Coney Island Polar Bear Club

The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States, whose members regularly take polar bear plunges in the winters.[1] The club was founded by famed health advocate Bernarr McFadden in 1903.[2]

The club in the water in December 2013
New Years Day 2011

The club began using the event to raise funds for Special Olympics starting in 2005,[3] and Camp Sunshine in 2007.[4] In 2018, the club decided to support local groups and charities and began partnering with the Alliance for Coney Island to raise funds for local nonprofit organizations[5].

Members swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island, New York, United States every Sunday from November through April. Every New Year's Day, the Club is joined by participants from around the country, who partake in an annual swim. The 2005 event had 300 participants and 6000 onlookers.[1] The Chief Polar Bear blows a conch shell to gather the swimmers before they run into the water.[1]

The club was mentioned in popular culture. It is mentioned on the season three episode of Seinfeld, "The Pez Dispenser". In the episode Kramer informs Jerry that he has joined the club, claiming it to be 'invigorating'. It was also publicized on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in a taped segment by Dan Bakkedahl about the effects of global warming on the club in faux-nature documentary style.

References
  1. Nick Kaye "Polar Bear Club Swims: New Year Parties (Don't Hold the Ice)", December 23, 2005 New York Times
  2. Cynthia Blair "1903: Coney Island Polar Bear Club Founded", Newsday
  3. "Special Olympics New York". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2006.
  4. "Coney Island club prefers chilly start to new year", January 2, 2007, USA Today, Retrieved January 2, 2007
  5. "Alliance for Coney Island" (PDF).
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