Freezin’ for a Reason Fun Run/Walk: Start the day with a 3K walk or 3K/5K run before you plunge. Learn more.

How cool is your school?

Be a part of the 18^th annual Cool School Challenge – an event designed exclusively for school teams who want to brave the icy cold lake and support Special Olympics Indiana. It’s a great way to show just how cool your school really is.

A Cool School Team is 10 or more members that students, teachers, staff and/or coaches that Plunge together. Each team must raise the minimum of $125 per team member.

There will be a trophy awarded to the team that raises the most money in each division. Divisions are as follows:

• Division 1: Middle Schools

• Division 2: High Schools

The coveted Cool School trophy, Tundra (a large stuffed Polar Bear that travels from school to school each year) will be awarded to the school that raises the most money overall. An Overall Top Teacher / Coach award will be given to the teacher or coach that shows outstanding fundraising and leadership of the Plunge team by raising the most money in all school divisions. And, an overall Star Student award will be given to the student who demonstrates an above and beyond effort in all aspects of fundraising and team support.

Stay warm and dry while fundraising for a great cause—perfect for those who prefer cocoa to cold water. Participants are eligible for the Plunge incentive items starting at the $125 level to receive the souvenir t-shirt. Just go ahead and click that “Register Now” button.”

Do you dare become one of Indiana’s Super Plungers? Only for the bravest souls and the warmest hearts, the Super Plunger programs dare participants to go beyond the call of duty. Raise a minimum of $4,000 in pledges and plunge at the Versailles Plunge and one of the other 16 Plunges across the state. For more information contact Greg Townsend at gtownsend@soindiana-rod.org.

• Wear your plunging suit under the clothes you wear to the event – then you don’t have to change into it just to change right back out of it!

• Choose your “After Splash Bash” outfit (or post-Plunge gear) with this is mind – you will be cold and possibly numb, so loose-fitting, easy-on clothes without a lot of snaps, zippers or buttons are best. When your fingers and toes don’t work so well, it’s not so easy to get some of that stuff back on!

• Bring an old pair of shoes or surf mocs to Plunge in, its required! No flip-flops, these tend to fall off in the water.

• Bring a loose pair of shoes to wear after the Plunge – something that will slip easily on and doesn’t have tricky laces (think Crocs).

• Come dressed in your wackiest Plunge costume for the costume contest.

• Carpool, or even better, charter a bus with a whole group of friends. The park only holds so many cars.

• If you are a veteran offer up some help to the Plunge rookies – first-timers are easy to spot!

• Do not dive in – this a safety regulation and will be enforced by the safety team!!! Beyond that, remember that a Plunge is whatever you want it to be, so there is no pressure to fully submerge yourself. We recommend that you do not go into the water above your abdomen. The water is cold (it is February after all!) and will take your breath away.

• Do not wear anything over your face, such as a mask of some sort. When they get wet they tend to cause breathing difficulties.

• Do not be the first to go into the water if it is your first time. Remember there will be many people behind you and if you get in there and decide you do need out immediately, it will be very difficult to do so quickly.

• A plastic bag for wet clothes.

• A backpack to hold street clothes and your new Plunge t-shirt!

• Two beach towels one to dry with and one to stand on in the changing tent – which is heated by the way.

• A dry partner to hold your valuables while you are in the water.

• Old shoes for going into the water. No flip-flops.

• Clean dry under garments to wear after Plunging.

• A disposable, waterproof camera that you can carry into the Plunge Zone with you…even if your “handlers” can’t get a close-up of you in the water, feel free to ask a fellow Plunger to capture your big moment on film.