BY GRACE WAHLE
PALS Advancement Coordinator
PALS Summer 2023 is less than 200 days away! The application for Partners and Peers launches on January 1 and we are eager to share more details about what you can expect for our upcoming summer programs.
Following each summer season, PALS Staff strives to gather feedback from every member of our community as described in a recent blog post. We understand the value of hearing each individual’s opinion and experience at PALS to create the highest quality programs possible. Decisions are influenced by community feedback in order to constantly improve our programs for the following year. Here are a few adaptations you can expect to see this next summer.
Peers (participants without Down syndrome) will arrive the Saturday evening prior to the start of the program.
Having Peers arrive the night before our Sunday arrival for Partners provides time for additional in-person training and preparation for a successful program. Peers will engage with the mission of PALS and learn more about the community we serve to build a greater world of belonging during their week of camp.
2023 COVID-19 health policies have been updated to ensure the safety of each participant at camp this summer.
PALS is requiring all participants, volunteers, staff members, and visitors to be fully up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, per the CDC guidelines. All individuals on-site must have received the initial doses of the COVID vaccine and the bivalent booster where eligible. Visit the CDC calculator to understand what counts as up-to-date for you here. Additionally, PALS will require all participants to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before arriving on-site. Accepted tests include PCR and rapid tests performed by a pharmacy or healthcare professional. If this is or might be a challenge for you, we encourage you to reach out for assistance.
PALS may accept exemptions for medical and religious reasons with evidence submitted to support@palsprograms.org. All exemption requests will be reviewed by the PALS Exemption Committee and the outcome will be determined within two weeks of the received request.
PALS week-long summer programs are Accredited by the American Camp Association to meet the highest health and safety standards.
We are thrilled to have received accreditation following Summer 2022 programs. We are now part of the American Camp Association and you can read more information on how this improves the quality of our programs here.
Summer 2023 programs serve a variety of age groups from 12-17, 18+, and 25+.
Based on ACA policies and to establish age appropriate programs, each location focuses on one of the age groups listed above. There are different levels of support offered for each age group. The 12-17 and 18+ programs follow our traditional week-long model and have the most structure and support. The 25+ programs are modified for more independent participants; each program is only 5 days, which makes it easier for people with jobs to participate, and it follows a much more relaxed schedule. We have created this guide to help you determine which program is right for you!
For further information or questions regarding Summer 2023, visit our FAQ page here.
