Schedule Too Chicken to Plunge Pee Wee Plunge School Info Teams Volunteers Contest Categories
Oshkosh Polar Plunge
10th Anniversary - Dippin' for a Decade!
February 20, 2010
Menominee Park, Miller's Bay - Hazel Ave & Merritt St, Oshkosh
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Oshkosh Polar Plunge. This year 1,876 plungers raised nearly $380,000 for Special Olympics!
Save the date
The next Polar Plunge is scheduled for Saturday, February 19, 2011.
Photos & Video
- Official photos from IPI Wisconsin
- Photos from the Oshkosh Northwestern:
- Plunge Video
- YouTube Video Playlist
If you have a YouTube video to add, email us with the link
Contest Winners
Best Female Costume - Jessica Williams - Oompa Loompa
Best Male Costume - Dan Smithback - Moses
Best Adult Team Costume - Pete’s Garage Pink Plungers
Best Youth Costume - Hannah Reissman - Spongebob
Most Memorable Plunge - Zeta Tau Alpha & Delta Chi - Globetrotters
Most Money Raised by a Male - Ron Ebben - $5,532.00
Most Money Raised by a Female - Sherree Choudoir - $3,364.00
Most Money Raised by a Pee Wee Plunger - Andrew Kalfas - $825.00
2010 Top Fund Raising Teams
- Neenah Papers - $9,409.00
- Oshkosh Polar Plunge Committee - $9,275.00
- Strategies - $9,117.01
- Dodge County Ice Breakers - $9,073.00
- WOW Logistics - $8,960.45
- Community First Credit Union - $6,311.00
- Papa Murphy’s - $5,784.00
- Kwik Trip - $5,657.00
- MHS – Decade Splashback - $5,014.00
- Lucky Dogz - $4,806.25
- GE Oil & Gas - $4,760.00
- Oshkosh West HS - $4,388.00
- Oshkosh Police - $4,145.00
- The Boatyard/Slades - $4,028.00
- Pete’s Garage Bar - $3,831.50
- McMahon - $3,542.01
- O’Keefe’s Pride - $3,280.00
- Fox Cityz Foxz Roller Derby - $3,274.00
- Marian University Science & Math Assoc. - $3,172.00
- Miles Kimball - $3,136.80
- Theda Care at Home - $3,046.00
- Cousin’s Subs - $2,863.00
- Whiskey Wednesday - $2,770.00
- The Big Kahunas - $2,717.00
- Hortonville Lanes - $2,705.00
2010 Top Fund Raising Individuals
- $5,532.00 - Ron Ebben
- $4,630.01 - Greg Duerr
- $3, 700.00 - Casey Fitz Randolph
- $3, 364.00 - Sheree Chaudoir
- $2,800.00 - Otis Day
- $2,455.00 - Doug Dobbe
- $2,040.00 - Peg Woods
- $1,781.00 - Joe Stumpf
- $1,716.00 - Mito Kudaka
- $1,700.00 - Julie Llewellyn
- $1,632.00 - Brenda Dahlquist
- $1,621.10 - Sherra Elmer
- $1,610.00 - Carl Fuerstenau
- $1,600.00 - Jami Wally
- $1,502.00 - Alyssa Krug
- $1,500.00 - Jason Lindemann
Photo by IPI Wisconsin
Download Polar Plunge Schedule
Plunging
Noon - 3 p.m.
Registration and Check-in
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in registration tent
Entertainment Tent
Live music by RPM - 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Post Plunge Party
Update 2/15/2010: The Post Plunge Party will take place at
Boatyard Bar and Grill - Map
425 Nebraska Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
The party will begin at 4:00 PM. Live entertainment from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Drink specials and prizes to be given away including a set of 4 Day Passes to Country USA!
Special Polar Plunge Room Rate
Hilton Garden Inn - call (920) 966-1300 and mention the code: “POLAR” for the special rate good 2/18 -2/21.
Olympic Plunger Alert
You can join current Olympic record holder and speedskating gold medalist Casey FitzRandolph as he Plunges in Oshkosh on Friday night with our celebrity plungers!
Early Check in and Pre-Registration Info
Early Check-in Times and Locations
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Wednesday, February 17th - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Badger Sports Park - FREE PIZZA & LASER TAG for Polar Plunge participants who attend this event. Located at W3225 Van Roy Road in Appleton. Click for Map.
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Friday, February 19th - 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM at the Polar Plunge site inside the Registration Tent
If you don’t want to wait in line on the day of the Polar Plunge attend one of the Early Check-in /Pre-Registration Events and turn in pledges, sign your Polar Plunge Wavier form, pick up incentive prizes & RESERVE your PLUNGE TIME!! All Plungers who attend a Pre-Registration/Early Check-In event will receive a FREE PASS for Badger Sports Park good for your choice of mini golf, laser tag or inflatables.
NOTE: Only one team member needs to attend the Pre-Registration event to check-in your team, but they must bring each team member’s: registration form (if the individual did not register on-line), pledges, and signed release of liability waiver. Click here to download a waiver (If you have team members under 18, they must have parent/guardian sign this waiver)
PLUNGAPALOOZA PARTY - NEW with Chasin’ Mason and Y100!
Friday, February 19th from 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Join us to celebrate 10 years of Freezin’ for a Reason! Come and check-in early on Friday from 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM and stay for the Y100 Plungapalooza Party! Concessions will be available at 5:00 PM with Celebrity Pre-Plunges beginning at 6:00 PM. Party with live entertainment by CHASIN’ MASON from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM.
Celebrity Plunger line up includes:
- Y100 air staff, Bear and Charlie, Bryan Scott, Chance Lewis and Abby
- WIXX air staff, Otis Day
- Mayor Paul Esslinger and City Councilman, Bob Poeschl
- Winnebago County District Attorney, Christian Gosset
- US Olympic World Record Holder, Casey FitzRandolph
- Fox Valley Area Police Chiefs
- Oshkosh Police Department - Negotiators and CRT Teams
- Neenah Police Department SWAT Team
- Fox Cityz Foxz Roller Derby Team Members
- Special Olympics National Games Team Wisconsin Coaches and Athletes
- Chasin’ Mason Band Members
- Team Kwik Trip
- More to come…
Sign Up Now! FREE BUFFALO WILD WINGS BLAZIN’ WING CHALLENGE
Are you afraid of the COLD?? Buffalo Wild Wings will bring the HEAT! Sign up now for the Blazin’ Wing Challenge! To reserve your spot for this heated wing eating contest please e-mail your name, address and age to nsprangers@specialolympicswisconsin.org. The first 50 entries will be accepted. There is no cost to enter. The contest will take place near the main entertainment stage inside the Entertainment Tent at approx. 1:00 PM. Contestants must check-in at the Buffalo Wild Wings table located near concession area by 12:00 PM to confirm entry and sign waiver. Rules will be provided upon check-in. Winner will take home an awesome prize package from Buffalo Wild Wings.
Photos
Purchase your Plunge pictures from IPI Wisconsin on site or online (a percentage goes back to Special Olympics)
Polar Plunge 101
The Polar Plunge has quickly become the winter’s “must see’ and “must do” event in the Fox Valley Area! The Polar Plunge is open to all ages! Individuals can register to for the event or participants can form Polar Plunge Teams with a group of friends, family members, classmates, co-workers, club members, teammates, etc. You will be plunging into a hole that has been cut out of the ice. The depth of the water is approximately waist deep so you don’t have to go all the way under if you don’t want to, but we recommend full body submersion! There will be volunteers in wet suits in the water to assist you. All plungers MUST wear shoes while Plunging! Each Plunger must raise a minimum of $75 in pledges and in return will earn the Official Polar Plunge long sleeve t-shirt. As your pledges increase so do the prizes you earn! Don’t worry if you or someone you know prefers to support Special Olympics in a warmer fashion, you can now register for the event as “Too Chicken to Plunge”.
The Polar Plunge offers a full day of fun! Enjoy the warmth of two large Entertainment Tents, food, drinks, music, ice carvers, children’s performers, children’s games and more! The Polar Plunge also offers a full day of site seeing as hundreds of Polar Plunge teams come dressed in wacky, unique costumes and team themes!
How to Register
Click here to register for the Polar Plunge on-line. After you register online, you can:
- Create your own Web page, upload a photo and text message
- Start or join a plunge team
- Collect and track online credit card pledges
- Use e-mail tools to communicate with friends and family
- Additional pledge forms can be downloaded
If you choose not to register online, you can download and print a Polar Plunge registration/pledge form (coming soon) and turn it in at one of the Pre-Registration events or on the day of the event.
Please note: In addition to registering on-line all Plungers will need to “check in” on the day of the event or attend a Pre-Registration Event the week of the Polar Plunge.
GET YOUR POLAR BEARS NOW!
Businesses sell them for $1 and YOU count them toward your PLEDGES!
Plungers can contact Special Olympics at 920-731-1614 or nsprangers@specialolympicswisconsin.org and request a Polar Bear Icon Kit which contains paper polar bears which can be sold for $1.00 each at area businesses and count toward your pledges! The paper polar bears are FREE to our plungers and come in sets of sets of 25, 50 or 100. Each $1.00 raised can be added to your pledges. The Polar Bear kits provide business owners with all the instructions to participate. Each plunger is responsible for picking up proceeds before the event and turning the money in with your pledges. Proceeds raised by polar bear sale MUST be turned in on the day of the event.
Too Chicken to Plunge !
Now event participants can choose to register for the event as either a “Plunger” or “Too Chicken to Plunge”. Jumping into a freezing lake isn’t for everyone but the POLAR PLUNGE IS! If you register as “Too Chicken” you can still be a part of any Polar Plunge Team or you can form a separate “Too Chicken to Plunge” Team. “Chickens” will need to raise a minimum of $75 in pledges and in exchange will receive an official “Too Chicken to Plunge” long sleeve t-shirt.
Chickens are eligible to earn all of the other Polar Plunge incentive items such as the beach towel, hoodie, etc. Chickens can dress in costume with their team and there will even be some “special” perks in store for them at the event!!
Pee Wee Plunge - Kids 10 and Under!
Don’t miss the Pee Wee Plunge inside the HEATED Family Entertainment Tent at 11:00 AM! The Pee Wee Plunge is open to kids 10 and under. Kids will take the Plunge into a 25” deep kiddie pool that is lightly sprinkled with ice cubes and rubber ducks. Parents can assist their children and be a part of the fun! (All Pee Wee Plungers need to be present at 11:00 AM)
Pee Wee Plungers should raise a minimum of $75 in pledges and will take home the official “I Survived the Pee Wee Plunge” t-shirt, a Pee Wee Plunge Certificate and a goodie bag. Pee Wees can earn more Polar Plunge incentives just like our regular Plungers as they raise additional pledges. Participants are encouraged to dress in costumes and come in Pee Wee Teams. There will be prizes awarded for Best Pee Wee Costume, Most Money Raised by a Pee Wee and Best Pee Wee Plunge Team.
IMPORTANT!! On the day of the Polar Plunge, Pee Wee Plungers DO NOT need to go through the main Registration Tent to check-in. Pee Wee Plungers should come directly to the Family Entertainment Tent to check-in and turn in their pledges. Each Pee Wee Plunger must have a parent or guardian sign the event waiver. The waiver can be downloaded and brought with you on the day of the event.
Check Out the Pee Wee Prizes!
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$75 - Pee Wee Plunge T-shirt
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$150 - Polar Plunge Beach Towel
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$350 - Badger Sports Park - Fun Pack:
(includes soda, inflatable pass, mini golf pass and 25 game tokens) -
$600 - Badger Sports Park - Extreme Fun Pack
(includes 16” pizza, soda, inflatable pass, mini golf pass and 100 game tokens) -
$1000 - T-shirt, Beach Towel & Badger Sports Park Extreme Fun Pack
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$1500 - $100 Toys R Us Gift Card, Badger Extreme Fun Pack, Beach Towel & T-shirt
Pee Wee Plunge Sponsor
TEAMS - Everything You Need to Know!
Download the Team Survival Kit including: receipts for your donors, business cards you can personalize to steer people to donate to you on-line, a sample donation letter, tips of fun fundraising ideas, tips for forming a successful team and more.
Win the Team VIP Package!
This year your team can win a VIP Bus to pick you up from your hometown and bring your team to and from the Polar Plunge. You will also receive a gift card to stock your bus with goodies for the ride!! When you arrive at the Polar Plunge your team will receive $100 Plunge Bucks and your choice of a preferred Plunge Time!! The Polar Plunge Team that registers on-line and raises the MOST PLEDGES ON-LINE by February 11th will win! Only pledges raised on-line will count toward this contest.
Polar Plunge Team Prizes
Teams raising over $2,500.00 will win a team party sponsored by Winger’s and Polito’s Pizza
Your choice of:
Hot Wing Party
1/4 Barrel Party (Team members MUST be over 21)
Monster Pizza Party
*Team totals will be tallied after event for accuracy, on-line pledges, cash, check and matching corporate gifts will all count toward your team total. All team members MUST use the exact same team name and MUST list team name on website and on all pledge sheets and registration forms. Any teams members who fail to do so will NOT count toward team pledges total. Teams will receive certificate by mail following the event.
Volunteers Needed!
Click here to download a volunteer form for volunteer needs / opportunities for the 2010 Polar Plunge.
Polar Plunge Contests Categories
(Winners announced in Entertainment Tent following plunging)
Individuals
- Most Money Raised - Male & Female
- Most Original Plungewear - Male & Female
Teams
- Most Money Raised - Team
- Most Money Raised by High School Team
- Most Money Raised by a Middle School Team
- Most Money Raised by a College Team
- Most Original Plungewear - Youth Team
- Most Original Plungewear - Team
Pee Wee Plungers
- Most Money Raised by a Pee Wee Plunger
- Best Plungewear by a Pee Wee Plunger
- Best Plungewear by a Pee Wee Plunge Team
Too Chicken to Plunge
- Most Money Raised by a Chicken
- Most Money Raised by a Too Chicken to Plunge Team
Parking & Shuttles
Available throughout Menominee Park. Shuttles from UW-Oshkosh Reeve Union and throughout Menominee Park to Plunge site: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Driving Directions
Menominee Park - Oshkosh, WI
From the North
Take Hwy 41 to Oshkosh exit on Jackson St. Follow Jackson St. all the way down to Murdock and take a left on Murdock. Follow Murdock to Hazel and take a right on Hazel. Follow Hazel to signs for Polar Plunge Parking
From the South
Take Hwy 41 take the 9th Avenue Exit. Follow 9th Ave. to Main St. Take a left on Main St. Follow Main St. to Merritt Ave. Take a right on Merritt Ave. Follow Merritt Ave. to Hazel and take a left on Hazel. Follow Hazel to signs for Polar Plunge Parking.
For more information contact
Nicci Sprangers
Phone: (920) 731-1614
E-mail: nsprangers@specialolympicswisconsin.org
2339 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Appleton , WI 54914
2010 Plunge Links
- Register online
- Search for a Plunger to pledge to
- Search for a team
- Update your Web page & view your online pledges
2009 Results
This year about 1,647 Plungers raised $294,000 for Special Olympics. Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2009 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Wisconsin.
Photos
- Photos from IPI Wisconsin (click on a time slot)
- Photos from Oshkosh Nortwestern - Album #1 | Album #2
- More photos of Plungers and Pee Wee Plungers
2009 Video
- Oshkosh Plunge video
- Pee Wee Plunge video
- Plunge Video Playlists on YouTube
Have a video you want to share? E-mail us with a link.