Special Olympics Southern California - Kern County

Special Olympics Southern California - Kern County Special Olympics changes lives by providing year-round sports training and competitions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. It is training for life.

Learn more at www.sosc.org/kerncounty Special Olympics is more than a sports program for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics athletes are five times more likely to hold a job than the general population of people with intellectual disabilities. They are also more physically fit, have more friends, and learn to set goals for themselves.

We are so proud of our three Kern County teams that attended the 2026 Floorball Championships at The Rinks in Irvine, CA...
03/01/2026

We are so proud of our three Kern County teams that attended the 2026 Floorball Championships at The Rinks in Irvine, CA. They practiced hard all winter and played harder than ever to bring home a medal in each of their divisions.

Join me in congratulating these amazing Athletes and Volunteers!

Kern Thunder - Gold
Kern Shooters - Silver
Tehachapi Storm - Bronze

Kern also had the spotlight at Opening Ceremonies as Tehachapi Athlete Tanya Mitchell had the honor of saying the Pledge of Allegiance!

Thank you to all of the amazing staff and volunteers working hard to make Championships happen, all of the families and spectators that come to cheer our athletes on, all of the coaches putting in weeks of commitment for every season. You all are the heart of what we do!

Got more spectacular photos? Please tag us so we can share!

Join us for our next championships, Summer Games June 6-7!

03/01/2026

Calling all Athletes, Families, and Volunteers! If you haven't already, make sure to get signed up for the 2026 Spring Sports season by today, March 1st!

Sports Offered:
Bakersfield: Basketball, Bocce
Tehachapi: Basketball, Bocce, Swimming

Register for Spring Sports: https://forms.office.com/r/UB2yQhxife

New Athlete? You'll need to fill this out: https://www.sosc.org/athleteapplication

New Coach or Team Volunteer? Select your role and get cleared here: https://soscnorth.galaxydigital.com/need/index?distance=20&zip=&q=Class+A&age=&agency_id=124327&county=&min_available_slots=&dateOn=&domain_id=&need_impact_area=&need_init_id=&qualification_id=&meta%5B%5D=&meta%5B%5D=&meta%5B%5D=&meta%5B%5D=&allowTeams=&ug_id=&s=1

Practice time, location, as well as a season schedule and coach information will be sent out by email to all registered athletes and volunteers beginning on March 2nd once rosters are made.

If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to Sara McComas at smccomas@sosc.org or 661-383-2907

Yesterday was our last day with Special Olympics Southern California Kern County and what an amazing, heartfelt, memorab...
02/15/2026

Yesterday was our last day with Special Olympics Southern California Kern County and what an amazing, heartfelt, memorable day it was.

Stepping into a New Chapter-

As we prepare to step into a new chapter, I wanted to share a note from my heart with each of you. Serving this region (SOSC Kern) has been one of the greatest honors of my life. The athletes who inspire us with courage and joy, the families who advocate fiercely and love endlessly, and the coaches who give their time, patience, and hearts so selflessly… you are the reason our region has grown into something truly special.

This journey has never been about one person. It has always been about teamwork, trust, and belief in what is possible. Together, we built strong programs, resilient teams, and a community that shows up for one another. The success of this region belongs to you, and I am so proud of what we have accomplished side by side.

While we will deeply miss the day-to-day moments, please know this: my decision comes with nothing but gratitude and love. I leave knowing this region is in good hands because of the passion, commitment, and heart each of you brings. Please continue to show up, cheer loudly, support one another, and believe in the power of inclusion and community. Keep up the great work. I will always be your biggest fan and proud supporter.

Thank you for trusting me, walking alongside me, and allowing me to be part of your journey. You will forever hold a special place in my heart.

With love and appreciation,

Kellie Peterson & Mark Peterson

What a day!! Congratulations to ALL the teams who came to the SOSC Region 2 Kern County Floorball Competition 🏑
02/15/2026

What a day!! Congratulations to ALL the teams who came to the SOSC Region 2 Kern County Floorball Competition 🏑

02/14/2026

We want to give a huge THANK YOU to Mill Creek Christian Church for allowing the Special Olympics Southern California – Kern County Spirit Squad to assist with caramel corn production! 🍿💛

Your support, encouragement, and partnership mean so much to our athletes. Opportunities like this help build confidence, teamwork, and community connections while having so much fun along the way. We are truly grateful to be part of such a generous and supportive community.

Thank you for making a difference and for cheering on our Spirit Squad! 🙌✨

01/14/2026

CALLING ALL YOUNG ATHLETES!!
Sign up here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=H_Z2bf4wOUumpbkbHupO9tj3T03mwDdJo2ZrkK6ZGVRUOE9WUVMyN0xKTkxGRFBYRERXVEVMUlBPWS4u&origin=Invitation&channel=0

The Special Olympics Southern California Young Athletes Program (YAP) Introduces children ages 2-7 (with and without disabilities) to the world of sport, with the idea of preparing them for Special Olympics training and competition. It is conducted as an inclusive program.
HOW IT WORKS
Young Athletes is activity rich and designed to easily be conducted in the home, at school, or as a part of a community program, with resources yo span at least 8 weeks. When implemented in more than one setting, the young athlete sees greater benefit, as skill development is reinforced through repetition.

Kern County was proud to send liaisons from three schools to the 2026 Educator’s Workshop in Oceanside last week! They j...
01/13/2026

Kern County was proud to send liaisons from three schools to the 2026 Educator’s Workshop in Oceanside last week! They joined fellow teachers and administrators from Unified Champion Schools all over Southern California to get firsthand experience in growing inclusive programing on their campuses. For three days they learned, shared, discussed, played, and so much more, all while getting to stare at the beautiful Pacific Ocean! They are bringing back a wealth of knowledge and we can’t wait to see what they do.

Thank you as well to the SOSC Schools Team for such an impactful event. Join us for the next one in 2028!”
Reach out to see how your school can get involved.
Sara McComas |Manager, Schools | Region 2 Kern County smccomas@sosc.org

01/08/2026

Thank you to Light the World Giving Machine Bakersfield for including Special Olympics Southern California in this year‘s community fundraiser! Your generosity empowers athletes with intellectual disabilities through sports, health, and inclusion. Thank you for lighting the world for our athletes! .

01/08/2026

Never run a race before? This is your sign. 👀

The Fog Run is for everyone—no experience required. Walk it, jog it, or run it. Just show up and be proud you did. Join us for the 36th Annual Fog Run on January 10, 2026 and start a new tradition of your own.



We want to thank our diamond sponsors, Rodriguez & Associates and Rizo Psychological & Behavioral Health Services. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to our platinum sponsors: Kern County Probation Officer Association, ARRC Technology, Valley Strong, The Garlic Company, and Valley Bible Fellowship.

Thank you Light the World Giving Machine Bakersfield and all the volunteers that worked at the Giving Machine this year....
01/05/2026

Thank you Light the World Giving Machine Bakersfield and all the volunteers that worked at the Giving Machine this year. We at Special Olympics Southern California are honored to have had the opportunity to be included with other amazing local nonprofits. We are grateful for our new friendships and generosity from the community. We are looking forward to seeing you next year!

1st Floorball practice for Bakersfield in 2026! 🏑Always excited to see so many familiar faces—and so many new ones! We’r...
01/04/2026

1st Floorball practice for Bakersfield in 2026! 🏑
Always excited to see so many familiar faces—and so many new ones! We’re thrilled to welcome 6 new coaches and 15 new athletes to our Floorball family.
What a way to kick off the new year—energy, teamwork, and big smiles all around. Let’s go! 🎉💙

Address

P. O. Box 2544
Bakersfield, CA
93303

Telephone

+16613832909

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Special Olympics Southern California - Kern County posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Special Olympics Southern California - Kern County:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram