At PALS Programs, our mission has always been to create inclusive camp experiences for young adults with Down syndrome and their peers. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to connect, grow, and have fun in an environment where differences are celebrated. This summer, we are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Brother Rice High School.
PALS is fortunate to have a Board of Directors that provides guidance and support for our operations and bolsters our mission of inclusion. We are excited to introduce three new members who joined the board in the past year.
PALS is thrilled to announce we have been accepted to be a certified organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. In the realm of non-profit organizations dedicated to making a positive impact, PALS Programs is eager to kick-off Summer 2024 and celebrate 20 years of impact and stories.
At the heart of every PALS summer camp experience lies the spirit of inclusivity, transformed lives, and real authentic relationships. As we gear up for our 20th anniversary, PALS faces a perennial challenge – the need for more male volunteers. One-to-one pairings are one of the hallmarks of PALS Programs, and we believe that the PALS family can support our efforts in recruiting dedicated male volunteers.
As we are gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of PALS, we are excited for the slate of programs to take place in 2024! Check out the dates & locations on our summer page! How did you select the locations for this season?
April is National Volunteer Month and we are sharing stories from PALS volunteers to thank and celebrate our community! PALS volunteers have continued to show their dedication to PALS by sharing their time and talents, not only during a week at camp, but throughout the entire year. Recently, Julie Carrier did just that by hosting a walk at her school, Endicott College, in Massachusetts.
As Summer approaches, PALS Staff and Volunteer Leaders are busily planning some excellent PALS programs. Each program will incorporate some core programming, components that are led at every program across the country. This framework keeps our mission central to our programs, especially as we continue to widen our reach. One of the core components of PALS is The Congratulations Project.
During National Volunteer Month, PALS is celebrating and honoring each volunteer that contributes to our mission. As a volunteer-led organization, PALS relies on the dedication of volunteers to make our programs happen. Sharaf was a volunteer at PALS Spring Break, a pilot program in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University. Here, he shares about his experience of being in community with people with Down syndrome and what he learned.
I joined PALS during a transition period in my life. I had just moved five hours away from home and entered a new graduate program, unsure how to find my place. I was looking for ways to engage with my community and remembered a friend posting about PALS and decided to check it out. Stepping onto Cabrini’s campus for my first program, I felt at home.
As an organization serving individuals with Down syndrome and their peers, we at PALS look for opportunities to connect and engage with the larger Down syndrome community across the globe. At the start of March, members of the PALS Staff team attended the Annual Leadership Conference hosted by Down Syndrome Affiliates In Action.
One of the greatest benefits of being an ACA-accredited camp is access to a wide network of resources and opportunities that enable us to further our mission by connecting with and learning from other camps and industry leaders. This year, our Recruitment Coordinator, Lauren Gibeault, and our Program Coordinator, Kirsty McDonald, attended the American Camp Association’s National Conference in Orlando, FL. The focus of the conference was “Building Communities of Belonging,” which aligns perfectly with our mission to “inspire a world of belonging”.
This WDSD, I am celebrating all of the amazing gifts we've been given as a result of having Gabby and being introduced to this amazing community of people. Gifts such as true friendship, compassion, patience, laughter, and living in the moment. Our lives are so much richer because of Down syndrome. Through PALS, Gabby was able to have the absolute time of her life and create long-lasting bonds last summer in San Francisco.
