Over 100 interested individuals registered for the opportunity to get to know Special Olympics New Jersey. On a wonderful day at lovely Stonybrook Swim Club, they learned how to become an athlete or coach for the 22 different sports SONJ offers to the over 20,000 athletes in the state. Some took the opportunity to reconnect with friends, and new friends were made.
Many questions we were able to answer were about the different roles of volunteering (referees, coaches, event volunteers, etc.), and the types of events we host (competition, fundraising, healthy athletes, etc.). Click here for the overview of volunteering opportunities.
Our Unified Champion Schools programs also generated much interest. This movement promotes a socially inclusive school climate where acceptance, respect, and human dignity for all students is the norm. The three pillars of implementation are Inclusive Sports, Youth Leadership, and Whole School Engagement.
SONJ’s new RV, also known as Mobile Health Vehicle, traveled over 70 miles to be on location as well. Anyone who toured it was impressed by the exam rooms and its equipment, and by the wide range of our Healthy Athletes offerings.
It would not have been a SONJ event without sports: participants were able to play bocce, cornhole, test their skills on the obstacle course, and play soccer.
Thank you to all who helped us make this day, and stay tuned for future SONJ Community Days.