Special Olympics Mission: 

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Anyone ages 8 and older who has developmental or cognitive disabilities (or a combination of the two) is welcome to become a Dare County Special Olympics athlete. Special Olympics athletes in Dare County are never charged a fee to compete. 

Dare County Special Olympics offers training and competition in the following sports:

• Swimming is held in the winter/spring at the Outer Banks Family YMCA in Nags Head 
• Bocce ball starts in the fall and is held at the Thomas A. Baum Senior Center in Kill Devil Hills
• Bowling is held in the winter/spring at the Outer Banks Bowling Center in Kill Devil Hills
• Basketball starts in the winter/spring and is held at the Dare County Youth Center in Kill Devil Hills
• Track and field is held in the winter/spring at First Flight High School and Manteo High School
• Cheerleading is held in the fall/winter at the Virginia S. Tillett Community Center in Manteo
• Equestrian is held in late summer/early fall at Mane and Tail Therapeutic Horsemanship Academy in Jarvisburg
  
  (Please note: All athletes must have an up-to-date athlete participation form on file in order to attend any sports practice. Forms are available in both English and Spanish and can be returned to Dare County Special Olympics Coordinator Sandy Pace when completed.)

Additional Events & Activities:

The annual Polar Plunge fundraiseris held on the beach in late February each year, and summer picnics are held at the Virginia S. Tillett Community Center.

Several dances are also held throughout the year at the Virginia S. Tillett Community Center, including the following:

• Boo Bash in October
• Hearts Dance in February
• Bunny Hop in April

Volunteer Opportunities: 

Dare County Special Olympics is a volunteer-driven organization that relies on members of the Outer Banks community to help with coaching the athletes, assisting with fundraising efforts and coordinating events, among many other tasks. Volunteer opportunities are available for just about everything!

(Please note: All volunteers must fill out a volunteer screening form, which includes a background check, before participating.)

Get Involved!

For more information about how you can get involved with Dare County Special Olympics as a participant or a volunteer, please contact Dare County Special Olympics Coordinators Sandy Pace at sandyf@darenc.gov or 252-475-5625 or Jackie Pikulski Frappier at jackie.frappier@darenc.gov or 252-475-9272.

For more information about additional events, activities and fundraisers, please "like" and follow the Dare County Special Olympics Facebook page.