Virtual Polar Pop

Don’t Want To Take The Plunge But Still Make A Splash?

We invite you to participate in our second annual Polar Pop! To do the Polar Pop on behalf of Special Olympics PA, please follow the steps below.

• Choose the Polar Plunge site nearest to you. There are eight Polar Plunges throughout the state from which to choose
• Visit to the registration page on that plunge site and register as a Virtual Plunger: Take the Polar Pop
• Complete the registration and start soliciting donations. If you are doing the Polar Pop on behalf of a local program, please list that program in the space provided during the registration process
• Share your Polar Pop pictures and videos using the hashtag associated your selected plunge (Ex: #ERIEPLUNGE, #WGPLUNGE, #PHILLYPLUNGE)

Please note that registration to do the POLAR POP closes on the day of the Polar Plunge event per location.

Here are the deadlines to register on each plunge site:

• Erie: Saturday, November 20, 2021
• Beaver County: Saturday, January 8, 2022
• Capital Area: Saturday, January 22, 2022
• Winter Games: Saturday, February 5, 2022
• Lehigh Valley: Saturday, February 19, 2022
• Pittsburgh: Saturday, February
• Philadelphia: TBD
• York: TBD

If you REGISTERED prior to the selected plunge’s deadline, you are still able to fundraise on that page. 

If you DO NOT REGISTER by the selected plunge’s deadline, you are welcome to sign up to do the POLAR POP virtually at any of our open plunge sites.

• Please find an active plunge. The dates of each plunge are listed with the plunge information.
• You can sign for on ANY available plunge. If you are doing the POLAR POP on behalf of ANY local program throughout the state, please enter that during the registration process to ensure your local program receives the revenue.

Ready…Set…POP!

Review the below Polar Pop Checklist and more information about how to Pop!

#1: Find Your Perfect Video/Photo Spot This is where you will do the POP! Make sure it’s outside or somewhere that you can easily clean up a water mess.

#2: Get Your Items Ready Fill your water balloon, grab a person to record the moment, have a towel handy, and be sure to print out and hold up an "I Plunge For" sign.

#3: POP!!! Pop that water balloon! You or a family member pops it over your head. Make sure you count down so the person taking a photo knows when to click!

#4: Dry Off Dry off and get ready to review your pop!

#5: Share Your Pop! Upload your video/photos to be included in the Plunge Celebration.  Share your video/photo to social and challenge others! Don’t forget to use your selected Plunge's hashtag. Help us to spread the word!  Challenge five others to make a donation and complete the Polar Pop with you.

An Important Caution: You MUST exercise caution and personal responsibility in your Polar Pop activities! Special Olympics Pennsylvania cannot identify or control the risks of every activity. 

Be smart, be safe, and be careful – for you and all who join you in your Polar Pop activity. Please follow all safety and COVID-19 protocols. Have fun with it; but above all, BE SAFE. 

What is the Cool Schools Polar Plunge?

What is the COOL SCHOOLS Polar Plunge?

The Cool Schools Polar Plunge brings together students from schools across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to celebrate inclusion, promote acceptance and respect, and help raise funds for Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Unified Champion Schools programs.

These fully-inclusive programs meaningfully engage students with and without intellectual disabilities through Interscholastic Unified Sports teams and leadership clubs at their schools.

This isn’t just a plunge, it’s a bold, brave statement to show the world you care about inclusion!

Proceeds from the Cool Schools Polar Plunge help support high school Interscholastic Unified Sports teams. Special Olympics athletes and their peers without intellectual disabilities train and compete together as equals, proudly representing their school. And high school Unified Clubs feature students working together to make their school communities more accepting and inclusive.

By boldly and bravely taking the Plunge into freezing water, you are saying YES to empowering Special Olympics athletes and tearing down the walls of intolerance and ignorance. It’s an action you will remember and embrace for the rest of your life.

Why Fundraise?

Every dollar you raise supports the athletes of Special Olympics Pennsylvania and our goal of making the world more inclusive! When you participate in the Cool Schools Polar Plunge, you are helping students with and without intellectual disabilities change the world.

What is the Cool Schools Virtual Polar Pop?

• Step # 1: Register your school’s team. Please make sure you use your school’s name as your team name.
• Step # 2: Ask students, teachers, and administrators to join and recruit members for your school’s team! Share the link to your team page so it’s easy for participants to join. There is no cost to sign up. Any team member who raises $40 receives a 2022 Polar Pop tee shirt!
  
• Step # 3: Participants reach out to classmates, family, friends, and colleagues and ask them to make a donation in support of their Polar Pop.

Registration "How-To" Guides:

• Create a Team
• Individual Registration
• Join a Team
• Personalize Your Page

HOW TO DO THE POLAR POP!

Ready…Set…POP!

Review the below Polar Pop Checklist and more information about how to Pop!

#1: Find Your Perfect Pop Location

This is where you will do the pop! Make sure it’s outside or somewhere where you can easily clean up a water mess.

#2: Get Your Items and Have Someone Film You

Fill your water balloon and grab a person to take a video or photo of you getting wet! Have a towel handy. If you like, hold up an "I Plunge For" sign.

#3: Do the POP!!!

Pop that water balloon! You or a family member or a friend pops it over your head. Before or after the balloon has been popped be sure to tell the camera why you are doing the Polar Pop! And use the opportunity to challenge any family members or friends to donate to your fundraising page.

#4: Share Your Pop!

Share your video/photo to your social media pages (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) and tag any others you are challenging! Don’t forget to use #FreezinForAReason #PAPolarPop

An Important Caution: You MUST exercise caution and personal responsibility in your Polar Pop activities! Special Olympics Pennsylvania cannot identify or control the risks of every activity. 

Be smart, be safe, and be careful – for you and all who join you in your Polar Pop activity. Please follow all safety and COVID-19 protocols. Have fun with it; but above all, BE SAFE.

Polar Bear Plunge

SOPA invites you to take the Polar Plunge! Proceeds raised go to help provide year round sports training and competition for 16,000 Pennsylvania athletes. Additionally, your contribution and involvement helps athletes achieve their goals, live healthier lives, and have a sense of inclusion in the community. If you cannot take the Plunge, participate in our Virtual Polar Pop, make a donation, or volunteer your time!

2021 - 2022 Polar Plunge Dates:

November 20, 2021 - Erie Polar Plunge

January 8, 2022 - Beaver Polar Plunge

January 22, 2022 - Capital Area Polar Plunge

January 22, 2022 - York County Polar Plunge (has joined Capital Area)

January 29, 2022 - Philadelphia Polar Plunge

February 5, 2022 - Winter Games Polar Plunge

February 19, 2022 - Lehigh Valley Polar Plunge

February 26, 2022 - Pittsburgh Polar Plunge

All reasonable efforts will be made to hold scheduled in-person plunges which assure the safety of all participants. However, Special Olympics Pennsylvania reserves the right to modify or cancel events as circumstances surrounding COVID-19 evolve.

Mission Partners

Contact Us

Eastern PA

• PHILADELPHIA PLUNGE
  • Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• LEHIGH VALLEY PLUNGE
  
  • Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Central PA

• CAPITAL AREA PLUNGE
  
  • Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    

• YORK COUNTY PLUNGE
  
  • Contact: TBD

• WINTER GAMES PLUNGE
  
  • Contact: TBD

Western PA

• ERIE PLUNGE
  
  • Contact: TBD

• PITTSBURGH PLUNGE
  
  • Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• BEAVER COUNTY PLUNGE
  
  • Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For media inquiries, please contact Hailey Fuzak at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

Special Olympics Pennsylvania normally conducts eight official Polar Plunges annually (found via this website). These events are sanctioned by Special Olympics Pennsylvania and are organized with safety precautions, such as divers, lifeguards, medical and emergency personnel, shelter, warming mechanisms, and emergency procedures in place to ensure a safe, fun experience for all our Polar Plunge participants. We take the health and safety of our supporters very seriously and encourage those endeavoring to participate in “cold water challenges” to consider displaying their bravery at an official Special Olympics Polar Plunge where they can plunge in a safe environment, while supporting a good cause.