Mekayla M. Michelle P. Ryan K. Angelina G. Emily S. Bella C-S. Hope D. Eva S. Alex B. Samer F. Alex D. Nicolas B. Meayva F.            (partners/ Justin, Ethan, Bella)	Justin M. Cory M-P. Eric C. Erin W. Greg H. Kevin C. Richard S. Connor T. Sarah L. Stella G. Anthony T. Dustin B-S. Eric P. Francis L. Patton G. Thomas C. Will C. Jeb P. Brandon P. Anthony D. Sophia C. Laurence H. Emma K. Dan G. Amy S. Eliza M. Scott B. Andrew K. David D. Henry E. Jack R. Troy A. Walter B.

 

2026 Annual Potluck Supper and Awards Night

Please mark your calendar

Thursday April 16th   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!!!!!!!!!!!!

2026 Jeff Kutt Spirit Award Nominations

 

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, Monday April 6th.

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 Thursday April 16th.

The Jeff Kutt Award has honored the following athletes:

2025 Erin Watson

2024 Kate Bove

2023 Joshua Beaupre

2022 Mariah Trayah

2021 COVID-19

2020 Andrew Robertson

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

2026 Chittenden Bocce Practice

We are pleased to announce that Bocce practice begins Tuesday, April 14th, 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 every Tuesday through June 2nd. Note that this is a change from prior years!

Special Olympics Vermont Summer Games will be June 5th and 6th at Saint Michael's College. 

Please contact Dave Bogdan (dbogdansr@gmail.com or 802-865-3840) to preregister so that we can have your medical at practice.