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.

 

 

2026 Special Olympics Vermont Winter Games

The 2026 Special Olympics Vermont Winter Games will be held on Monday March 9th and Tuesday March 10th at the Hermitage Club in Wilmington Vermont. Our registered athletes coaches and support people will be staying overnight at the Mount Snow Grand Resort in Dover Vermont, about 10 minutes away. 

We plan on meeting at the Special Olympics Vermont office at 6:00 AM Monday 3/9/26 and carpooling down to the Hermitage Club. Although all of us will leave Monday morning at the same time, Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe athletes will be done after lunch on Tuesday and may return then, while the Alpine Ski and Snowboard athletes will have Tuesday afternoon competition and awards and will return later in the day. We will keep our carpool groups separate so we all get back at the correct time.

Below is the schedule and key information from Special Olympics Vermont:

Tentative Schedule

Monday
6:00 AM     Arrive at SOVT Office for carpool
9:00 AM     Delegation Check-in at The Hermitage Club
10:00 AM   Opening Ceremonies
11:00 AM     Grab and Go Lunch
12:00 PM     Coaches meeting
12:30 PM    Competition begins
4:00 PM     Hotel Check-in
6:00 PM     Dinner
7:00 PM    Dance
8:30 PM     Back to Hotel
Tuesday
7:30 AM     Breakfast
9:00 AM    Alpine Competition / Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe awards
12:00 PM    Lunch (Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe may depart after lunch)
1:00 PM     Alpine Competition
3:00 PM     Alpine Awards
5:00 PM     Depart
8:00 PM     Estimated Alpine arrival at SOVT



Dance Theme: Sunglasses at Night! 
Rock your favorite pair of sunglasses, hit the floor with your friends, and get ready for a night filled with high-energy music, big smiles, and memories that shine long after the lights go down and competitions end!

Ski and Snowboard Course Updates:
View the trail map here
🟩 The novice course will remain on the Blue-Sky trail

🟦 The intermediate course will now be divided into an Intermediate Low  (Pitchfork) course and an Intermediate High (Haymaker) course. 

🟥 The advanced course will remain on Rocker as it was in the past two years.

Snowshoe and Cross-Country Skiing Venue Update:
The snowshoe venue will take place right at the base of the upper mountain where the main lift and lodge is which means that there will be no need for shuttles on-property and folks will not have to trek out a long way to get to the venue. Cross Country Skiing will take place near the lodge, as well.


Meals:
Registered delegates will receive access to the following meals:
Monday:
Lunch: TBD. Ideally pre-packed and bundled by delegation
Dinner: (same menu as last year) plain chicken, BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, ziti with tomato sauce, roasted vegetables, salad bar, brownie station

Tuesday:
Breakfast buffet
Lunch - all delegates will receive a drink and a choice of the following:
Burger and fries
Chicken fingers and fries
Mac and cheese
2 slices of pizza

Spectator/family member/non-registered delegates may purchase meals from SOVT in advance or on site. We will release a payment page as soon as it’s available.
Breakfast (Tuesday only): $10pp    
Lunch: $15pp
Dinner (Monday only): $20pp