Capital Area Cool Schools

02/26/2027 10:00 am

Gifford Pinchot State Park

Gifford Pinchot State Park | Lakeside Trail, Lewisberry, PA 17365

You can participate in the Polar Plunge season by taking the traditional Polar Plunge, hosting a Rain Rally or doing the Polar Pop. Cant plunge Friday? Join us on Saturday and still support Cool Schools! Cool Schools Polar Plunges feature teams of K-12 students who plunge and raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics. Registering as a Cool Schools team is a great team-building experience and an awesome way to support Special Olympics athletes within your school community!

Plunge day countdown

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

See you next year!

Can’t make the in-person plunge?

Don’t worry your school can still bring a plunge experience right to your community with our Rain Rally or Polar Pop. Cant plunge Friday? Join us on Saturday and still support Cool Schools!

Rain Rally

The Cool Schools Rain Rally is hosted by a school or university where a local fire department provides a rainbow shower of water through which students, teachers, and administrators go through with spirit! While using fire engines is the most popular, you can be creative in how you conduct your own event.

Commit to “Freezin’ for a Reason”: Students come to a parking lot or large grass area and run, walk or dance through a rainbow water shower
Enhance the atmosphere: Play music and incorporate other elements to add to the spirit and enthusiasm of the event
Fundraise: Funds raised will support Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Unified Champion Schools program
Incentivize it! Participants who raise a minimum of $35 receive a Rain Rally shirt
Inspire a Competition: Like other viral fundraising challenges, students can challenge students from rival schools, as well as others throughout the state

We encourage schools and colleges to select their own schedule and design a “Cool Schools Rain Rally Event” in their vision.

Polar Pop

The Cool Schools Polar Pop is hosted by a school or university and allows everyone to participate in our plunge season and support Special Olympics by popping a cold water balloon over their head (or someone else’s head!)

Choose a Team Captain: A teacher, coach, advisor or other faculty member
Gather Your Team: Your in-school team can include classmates, teachers, friends, or family members
Pick a day and assemble your team at-school or on-campus (have a photographer ready!)
Then… 1-2-3 POP cold water balloons over your heads to show how you’re #FreezinForAReason for Special Olympics