At Pryibil Beach on Monday morning, the water temperature was a brisk 53 degrees and the air had chilled to 40. Undeterred, a group of seven swimmers sprinted from the top of the beach into the icy embrace of the Long Island Sound, as the rising sun painted the horizon in hues of orange and pink. It was another invigorating start of a day for the Baby Seals 365 Swim Club. For this tight-knit crew, most of whom are Glen Cove residents, the breathtakingly cold water isn’t just a challenge, but a source of renewal, connection and joy.
“This is what makes us feel alive,” said Lawrence Stone, a club organizer and advocate. “There’s something magical about the combination of the sunrise, the cold and the camaraderie. It clears your mind.”
The Baby Seals Club, founded informally during the coronavirus pandemic, gathers year-round at Pryibil Beach to swim and build connections through its members’ shared passion for nature and staying fit. What began as a few friends seeking diversion in the early days of lockdown has grown into a robust community of cold-water enthusiasts.
“It all started with my mom,” said Karen Karbiener, whose late mother, Elfriede, inspired the club with her lifelong love of year-round swimming. “She had this amazing passion for life and for the water. During the pandemic, my family moved in with her, and we started swimming every day. It became our lifeline, a way to stay healthy and connected when the world felt so isolated.”
The daily plunges also offers physiological benefits. Health.com reports that cold water can reduce stress and boost mood.
“It’s a mental reset,” Stone said. “The first 30 seconds are tough — your body’s fight-or-flight response kicks in. But if you control your breathing, there’s this incredible sense of relaxation and clarity that follows. By the time you’re done, you feel like you can take on the world.”
Pryibil Beach, with its calm water and inspiring scenery, offers the perfect setting for the club’s gatherings. “We’re so lucky to have this place,” Karbiener said. “It’s not just about the swimming — it’s about connecting with nature. On some mornings, we’ve seen loons and cormorants just as surprised to see us as we are to see them. It’s like the Sound itself becomes part of the experience.”
Club members not only gather daily for sunrise dips, but also hold special events, including an annual New Year’s Day plunge that attracts participants from across the community. During the winter months, they set up a wood-fired sauna tent on the beach, and dash between the intense heat and the frigid water in a practice known as contrast therapy.
“The sauna adds another layer of fun,” Stone said. “There’s nothing quite like sitting in the warmth, stepping into the cold water, and then coming back to the heat. It’s a full-body reset.”
Safety is a priority, particularly for newcomers.
“We make sure everyone knows how to do this safely,” Stone explained. “You have to warm up slowly, from the inside out, after a plunge — hot fluids, light exercise, and layering up in warm clothes are key. Hypothermia and afterdrop” — a condition in which the body temperature continues to decline after exposure to cold — “are real risks if you don’t know
what you’re doing.”
“It’s like drinking three cups of coffee and two glasses of wine at the same time,” he joked. “You’re calm but incredibly focused. It’s addictive in the best way.”
For Karbiener, the experience is deeply personal. “Every time I step into the water, I think of my mom,” she said. “She taught us the value of resilience and joy, even in the hardest times. Swimming with the Baby Seals feels like carrying on her legacy.”
The club has also become a vital social hub. “We’re building a community around something positive,” Stone said. “In a world so divided by politics and other issues, it’s amazing to see people come together through something as simple as cold water. We’re all here for the same reasons — to feel good, connect with others and start our day on a high note.”
While Baby Seals is rooted in Glen Cove, its influence reaches far beyond. Through an initiative called Stone Fire Ice, Stone has created a global map of cold plunging communities, helping enthusiasts find their tribes worldwide. “I started this because I wanted others to experience what we have here,” he said. “It’s about sharing the joy, the health benefits and the sense of belonging that comes with cold plunging.”
For the curious, the club extends an open invitation. “Come down to Pryibil Beach,” Karbiener said. “You don’t have to swim — you can just watch the sunrise, meet great people, and see what it’s all about. It’s not about how long you stay in the water; it’s about being part of something bigger.”
