On a sunny Saturday with temperatures in the mid-50s — and a water temperature of 48 degrees — nearly a dozen people, mostly youths, leapt into the Patterson Aquatic Center pool.

The strange sound of water splashing in January mixed with screams of shock Jan. 26, as people jumped into the pool only to climb out nearly as fast.

“It was cold, but good at the same time,” said Edward Perez, 14, of Patterson.

The Patterson Polar Bear Plunge was hosted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and raised nearly $1,000 for youth activities and summer swimming scholarships.

It’s the second time Patterson has put on the event. The first was in 2011, when it was hosted in association with the Patterson High School Swim Team.

Despite the chilly weather, participants appeared to have a good time.

Edward, a student at Stanislaus County Military Academy in Turlock, said he took the plunge to help out the community.

Eleven-year-old Tank Guiseponi of Patterson could be seen repeatedly jumping into the pool — and repeatedly letting out a scream.

“It’s cool, but it’s awesomely cold,” Tank said.

No one stayed in the water more than 15 minutes, and the event wrapped up inside an hour.

Jason Hayward, parks and recreation coordinator for Patterson, said the numbers were not completely tallied, but about $1,000 had been raised through $25 donations solicited for the right to plunge into the pool. Some people chose to donate but stay dry, he said.

Hayward said the collected money is split evenly between the Patterson Youth Action Commission, which is made up of teenagers who work on community activity projects for their peers, and a scholarship fund for use of the city pool during the summer.

Contact Nick Rappley at 892-6187, ext. 31, or nick@pattersonirrigator.com.