Ready to chill out with Hearty Roots? Registration is open for this year’s Plunge for a Purpose on New Year’s Day at Pemaquid Beach. All are invited to take the plunge while having a great time and supporting programs that guide local kids off the grid and into their hearts. Hearty Roots offers year-round school partnerships, campouts, and day camps, creating meaningful mentorships and connecting kids to the natural world. 

On Jan. 1, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a phalanx of hardy and fun-loving folks will storm the beach in Bristol, at Pemaquid Beach Park. Costumes, courage and camaraderie will all be on display as folks dash into the ocean for a dramatic start to the new year. Heaters, warm drinks and access to the dressing rooms at the Park will be available to bring human thermostats back to normal, post-plunge. 

Plunge for a Purpose sign-up fees, along with optional crowdfunded donations, will provide support for Hearty Roots’ scholarship fund, which is designed to ensure a no-barrier and no-questions-asked process when families request a sliding fee scale during registration; over half of Hearty Roots camper families benefit from a tuition subsidy.

Plunge for a Purpose promises to put the “fun” in fundraising! 

To learn more, and to register for the Plunge for a Purpose, go to https://www.heartyroots.org/plunge-for-a-purpose. Any questions can be sent to Ali at ali@heartyroots.org.