Every Sunday from November to April, brave swimmers are diving in the frigid waters at Coney Island … for fun.
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club hops in the freezing cold water for more than just an adrenaline rush. They also take the plunge to raise money for their partner charity Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
The club was founded in 1903, making the Coney Island Polar Bear Club the oldest winter water bathing organization in the country. On their website, no members suffered from negative reactions such as hypothermia or frostbite, but it is still a risk of winter swimming. They do ask that newcomers sign a waiver and ask their doctor before diving in, but it’s only a precautionary measure. In any case, most of those who take the plunge are in varying states of fitness.
You don’t need to be a member to hop in; you can join any of their available guest swims, the largest of which is on New Year’s Day. This will be the 10th time they have hosted a New Year’s Day event, so one question remains. Can you bear the cold?
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