Hundreds of Climate Activists Joined Icy ‘Winter Water Games’ at Fundraiser for Affordable Clean Energy Action
With the Potomac River off-limits, advocates faced a cold water obstacle course at National Harbor to “Keep Winter Cold” amid federal climate rollbacks
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) hosted hundreds of activists today at its 21st Annual Polar Bear Plunge to “Keep Winter Cold”. For two decades, participants have raised donations from friends and family to brave icy conditions in support of CCAN’s mission to advance clean energy and combat climate change. In light of last month’s wastewater overflow into the Potomac River, this year’s event featured a creative twist with “Winter Water Games.” Instead of the traditional dip into the river, plungers took on a series of fun, cold-water activities onshore at National Harbor.
“Today’s joyous, boisterous event here at National Harbor is yet one more example of the resilience and the strength and determination of our climate movement,” said April Moore, Board Chair, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN). “Even with this terrible situation of sewage in our nation’s river, we were not stopped. We found a way to do something anyway, and what we did was something really fun. We got wet and cold anyway, even though we didn’t plunge out into the freezing river. I’m proud of CCAN. I’m so proud to be a climate activist when I see these wonderful people working hard, and we’re winning.”
“Every year, our Polar Bear Plunge proves that climate action can be creative and unstoppable,” said Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN). “Even when the Potomac River was off-limits this year, our community turned challenge into inspiration. With cold water games and big hearts, we showed that nothing, not sewage spills, not setbacks, not corporate polluters, can dampen the spirit of people fighting for a livable planet. This is what climate resilience looks like.”
Adding to the festivities, local musician Teresa Jiménez performed an energetic song to kick off the day’s events. Participants experienced a day of spirited climate activism and fun featuring chilly obstacle course activities, from water blasters and a wind-turbine sprinkler to icy buckets and more. The celebration continued after the course with live music, pizza, cold beer, and a hot cocoa bar.
“To have 245 million gallons of sewage dumped in the river, watching 40 million gallons a day gushing into the river you love and fight for every day hurts,” said Dean Naujoks, Potomac Riverkeeper with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network. “…We are right about clean water. We are right about clean air. We are going to continue to fight climate change and fight for our communities and our future because we are right about these things.”
“CCAN has given me a way to make my voice heard, and the amount that I’ve learned from it cannot be understated, said Kaede Thomas, Youth Member of the CCAN NoVa New Leaf Action Team. “Now I’m helping the Nova New Leaf team start a new educational campaign on data centers, one of the most pressing environmental issues facing our region. We are working together to educate ourselves and others and to push for accountability and clean energy requirements. The work we do and the effort we put in now serve as evidence to my generation and future generations that people care. ”
CCAN’s 2026 Polar Bear Plunge came at a critical time as environmental protections face alarming federal rollbacks and the effects of climate change grow ever more evident. Following the recent record-breaking winter storm Fern, the need for bold action on climate has never been clearer. The ‘Winter Water Games’ continued the Plunge’s legacy of passionate activism, with hundreds of climate activists braving chilly water challenges together while also helping raise funds for CCAN’s campaigns.
*** Photos above are courtesy of Jim Dougherty and Kidest Gebre. ***
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
