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Polar Bear Clubs Within the United States
Key
(Polar Bear Clubs
outside of the US)
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| CA |
California |
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Cabrillo Beach, California |
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The Penguin Club, Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California This event had its roots planted by Cecilia Kilger and Darryl Wyle as far back as 1952, before Washington Pier was built, but was officially started in 1960. Former event organizer was Cecilia Kilger, now it is Mary McGurk (310-821-8136). 80 participated on New Year's Eve in 1999, with 44 this year (2000). |
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Monterey, California Richard Puertas and group has started a cold water swim club, in the ocean I assume. They took the plunge in the very early morning hours (2:30 PST) of January 1st, 1999. |
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The Dolphin Club, San Francisco, California Members frequent the San Francisco Bay year round, Plus two events on New Year's Day: the 1.4 mi. swim out to Alcatraz Island, and a mile cove sprint. |
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The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California |
| CO | Colorado |
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The Boulder Polar Bear Club, Colorado (Listed here for completeness) |
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Frozen Dead Guy Days, Nederland, Colorado Related to ice swimming - sort of. |
| DE | Delaware |
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Exercise Like the Eskimos, Bethany Beach, Delaware The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce in Delaware will hold an annual New Year's Day swim, entitled, "The Leo Brady Exercise Like the Eskimos" to honor the man that founded the event. 2002 will be our 6th year for the event, and we generally draw a crowd of 200-300 splashers, and many more observers. Our event benefits local students by awarding scholarships. The event is always held on New Year's Day at high noon on the Bethany Beach boardwalk in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Contact Amy Scott, the Events Coordinator, at 1-800-962-SURF. |
| IL | Illinois |
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Special Olympics Illinois Information from Jeff Henson, on 3/7/99. Special Olympics Illinois fundraiser was held in Lake Bluff, Illinois (into lake Michigan) on March 27, 1999. Word is not out if this event will be held next year. Please call Jeff Henson at 800-394-0562 for more information. |
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Western Illinois University, in Macomb, Illinois A new polar bear club to tentatively start in Macomb, by Brad Nadziejko |
| KE | Kentucky |
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Special Olympics Kentucky Their first annual Polar Bear Plunge on the Waterfront to benefit the Special Olympics Kentucky had 135 men and women jumping into the frigid 40 degree waters of the Ohio River and raised $36,000. It was a blast! The Second Annual event will be on February 19th, 2000, presented by Kentucky Law Enforcement Torch Run Volunteers. Contact Kelly Hutchinson, at 502-326-5002. |
| MD | Maryland |
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North Beach Maryland Polar Swim Club, North Beach, Maryland This was the first plunge (1998) held at North Beach, on the Chesapeake Bay. There were about 20 participants, and 150 onlookers. Next year we hope to have more participants, many said they'd bring a friend. Reported by Roy Crockett, at: roy@chesapeake.net |
| MI | Michigan |
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Polar Bear Club, Quincy, MI John Morrell is the president and active participant since he was 11 year old, and will continue till he dies. The jump in date is always the second Saturday in February, at noon. The 13th event will be Feb. 14, 2004. Last year 50 participated, and this year the goal is to induct more. |
| MN | Minnesota |
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Polar Bear Club, Lake Minnetonka, MN 2007 was the 17th annual event at Excelsior. with 677 participants. See videos at http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=40158&bw=. Reported by Bill Wenmark, Jan, 2007. |
| MT | Montana |
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Bigfork, Montana Paula Gill started this club in 1996. Several traditions are attached to their dips, such as singing the polar bear national anthem*. The dip was on Feb. 19th, 2001, in the Swan River, since Flathead Lake was frozen. Costumes are sometimes worn, and a travelling trophy is given for the spirit of the polar bear, a stuffed polar bear with silver wings and glittery halo. * Sung to the tune of Teddy Bear's Picnic: Dip Dip Time for Polar Bears The little Polar Bears are having a lovely time today See them gaily splash about they love to play and shout they never have any cares At 6 o'clock their mommies and daddies will take them home to bed because they're tired, polar, bears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Libby Montana Polar Bear Club, Libby, Montana Rick Klin is the president of the club started 25 years ago in Hamilton, but has operated in Libby for 3 years now (2002). They meet every Sunday at 2 p.m. from the Last Sunday in Oct. to the 1st Sunday in April at Libby Creek. They usually get from 28 to 32 swims in during the season, with swimmers/plungers ranging from 7 to 60 years of age. They also keep a weekly record of air and water temperatures, compiling charts at the end of the season for each of the members, and video recording all of the swims. |
| NV | Nevada |
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Chips Ahoy Cold Plunge, Laughlin, Nevada This new plunge for seniors 50+ wanting a a cold refresher between hands, not possible in a just glass, takes place in January 13-16, 2004, in the Colorado River. Contact Susan Dillon, at 928-783-3061. Details at www.winterbreak.us. |
| NH | New Hampton |
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The Hampton Chapter of the Polar Bear Club, an offshoot of the Midnight Swimmers, Hampton, New Hampshire |
| NJ | New Jersey |
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Atlantic City Polar Bear Club, Atlantic City, New
Jersey  The Atlantic City POLAR BEAR CLUB will sponsor the 2005 l4th Annual POLAR BEAR Swim off the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, this year benefiting the GREENWOOD HOUSE home for the aged. Transportation will be furnished by Mike Kahlenberg, departing from the Morrisville Square Shopping Center, West Trenton Ave., Morrisville, PA., at 9:00 AM. Everyone who becomes a POLAR BEAR will be awarded a "COMMEMORATIVE FINISHERS CERTIFICATE". Cost is $20.00 per person. The contact person is Michael Kahlenberg at either acpolarbearclub@verizon.net, or at telephone number: 267-566-4649. For more details, download this Word file: AtlanticCityPolarbearClub1jan05signup.doc |
| NM | New Mexico |
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New Mexico Polar Bear Club, Las Vegas, New Mexico Tito Chavez, a founding member of the club reports (1/1/99) their first plunge on January 1, 1998 in the icy waters of Storrie Lake, a state park near Las Vegas in San Miguel County, NM, consisting of 6 men & 1 women. This time they will have hot cider and hotdogs for participants, and anticipate having some teenagers from the local Key Clubs to compete with the founders who are also Kiwanis members for fund raising. |
| NY |
New York |
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Coney Island's Ice Berg Athletic Club, New York An offshoot of the Coney Island's Polar Bear Club formed in 1918. |
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The New York City |
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The Lake George Polar Plunge,
Lake George, New York (Also see http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/LakeGeorgePolarPlunge/) This swim has taken place informally since 1980, and has since become a club. Originally started by Charlie "Papa Bear" Albert, it was taken over by the Lake George Winter Carnival after his death in 2000. Reported by Craig Mason, 12/24/06. |
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Long Beach Super Bowl Polar Bear Splash, Long Beach, New York This group started in 1998 by two wild and crazy Irishmen, Kevin McCarthy and Peter Meyers, now about 100 members, jumps in every super-bowl Sunday. Their next event on January 28, 2001, this coming Sunday, they are raising money for the Make-A-Wish foundation, in memory of one of the member's son lost to cancer at age four. Contact Judy McCathy for more information. |
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The Switz Annual Polar Bear Plunge, Keuka Village, New York This huge annual event on one of our 5 beautiful Finger Lakes--Keuka Lake. Last year, 2002, over 100 people took the plunge. It's actually been going on for years & has grown quite a bit. Scheduled March 29th, 2003, registration at 11:30 AM, jump in at 1 PM. Registration & jump includes a custom polar bear t-shirt. Billed as "More fun than the law allows!" Takes place off the docks of: "The Switzerland Inn," 1249 East Lake Road, Keuka Village, 8 mi of Bath, NY, E side of Keuka Lake, (607)292-6927. Reported by Michele Cross, 3/25/03. |
| NC | North Carolina |
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Blowing Rock, North Carolina They are having their first ever polar plunge this January, high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Reported by Bill Leahey, at: bleahey@appstate.campus.mci.net |
| OH | Ohio |
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Cleveland Ohio Polar Bear Club, Cleveland, Ohio No information about this club. |
| OK | Oklahoma |
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Park Tavern Polar Bear Club, Medicine Park, Oklahoma
Their first dive was on Feb. 14, 1998. Reply to William Patty.
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| RI | Rhode Island |
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Charlestown, Rhode Island |
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Two Clubs in Narragansett, Rhode Island |
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Newport Polar Bears, at Easten's Beach, Newport, Rhode Island |
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Wickford, Rhode Island |
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The Jamestown Penguin Plunge, Rhode Island Started 1975, had 500 swimmers and 2,000 spectators. |
| TN | Tennessee |
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Middle Tennessee Polar Bears Club For the past 3 years a group of Tennessee good 'ol boys have been bustin' the ice to swim. Our most recent adventure followed the Tennessee Vol's victory as national champions. Date: 5 January 1999 Stats: Outdoor 260 F, water temp 340 F, Location: Mike's Pool, length of swim: 50 seconds (Shortest) 1 min 25 seconds (Longest). List of Member Bears. Contact Michael & Hayley Osborne (also reported by 12/30/98). |
| WI | Wisconsin |
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Jacksonport Polar Bear Club, Jacksonport, Wisconsin |
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Sheboygan, Wisconsin |
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