Coney Island Polar Bear Club
Encyclopedia
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States. The club was founded by famed health advocate Bernarr McFadden in 1903. Members swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island
every Sunday from November through April.
Every New Year's Day, the Club is joined by participants from around the country - although most hark from New York - who partake in an annual swim. The 2005 event had 300 participants and 6000 onlookers. The Chief Polar Bear blows a conch shell to gather the swimmers before they run into the water.
The club began using the event to raise funds for Special Olympics
starting in 2005, and Camp Sunshine
in 2007.
The club was mentioned on the season 3 episode of Seinfeld
, The Pez Dispenser
. In the episode Kramer
informs Jerry
that he has joined the club, claiming it to be 'invigorating'.
The club was most recently 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.
The 2011 swim had close to 1,500 participants, 7,500 onlookers, and raised almost $50,000 for camp sunshine (www.campsunshine.org)
The CIPBC meets every Sunday From November thru April for a standing 1pm dip into the Atlantic brine. The water temperature in early January is around 38 degrees headed down to around 33 degrees in mid to late February.
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
every Sunday from November through April.
Every New Year's Day, the Club is joined by participants from around the country - although most hark from New York - who partake in an annual swim. The 2005 event had 300 participants and 6000 onlookers. The Chief Polar Bear blows a conch shell to gather the swimmers before they run into the water.
The club began using the event to raise funds for Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
starting in 2005, and Camp Sunshine
Camp Sunshine
Camp Sunshine is a non-profit retreat and camp located on the shore of Sebago Lake, Maine that provides children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families hope for the future, as well as immediate help in dealing with a child's chronic illness...
in 2007.
The club was mentioned on the season 3 episode of Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
, The Pez Dispenser
The Pez Dispenser
"The Pez Dispenser" is the thirty-first episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. The episode was the fourteenth episode of the show's third season. It aired on January 15, 1992.The episode was written by Larry David and was directed by Tom Cherones.-Plot:...
. In the episode Kramer
Cosmo Kramer
Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
informs Jerry
Jerry Seinfeld (character)
Jerome "Jerry" Seinfeld is the main protagonist of the American television sitcom Seinfeld . The straight man among his group of friends, this semi-fictionalized version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, based on, and played by Seinfeld himself.The series revolves around...
that he has joined the club, claiming it to be 'invigorating'.
The club was most recently publicized on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in a taped segment by Dan Bakkedahl
Dan Bakkedahl
Dan Bakkedahl is an American improvisational actor, comedian and teacher from Chicago's Second City. Born in Rochester, Minnesota and raised in Stuart, Florida, he attended St...
about the effects of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
on the club in faux-nature documentary
Nature documentary
A natural history film or wildlife film is a documentary film about animals, plants, or other non-human living creatures, usually concentrating on film taken in their natural habitat...
style.
See Also
- Polar Bear Plunges and SwimsPolar bear plungeA polar bear plunge is an event held during the winter where participants enter a body of water despite the low temperature. In the United States polar bear plunges are usually held to raise money for a charitable organization, while in Canada they are associated with New Year's Day.-Canada:In...
in Canada and the United States
The 2011 swim had close to 1,500 participants, 7,500 onlookers, and raised almost $50,000 for camp sunshine (www.campsunshine.org)
The CIPBC meets every Sunday From November thru April for a standing 1pm dip into the Atlantic brine. The water temperature in early January is around 38 degrees headed down to around 33 degrees in mid to late February.